The Board of County Commissioners met on Thursday, Jan. 18 in the Hearing Room at the Johnson County Administration Building.

Below, you can find a recap of the items discussed during the meeting.

More information, including official minutes, votes, videos, information about how to make public comments and how to request accommodations is available at boccmeetings.jocogov.org. This recap is not the official record of the BOCC meeting.

Plats for lots at Moonlight Estates

Approved a request from Payne & Brockway, applicant, and Klaton Properties, LLC, landowners, for Preliminary and Final Plat approval for 8 lots on 81.9 acres, to be known at Moonlight Estates, on property zoned RUR, Rural District, located at 151st Street and Moonlight Road, in Section 6, Township 14, Range 23. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Funding for Landlord Incentive Pilot Program

Authorized the allocation of Coronavirus SLFRF received from the United States Department of the Treasury in the amount of $200,000 for the purpose of funding a second round of the Landlord Incentive Pilot Program. Vote: Passed 6-1.

• Yes: Fast, Meyers, Hanzlick, Ashcraft, Allenbrand, Kelly
• No: O’Hara

Funding for Childcare Licensing Fees Program

Authorized the allocation of Coronavirus SLFRF received from the United States Department of the Treasury in the amount of $250,000 for the purpose of extending the Childcare Licensing Fees Program. Vote: Passed 5-2.

• Yes: Fast, Meyers, Hanzlick, Allenbrand, Kelly
• No: O’Hara, Ashcraft

Funding for Eviction Mediation Pilot Program

Authorized the allocation of Coronavirus SLFRF received from the United States Department of the Treasury in the amount of $500,000 for the purpose of enhancing the Eviction Mediation Pilot Program. Vote: Passed 5-2.

• Yes: Fast, Meyers, Hanzlick, Allenbrand, Kelly
• No: O’Hara, Ashcraft

Contracts for construction inspection services

Authorized term and supply contracts with multiple vendors for construction inspection services, in the annual aggregate amount not to exceed $750,000 for a period of 1 year with the option to renew four additional 1-year periods. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Upfield Sourcing US Inc. – Annual Certification for New Century Tax Abatement

Unilever BCS Sourcing US Inc., now doing business as Upfield Sourcing US Inc., has provided its annual certification for 2023 pursuant to the Performance Agreement approved by the Board of County Commissioners in 2014. The Performance Agreement established certain criteria for the continued approval of a tax abatement granted by the BOCC for Upfield’s expansion at New Century AirCenter. Under the Performance Agreement, Upfield is required to provide written annual certification to the Airport Commission confirming that it has complied with the established criteria. Airport Commission staff then reviews the certification and reports the results of the review to the County Manager, who will then report the results to the BOCC. A copy of Upfield’s 2023 annual certification is available along with the Airport Commission staff’s letter finding that all applicable criteria have been met

HUD Announces Johnson County Housing Authority required to adopt Small Area Fair Market Rents by 1/1/2025

The Johnson County Housing Authority is included in the Kansas City Metropolitan Statistical Area for Fair Market Rent calculation. The KC Metro was selected by HUD to join 64 other communities in the nation that are experiencing dramatic rent increases since 2020 by requiring the adoption of SAFMRs by 1/1/2025. SAFMRs are payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program by zip code. Payment standards include rent and utility subsidies. SAFMRs will better reflect rent prices throughout the county and allow access to higher cost of living areas for voucher families by increasing subsidy. SAFMRs adoption is anticipated to further assist in landlord recruitment efforts already underway like the Landlord Incentive Pilot Program. You can read the announcement letter from HUD.

Success in Staffing: County Vacancy Rate Update

Great efforts made by the BOCC and staff regarding workforce challenges have yielded great progress/results. At the end of December 2022, Johnson County had three departments over 20% vacancy and almost half were over 10%. While some departments may have been under 20% vacancy, some divisions within those departments were experiencing over 20% vacancy due to the type of work or position that led to higher overall vacancy for a department, agency, or office. Today, the County has almost all departments, agencies, and offices (DAO) achieving less than 10% vacancy rate. Today, no division within a DAO is over 20% vacancy and only three DAO’s are over the 10% threshold.

Over the course of the past 12 months, the county’s overall vacancy rate went from 11.3% or 452 open positions to 6.5% or 264 open positions at the end of 2023. During this same period, the county’s turnover rate went from 16.01% at the end of 2022 to 11.6% at the end of last year. The BOCC priority on staffing and compensation policy decisions have greatly impacted this impressive improvement over the course of the last year and had a large impact on these results.

The implementation of the proposed market recommendations that came from the 2023 compensation and benefits survey data has allowed Johnson County’s salaries competitive in the Memorandum 2 local labor market. The county also successfully transitioned to a step-based pay system for the Sheriff’s Office and the Emergency Services Med-Act division that has contributed to the attraction of high-quality candidates and have positively impacted overall employee satisfaction. Additionally, the Human Resource Department’s enhanced proactive recruitment strategies that focused on how to recruit differently for hard to fill positions as well as working with regionally partners related to job fairs and educational institutions have had a positive impact. The combined efforts of the various departments, agencies and offices, county leadership, and the Board of County Commissioners have created a cooperative and supportive environment that has allowed the Human Resources Department to begin to close the gap in staffing that Johnson County has faced since 2021. Learn more in this report.

Recap on cold weather response
We shared some of the work that was done by our organization and community to help keep people safe during our recent snow events and frigid temperatures. Our crews from several departments and agencies worked hard to clear snowy roads and sidewalks as well as conduct frontline law enforcement and public safety work during extreme temperatures. In addition to Project 10/20 and others who typically provide warming centers, we appreciate the work done by member congregations of the Good Faith Network who stepped up to provide additional temporary warming centers throughout the long weekend. We also appreciate the long-term partnership with United Community Services of Johnson County who is a champion for supporting those who are unhoused.

Other Reports

Mark Dapp presented a legislative update. Please view the House calendar week of Jan. 16 and the Senate calendar week of Jan. 16.

The Board held a Committee of the Whole session on the calendar and process for the 2025 budget. View materials from that session.

Application for townhome development located within one mile of New Century AirCenter

Consider City of Gardner Application for a Final Development Plan and Final Plat for Flint Trails Townhomes, a 212-unit townhome development on approximately 28.86 acres, located north of 167th Street and east of White Drive, within 1 mile of New Century AirCenter.

Transfer of land to Olathe for fire protection services

Consider approving a petition signed by certain landowners requesting detachment of their land from the boundaries of Fire District No. 2 of Johnson County, Kansas, and the transfer of such land into the City of Olathe, Kansas, for fire protection services.

Incorporating city of Spring Hill into Johnson County Fire District No. 2

Conduct a public hearing and consider approving the City of Spring Hill's petition to include the entirety of the City of Spring Hill, Kansas within the Johnson County Fire District No. 2, pursuant to K.S.A. 19- 3605.

Contract for building project for Sheriff’s Office operations building

Consider authorizing a contract with Pullman SST, Inc., for the Sheriff Operations Building Envelope Project located at 27747 W. 159th Street, New Century, Kansas 66031, in the amount of $166,000.

Contract for county’s banking services

Consider authorizing term and supply contracts with U.S. Bank, for Banking Services, at a cost not to exceed $450,000, and Elavon, at a cost not to exceed $125,000 annually, for a three (3) year initial contract term from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2027 with an option to renew for two (2) additional two (2) year terms.