According to the adopted BOCC 2022 schedule, the Board of County Commissioners did not meet on July 7 and July 14.

Today, the BOCC met on July 21 in the Hearing Room at the Johnson County Administration Building.

Commissioner Meyers was absent.

The BOCC recognized the Mental Health Department for receiving a National Association of Counties Achievement Award for its #ZeroReasonsWhy campaign.

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

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

Approving MOA to include county in grant application

Approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) concerning the grant application made by the City of Olathe through the 2022 Bureau of Justice Assistance Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to include Johnson County as a party, together with the cities of Olathe, Overland Park and Shawnee. Vote: Passed 6 – 0.

Leasing for MED-ACT co-location in Merriam

Authorized a license agreement with the City of Merriam for the purpose of MED-ACT co-location at Station 46 and to provide usable space, outlined in Exhibit A, for MED-ACT personnel, ambulance/response vehicles, equipment and supplies for a term of ten years with a one-time payment to the City of Merriam in the amount of $250,359 to be effective Aug. 1, 2022; and authorized a use of General Fund reserves in an amount not to exceed $250,359. Vote: Passed 6 – 0.

Leasing for MED-ACT Station 42 in Overland Park

Authorized a license agreement with the City of Overland Park for the purpose of MED-ACT co-location at Station 42 and to provide usable space, outlined in Exhibit A, for MED-ACT personnel, ambulance/response vehicles, equipment, and supplies for a term of ten years with a one-time payment to the City of Overland Park in the amount of $215,117 to be effective Aug.1, 2022; and authorized a use of General Fund reserves in an amount not to exceed $215,117. Vote: Passed 6 – 0.

Leasing for MED-ACT Station 43 in Overland Park

Authorizing a license agreement with the City of Overland Park for the purpose of MED-ACT co-location at Station 43 and to provide usable space, outlined in Exhibit A, for MED-ACT personnel, ambulance/response vehicles, equipment, and supplies for a term of ten years with a one-time payment to the City of Overland Park in the amount of $386,704 to be effective Aug.1, 2022; and authorized a use of General Fund reserves in an amount not to exceed $386,704. Vote: Passed 6 – 0.

Leasing for MED-ACT Station 44 in Overland Park

Authorizing a license agreement with the City of Overland Park for the purpose of MED-ACT co-location at Station 44 and to provide usable space, outlined in Exhibit A, for MED-ACT personnel, ambulance/response vehicles, equipment, and supplies for a term of ten years with a one-time payment to the City of Overland Park in the amount of $242,078 to be effective Aug. 1, 2022; and authorized a use of General Fund reserves in an amount not to exceed $242,078.Vote: Passed 6 – 0.

Leasing for MED-ACT Station 45 in Overland Park

Authorized a license agreement with the City of Overland Park for the purpose of MED-ACT co-location at Station 45 and to provide usable space, outlined in Exhibit A, for MED-ACT personnel, ambulance/response vehicles, equipment, and supplies for a term of ten years with a one-time payment to the City of Overland Park in the amount of $587,521 to be effective Aug. 1, 2022; and authorized a use of General Fund reserves in an amount not to exceed $587,521. Vote: Passed 6 – 0.

Authorizing contract for improvements at transit center

Authorized a contract with Precision Contracting & Construction, LLC to improve underground drainage and paving at the Murray L. Nolte Transit Center located at 1701 W. 56 Highway, Olathe, in the amount not to exceed $428,479. Vote: Passed 6 – 0.

Establishing opioid litigation settlement fund

Adopted Resolution No. 048-22 establishing an opioid litigation settlement fund for the purpose of receiving opioid litigation settlement funds. The first distribution of the settlement totaled $113,560.43 and was received July 8. Vote: Passed 6 – 0.

Adding legal assistant to Legal Department

Authorized the Legal Department to add 1.0 fulltime equivalent (FTE) legal assistant position for FY 2022 at a cost of approximately $40,000 to be fully funded within existing budget authority. Vote: Passed 5 – 1.

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

No changing of stormwater study session

Motion was made by O’Hara to make a scheduled public study session at 2 p.m. July 28, regarding the stormwater a public Committee of a Whole session. Vote: Failed 2 – 4.

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

Rhonda Pollard becomes new deputy director at PRD

Johnson County Park and Recreation Executive Director Jeff Stewart introduced Rhonda Pollard as the new deputy director of JCPRD. She officially began her new role on Monday, July 18, and has served as superintendent of recreation for eight years. Her brief biography is attached here.

Johnson County ranks 20^th as nation’s healthiest community

According to the latest U.S. News & World Report’s Healthiest Communities rankings, Johnson County came in at No. 20 among the top 500 healthiest communities in the U.S.

The Healthiest Communities rankings look at demographics and disaster risk, as well as Covid-19 metrics, health outcomes, health care access, education, infrastructure and mental health. Included in the rankings is an environmental category, which looks at data on natural disasters from FEMA’s National Risk Index, highlighting threats faced by communities across the country.

Healthiest Communities data is attached here.

CERI releases July edition of economic indicators

The July 2022 edition of the Economic Indicators for Johnson County has been provided by the County Economic Research Institute (CERI). The unemployment rate for May 2022 is 2.1%, compared to 3% in May of 2021, a 0.9% decrease. The average unemployment rate for May the previous 5 years is 4%.

The number of single-family homes sold in May 2022 was 1,072, compared to 1,095 in May 2021, a 2% decrease. Year to date, the number of single-family homes sold in 2022 is 3,840, compared to 4,179 in 2021, an 8% decrease. The total number of single-family building permits issued in May 2022 was 155, compared to 225 in May 2021, a 31% decrease. Year to date, the number of single-family building permits issued in 2022 is 780 compared to 1,051 in 2021, a 26% decrease.

Additionally, the CERI reports total retail sales for Johnson County were $6 billion year-to-date through April 2022, compared to $5 billion through the same period year to-date April 2021, a 12.6% increase. The full report is attached here and here.

Olathe plans public hearing on proposed expansion of TIF district

The City of Olathe will be conducting a public hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 2, pertaining to the proposed expansion of the existing Olathe Gateway Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, generally located at the northeast corner of 119th Street and Renner Boulevard in Olathe.

A copy of the notice of public hearing along with the resolution are attached here.

Financial Reports and Audits

Becky Jones, assistant finance director at Financial Management & Administration, and Chester Moyer, representing RubinBrown LLP, presented a Financial Statement Presentation, attached here; a 2021 Financial Statement Audit communications letter, attached here; and 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, attached here.

Other Reports: COVID-19

Deputy County Manager Thompson presented the COVID-19 Funding and Expense Report, attached here. Sanmi Areola, director of the Department of Health and Environment, and Dr. Joseph LaMaster, health officer, presented a COVID-19, Vaccination and Monkeypox Update Report, attached here.

Permit for oversized accessory building

Resolution No. 050-22. Application No. SE 21-182-CUP (GA). Consider a request from Shawn Winslow, landowner, for a Conditional Use Permit for an oversized accessory building on property zoned RLD (Residential Low-Density) District, in Section 12, Township 15, Range 22 and located at 28640 W. 207th Street.

Proposed amendment to existing permit

Resolution No. 049-22. Application No. SW 22-217-CUP (MC). Consider a request from Lonny Vlieger, applicant and landowner, for an amendment to an existing Conditional Use Permit to allow construction of lean-to areas to existing oversized detached accessory structures and for number of accessory structures on the property, on 4.8 acres, zoned RN1, Residential Neighborhood 1 District, located at 19910 Pepper Tree Lane.

Requested encroachment in front yard

Resolution No. 047-22. Application No. SE 22-219-CUP (MC). Consider a request from Marc A. McGill, landowner, for a Conditional Use Permit for an accessory building to encroach in the front yard on property zoned Residential Neighborhood 1, in Section 21, Township 14, Range 22, located at 33785 W. 167th Street.

Zoning change for subdivision in Gardner

Resolution No. 046-22. Consider City of Gardner Application No. Z-22-01 (PDP-22-01), a rezoning from City Planned Garden Apartment District (RP-3) to Planned Apartment House District (RP-5), and the associated Preliminary Development Plan for University Park Subdivision, a 32 townhome and 574 apartment complex on approximately 35.5 acres, located north of 167th Street and west of Moonlight Road, within 1 mile of New Century AirCenter.

Contract to replace roof at Sheriff Training facility

IFB # 2022-045. Consider authorizing a contract with Schwickert's Tecta America, LLC for roof replacement at the Sheriff Training facility, located at 18505 W 119th Street, Olathe, for a total amount not to exceed $264,591.

Contract for employee health consulting services

Request for Proposal (RFP) 2022-004, Consider authorizing the award of a contract to Mercer Health and Benefits, LLC to provide employee benefit consulting services in the area of Health & Welfare Services, at an estimated maximum annual cost of $210,000, for a contract total of $630,000. The contract term will be for three (3) years with the ability to extend up to two (2) additional one-year periods.

Contract for employee retirement consulting services

Request for Proposal (RFP) 2022-004, Consider authorizing the award of a contract to Creative Planning, LLC, doing business as Lockton Retirement Services, to provide employee benefit consulting services in the area of retirement services, at an estimated maximum annual cost of $75,000, for a contract total of $375,000. The contract term will be for five (5) years.

Contract for county’s fitness program

Request for Proposal (RFP) 2022-002, Consider authorizing the award of a contract to Peerfit, Inc. to administer the County’s Fitness Program and maintenance of a network of fitness facilities for County employees and spouses to access under the County’s Fitness Program, at an estimated maximum annual cost not to exceed $50,000 for a contract total of $250,000. The contract term is for five (5) years.

Funding for road improvements, fire station

Consider authorizing funding for the improvement of road infrastructure and a fire station with hazardous material suppression capability to be located on land donated by Sunflower Redevelopment, LLC, at a total commitment not to exceed $15 million, in support of the recently announced manufacturing project at the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant.

Retention incentives to staff in some county units

Consider authorizing the use of Countywide Support Funds (CSF), (reserves), to provide up to $3,000 retention incentives to staff in certain business units with staff vacancy rates of 20% or higher, as designated by the County Manager, not to exceed $2,328,600 in total in 2022 and $2,328,600 in total in 2023.