The Board of County Commissioners met on Thursday, June 27 in the Hearing Room at the Johnson County Administration Building.

More information, including attachments to agenda items, weekly reports, 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.

Appointments and delegations

Approved the appointments of Melissa Footlick - Seventh District representative to the Developmental Supports Board through Aug. 31, 2025 and Commissioner Jeff Meyers as the voting delegate and County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson as the alternate delegate for the upcoming 2024 National Association of Counties conference, annual business meeting. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Group life insurance and sick disability pay

Authorized a contract with Lincoln Financial Group to provide Group Life Insurance coverage and administer the county’s self-funded Sick Disability Pay program, at an amount not to exceed $284,365. The contract term will be for one year with up to four additional 12-month renewals at the county’s sole discretion. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Board of Zoning Appeals

Approved proposed bylaws of the Johnson County Board of Zoning Appeals. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Cooperative agreement with 17 Johnson County cities

Approved the cooperation agreement amendment template to be executed with the 17 Johnson County cities that participate in the Urban County, Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership programs and delegating signatory authority to the director of Planning, Housing and Community Development. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Contracts for waste collection, disposal and recycling services
Authorized contracts with Waste Management of Kansas, Inc. and WCA of Missouri, LLC for waste collection, disposal and recycling services, in an amount not to exceed $215,000. The term will be for a 1-year period with four additional 1-year renewal options. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Agreement with Johnson County Fire District No. 1
Authorized a business operations agreement with the Johnson County Fire District No. 1 to allow Johnson County to provide certain ministerial, financial and general record-keeping services. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Final plat on Metcalf Soccer Complex

Approved a request from Phelps Engineering, applicant, on behalf of Cogent Enterprises, LLC, landowner, for a final plat for a three-lot subdivision to be known as “Metcalf Soccer Complex” on property zoned PEC3, Planned Light Industrial Park District, located in Section 8, Township, 15, Range 25, Aubry Township. Vote: Passed 5-2.

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

Public Building Fund

Authorized the continuation of the county’s Public Building Fund for a period of 10 years beginning on Jan. 1, 2025. Vote: Passed 7-0.

MOU with Fire District No.1
Authorized a Memorandum of Understanding with Fire District No.1, allowing the Fire Services administrator to assist Fire District No. 1 with budget preparation and administrative support, strategic planning, and transition to County Shared Services with a termination date of Dec. 31, 2025. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Delayed legal publication of proposed budget for Johnson County Fire District No. 2

(Sitting as the Fire District No. 2 Governing Board). Continued until July 18 a request to authorize the publication of a proposed budget for Johnson County Fire District No. 2 in an amount to be finalized by that date for fiscal year 2025, notifying the County Clerk of the proposed intent to exceed the revenue neutral rate and setting a public hearing on the proposed budget for 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in the Board Chambers. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Authorized publication of proposed budget for Johnson County Government

Authorized publication of the proposed maximum budget for Johnson County Government in the amount of $1,818,969,438 (roughly $1.370 billion in expenditures and $448.6 million in reserves) for fiscal year 2025. The board also officially notified the county clerk of the proposed intent to exceed the revenue neutral rate and set a public hearing on the proposed budget for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024 in the Board Chambers. Vote: Passed 5-2.

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

Acceptance of county auditor’s retirement, search for next auditor

(Added Item). Accepted the retirement letter of County Auditor Harry Heflin, effective Sept. 14, 2024, and accepted substitute language to have the screening committee, allowing any Commissioners to participate, with HR Department support, to bring multiple finalists for the Audit position to the full BOCC for consideration. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Johnson County Housing Authority to open waitlist for Housing Choice Vouchers

The Johnson County Housing Authority has 1,466 Housing Choice Vouchers (or Section 8 vouchers) from HUD to serve low-income families in our community with rental subsidies. The program is currently about 90% utilized with available funds to serve more families. At 9 a.m. on July 31, the Johnson County Housing Authority will open the waitlist online and accept 600 applications. This is the first time the waitlist will be open in 2024. There are preferences for those that live or work in Johnson County, elderly, disabled and survivors of domestic violence.

Board of Zoning Appeals  approves variance; planning staff supports decision

On June 12, 2024, the Board of Zoning Appeals approved a request for a variance from the 30 ft. maximum height requirement for an accessory building and instead allow a 44 ft. tall accessory building, which is an existing building, on 10 acres, located at 20200 Mission Rd., on property zoned RUR, Rural District. The planning staff recommends no additional action be taken allowing the BZA decision to become final on July 11, 2024.

Other Reports

Federico Duerst Consulting Group provided an end-of-the-session legislative report.

The BOCC met as a Committee of the Whole for a presentation on Homeless Services Center Operational Support.

A motion was voted on for staff to bring back an action item later this year for an allocation of up to $62,000 in support towards reStart’s ongoing operations fund.

Vote: Passed 4-3.

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

The Board will not meet on July 4 in celebration of the Independence Day holiday or on July 11 as part of a scheduled two-week break in July. The Board’s next meeting will be on July 18.