The Board of County Commissioners met on Thursday, March 30 in the Hearing Room at the Johnson County Administration Building. 

The Board proclaimed April 3-9 as National Public Health Week in Johnson County. 

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.  

Possible property tax relief options  

Approved a motion to place on a future agenda for board discussion and consideration possible property tax relief options for low-income seniors and disabled veterans, and the potential budget impact of the options. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Appointment to Commission on Aging 

Approved the appointment of Ben Harber - Fifth District representative to the Commission on Aging through Aug. 31, 2024. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Permit for accessory building 

Approved Resolution No. 023-23 and Application No. SE 22-271-CUP (AU) regarding a request from Kevin Trug, landowner, for a Conditional Use Permit with a 10-year term for a 2,200-square-foot accessory building in addition to an existing 320-square-foot accessory building, for a total of 2,520 square feet of accessory building area on property zoned RN1 (Residential Neighborhood 1) District, in Section 3, Township 15, Range 24 and located at 19740 Clearview Road. Vote: Passed 7-0. 

Revoking COVID-19 disaster emergency 

Approved Resolution No. 016-23 and revoked the declaration of local disaster emergency for COVID-19 declared on March 13, 2020 and extended by Resolution No. 021-20 and Resolution No. 028-20. Timing of revocation to occur with announced federal plans to terminate the declaration of a national emergency on or before May 11, 2023. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

Amendment was made to have revocation to become effective immediately. Vote: Failed 2-5.

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

Rescinding COVID-19 public health recommendations 

Approved Resolution No 017-23 as amended, effective May 11, 2023 or upon the termination of the COVID-19 pandemic national emergency order, thereby rescinding Resolution No. 032-21, establishing public health recommendations to slow and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Johnson County. (Along with the friendly amendment approved below.) Vote: Passed 5-2.

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

Substitute motion was made to Approve and Adopt Resolution No. 017-23, thereby rescinding Resolution No. 032-21 establishing public health recommendations to slow and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Johnson County, Kansas. A friendly Amendment was made to clarify to remove two exceptions as directed by the Board to staff in the amended resolution under consideration. Vote: Failed 3-4.

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

A friendly Amendment was made to amend No. 017-23  to insert between  effective May 11, 2023, and except,   “or upon the termination of the COVID-19 pandemic national emergency order.” 4th recital  in Resolution No. 017-23 to insert after effective May 11, 2023,  “or upon the termination of the COVID-19 pandemic national emergency order” and amend the 1st resolved clause in Resolution. Vote: Passed 5-2.

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

Contract change order for wastewater repair work 

Authorized a contract change order with Infrastructure Solutions, LLC for sewer stream crossing repair work across Indian Creek near 103rd Street and Metcalf Avenue, as part of the Metcalf and 103rd Interceptor Relocation and Capacity Improvements Project (ICM1-Contract 22) in the amount of $222,667, authorized an engineering addendum for additional construction phase engineering services with Burns & McDonnell in the amount of $204,900 and authorized the Wastewater General Manager to sign the change order and engineering addendum. Vote: Passed 7-0.

“Contain the Rain” improves stormwater quality  

The Johnson County Stormwater Management Program encourages individual homeowners and businesses to make improvements on their properties to improve stormwater quality. Contain the Rain in Johnson County is a reimbursement program for most JOCO residents who install sustainable landscape solutions that benefit stormwater. The Stormwater Management Program provides funding to cities in the county to administer the Contain the Rain Program to their residents. Installing sustainable landscape solutions, like rain gardens, native trees or rain barrels, on your property will help "contain the rain" where it falls, which reduces the amount of stormwater going into storm drains. Information on this program, including how to apply, can be found at Johnson County Cost-Share Rebate Program (containtherainjoco.com).  

Work gets underway at JoCo County Square 

Construction of the County Square, a joint project with Johnson County and the City of Olathe, has begun. The four areas that are fenced off will become the art garden play area, the historical plaza a seating area and the lantern stage. The work will continue throughout the summer and be complete in time for Old Settler's the first of September. 

Other Reports 

• Mark Dapp, principal management and budget analyst at the Budget and Financial Planning, presented a Legislative Update of the Kansas Legislature. 
• Johnson County Economic Update by the County Economic Research Institute
• KC Economic Forecast Update by the Mid-America Regional Council

Reappointment of Brian Roby 

Consider approving the reappointment of Brian L. Roby - Second District representative to the Housing and Community Development Advisory Committee through March 31, 2026.  

Reappointment of Jonathan Birkel 

Consider approving the reappointment of Jonathan Birkel - Seventh District representative to the Transportation Council through Dec. 11, 2024.  

Appointment of Scott Sayers 

 Consider ratifying the appointment of Scott Sayers – Chairman representative to the Transportation Council through Sept. 1, 2025.  

Contract increase for toxicology services 

Request for Proposal (RFP) 2020-033, Consider authorizing a contract increase in the amount of $50,000 with AXIS Forensic Toxicology and NMS Labs, for toxicology reference services, in the total amount of $150,000 for contract renewal two (2), March 11, 2023 to March 10, 2024, with two (2) remaining one (1) year renewals.  

Modified pay table for Emergency Services 

Resolution No. 029-23. Consider approving and adopting Resolution No. 029-23 modifying the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Budget Resolution No. 064-22 and approving a modified 2023 Emergency Services (ES) Pay Table to include Training Captains within the Emergency Services Pay Table originally approved as part of the FY 2023 Budget Resolution.  

Reclassification of reserves to address market disparity 

Consider approving and authorizing the reclassification and use of General Fund reserves in an amount not to exceed $540,000, the reclassification and use of Developmental Supports Fund reserves in an amount not to exceed $945,000, and the reclassification and use of Mental Health Fund reserves in an amount not to exceed $191,250 to address market disparity for select targeted jobs, resulting from a highly competitive labor market.  

Agreement for meal preparation and delivery 

Consider authorizing an exception to competition and services agreement with Hy-Vee, Inc. to provide meal preparation and delivery for the Adolescent Center for Treatment (ACT), the Crisis Recover Center (CRC), and Adult Detox Unit (ADU) in an amount not to exceed $225,000 annually for a period of one (1) year with the option to renew for four (4) additional one (1) year periods per Administrative Policy and Procedure #110.180.A.16.  

Designation of official newspaper  

Resolution No. 026-23, Consider approving Resolution No. 026-23 to designate The Legal Record as the official newspaper and authorize an exception to competition with The Legal Record for the purchase of legal publications, in the amount not to exceed $150,000 for a one (1) year term with four (4) optional one (1) year terms.  

Interim funding for Olathe Med-Act project 

Consider authorizing the execution of a cooperation agreement between Johnson County, Kansas (County) and the Public Building Commission (PBC) to transfer and advance up to $9,892,008 from County General Fund reserves to provide interim funding for the Med-Act Olathe Facility capital project. 

Med-Act facility in Olathe 

Resolution No. PBC 001-23. Consider whether to acquire, design, construct, reconstruct, equip and furnish improvements to a Med-Act facility to be located in Olathe, Kansas within Johnson County, Kansas; authorize the execution of a cooperation agreement between Johnson County, Kansas (County) and the Public Building Commission (PBC); and authorize the issuance of revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed $9,892,008 plus the cost of issuance for the purpose of paying all or a portion of the costs thereof and related financing costs; and providing for the giving of notice of said intention.  

Elevator project at Administration Building 

IFB # 2022-081 Consider authorizing a contract with Henderson Companies Inc dba Henderson Building Solutions LLC for the Administration Building Elevator Modernization Project located at 111 S. Cherry Street, Olathe, in the amount of $779,760.