The Board of County Commissioners met on Thursday, March 7 in the Hearing Room at the Johnson County Administration Building.

The Board proclaimed March 2024 as National Purchasing Month and March 3-9, 2024 as Women in Construction 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.

Appointments to various groups

Approved appointments of Brian J Walker – Sixth District representative to the Fire District No. 1 Governing Board through July 1, 2024; Haile Sims – Chairman representative to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coalition through Oct. 31, 2025; and Alleen VanBebber – Chairman representative to the Criminal Justice Advisory Council through Oct. 2, 2024.

Purchase of vaccines

Authorized an exception to competition for Johnson County Department of Health and Environment to purchase certain vaccines manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur under JCDHE’s membership with Atlantic Health Partners with total annual purchases in an amount not to exceed $200,000 for the contract period ending Dec. 31, 2024. Consent Agenda Vote: Passed 7-0.

Adding land to Edgerton Cemetery District

After a public hearing, adopted Resolution No. 015-24 to add adjoining land to the Edgerton Cemetery District. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Plat and permit for soccer complex

(Remanded from 12/14/2023 BOCC meeting.) Consider  a request from Dan Finn, Phelps Engineering, applicant, on behalf of Cogent Enterprises, LLC, landowners, for a preliminary plat (preliminary development plan) for four lots on 67.07 acres and for a conditional use permit for a soccer complex on 54.4 acres and for a 5-year term at 20305 Metcalf Avenue.

Motion to approve preliminary plat (preliminary development plan) for a four lot industrial subdivision to be known as Metcalf soccer complex. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

Motion was made to approve Resolution No. 023-24, approving a conditional use permit for a soccer complex at 20305 Metcalf Avenue subject to the stipulations as set forth in the resolution and with the following changes: #3 shall be a term of 10 years. #6 shall read “The hours of operation shall be limited to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week.”, #18 shall be removed. #19 shall be the new number 18 and read “Evergreens, Green Giant Arborvitae or equivalent trees, shall be planted 15 feet on center along the north property line adjacent to the residential, in order to achieve 75% screening to address lighting concerns objectives outlined in the Stilwell Community Plan.”

Amendment was made to have the developer build appropriate turn lanes coming from north and change speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph from 199th to 207th streets then friendly amendment for turn lanes also at adjacent intersections. Vote: Failed 2-5.

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

Amendment was made to include a 5-year review and a public hearing as part of the 10-year term for the conditional use permit present before the BOCC. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Amendment was made to have no lighted fields at the soccer complex. Vote: Failed 2-5.

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

Motion was made to approve the conditional use permit (as stated in original motion) as amended for the soccer complex. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

After the recess with reconvening of meeting, motion was made to reopen item No. 7 for the reconsideration of the term stipulation of the 5-year review and public hearing.

Commissioner Fast had left meeting. Vote: Passed 5-1.

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

Motion was made for amendment to the approved CUP to Amend the 10 year term stipulation, of the 5-year report to the BOCC from applicant with public comments taken, presented within the BOCC’s regular Business meeting for the BOCC to take Action of Acceptance. Vote: Passed 5-1.

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

Juvenile Detention Center to form Lowrider Bike Club chapter

Lowrider Bike Club at Corrections is pleased to announce that they have officially become a chapter of the Olathe Public School’s Lowrider Bike Club. They are launching the Juvenile Detention Center chapter soon. The Lowrider Bike Club offers high schoolers a chance to customize a flashy, envy-inducing bike, but also an opportunity to develop relationships with mentors and connect to the Mexican American lowrider culture. The JDC program will be modeled closely after the community's other chapters, focusing on significantly impacting the youth in detention. Corrections staff attended one of the sessions at Olathe North, where they gained valuable insights that they are using to finalize the implementation details for JDC. This club will provide a positive activity for youth to participate in while in JDC. Moreover, the Lowrider Bike Club is exploring ways to involve community partners as mentors to foster a positive relationship between the youth and the community in which they live and interact.

County receives 26th Annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement award

Johnson County has been awarded the prestigious 26th Annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement® for 2023 from the National Procurement Institute, Inc. The AEP Award is earned by public and non-profit agencies that demonstrate a commitment to procurement excellence. This annual program recognizes procurement organizations that embrace Innovation, Professionalism, Productivity, Leadership, and e-Procurement. The AEP program encourages the development of excellence as well as continued organizational improvement to earn the award annually. For 2023, there were 194 successful applicants, including 45 counties, 67 cities, 17 higher education agencies, 25 school districts, 25 special districts, five state agencies and 10 others. Three organizations in Kansas achieved the 2023 award: Johnson County, city of Wichita and Water One. Johnson County has received 16 awards since 2007.

Other Reports

Performance Audit: Exceptions to Competition was presented by County Auditor Harry Heflin and Michael Eglinski from Audit Services.

MARC Report on Kansas City’s 2024 Economic Forecast was presented by Frank Lenk, director of Research Services at the Mid-America Regional Council.

CERI Report on Johnson County Economic Update was presented by Doug Davidson, president of the County Economic Research Institute.

Other Reports – Legislative

Mark Dapp, deputy director of Budget and Financial Planning, presented a legislative update through the week of Feb. 26.

The Board will not meet March 14, 2024. The next Board meeting will be March 21, 2024.