The Board of County Commissioners met on Thursday, May 25 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.

Appointment of Nicole Palmer

Ratified the Chairman’s appointment to the REACH Board of Directors: Nicole Palmer, June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2026. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Appointment of Jenna Rose

Ratified the Chairman’s appointment to the REACH Board of Directors: Jenna Rose, June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2026. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Approval of final development plan

Approved a request from Patrick Gaither, Atlantic AE on behalf of Amazon, applicant, and Johnson County Airport, landowner, requesting a revised final development plan for parking lot revisions and installation of a water tank and pumphouse on property zoned PEC-3, Planned Research, Development and Light Industrial Park District, located at 27200 W 157th Street. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Renewal of AT&T agreement

Approved the renewal of the AT&T Business Local Calling agreement for 24 months to include current county billing accounts in an amount not to exceed $155,000. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Prohibiting truck traffic on Gardner Road

Adopted a resolution to prohibit truck traffic on Gardner Road from 199th Street to 215th Street. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Commissioner O’Hara’s amendment to prohibit truck traffic on specific secondary roads in unincorporated Johnson County. Vote: Failed 2-5.

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

Commissioner O’Hara’s amendment directing county staff to prepare a letter from the Board requesting the Kansas Department of Transportation post signage along I-35 directing semi-truck traffic to appropriate exits within Johnson County. Vote: Passed 7-0.

(Sitting as an Appeals Board) Conducted a hearing on county manager disapproval of a protest to an RFP

The BOCC, sitting as an Appeals Board, conducted a hearing on the county manager’s disapproval of the ViaPath Technologies protest to Request for Proposal 2022-084, inmate commissary, tablet/video visitation and phone services. A vote to uphold the decision of the county manager. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

Contracts for inmate commissary and other services

(Tabled from May 18 until May 25). Authorized contracts with Summit Food Service, LLC for commissary services; and Smart Communications Holding, Inc., for tablet/video visitation services and phone services at no cost to the county, each for a period of three years with two optional one-year terms. Item was previously tabled from May 4 to May 18. Vote: Passed 6-1.

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

County Economic Research Institute (CERI) Indicators – May 2023 Edition

The May 2023 edition of the Economic Indicators for Johnson County has been provided by CERI. The unemployment rate for March 2023 is 2.7%, compared to 2.5% in March of 2022, a 0.2% increase. The average unemployment rate for March the previous 5 years is 2.9%. The number of single-family homes sold in March 2023 was 600, compared to 786 in March 2022, a 24% decrease. Year to date the number of single-family homes sold in 2023 is 1,533, compared to 1,875 in 2022, a 18% decrease. More information is available in this memo and this report.

Today the Board met as a Committee of the Whole for a presentation to hear presentations from our health and human services departments and agencies as well as some of our outside agencies on their proposed FY 2024 budgets. View the PowerPoint presentation.

Contract amendment regarding credit card vendor

Consider approving Amendment #1 to the Johnson County Standard Agreement and Contract Conditions to the Via Mobility Transportation Management Software Contract between Johnson County Government and Via Mobility with respect to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards.

Fiber optic inter-local agreement with city of Shawnee

Consider approving a connectivity and fiber optic use inter-local agreement between Johnson County, Kansas and the City of Shawnee, Kansas at a one-time cost of $75,000.

Payment authorization for emergency repair at Adult Residential Center in Dec. 2022

Consider authorizing payment to Universal Construction for the emergency repair and restoration of the Adult Residential Center Building 3 in an amount not to exceed $185,203.

Development plans and final plats for two warehouse buildings in southwest Johnson County

Consider a request from Judd Claussen, Phelps Engineering, applicant, and Emch Feed & Elevator Co., landowner, for a Revised Preliminary Development Plan, Final Development Plan, and Revised Final Plat for two contractor storage warehouse buildings within the Metcalf 211 development, located southwest of 210th Street and Metcalf Avenue, Section 18, Township 15, Range 25.

Conditional Use Permit renewal for landscaping business

Consider a request from GMW Partners, LLC, applicant and landowner, Gail Messenger, managing partner, for renewal of a Conditional Use Permit to allow a landscape, lawn, and irrigation business with outside storage, located at 19160 Metcalf Avenue, on 10.5 acres, zoned PRB2, Planned Residential Neighborhood Retail Business District, Aubry Township, Johnson County, Kansas.

Issuance of taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds and granting of tax abatement for construction of a manufacturing facility at New Century Commerce Center

Consider adopting a resolution authorizing Johnson County to issue Taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) in the principal amount not to exceed $34,150,000 and assignment of such bonds and related documents for the purpose of financing the construction of a manufacturing facility located at 16105 John Glenn Way, New Century and to grant an ad valorem tax abatement on the constructed improvements and land for 10 years starting at $.30 a foot escalating at 1.5 percent (1.5%) each year thereafter and entering into a payment in lieu of tax (PILOT) agreement, and certain other documents in connection with the issuance of the bonds.

Funding for wastewater infrastructure improvement projects

Conduct a public hearing and consider authorizing funds for Johnson County Wastewater infrastructure improvement projects in an amount not to exceed $2,075,000.

inDENSE Hydrocycle units for Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin Wastewater Treatment Facility

Consider authorizing an exception to competition for the purchase of inDENSE Hydrocyclone units from World Water Works in an amount not to exceed $319,175 for the Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Compensation increase for election clerks and supervising judges

Consider authorizing an increase in compensation for election clerks and supervising judges for Johnson County elections.

Bridge contract for shoulder safety and structural improvement

Consider authorizing a contract with McAnany Construction, Inc. for bridge construction, grading, surfacing, and seeding for the 199th Street Shoulder Safety and Structural Improvement Project between Clare Road and US-169 Highway, in an amount not to exceed $3,615,855.40.

Construction inspection services contract

Consider authorizing a contract under Construction Inspection Services Contract RFP No. 2019-061 for the 199th Street Shoulder Safety and Structural Improvement Project between Clare Road and US-169 Highway with Renaissance Infrastructure Consulting, at a cost not to exceed $236,000.50.