The Board of County Commissioners met on Thursday, Nov. 9 in the Hearing Room at the Johnson County Administration Building.

The Board presented a Certificate to Recognition to Colleen Good, the recipient of as this year’s Peg Deaton Award by the Johnson Commission on Aging. Good has been a volunteer with Johnson County Aging and Human Services since 2012.

The Board also proclaimed Nov. 10-15 in recognition of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, a five-day Indian tradition and holiday celebrated during the Hindu month of Kartika.

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.

Delegates to KAC conference

Approved Commissioner Hanzlick as the voting delegate and Commissioner O’Hara as the first alternate delegate and Julie Karins, deputy county manager, as the second alternate delegate for the 2023 Kansas Association of Counties conference, annual business meeting.

Appraisal correction to clerical error

Authorized the County Appraiser’s Office to make an appraisal correction to the 2023 tax roll for Commercial Real Estate pursuant to K.S.A. 79-1701a.

Consent Agenda Vote: Passed 7-0.

Appointment to Commission on Aging

Approved the appointment of Daniel Goodman – Third District representative to the Commission on Aging through Aug. 31, 2024. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Increased total contract amount

Authorized an exception to competition and increase to the existing contract with Talisen Technologies for Utility Billing and Building Management Fault Protection in an amount of $30,500, for a total contract value in an amount not to exceed $130,291. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Allocation for Eviction Mediation Pilot Program

Authorized the allocation of Coronavirus SLFRF received from the United States Department of the Treasury in an initial request of $36,500 for the purpose of extending the Eviction Mediation Pilot Program from December 2023 to March 2024.

Motion was made to increase the funding by $97,500 to a total allocation of $134,000 and to extend the program to the end of December 2024. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Contract extension for records management system

Authorized a contract extension with Niche Technology, in the amount of $1,336,025 for a countywide law enforcement records management system and related software to extend the agreement terms from Jan. 1, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2028. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Suspension of three transit routes

Approved suspension of the 482 Overland Park Flex, 519 Olathe-Express and the 595 Gardner-OP Express routes. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Johnson County Government shining a green light to support our veterans

Johnson County, in partnership with Kansas Association of Counties, is participating in Operation Green Light this week (Nov. 6–12.) The National Association of Counties and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers invited the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs to join Operation Green Light and let our veterans and families know that they are seen, appreciated and supported. We have lit the Johnson County Administration Building, 111 S. Cherry St., green in support of the campaign. We thank all veterans for their service and look forward to celebrating them and their families at our annual Veterans Day event tomorrow at 11 a.m. at the Kansas Army National Guard Armory (18200 West 87th Street Parkway.) Learn more at jocogov.org/jocohonorsvets.

Kansas City Star partners with Johnson County Mental Health

The Kansas City Star’s service journalism team has partnered with JCMHC for an editorial series addressing fentanyl overdoses in the Kansas City area. The series consists of four individual stories highlighting the devastating impact of fentanyl in the Kansas City Area. A team from JCMHC met with the Kansas City Star to discuss various strategies being employed in Johnson County, including the efforts of the Johnson County Prevention and Recovery Coalition. The coalition has been invited to participate in community events to distribute naloxone and information materials. The first event is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Overland Park Farmer’s Market. Additionally, the prevention and community relations teams are working on creating promotional materials for the coalition to distribute at the event. View a Guide to Preventing Fentanyl Overdoses and Poisonings Around Kansas City.

Johnson County’s VIBE efforts featured in national publication cover story

We were honored to have been selected as the cover story for the November/December issue of PM (Public Management) Magazine, the official and award-winning magazine of the International City/County Management Association. The article highlights our VIBE (Voices of Inclusion, Belonging and Equity) efforts. This is the first time this ICMA publication has been dedicated solely to counties. The cover story highlights how our organization began its focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, how VIBE benefits our workforce and how our new DEI Coalition will carry that focus into our community. The January/February issue of PM Magazine will include an article about our focus on being a high-performing organization. View the article on our VIBE efforts.

Other Reports

Robin Symes, director of Budget & Financial Planning, and Becky Jones, deputy director of Financial Management & Administration, presented an Interim Financial Report, as of Sept. 30, 2023.

The Board received a K-10 Update and reviewed plans for a 2024 Community Survey.

Site services for new air traffic control tower

Consider authorizing Authorization No. 1a. for Site Selection Services for a new air traffic control tower at New Century AirCenter, per the term-and-supply contract with Burns and McDonnell for the siting, design, bidding and construction services for a new control tower at the New Century AirCenter, in an amount not to exceed $218,178.70.

Maintenance fees for software

Consider authorizing annual maintenance fees with Hyland Software LLC, for Perceptive Content Software, at a cost not to exceed $103,912 per State of Kansas contract 47946.

Contract for reporting tool

Consider authorizing a contract with Insight Public Sector, in the amount of $112,522.29, for SplashBI reporting tool for a 3-year term, per State of Kansas Contract 53180.

Request to allow building addition

Resolution No. 097-23. Application No. W 23-350-FDP (GA). Consider a request from Renaissance Infrastructure Consulting, applicant, Steel and Pipe Supply Co., Inc., lessee, and Johnson County Airport Commission, landowner, for a final development plan to allow a building addition to an existing warehouse and distribution facility, on 21.9 acres, on property zoned PEC3, Planned Light Industrial Park District, located at 401 New Century Parkway, New Century AirCenter.

Amending Fire District #1 budget

Resolution No. 093-23. Consider adopting Resolution No. 093-23 to amend the FY 2023 Budget for Fire District # 1 increasing appropriations in General Fund by $846,477 to the amount of $9,225,374.

Hearing on bond issue for industrial facility

(Continued from 11/2/23 with the Public Hearing Held Open) Resolution No. 095-23. Hold a public hearing and consider adopting a resolution of intent relating to the issuance of not to exceed $114,390,000 of industrial revenue bonds and granting a 10-year abatement from ad valorem real estate taxes for an industrial facility financed by such bonds at New Century AirCenter business park for the benefit of 27302 W. 159th St., LLC, or its successors and assigns.

Contract for municipal advisory services

Request for Proposal (RFP) 2023-054. Consider authorizing a contract with Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, LLC for municipal advisory services in an amount not to exceed $200,000 for a 1-year term with the option to renew annually for up to four additional 1-year terms.

Setting BOCC’s official 2024 meeting calendar

Resolution No. 098-23. Consider setting an official meeting calendar for the Board of County Commissioners for 2024.