DECEMBER
- 2007
$1.6 million Remodel of lower part of county building authorized
The lower level of the Johnson County Administration Building in downtown Olathe will be remodeled during the next four months to provide 10 new meeting rooms, both large and small, and modifications and additions of computer data closets throughout the building.
On Thursday, November 29, the Johnson County Public Building Commission authorized a contract with Turner Construction Company for construction management at risk services in an amount not to exceed $1,618,988. The funds will be used for the first phase of remodeling and renovating portions of the county building, located at 111 South Cherry Street. It is the first major remodeling work to the county building since it was completed in 1992.
The project architect is HELIX/Architecture + Design of Kansas City, Mo.
The first phase will involve the vacant portions of the lower level that were once occupied by the Med-Act Administrative Offices, the Print Shop, and the Department of Archives and Records Management.
Med-Act moved its operations to the Sunset Drive Office Building, 11811 South Sunset Drive, Olathe, when that building opened in early 2006.
The Print Shop and Archives Department began relocating to the county’s new Operations Center, 19310 South 159th Street, Olathe, in September and completed the move in November.
Joe Waters, director of the Facilities Department, said the project is being “fast-tracked” to accelerate the work and lower the cost. He expected construction to start in December with completion in March.
Waters said the work will cause no major disruption to normal business being conducted inside the Administration Building since the lower level is now mostly vacant. The office of the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, the only department remaining in the lower level, will remain open and accessible to the public during the project.
Future phases of this project include additional renovations and remodeling work to other areas of the Administration Building, including modifications to enhance public and employee security within the building, and modifications to the Courthouse.
All phases of this project, including the future modifications to the Courthouse, were approved as a Public Building Commission project through the county’s Capital Improvement Program and were funded in previous year budgets.
Total authorization for the capital project has been set at $6,845,000.
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JOHNSON COUNTY URGES WINTER AND ICE STORM PREPAREDNESS
Johnson County encourages all residents to visit www.preparemetrokc.org to develop a family emergency plan online! This will assist you in handling all types of emergencies that may impact your family.
Press Release
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Visit Local Library to Stay Warm
Johnson County Emergency Management and Homeland Security, in cooperation with the Johnson County Library System, encourage all citizens who need a place to stay warm due to power outages to visit one of thirteen library branches in the county. This network of library branches is located throughout the county.
Libraries offer many things in addition to a warm place to rest and restore. You can read books, magazines and newspapers. The hours of different branches vary by location. Citizens can call (913) 495-2400 or go to www.jocolibary.org to check hours of operation for their nearest library.
If local residents stay in their home while the power is out, Johnson County Emergency Management and Homeland Security recommends the following steps to stay safe and warm.
- Have an alternate plan for shelter if the power is out for an extended period (friend, relative, hotel)
- An alternate source of warmth and light
- Blankets and warm clothes;
- Flashlights with extra batteries;
- Extra wood if you have a wood burning fireplace;
If you use a propane or kerosene heater, please follow manufacturer’s instructions and use them only with proper ventilation.
- Have extra canned food that does not need to be heated and a hand-operated can opener
- Take special care and plan accordingly for your pets, elderly family members and/or neighbors that might be in need of assistance
For more information about winter weather preparedness, please visit www.jocoem.org.
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County launches effort to reduce greenhouse gases
On Thursday, December 13, the Johnson County Board of Commissioners took the first proactive steps to lower the levels of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, and other pollutants in Johnson County in decades to come. The effort will be aimed at curtailing greenhouse gas emissions, both within county government operations and the Johnson County community, with a goal to reduce the pollutions levels by 80 percent by the year 2050.
FULL STORY
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County receives high ratings in Citizen Survey
Four out of five Johnson County citizens give thumbs-up to the county’s quality of life and are satisfied with the quality of services and programs being provided by Johnson County Government.
The good marks were highlighted in the results of a 2007 Community Survey shared Thursday, December 13, with the Johnson County Board of Commissioners. The survey, involving a random sample of 3,000 Johnson County households, recently was completed by ETC Institute of Olathe.
FULL STORY
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Johnson County adopts new district commissioner boundaries for 2008
The Johnson County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution on Thursday, December 13, to reapportion the six commissioner districts effective in 2008.
The most notable change in the new redistricting plan was enlargement of the Third District by including both the city of Spring Hill and Spring Hill Township. The township area, involving a 35-square-mile area of southern Johnson County from 175th Street to the Miami-Johnson County line between Clare and Lackman roads, had been a part of the Sixth District.
Each of the other commissioner districts was changed to a lesser extent, including:
- The First District, represented by Commissioner Ed Peterson, adding a little more of southern Leawood;
- The Second District, represented by Commissioner John Segale, losing a small sliver of area in northern Lenexa for inclusion in the Fifth District represented by Commissioner Doug Wood;
- The Third District adding northern and western portions of southeast Olathe surrounding Executive Airport. The area, including the airport, previously was in the Fifth District;
- The Fourth District, represented by Commissioner Ed Eilert, serving more of Overland Park in an area once a part of the northern boundary of the Third District; and,
- The Fifth District being enlarged slightly in west Olathe in the vicinity K-10 Highway and South Woodland-Lone Elm roads; and south Olathe, in the area of I-35 from Sheridan to 151st streets. The areas previously were in the northeastern edge of the Sixth District.
The county’s redistricting plan has not been changed since 2002 when the Board created boundaries for six commissioner districts with approval of the county’s new Home Rule Charter. The charter expanded the Board from five to seven commissioners, including a sixth district commissioner and a publicly-elected, at-large chairman.
By state law, the Board is required to review the districts at least once every three years. When reviewed in 2005, it was determined that no changes were needed at that time.
Since the last redistricting process, Johnson County’s population has increased by more than 50,000 people. The estimated population in 2002 was 476,009. The current estimated population is approximately 527,000, resulting in disproportionate population representation amongst the six commissioner districts.
In establishing district boundaries, the Board had to consider many factors, including population, ward and precinct configurations, city and school district affiliations, and prior changes.
Based upon projected populations, Don Jarrett, Chief Counsel, advised the Board that the new district commissioner plan will have equal population for the year 2008 and is projected to be within acceptable deviation limits for 2012.
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Johnson County approves appointment of special prosecutor in DA’s Office
The Johnson County Board of Commissioners approved a request from District Attorney Phill Kline on Thursday, December 13, to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and prosecute, if necessary, alleged criminal wrongdoing in his office and authorized an initial $25,000 for retention of the special prosecutor.
On Thursday, Kline told the Board he had sufficient evidence of possible wrongdoing, but wanted a special prosecutor to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations and possible prosecution since some employees in the District Attorney’s Office could be potential witnesses.
The district attorney said the wrongdoings included “phone harassment, blackmail, and other crimes.”
Kline did not identify the target of the independent investigation.
The district attorney said he, not the Board, had the legal authority to select the special prosecutor, but the Board had the budget authority to provide funding for the investigation. The $25,000 authorized Thursday by the Board would allow Kline to retain an attorney to independently investigate the allegations; file possible charges, if needed; and prosecute the case.
“They will not report to me. They will not report to anyone in my office,” Kline said. “They will exercise independent judgment.”
Kline also must provide an estimated budget to the Board for additional costs of the special prosecutor for future consideration and approval. The Board has the authority to set a funding cap on paying for the special prosecutor.
The district attorney told the Board that a ballpark estimate of the costs would be in the neighborhood of $50,000.
Kline said he plans to move swiftly in the selection of the independent prosecutor and to begin the investigation “immediately.”
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