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

The Board began the meeting with a moment of silence in honor of the late President Jimmy Carter and observance of the National Day of Mourning.

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 deputy district coroner

Approved the district coroner’s appointment of Amelia Nakanishi, M.D. as deputy district coroner for the Tenth Judicial District of Kansas and authorized the district coroner to appoint a deputy coroner or special deputy coroners if a vacancy occurs, pursuant to state law.

Consent Agenda Vote: Passed 7-0.

Appointment to Airport Commission

Approving the appointment of Daniel Nielson – Sixth District representative to the Airport Commission through July 31, 2027. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Appointment to Public Art Commission

Approved the appointment of Aleksandra Nokes – Sixth District representative to the Public Art Commission through Dec. 31, 2026. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Appraisal correction to 2024 tax roll

Authorized the County Appraiser’s Office to make an appraisal correction to the 2024 tax roll for commercial real estate, pursuant to state law. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Appointment of Douglas Jones as County Auditor

Appointed Douglas Jones to the position of County Auditor. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Plat approval for four residential lots

Approved a request from Judd Claussen, Phelps Engineering, Inc, applicant, and DAC Ventures, LLC, landowner, for preliminary and final plat approval of four residential lots on approximately 42 acres, to be known as “Prairie Creek Replat Lot 1” on property zoned RUR, Rural, District, at 14455 Kill Creek Road, in Section 3, Township 14, Range 22. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Approved plat exception to allow a street spacing of about 874 feet along a Type III CARNP Parkway, which is Kill Creek Road, instead of the 2,640 feet to avoid additional entrances onto the parkway. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Renewal of permit for outdoor storage yard

Resolution No. 005-25 (formerly Resolution No. 087-24). Approved a request from Phelps Engineering, Inc, applicant, and Bryant and Sheri Combes, landowners, for renewal of a conditional use permit to allow an outdoor storage yard in association with a construction contractor office and shop, on 6.93 acres on property zoned PEC-3, Planned Light Industrial Park District, at 6946 W. 207th St., in Section 8, Township 15, Range 25. [This item was continued from Dec. 5, 2024, to allow the applicant additional time to complete the required stormwater management study.] Vote: Passed 7-0.

Plat changes for industrial subdivision

Approved a request from Judd Claussen, Phelps Engineering, Inc. applicant, on behalf of MLBC, LLC, landowner, for a revised preliminary and final plat for Metcalf 211, Fourth Plat, a 5-lot industrial subdivision on 4.92 acres on property zoned PEC3, Planned Research, Development and Light Industrial Park District at 20869, 20891, 20923, 20947 and 20979 Floyd Street. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Plan changes for Metcalf 211

Approved a request from Judd Claussen, Phelps Engineering, Inc. applicant, on behalf of MLBC, LLC, landowner, for a revised preliminary development plan and final development plan for Metcalf 211, Phase 1, Lots 1-5, and 13-14 located on 8.01 acres on property zoned PEC3, Planned Research, Development and Light Industrial Park District at 20869, 20891, 20923, 20947, 20979, 21078 and 21079 Floyd Street. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Acceptance of grant to help individuals with substance use disorders

Accepted a $300,000 Kansas Fights Addiction Grant from the State of Kansas for Johnson County Mental Health to provide comprehensive, integrated care for underinsured and uninsured individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental illness and authorized the reallocation and expenditure of fund balance (reserves) for FY 2025 in the amount of $300,000. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Agreement for law enforcement services to De Soto

Authorized an agreement between Johnson County and the City of De Soto for the provision of law enforcement services to De Soto from 2025 through 2027 by the Sheriff’s Office for $3,095,372. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Johnson County had many hands-on deck in response to blizzard

Staff from all areas of our organization worked together on the response to this past weekend’s winter weather event, with impacts continuing to be felt into this week. Coordination and preplanning began several days before the storm hit, led by the County Manager’s Office and the Emergency Management division. As the blizzard progressed, leadership from across the organization collaboratively monitored weather conditions and neighboring jurisdictions’ actions to make coordinated decisions on in-person/remote operations, with the safety of our community and employees as the priority. Front-line employees performed essential and emergency services during extremely challenging conditions, including blowing snow, ice and frigid temperatures. Staff from Department of Emergency Services, the Sheriff’s Office and JCPRD Park Police handled higher-than-normal numbers of 9-1-1 calls, ambulance runs and other public safety responses. Public Works, Facilities Management and Airport crews worked long hours clearing roads, runways, parking lots and sidewalks. Employees from many areas worked overtime, performing essential services and ensuring all shifts were covered. Our Transit staff continuously monitored weather conditions and adapted services to those conditions. Communicators across the organization worked together to make sure employees and residents were kept up to date on impacts to programs and services. Thank you so much to all our employees who showed such dedication and expertise over the past week to help protect the safety of our workforce and our community.

New website tracks construction of De Soto's Sunflower Fire Station

The Sunflower Fire Station in De Soto is now under construction, and the public can now follow the project’s progress via a new website. The website will allow the community to celebrate the project and track its status. It includes drone footage that provides sweeping views of the build location off Lexington Avenue near 102nd Street and north of the Panasonic building site.

2024 Leadership in Action Awards recognize 36 employees

We had 36 employees from across the organization selected by county leadership as 2024 Leadership in Action recipients for outstanding work performed. We award these annually to the top 1% of our workforce. We plan to share their stories internally and externally throughout the year and they will be recognized at the Employee Recognition event on Feb. 12.

CERI releases December 2024 edition of Economic Indicators

The County Economic Research Institute has released its December 2024 edition of the Economic Indicators for Johnson County. The unemployment rate for October 2024 is 3.2%, a 0.3% increase from a year ago; single-family homes sold in October 2024 was 766, an 18% increase; year to date the number of single-family homes sold in 2024 was 7,026, a 1% decrease; single-family building permits issued in October 2024 totaled 181, an 84% increase; and year-to-date the number of single-family building permits issued in 2024 is 1,492, a 28% increase. CERI reports total retail sales for Johnson County were $14.99 billion year-to-date, as of September 2024, a 0.1% increase.

Two outgoing commissioner and sheriff recognized for their elected public service

The Board also presented certificates of special commendation to outgoing Third District Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara and Sheriff Calvin Hayden in recognition of their public service to Johnson County.

MOU on volunteer management

Consider authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding with Johnson County (via DTI) and Johnson County Park & Recreation District for the participation in and funding of Johnson County’s volunteer management solution, Samaritan. Authorize the County Manager, or their designee to execute future renewals or non-material changes to this MOU.

Contract to complete floodplain modeling project

RFP No. 2024-071. Consider authorizing a contract with Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. to complete the Captain and Kill Creek two-dimensional floodplain modeling project, in an amount not to exceed $1,151,989.

Acquisition of rights-of-way easements

Resolution No. 004-25. Consider adopting Resolution No. 004-25 authorizing the acquisition, by condemnation, of the rights-of-way and easements necessary for the Black Bob Road Safety Improvement Project between 153rd Terrace and 159th Street.

Contract to purchase Microsoft technology

Invitation for Bid (IFB) No. 2024-074. Consider authorizing a contract with Zones, Inc. for the purchase of Microsoft Government Cloud Enterprise Agreement, in the amount not to exceed $2,160,715.76 annually for a 3-year agreement with the option to renew for two additional 1-year periods.

Contracts to purchase police vehicles

Invitation for Bid (IFB) 2024-068. Consider authorizing term and supply contracts with multiple dealerships, in the amount not to exceed $6 million aggregate annually, for the purchase of vehicles and police motorcycles, for a period of one year with the option to renew for four additional 1-year periods.