The Board of County Commissioners met on Thursday, March 6 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.

Permit renewal for landscape business

Approved a request from Jeff Wolfert, Lighthouse Landscape and Design, applicant, and Susan L. Wolfert Trust, landowner, for a conditional use permit renewal to allow the continued operation of a landscape contractor business in conjunction with a wholesale tree nursery, on 5 acres, on property zoned RUR, Rural District, at 17140 U.S. 169 Highway. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Transit safety plan for FTA

Approved the Johnson County Transit’s Public Transit Agency Safety Plan as required by the Federal Transit Administration. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Contract for upfitting Sheriff’s Office vehicles

Authorized a term and supply contract with Traffic Control Services in the annual amount not to exceed $350,000 for vehicle upfitting of Sheriff’s Office vehicles per State of Kansas contract 55766. The contract term is one year with an option to renew upon mutual agreement two additional 1-year terms. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Purchase of supplies for Crime Lab

Authorized an exception to the county’s purchasing procedures for the purchase of DNA kits, reagents and supplies by the Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab from Life Technologies and Promega in an annual amount not to exceed $250,000 for each vendor annually for a period of three years. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Funding for wastewater project

Conducted a public hearing and authorized funds for the design and bid phase of the Tomahawk Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility Process Improvements Project (THM1 Contract 31) in an amount not to exceed $1,670,700. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Position statement about Evergy’s petition before KCC

Approved a position statement relative to the Johnson County’s notice of intervention concerning Evergy’s Petition for Determination of Ratemaking Principles and Treatment before the Kansas Corporation Commission. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Funding increase for new Health Services Building

Tabled from Feb. 6, 2025. Approved and authorized an increase of $3,070,000 for the new Health Services Building capital project bringing the new total project authorization in an amount not to exceed $116,524,000.

A motion was made and seconded to vote on the two sustainability enhancements items separately. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Enhanced Water reclamation: Vote: Passed 5-2.

• Yes: Fast, Brewer, Hanzlick, Allenbrand, Kelly
• No: Meyers, Ashcraft

Rooftop Solar Panels: Vote: Passed 5-2.

• Yes: Fast, Meyers, Hanzlick, Allenbrand, Kelly
• No: Brewer, Ashcraft

Tabled from Feb. 6, 2025. Approved and authorized an increase of $3,070,000 for the new Health Services Building capital project bringing the new total project authorization in an amount not to exceed $116,524,000. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Johnson County Broadband and Digital Access Plan Update

An update regarding the progress on the Johnson County Broadband and Digital Access Plan has been prepared by Jay Leipzig, director of Planning, Housing and Community Development. A memo detailing key accomplishments to date is attached to the memo. The final plan is also attached for the board’s review. Jay Leipzig will provide a presentation at the board meeting on Thursday during the manager memo that will provide highlights of the plan and recommendations for next steps.

Johnson County Wastewater receives National Environmental Achievement Award

Johnson County Wastewater has recently been recognized for its Employee Progression Program. Raul Romero, Assistant Director of Operations and Maintenance – Collections, and General Manager, Susan Pekarek, attended the National Association of Clean Water Agencies Winter Conference last month where JCW received the National Environmental Achievement Award for its Employee Progression Program. This innovative program was spearheaded by Raul Romero, and it has reduced the vacancy rate in O&M Collections to 2%. There is a 100% retention rate for the participants in the program.

National Employee Appreciation Day

March 7, 2025, is National Employee Recognition Day. Since 1995, the first Friday of March is dedicated to showing appreciation for employers in all industries. Johnson County Government has approximately 4,300 employees. They are highly skilled, passionate, and innovative. I appreciate their dedication to implementing the Board of County Commissioners priorities and serving our community. We annually score high marks in our community satisfaction survey and could not do that without our workforce.

Continued partnership with Johnson County Community College

In February Johnson County Library (JCL) approved the continued 40-year partnership with Johnson County Community College (JCCC) to provide spaces for JCCC Adult Education to provide GED and ESL classes. With the closure of our Antioch Branch, JCCC Adult Education will now only use space at our Gardner location to provide this service. The partnership has been successful, and it helps to meet the strategic plan goals, specifically our goal to annually review and align the strategic partnerships to continue to support the mission of Johnson County Library.

Other Reports: Legislative Update

Erin Winn, governmental relations coordinator, presented a legislative update.

The BOCC held a Committee of the Whole to discuss its rules of order.

Changes to the method of adding items to the agenda

An amendment was made to the redlined version of page 23, section E, subsection 4. If the Chair determines that the item should not be on the agenda, the requesting member can ask that it be on a future agenda to be voted on whether it should be included as a regular agenda item, subject to administrative approval. Vote: Passed 5-2.

• Yes: Fast, Meyers, Brewer, Ashcraft, Hanzlick
• No: Allenbrand, Kelly

Directed staff to make revisions as presented, as amended above. Vote: Passed 5-2.

• Yes: Fast, Meyers, Brewer, Ashcraft, Hanzlick
• No: Allenbrand, Kelly

A later motion was made to direct staff to add back the struck-out item #1 under E on page 23, with the added language that If the Chair denies the request, the following process will take place (new #1-4). Passed by no objections.

Changes to appointments to boards and commissions

Direct staff to make revisions as presented except changing the commissioner comment period to 10 calendar days. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Changes to call the question

Direct staff to make revisions as presented. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Liaison assignments

Direct staff to make revisions as presented, adding a line that assignments will continue until the Chair makes such appointments. Passed by no objections.

Vice-Chair Appointment

Direct staff to make revisions as presented, adding a line that assignments will continue until the Chair makes such appointments. Passed by no objections.

Changes to Notes for the Record

Direct staff to make revisions as presented, eliminating the word “Effectuating” and revising wording for this. Passed by no objections.

Changes COW to Action Item

Direct staff to make revisions as presented. Passed by no objections.

Fence replacement at Johnson County Executive Airport

Consider authorizing a change order to the contract with Century Fence Company, for additional fence replacement at the Johnson County Executive Airport, in an amount not to exceed $156,145; and increasing the total contract and project budget authority to an amount not to exceed $565,410, per Invitation for Bid (IFB) No. 2024-058.

Contract amendment for wastewater Integrated Plan

Consider authorizing a contract amendment for $3,599,030 with HDR Engineering for JCW Integrated Plan program services, increasing the total not-to-exceed contract amount to $18,913,030.