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

The board proclaimed March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and National Purchasing Month. 

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 to Park and Recreation Commission 

Approved the appointment of Erik Hage - Seventh District representative to the Park and Recreation Commission through Jan. 31, 2026. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Unexpended KDOC funds to Corrections 

Authorized and submitted the budget for the Johnson County Department of Corrections’ SFY 2022 Unexpended Funds award from the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) in an amount not to exceed $86,639.53 and authorized a use of General Funds reserves in an amount not to exceed $86,640. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Agreement with Technology Group Solutions 

Authorized an annual agreement with Technology Group Solutions for the purchase of Cisco Smart Net maintenance and support in the amount not to exceed $119,447.26 per State of Kansas Contract 47258. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Contract with Mythics 

Authorized a contract with Mythics, for Oracle Enterprise Business Suite migration services at the cost of $370,800 and a 1-year term for the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure subscription with four optional annual renewals at a yearly cost not to exceed $142,251 thereafter per State of Kansas Contract 48188. Vote: Passed 7-0. 

Agreement with Optiv 

Authorized an annual agreement with Optiv for the purchase of firewall maintenance and support in the amount not to exceed $106,648.56 per State of Kansas Contract 46253. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Interlocal agreement with Shawnee 

Approved an interlocal agreement to participate in the City of Shawnee’s Neighborhood Revitalization Area. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Contract change order for wastewater project 

Authorized contract change order authority with Crossland Heavy Contractors, Inc. for the Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin Wastewater Treatment Facility FOG Mixing System Improvements Project (IMB1-Contract 33) in an amount not to exceed $250,000 and authorized the Wastewater General Manager to sign change orders up to $250,000 in total, including a project change order over $100,000, for a contract maximum of $798,692. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Funding increase for airport rail project 

Approved and authorized an increase of $153,204 for the FY 2022 Airport KDOT Rail Grant Maintenance Capital Improvement Project bringing the new total project authorization to an amount not to exceed $705,771 and the transfer of approximately $153,204 from Airport Enterprise Fund reserves to fund the project increase; and authorized a change order with T.L. Wallace, LLC in the amount of $153,204 for a not to exceed total contract amount of $1,534,620.30 for the purchase of KDOT Rail Grant Maintenance, IFB # 2022-075. Vote: Passed 7-0.

First revision to the Amended Rules of Order for BOCC 

(Added item by BOCC to Agenda) Approved No. 024-23 adopting the amended First Revision to the Amended Rules of Order for the Board of County Commissioners of Johnson County. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Amendment was offered to have future agenda item(s) placed on the agenda within six weeks and to allow staff an additional two weeks, if request, in completing agenda materials. Vote: Failed 3-4.

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

Amendment was made to Resolution No. 024-23 to have staff apprise BOCC on status of future agenda items. Vote: Passed 7-0.

Update on programming initiatives for behavioral health/justice involved individuals.

Wastewater project receives Capstone Award  

The County Manager announced the Tomahawk Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility project was selected as one of the 2023 Capstone Award winners from Kansas City Business Journal. This year's Capstone Awards honor 26 projects completed in 2023 throughout the metro. To be honored, each project had to be move-in ready by the end of 2022. A panel of judges selected the honorees. The winners are available here. The Johnson County Courthouse, Medical Examiner Facility and Justice Annex are among the list of past Capstone Award winners. The 2023 winners will be recognized at an awards reception on Thursday, April 13, at Loews KC Hotel. During the program, attendees will learn about the winning projects and the impact they have had on our community.  

Spring JoCo Academy begins session 

On Tuesday, we had the first session of the 2023 Spring JoCo Academy. Members heard from Chairman Mike Kelly, Penny Postoak Ferguson, Robin Symes, Harry Heflin, and Dan Robeson provided a tour of the EOC and explained how we prepare for emergencies. There are 40 members of the group, and they are spread across all Commission Districts. They will be meeting for 10 more weeks, touring various facilities and learning about Johnson County Government. We had a great response to our call for applicants and have close to 30 residents that will be contacted about participating in our Fall 2023 session.  

Restricted access to TikTok on JoCo networks starts March 10  

The federal government and many states, including Kansas, announced TikTok restrictions in December following Congressional action. The County reviewed TikTok last summer and re-reviewed TikTok given the recent federal and state action. Based on this review and consulting across departments, offices and agencies, TikTok access by employees on JoCo networks will be restricted as of 5 p.m. on March 10. Exceptions will be made for employees with a business need to use TikTok. 

Other Reports 

• Becky Jones, deputy director of Financial Management & Administration, provided a Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (LFRF) - Funding and Expense Report ending Feb. 28, 2023. 
• Mark Johnson of Budget and Financial Planning presented a Legislative Update of the ongoing Kansas Legislature session. 

Proposed condemnation for road project 

Resolution No. 018-23. Consider authorizing the acquisition, by condemnation, of the rights-of-way and easements, necessary for the 103rd Street, Evening Star Road to K-10 road improvement project and authorize the Chairman of the Board to enter into an agreement with the City of De Soto to reimburse the County for all expenses related to the acquisitions.  

Contract amendment for construction services 

Consider authorizing a contract amendment with McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., for Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment Number 4 – Equipment Purchase and Initial Facility Demolition and Modifications, for Construction Manager at Risk construction phase services for the Nelson Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements project (NEL-C001) in the amount of $52,898,607 for a total construction phase services authorization in an amount not to exceed $76,540,815; and consider authorizing a contract amendment with Black & Veatch Corporation for Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment Number 4 engineering construction phase services, in the amount of $3,052,500, for a total engineering authorization in an amount not to exceed $42,819,100.  

Amending BOCC’s meeting calendar 

Resolution No. 020-23. Consider amending the official meeting calendar for the Board of County Commissioners for 2023.