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Reports below include:
Johnson County Board of County Commissioners
Blue Valley School Board
Shawnee Mission School Board
Overland Park City Council
Prairie Village City Council

April 16, 2026 Admin Session

CALL TO ORDER AND OPENING CEREMONIES

• Seven Days of Kindness Week, held April 20–28, honors the lives lost in the 2014 Village Shalom tragedy by uplifting kindness as a community value. As a designated Kindness County, Johnson County invites residents to engage in purposeful acts of kindness all week long. Event details can be found through Give SevenDays®
  
  
• National Volunteer Week celebrates the dedication of 8,561 volunteers who contributed over 369,000 hours in the past year, enabling staff to maximize entrusted resources and generating an estimated $2.8 million in fiscal value.

PUBLIC COMMENTS lasted seven minutes and featured support for the Board taking the next step on accessible housing, along with a concern about Tax Day and the lack of streaming or recording for BOCC study sessions, where much of the Board’s work and learning takes place.

NOTES FOR THE RECORD

• Agreement with the Cities of Roeland Park, Mission, and Spring Hill for the Public Improvements of 51st Street, Nall Avenue to Cedar Street, and 207th Street from Webster Street to Woodland Road, respectively.
  
  
• Agreement with the Cities of Overland Park, Gardner, and Mission for Stormwater System Renewal Projects, and with Gardner, for a Stormwater System Inspection Project known as Center Street Storm Sewer Inspections.

CONSENT AGENDA was approved unanimously.

• Approved the March 26, 2026, business session minutes.
  
• Approved the Chair’s nominee, Cameron Maughmer, to the Contractor Licensing Review Board.
• Approved the Sixth District Commissioner’s nominees, Timmothy Orrick, Craig Connell, and Jeff Huff, to the Planning Commission.
• Approved the Chair’s nominee, Leonard Nick, to the Investment Review Group.
• Approved the Chair’s nominees, Roger Spears and Rod Richardson, and the Sixth District Commissioner’s nominees, Jeff Huff, John DeGande, and Leslie Hind, to the Consolidated Zoning Board.
• Approved the Sixth District Commissioner’s nominee, Matthew Volz, to the Johnson County Transit Council.
• Approved the Third District Commissioner’s nominee, Stacey Knoell, to the Tenth Judicial District Judicial Nominating Commission.
• Approved the First District Commissioner’s nominee, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey, to the Johnson County Consolidated Fire District No. 2 Governing Board. 

April 22, 2026 Business Session

PUBLIC COMMENTS lasted ten minutes and included concerns about senior staff salaries, information shared about faith-based organizations’ requirements for assisting unhoused residents, an update on the Silver-Haired Legislature, and complaints regarding the lack of transparency surrounding the Housing Ad Hoc Committee.

NOTES FOR THE RECORD

• An agreement with the Cities of DeSoto, Fairway, Lenexa, Merriam, Mission Hills, Overland Park, Roeland Park, Westwood, Westwood Hills, Prairie Village, Gardner, Mission Woods, Mission, and Shawnee for Stormwater Management Program “Contain the Rain” Cost Share Programs.
• A resolution enlarging the privately financed sewer district and providing for the assessments of all applicable fees, charges, and levies of the Consolidated Main Sewer District in the vicinity of 175th Street and Kenneth Rd.
• A settlement participation form for the nationwide opioid litigation settlement for six regional distributors/dispenser defendants.
• A consent to an assignment of Contract 2023-069 for Construction Inspection Services for Johnson County Public Works.

CONSENT AGENDA was approved unanimously by a vote of 7-0.

• Approving the April 2, 2026, business session minutes.
• Adopting the Bylaws of the Mental Health Advisory Board.
• Approving the Memorandum of Understanding: concerning the grant application made by Olathe through the 2025 Bureau of Justice Assistance Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to include Olathe, Overland Park, Lenexa & Shawnee.
• Authorizing a contract with R&R Concrete KC INC for the Transit Operations 2026 Paving Improvements Project at the Murray L. Nolte Transit Center in an amount not to exceed $258,725.76.
• Granting the City of Olathe a Special Use Permit for a communications facility, south of 151st Street and west of Red Bird Street, Olathe, Kansas, within one mile of New Century AirCenter.
• Approving the City of Gardner Rezoning, Preliminary and Final Development Plan for Gardner Hotel, a 4-story hotel on 3.2 acres, located northeast of New Trails Cir and New Trails Pkwy, Gardner, KS, and 1 mile from New Century AirCenter.

ACTION AGENDA

• Authorized a contract with Superior Bowen Asphalt Company, LLC for approximately 14.26 miles of roadway overlays at various locations in unincorporated Johnson County, for $2,522,710.82. According to Ryan Sims, the project is part of the Annual Maintenance Program, and the contract was awarded based on the company’s low bid and its prior experience with similar county work.  A public commenter inquired about how the staff protects bidder confidentiality and ensures that all criteria are met. Purchasing staff described the “cone of silence” that applies once bids are submitted, noting that any vendor questions are answered publicly to maintain fairness, and that all bid information becomes public after the award.  Commissioner Kelly commended staff for strong purchasing practices, while Allenbrand and Brewer praised road maintenance efforts in their unincorporated districts. Staff also reported that recent increases in material costs appear to be stabilizing. The measure passed unanimously, 7–0.
• Adopted a resolution setting a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. on May 14th for the purpose of receiving public input on proposed amendments to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Budget for the Transportation Fund for $6,871,162 in additional funding. Passed by a vote of 7-0.
• Approved an amendment to the contract with Transdev North America, Inc. to provide Airport Express Services and Johnson County United Link services in support of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and to accept associated federal funds. A public commenter noted that although federal dollars are being added to county funds, residents ultimately pay both through federal taxes.  Allenbrand asked staff to ensure that information is shared directly with cities or through their commissioners. Ashcraft emphasized that much of the county’s cost will be offset by spending from World Cup attendees, and staff noted that the regional World Cup bid included specific transit-service requirements. Commissioner Brewer highlighted the county’s responsibility to reduce roadway congestion, which public transit helps achieve.  Staff explained that some systems had to be built out before funding was finalized, but that early planning resulted in cost savings. The measure passed 6–0–1, with Kelly recusing.
• (Added item, per Chair, from the 4/16/26 meeting) Approved and adopted the transit regional fare policy, Johnson County Transit fare structure: a base fare of $2; reduced fare at $1; $4 for K-10; day pass at $4; weekly pass at $20; and monthly pass at $62.50 with service with a phase one (1) implementation targeted for June 1, 2026 with FIFA World Cup Link routes: $5 for a base pass; $25 for a 7 day pass; and $50 for a tournament pass. Adopted by a vote of 7-0.

2026 RideKC Regional Fare Policy

• MANAGER'S MEMO
  •  The County’s Juneteenth celebration has moved from a single centralized event to a distributed, community-based approach due to constraints related to the FIFA World Cup. This shift also creates an opportunity to expand reach, engage broader audiences across the region, and continue celebrating Black history and culture in more accessible ways. As part of this effort, the County has commissioned a signature artwork by artist Daniel Montoute centered on themes of strength, resilience, and growth.  The campaign will run from June 1–28 and is expected to reach over 1 million impressions, with additional visibility through potential bus shelter placements and community events. Look for a refreshed Juneteenth website.
  • The second quarter Johnson County 2026 World Cup full Committee meeting included reports from Public Safety Planning, Workforce Readiness, Public Transportation Planning, Recreation & Library Activities, and Communication & Engagement. Check the Host City App Home - FIFA World Cup 26™ Kansas City and JOCO Parks and Recreation for free watch parties, Johnson County United for all things World Cup, and the Enterprise Center of Johnson County for tips for business participation.
    

• OTHER REPORTS
  • FY 2027 to FY 2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Update Microsoft PowerPoint - FY 2027 CIP Update - 4.23.2026 for Agenda
  • State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds 2026 First Quarter PowerPoint Presentation

May 7, 2026 Admin session

OPENING CEREMONIES

• Child Care Provider Appreciation Day Proclamation
• Mental Health Month Proclamation

PUBLIC COMMENTS lasted about five minutes and included concerns about the absence of county cost-benefit data related to a TIF under consideration by the City of Shawnee, as well as objections to framing the current shelter crisis solely as a homelessness issue rather than a broader housing challenge. 

NOTES FOR THE RECORD

Signed an agreement with the City of Spring Hill for the Public Improvement of 191st Street from Madison Street to Woodland Road. 

Consented to the Assignment of Contract for Bulk Gasoline and Diesel Fuel, from World Fuel Services, Inc., to Diesel Direct, LLC.

CONSENT AGENDA approved by a vote of 7-0.

• Approved the April 9, 2026, business session minutes.
• Approved the First District Commissioner’s nominee, Jennifer Day, to the Museum Advisory Council.
• Approved the Chair’s nominee, Anh Rongish, to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coalition.
• Approved the Chair’s nominee, Molly Albers, to the Community Advisory Council for the Health Forward Foundation.
• Approved the Chair’s nominees, Nicole Palmer and Jenna Rose, to the REACH Board of Directors.
• Approved the Fourth District Commissioner’s nominee, Emily Vietti, to the Johnson County Public Art Commission.

ACTION AGENDA

• Approved a resolution of intent to issue Industrial Revenue Bonds for Blue Valley Crest Apartments, LP, in support of affordable housing development for sales tax exemption only. Approved by a vote of 7-0.
• Approved a resolution of intent to issue Industrial Revenue Bonds for Blue Valley Crest Townhomes, LLC, in support of moderate-income housing development for sales tax exemption only.  Approved by a vote of 7-0.
• Microsoft PowerPoint - Hoppe Development
• Hoppe Development is a vertically integrated real estate firm and regional leader in affordable housing across the Midwest. The company manages every stage of development, including land acquisition and planning, entitlements, project financing, construction, and long-term compliance and property management. Each year, Hoppe closes financing on 300–700 units across 3–8 projects, leveraging tools such as Federal and State LIHTC, Historic Tax Credits, Private Activity Bonds, National Housing Trust Funds, HOME, CDBG-DR, ARPA, TIF, conventional lending, and local funding sources, representing $60–$100 million in annual development value. Most LIHTC projects carry a 45-year affordability period through a LURA. As both developer and long-term owner/operator, Hoppe partners closely with municipalities and nonprofits to expand development opportunities and strengthen community outcomes. Phase I (Blue Valley Crest Apartments) is the first of a planned three-phase mixed-income residential development located on approximately 7.11 acres east of Metcalf Avenue between 158th and 159th Streets in Overland Park.  Phase II (Blue Valley Crest Townhomes) comprises up to 20 moderate-income townhome units, split between two separate buildings. The first two phases will be built concurrently.

After two executive sessions, the meeting was adjourned for a Study Session which was not open to observers.

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All Board members were present for this meeting. There were no members of the community making public comments at this meeting.

Superintendent Chapman first congratulated Dr. Tyler Alexander on his designation as this year’s Kansas High School Principal of the Year and 2 staff recipients of the Blue Valley Innovative Educator Award, Abby Jones and Jeremy Mohn. In addition, over 30 retirees were honored at a recent District reception.

Dr. Chapman then explained a restructuring of administrative positions at the District level, reassigning current Deputy/ Assistant Superintendent jobs into Chief Officer’s roles. She named the following to these new posts:

• Kent Corser as Executive Director of Technology Services
• Kelly June, Chief of Academic Services
• Shelly Nielsen, Chief of School Administrative Services
• Jessica Meisenheimer, Chief of Support Services

Dr. Chapman also named the following:

• Ashley Enz, as Executive Director of Special Education
• Heather Payne, principal of Wolf Springs Elementary
• Katie Pearson, assistant principal of Blue Valley North HS
• Kris Didion, athletic director at Blue Valley West HS

There will now also be Directors of Administrative Services in each of the Feeder areas.

Dr. Chapman continued with a review of the recently completed Kansas legislative session highlighting the new laws regarding bell-to-bell cell phone bans for students (which include use of ear buds and smart watches) and student walk-out restrictions, the latter of which may incur fines and/or loss of attendance minutes. There will also no longer be a senior “skip day”. Superintendent Chapman repeated past concerns about a loss of at least $10 million dollars from the Blue Valley budget due to a lack of Special Ed funding by the legislature and additional costs of $3.5- 4 million for implementing cell phone security measures now required by the new state law.

Possible Blue Valley edits to KASB Policy Index G were discussed, concerning Facility Naming and Approval of New Personnel. Decisions on these items were tabled.

Increases in District fees were unanimously approved for the following: breakfast/lunch costs, athletic passes, activity program fees for MS/HS, Early Childhood Peer Model program charges, HS parking fees, facility rental fees and bus transportation (for those living more than 2.5 miles away). A new charge for accidental device protection of $25, sought by the Technology Department, was also approved.

In addition, the Board approved the following:

• 2027-28 District calendar
• Contracts with US Foods (Breakfast/Lunch program) and CertaPro Painting (for various schools)
• Non-residential enrollment for 254 open school seats
  The meeting lasted approximately 2 ½ hours.

The meeting lasted approximately 2 ½ hours.

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All Board members were present for the meeting which was called to order at 5:47 p.m.

Only one community member participated in the open forum to express the opinion that HS seniors were not being given opportunities to consider alternatives to college such as careers in the military and technical/trade vocations and suggested an event similar to the College Fair to increase awareness of these programs. He also expressed concern that students were being encumbered with increasing amounts of student debt following post-secondary education.

Supt. Chapman followed with a detailed explanation of new administrative restructuring for the High School feeder system. This will allow greater efficiency in light of budget restrictions resulting from the latest legislative decisions. Dr. Chapman introduced the directors for each of the 5 feeder systems as well as the new principals assigned to Blue Valley North HS, Aubrey Bend MS and the Blue Valley Academy.

Reports were then given by representatives from the Finance/Operations District Committee, and the Academic and Community Board Advisory committees. Their recent meetings covered the topics of student screen time, SPED funding, use of AI and the impact of recent legislative decisions affecting school funding/programs.

Dr. Chapman reported on honors recently given to staff, students and the district itself and reminded community members to access the latest BV Unmuted podcast featuring the achievements of several BV graduates.

Results of a recent community survey were presented, indicating a high level of satisfaction with the District as a whole and with the teaching staff in particular. The biggest challenge in the future, the survey found, will be funding. This sampling of 500 registered voters in the District did support an increase of approximately $200 million in expenses for potential future projects providing there was no increase in property taxes.

A career and technical survey given to HS students showed which current courses of study at CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) were the most preferred and which they might be interested in seeing added to the curriculum. The results will inform the Board and Administration when considering future courses.

The curriculum review committee presented recommended updates for the following academic areas: English/Language Arts, Career/Tech, Math, Performing Arts, Science, Social Science and World Languages. The 600-page document will be reviewed by the Board and come up for approval in June.

Action items:

An amendment to the 2025-26 budget was approved by the Board as was an RFP for plumbing services, the College Board agreement and KASB Policies I and J as they relate to instruction and students.

KASB policies FC (memorials, funerals and the naming of district facilities) and GBO (resignations) were tabled until the June meeting.

**Earlier in the day the Board approved reductions to work calendars for classified employees. This widely reported move affects not only employees’ pay but also future retirement benefits and is a result of cost-cutting measures enacted due to a $10 million budget shortfall.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:53 p.m. To learn more, click here.

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Superintendent’s Report

The Superintendent reported on some of the awards that people in the district are winning, such as the Excellence in Education Grant Rewards, the Teacher of the Year Awards, the NASA Hunch finalists and the participants in the Research and Development Forum.

Legislative Update

Stuart Little, the district’s lobbyist in Topeka, reported that the Kansas legislature had ended its session without finishing some of the business.  There will be ongoing debate about how to handle student protests – whether the students are truant when they have a protest during school hours or whether they are just exercising their first amendment rights.  The discussion about what to do about student cell phones is also ongoing.  The state and federal governments are not meeting their obligations for school funding so schools all over the state are making up the difference from their local options budgets.  Specifically, special education is not being funded.

Early Childhood Education Center

The architect’s plans for the Early Childhood Education Center were shown and discussed.  This will be built on the previous site of the Katherine Carpenter Elementary School.  The theme of the center will be Nature’s Wonderland.  As the children walk through the center, they will encounter areas that represent various lands.  There is also a green space in the center for outdoor play. Construction begins in May 2026, and the center will open in 2027.

Open Enrollment Report

There was a report on open enrollment in the district.    Open enrollment concerns children who live in Kansas but not in the Shawnee Mission School District who wish to attend SM schools.  There are currently 193 places available in the elementary schools but far fewer in the middle and high schools.

To learn more, click here.

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Mayor Skoog opened the Council meeting with all members present. Highlights of the 20 minute meeting included:

The adoption of the 2027-2031 Five Year Financial Plan, Capital Improvements Program and Maintenance Program. Details of the program are available here:

https://www.opkansas.gov/567/Capital-Improvements-Program-and-Mainten

The Overland Park City Council recently met with the Overland Park Teen Council. The students spent this past year attending presentations from various city departments, volunteering at a number of city events, and holding a mock City Council meeting to better understand the decision making process.  Interested Overland Park High School students can apply for next year's program on opkansas.gov starting this summer. For more information on this program:  https://www.opkansas.gov/562/Overland-Park-Teen-Council

Saturday, April 18 was opening day for the 2026 Farmers Market Season and was held at Matt Ross Community Center. The first Farmers Market at the new Clock Tower Landing will be Saturday, June 6, 2026.  The new market location has indoor heated spaces for vendors and shoppers, and it will be able to operate year-round. 

For a video tour of the nearly completed project: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2Fi93G4wT4 

To read the minutes of the meeting or to view the meeting video, visit the City Website at opkansas.civicweb.net

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Mayor Skoog opened the meeting with all Council Members present. Two residents of Overland Park spoke for 3 minutes each during the Open Public Comment Period which is always first on the meeting agenda. For more information on speaking at a City Council meeting:  

https://www.opkansas.gov/635/Participating-in-City-Council-Meetings

Mayor Skoog announced 3 reappointments to the Independent Citizen Advisory Board on Racial Profiling and Non-Biased Policing.  This Board meets quarterly, and all meetings are open to the public. For more information, and to see agendas and minutes of recent meetings:  https://www.opkansas.gov/572/Independent-Citizen-Advisory-Board-for-R

Council President Cheatham shared that at a recent Committee-of-the-Whole meeting, the concept of Universal Design was discussed, as it might relate to the long term planning of parks in the city. The hope is to establish at least one universally designed, accessible park in north, south, and central Overland Park to "ensure equitable access for all residents."

For more information on Universal Design:

https://www.asla.org/focus-areas/diversity,-equity,-inclusion/universal-design-guide/universal-design-guide-parksplazas

Council Person Grummert spoke about the most recent meeting of the Mid-America Regional Council, of which she is a member.  MARC is currently completing preparations for the World Cup, collaborating their efforts to maximize safety for citizens and visitors.

For more information on MARC planning:  https://www.marc.org/world-cup 

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The Council met in person at 6:00 p.m., with public viewing in person or via livestream. All members were present except Mr. Agniel. A proclamation was read to recognize Earth Day and the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. Daisy Scouts attending as part of earning a democracy badge introduced themselves. Public comments lasted 6 minutes.

Council unanimously approved adoption of the residential food compost drop-off program for the upcoming budget year. This program allows any PV resident registered with KC Can to drop off their household food compost at the KC Can Compost stations located around PV. This has been a popular pilot program and is in the process of being added to the city’s solid waste budget.

Council discussed the preliminary revenue projections for the 2027 budget and approved the budget requests of the following committees: VillageFest, JazzFest, Arts council, Diversity committee, and Environmental committee.

Other city business was conducted, and the Council adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

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The Council met in person at 6:00 p.m., with public viewing in person or via livestream. All members were present except Mr. Graves. Public comments lasted 12 minutes.

Council heard a presentation from the city’s lobbyist and the Deputy City Administrator regarding the relevant bills from the KS legislative session and certain issues that the Council will have to address in the weeks/months to come: (1) the state pre-empted the city’s limitations on short-term rentals during the World Cup; (2) some residential zoning changes , including a requirement to stay on the 2018 international building code for some structures; and (3) a bill regulating bathrooms in public buildings. City staff will be coming back to council to discuss any changes that will be required to city ordinances or processes.

Other city business was conducted, and the meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

To learn more, click here.