FEATURE
A Day in the Life
Ashley Vogelaar (left) and Andrea Reed, both Crime Scene Investigator IIs, examine a T-shirt under black light, searching for evidence. In 2013 Johnson County’s Crime Lab received 9,619 pieces of evidence for 2,977 cases.
What does County Government really do? Follow along on a day in the life of Johnson County Government
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efore dawn, Johnson County transit employees visit the Mission Transit Center to make sure buses are ready for the day’s run. Later that day, a public health nurse administers immunizations and election workers get trained to staff polling places. And in the evening, medics rush to the hospital with an ill resident who is hearing impaired, communicating with her by writing on a notepad.
divorces are filed and mental health services provided. The County assesses the value of all real property – nearly $55 billion – and oversees the budget and distribution of all property tax dollars. County staff run nine parks, two airports and a museum. Each year, 2.4 million people visit the County’s 13 libraries, more than the combined attendance at the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals games.
Welcome to Johnson County Government. Every day, hundreds of services are delivered to the County’s nearly 560,000 residents, from delivering meals to seniors and running food pantries to treating wastewater and managing jails. The County helps adults with developmental disabilities find meaningful employment and children in need of care a safe haven. County employees ensure park streams are clean, marriages and
The list goes on and on.
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The next few pages offer a look at a Day in the Life of Johnson County Government, a snapshot view of the many services provided to residents. From Courts and Corrections to Health and Human Services, County staff work around the clock to serve residents and build a stronger community.
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Phillip Mora boards a JO bus at the Mission Transit Center for an early morning ride to Olathe. The JO provided more than 635,000 rides last year.
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It only stings for a second when Department of Health and Environment (DHE) nurse Linda Hutchinson gives a school immunization to Stephanie Armenta of Olathe. DHE administered more than 13,000 immunizations for walkin clients at the Olathe and Mission health services clinics last year.
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The ability to reserve your spot online makes for shorter waits at Johnson County Motor Vehicles Olathe and Mission offices for residents like Patty Lam, who received a new license plate. The County handles vehicle tags and taxes. All drivers’ licensing is done through the State of Kansas.
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Jared Thomason from the Appraiser’s Office counts bedrooms and bathrooms in a home under construction to assess its property value. The Appraiser’s Office is responsible for valuing all taxable property in Johnson County to ensure fair and equitable taxation.
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David Wittman, a Johnson County Developmental Supports client, makes sure Dunkin Donuts stays clean on his watch. JCDS clients work for 24 businesses around Johnson County.
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Jonathon Jobe, director of operations at Advanced Aviation, directs a private plane from the West Coast that landed at New Century AirCenter near Gardner. Johnson County’s two airports managed 96,000 flight operations last year.
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FEATURE
A Day in the Life
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Russ Czaplewski, collection manager for Johnson County Museum looks over carefully archived pieces of JoCo history, including the former White Haven sign. The collection consists of nearly 54,000 objects and images.
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Adult Residential Center Director Tony Booker kicks off an orientation for new clients. This 398-bed Department of Corrections program reintegrates offenders into the community with programs like Work Release, Substance Abuse Counseling, and G.E.D. opportunities.
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Diandra Feist volunteers by stocking the shelves at one of the Human Services Department’s six food pantries. This service fed 12,066 Johnson County residents last year.
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Elections Commissioner Brian Newby leads a training session for new election workers. More than 2,000 people volunteer during elections to work 14hour days. They learn to use equipment and procedures for lots of special circumstances.
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Linsey Brashears, treatment crew leader for Johnson County Wastewater, tests for chemical levels. Johnson County Wastewater treats 64 million gallons per day and provides sewer service for more than half a million people.
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Probation Intake Officer April Vogel administers a court-ordered breathalyzer test on a resident. In January the courts ordered 224 drug and 20 blood alcohol tests. Nearly 35 percent of tests came back positive.
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Paramedic Kirk Riley uses a notepad to ask a patient who is deaf to rate her pain level as Jon Batenhorst looks on. MED-ACT responded to nearly 36,000 calls in 2013.
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Crystal Futrell, family and consumer sciences county extension agent with K-State Research and Extension (right front), trains Master Food Volunteers, people who are passionate about food, promoting good health and giving back to their communities.
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Central Teen Librarian Angela Dew chats with Ramya Chillapa about her contribution to elementia, a literary magazine produced for and by local teens in conjunction with Johnson County Library.
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Johnson County Park and Recreation District Field Biologist Matt Garrett and Park Police Officer Vanessa Burkholder stock Shawnee Mission Park Lake with trout. Park lakes are stocked three times a year with a total of 11,000 pounds of trout.
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Corrections staff at the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center find children a safe place when law enforcement officers, such as Olathe police officer Brent Kiger, work a Child in Need of Care case. In 2013, the District Attorney filed 594 CINC cases for children that were abused or neglected.
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WEB EXTRA
Many more Day in the Life photos and stories can be found online at www.jocogo.org/jocomag.
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Carol Roeder-Esser, clinical social worker with the Mental Health Department teaches Mental Health First Aid: how to recognize risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems and connect those in crisis to resources. Since beginning in September 2011, 545 people have completed the program.
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