THE JOHNSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT MAGAZINE
SPRING 2016
K-9 UNIT: FINDING DRUGS, ENSURING SAFETY TWO PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITIES: NEW COURTHOUSE NEW CORONER FACILITY
Spring 2016 • Volume 3 • Issue 2
THE JOHNSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT MAGAZINE
JoCo Magazine, a publication produced by Johnson County Government, is mailed to every resident in Johnson County, Kansas, three times per year. Mission: JoCo Magazine is dedicated to publishing stories that inform residents about county services and finances, as well as issues that may impact the quality of life. Publishing advertising does not constitute agreement or endorsement by this publication or Johnson County Government. Please submit questions or comments about the magazine by calling 913-715-0725 or emailing jocomag@jocogov.org. Editor: Sharon Watson Design and layout: Chris Depusoir Amanda Keller Contributing writers: Julie Davis Chris Depusoir Jennifer Dunlay Jody Hanson Gerald Hay Amanda Keller Lori Sand Eric Schultz For information about advertising opportunities, please contact Che’rell Bilquist at 913-715-8920 or che’rell.bilquist@jocogov.org. JOCO Magazine 111 S. Cherry Street, Suite 3300 Olathe, KS 66061 913-715-0725 jocogov.org/jocomag
LETTER FROM LEADERSHIP
Public to vote on two Johnson County public safety priorities: new courthouse and coroner facility Keeping Johnson Countians safe has long been a priority for both residents and leaders in Johnson County. A county crime lab and detention center were recently built. A new county courthouse and coroner facility are the final major projects in this ongoing effort to make and keep the community safe. The concerns about safety within the current courthouse have been growing since 2001. Numerous studies have shown problems with the building that have become significantly worse over time. The biggest safety concerns are keeping victims and the public safe while inside the courthouse, since the accused must use the same hallways and overall space as the general public. Jurors are often in close proximity to defendants in the courtroom and during jury deliberations in rooms adjacent to where an accused individual is held. Intimidation of victims in these close quarters is difficult, if not impossible, to avoid. The aging facility has a number of other remaining challenges, despite millions of dollars in improvements. These include the need for significant and costly structural repairs, newer technology in courtrooms to assist jurors in seeing and hearing the evidence presented, and significant changes to make the building accessible for people on crutches, using walkers or in wheelchairs. The facility has undergone many expansions and updates over the years, but the basic layout and functionality of the building remains unsuitable for the needs of the growing population. Approximately 400,000 people come to the courthouse each year to serve on juries, get marriage licenses, finalize adoptions and other family issues, and face alleged wrongdoers. When the building was constructed in 1952, approximately 63,000 residents lived in the county.
With today’s population of more than 575,000 and growth projections of 10,000 people annually, the courthouse no longer meets the public safety needs of the community. The second public safety priority for the county is a coroner facility, which the county currently does not have. Johnson County leases space in a forensics lab in Wyandotte County. A new facility would allow the county to comply with anticipated accreditation standards. Technology has advanced greatly in recent years, however, the leased coroner facility does not have an isolated room to prevent cross contamination of evidence, nor does it have real-time data reporting, which could help more quickly identify a public health crisis such as the spread of a contagious disease like Ebola. Some autopsies aren’t being conducted due to the limitations that come with leasing a coroner facility, and this means information is missing that might come from an autopsy to help county prosecutors identify crimes such as elder abuse or trends in fatal drug usage before it becomes a significant community issue. Our residents place a high value on public safety in our community, telling us over and over in surveys that it’s one of the many reasons they live in Johnson County. Voters will be asked to determine the fate of these two public safety priorities at the polls on Nov. 8.
Ed Eilert Chairman Board of County Commissioners
Hannes Zacharias County Manager
On the cover: Johnson County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit (left to right) Dep. Kyle Speichinger with K-9 Bono, Dep. Travis Turner with K-9 Nora and Dep. Shannon Chase with K-9 Marko. Photo courtesy of Sgt. Lori Womble.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 5 5 6 8 10 11 12 14 15 16 18 20 22 23
Spring 2016 • Volume 3 • Issue 2
In short
Ways to engage with JoCo
What does it cost to run Johnson County Government?
Online Visit jocogov.org to: • Find your County Commissioner • Get answers to questions • Learn about the more than 400 services Johnson County provides to residents.
Fight the bite to prevent Zika, West Nile this summer Public safety priorities: new courthouse and coroner facility 1950s All-Electric House on the move Two friends open the door to the local Latina Community Vote “yes” to serving your community Sheriff’s K-9 Unit helps keep our community safe
Social media Twitter: @jocogov Facebook: facebook.com/jocogov Pinterest: pinterest.com/jocogov By phone Call Center: 913-715-5000 Kansas Relay Operator: 800-766-3777
Citizen satisfaction in Johnson County
In person Attend a weekly Board of County Commissioners meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Thursdays on the third floor of the Administration Building, 111 S. Cherry St., Olathe, KS 66061.
Q4: Questions for the County Commissioners
Johnson County Elected Officials
JoCo Appraiser’s Office documenting all properties
The Best Times Digest JoCo History: Native American heritage is all around us Three Questions for new JoCo Government employees 10 Things to recycle at the HHW facility
Ed Eilert, Chairman Ronald L. “Ron” Shaffer, District 1 James P. Allen, District 2 Steven C. Klika, District 3 Jason Osterhaus, District 4 Michael Ashcraft, District 5 John Toplikar, District 6 Stephen M. Howe, District Attorney Frank Denning, Sheriff
Above: In April, Johnson County celebrated the completion of “Tapestry,” a public art installation in front of the Justice Annex at 588 Santa Fe in Olathe. Created by Kansas City sculptor Beth Nybeck, the plant-like sculptures in “Tapestry” include letters, phrases and sentences pulled from interviews with residents who receive services in the building. The Johnson County Public Art Program allocates 1 percent of the budget for public art installations at major construction or remodeling projects. Photo courtesy of David Schaecher.
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In short
A brief glimpse into what’s going on at Johnson County Government
Talk, Read, Play
Several cities and school districts joined Johnson County Government, Johnson County Library and United Community Services of Johnson County in April to build awareness for “Talk, Read, Play.” This campaign, created by The Family Conservancy, a local nonprofit organization, encourages parents, caregivers and teachers to talk, read and play with their children every day. A joint news conference at Johnson County Community College’s Hiersteiner Child Development Center in April announced the united effort and launched a month-long book drive that collected books for children up to age five at four Johnson County Library branches.
Why wait in line?
Renewing the registration for your vehicle online or by mail prevents you from paying an additional $5 fee. Even if you wait until the end of the month, your printed or electronic webtags receipt serves as proof of registration for ten days following your registration expiration date. More information is available at jocogov.org.
Kudos!
The Mid-America Regional Council recognized Johnson County as a gold-level Solar Ready Community. Johnson County has made solar an easier choice in the county through steps such as a building permit application checklist for solar installation and providing solar installation training as a part of our Contractor Licensing Program. Speaking of the Contractor Licensing Program…it received the COSA 2016 Community Guardian Award. The award recognizes Johnson County’s Contractor Licensing Program for its commitment to carbon monoxide (CO) safety practices. 4
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Free soil tests
Johnson County homeowners are eligible for a free soil test thanks to a grant provided by Johnson County Stormwater Management. Johnson County K-State Research and Extension offers the free tests (valued at $12 each) which analyze soil’s pH, phosphorus and potassium levels. Bring or mail your soil sample to the Johnson County Extension office at 11811 S. Sunset Drive, Suite 1500, Olathe, KS 66061. For more information, please visit johnson.k-state.edu or call 913-715-7000.
quotable “As I begin my sixth year as County Chairman, I have never been more optimistic about our future. We are fortunate to live in one of the nation’s best places to raise a family, obtain an education, earn a living and build a business.” — Chairman Ed Eilert, State of the County address on March 22
Spring 2016
What does it cost to run Johnson County Government? The Johnson County Government fiscal year 2016 budget at a glance FY 2016 Expenditures The FY 2016 budget was approved in July 2015 and totals $743.2 million. By strategic group, this is how county expenditures break down:
Health and Human Services: $98.3 million Support Services: $95.3 million
FY2016 Expenditures
Infrastructure: $220.7 million
$
Culture and Recreation: $84.4 million Records and Taxation: $21.6 million Debt Services: $1.1 million
Public Safety: $221.8 million
FY 2016 Revenues In addition, the county government will take in revenues of $743.2 million, to balance with county expenditures (above). Property taxes: $218.2 million Carryover: $8.8 million Licenses and permits/use of assets: $9.9 million Intergovernmental: $60.1 million
The proposed 2017 fiscal year (FY) budget will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners on June 2. The BOCC will review the proposed budget, receive final funding requests from departments and agencies, and make necessary changes before the budget is adopted on Aug. 3.
Sales and other taxes: $105.3 million FY2016 Revenues
The county’s 2017 fiscal year begins Jan. 1, 2017.
Wastewater: $103.9 million
$
WEB EXTRA Charges for services: $97.8 million Transfers: $86.6 million
Miscellaneous: $52.6 million
Find definitions for the budget categories at jocogov.org/JoCoMag.
Fight the bite to prevent Zika, West Nile this summer By JENNIFER DUNLAY
The most important thing Johnson County residents can do to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses such as Zika, Chikungunya and West Nile virus is to mosquito-proof your home and wear insect repellent, according to the Department of Health and Environment. Zika is of greatest health concern for pregnant women and those who may become pregnant while infected because the infection can cause severe birth defects of the brain in babies. West Nile virus infection is typically mild, but can cause serious neurological effects, especially in senior adults and children under age five. Chikungunya infection typically causes joint pain and fever in travelers returning from affected areas. Infants and adults over age 65 are most at risk for severe Chikungunya disease. Spring 2016
The following actions will help protect you and your family: • Prevent mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and pants and using an EPA-registered insect repellent. • Mosquito-proof your home by installing or repairing screens on windows and doors. Use air conditioning if you have it. Empty standing water from flower pots, buckets, gutters, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires and birdbaths regularly. Tightly cover water storage containers so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs. • Pregnant women should avoid travel to any area with Zika virus infections.
• Men with a pregnant sex partner who lived in or traveled to an area with Zika should use condoms, the right way, every time during all types of sex or abstain from sexual activity for the duration of the pregnancy. See a health care provider if you develop a fever, rash, red eyes or joint pain during a trip or within two weeks after traveling to a Zika infected area, or if you’ve had sexual contact with someone who has traveled to an infected area.
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JoCo public safety priorities: new courthouse and coroner facility By JODY HANSON and ERIC SCHULTZ
“It’s completely uncomfortable. It’s scary. It’s nothing you want to go through, especially after everything you’ve already gone through. Being nervous about him walking by you is just awful.”
The new courthouse would further protect the 400,000 visitors who pass through its doors each year. The current courthouse is positioned very close to the street, making it vulnerable to terrorism and other possible safety threats. A new courthouse would be built further from the street and, like other government buildings constructed after 9/11, would be constructed from blast-protective materials on the lower floors.
This is an account from a crime victim (name omitted for her protection) describing how she felt during a close encounter with her attacker in the halls of the Johnson County Courthouse. The fact that the courthouse has no secure waiting area for victims is one of the dozens of problems with the 64-year-old building. The layout of the courthouse allows for witnesses, jurors, victims, alleged criminals and even jail inmates to use the same public hallways. While the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office makes sure that inmates are shackled and handcuffed at all times during transport, intimidation still occurs. “I’ve had a number of jurors, after trial, indicate that based on the current configuration of the courthouse, they felt extremely uncomfortable having to have contact with so many dangerous individuals,” said Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe. In the 2016 Citizens Survey, 95 percent of participants said it was very important or important to protect the general public from criminals when inside the courthouse. That input is one of the reasons many think it’s time for a new courthouse — one of the cornerstones of a community’s public safety system.
Making a courtroom safer and more secure The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners is considering building a new courthouse across the street from the current location in downtown Olathe, pending approval of funding. The design of the new courthouse would house criminal and civil courts on separate floors and the layout of each floor would keep inmates and attackers away from jurors and crime victims. $450
The new courthouse minimizes long-term cost to taxpayers — $278M versus $439M over next 20 years (compared to on-going, ad-hoc approach for the existing building).
$400
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“In the early 1950s, Johnson County’s population was just under 63,000. Today we’re at 575,000, and by 2025 we’ll have 700,000 residents,” said County Manager Hannes Zacharias. “We’ve converted conference rooms into courtrooms. We’ve moved out everyone we can. We are simply out of room and knowing what a priority our residents place on public safety, the prudent thing to do is to solve the problem today.” In addition to being overcrowded, the Johnson County Courthouse is not aging well. The structure suffers from crumbling and cracked walls and windows that can’t keep out cold air and rainwater. The building’s plumbing, heating and cooling systems need significant repairs. Outdated technology is also a serious issue. “Only three of our 23 courtrooms utilize modern audio visual equipment that provides judges and juries with the necessary technology to consider evidence and conduct a fair trial,” says Tim Mulcahy, director of Justice Information Management for Johnson County.
New Courthouse
Existing Courthouse and Expansion
$278 million
$350
$93 million
$300
$40 million
$250 $200
$59 million*
$5 million
$90 million
$32 million
$439 million
Operating expenses
$150
Capital Replacement Program costs
$100
Interest on debt
$50 $0
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A decaying, overcrowded building Built in 1952, the courthouse has gone through three additions and more than seven significant remodels. It was originally built to house most government departments, but through the decades the county has moved as many departments out as possible to ease the ongoing issue of crowded courtrooms.
$182 million
$216 million
Capital costs * beginning 2021, following building completion
Spring 2016
Making the courthouse accessible ADA compliant A recent study shows that it will take millions of dollars to bring the courthouse up to basic standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This act protects individuals in wheelchairs or people who have other disabilities. “Most of the courtrooms are not set up to allow a person in a wheelchair to access the jury box, judge’s bench or witness stand,” said Chief Judge Kevin Moriarty. “There is no space to add in ramps or create more space for wheelchairs. To make the courthouse ADA compliant, we will have to reduce the number of courtrooms at a time where we are already outgrowing the courtrooms we have.”
Voters to decide quarter-cent sales tax in November The cost of a new courthouse is $182 million, which includes design, construction and furnishing the new building, tearing down the current building and landscape design and construction for a greenspace at the current building site. In the Nov. 8 general election, voters will decide on a quartercent public safety sales tax (which sunsets after 10 years) to fund the project. If that vote fails, it will cost $216 million to massively renovate the existing building and build a new four-story addition necessary to bring the courthouse to 28 courtrooms. The higher price tag will not fully address: 1. Safety and security (inmate movement in the same public areas as victims, jurors and the public) 2. Crowded courtrooms, placement of jurors and inmates in close proximity and lack of private meeting space for clients and attorneys 3. Accessibility/ADA compliance “If the difference between $182 million for a new courthouse and $216 million to renovate and add on to the current structure isn’t convincing enough, take into account the financial difference when you look ahead 20 years,” says Brad Reinhardt, director, Johnson County Facilities Management. “When we forecast interest on debt, capital replacement costs and operating expenses for the two options, building a new courthouse will save taxpayers $161 million.”
Inmate movement in public areas
Crowded courtrooms
A coroner facility for Johnson County Johnson County is not as well-equipped as it could be to respond quickly to emerging crime trends — an important activity in providing public safety — because the county doesn’t have its own coroner facility. Many Johnson County residents may be surprised to know that all autopsies for the county are conducted at a privately-owned Private forensics lab in Wyandotte forensics lab in County where Johnson County Wyandotte County. autopsies are currently performed. The county isn’t able to prioritize its county’s autopsies and needs more capacity as the county continues to grow. Part of the proposed quarter-cent public safety sales tax to sunset in 10 years includes $19 million to fund Johnson County’s own coroner facility. The planned location is on the same campus as the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Criminalistics Laboratory in Olathe, which would allow investigators from both facilities to collaborate as efficiently as possible. A new facility would improve public safety by creating a quicker county response to emerging crime trends. It would also include a forensics pathology lab and on-site toxicology screening — Preliminary rendering of potential capabilities the current Johnson County coroner facility. location lacks. “Technology in the forensics science area is allowing minute, trace DNA evidence to be located at a crime scene, so it’s important to have a coroner facility that can handle that same level of technology,” said District Attorney Steve Howe. “Our current facility does not have that capability, and that can jeopardize integrity in the criminal justice system.” “You need an isolated room to do the autopsies and you have to make sure there is no air flowing into that room that could cause contamination,” said Dr. Robert Prosser, Johnson County’s coroner for the past 18 years. “Our current facility does not allow for that.” Another benefit of a new coroner facility is real-time data reporting that can help the county manage potential public health issues. “A coroner facility will allow us to enhance our ability to identify emerging death or disease trends in our community,” said Lougene Marsh, director, Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.
WEB EXTRA Crumbling exterior Spring 2016
Building too close to street
For videos, photos, FAQs and additional information about the courthouse, visit jocogov.org/courthouse. jocogov.org
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1950s All-Electric House on the move
Historic house gets new home inside the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center By GERALD HAY
The historic 1950s All-Electric House, a fixture at Johnson County Museum for 22 years in Shawnee, has completed its slow move through three cities to its new perch in Overland Park. The brown ranch house, built in 1953, was the second item of the museum’s collection to be relocated to the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center now under construction in the former King Louie building at 8788 Metcalf Avenue. It was the second time in its history that the house has been moved. Originally located in Prairie Village, the museum attraction once served as a demonstration and model showhouse for Kansas City Power and Light Company.
About the 1950s All-Electric House According to Johnson County Museum Director Mindi Love, close to 62,000 people trooped through the house in 1954, when the county’s total population was 62,783. A modern marvel at the time, this house made quite an impact, as anxious consumers checked out the latest innovations — its electric heat pump that provided air-conditioning, large-screen TV behind a slide-away seascape painting, remote controlled lighting systems and curtain openers and ubiquitous electrical sockets. “This house was called the ‘Lazy Man’s Paradise’ when it was built. There were a lot of electrical features and gadgetry that was not typical at the time,” said Love. The house was donated and moved in 1994 to the Johnson Country Museum complex at 6305 Lackman Road.
Ready to roll Moving the 60-ton, 2,150 square foot house down sections of Lackman Road, Shawnee Mission Parkway and Metcalf Avenue was a monumental job performed by Patton House and Building Movers, Inc. and managed by McCownGordon Construction. When loaded on steel beams and dollies, the 84-foot-by-32-foot house had a height of approximately 25 feet from ground to rooftop, requiring the raising of some power lines, temporarily removing traffic signals and trimming a few tree limbs as it passed. A motorcade of police and utility vehicles accompanied the house during its journey. Law enforcement officers from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and police personnel from Overland Park, Shawnee, Merriam and Mission provided security, traffic control and public safety of many onlookers watching from curbs, business parking lots and intersections as the house slowly rolled down the roadway.
Home sweet home The house survived the move to its new permanent location without any mishaps — and in half of the expected time. Initially, movers anticipated the relocation from Shawnee to Overland Park would take up to 10 hours at a speed of 3–5 mph, but the move actually 8
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10 p.m.
Shawnee Mission Parkway
7 p.m.
Metcalf Avenue
“Everything went smoothly. In a word, it could not have gone better,” Brad Reinhardt, director of Johnson County Facilities Management, said. “It was because of great partnerships, requiring extensive planning, coordinating the actual move, and involving all partners from the cities, law enforcement, county staff, utility crews and movers. It was outstanding teamwork from beginning to end.”
6305 Lackman Road
Lackman Rd.
took about five and a half hours. The early arrival at its new location was attributed to teamwork, fewer technical issues than expected and the ability to reach a maximum speed of 11 mph.
The 1950s All-Electric House is now located inside the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center, protecting it from the weather and allowing greater access for all museum visitors to tour the historic attraction. The house will serve as the cornerstone of a new signature exhibition being designed to tell the Johnson County story. The Johnson County Museum Foundation purchased the large neon White Haven Motor Lodge sign, a Metcalf Avenue icon for more than half a century, and it became the first item of the museum’s collection to be installed inside the former King Louie building. The museum will remain open at its current location on Lackman Road in Shawnee until Sept. 3, then it will close until the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center opens in spring/summer 2017.
WEB EXTRA
8788 Metcalf Avenue 12:30 a.m.
On April 12, the 1950s All-Electric House traveled from the Johnson County Museum location through Shawnee, Merriam and Overland Park (route in diagram above) to its new weatherprotected home in the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center.
Visit jocogov.org/housemove to watch a video that shows the house move from April 12–13.
W
ith a continuum of care you may never have to ask, what if? Because we have senior care and service options to meet your needs if they change. To learn more about our short-term rehab and senior living communities, call (913) 780-9916.
All faiths or beliefs are welcome. 16-G0424
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COMMUNITY PROFILE
Two friends open the door to the local Latina community By LORI SAND
Mary Estrada and Mary Lou Jaramillo have a lot in common. Both women are civic-minded professionals with a penchant for nonprofit work. And being of Hispanic descent, they individually noticed that many times they were the only Latina at a meeting or gathering. But it wasn’t until the long-time friends both had Johnson County addresses that they decided there might be something they could do about the seeming lack of Latina representation at business meetings.
Founding the Johnson County Latina Leadership Network “We co-founded the Johnson County Latina Leadership Network in the hope of bringing awareness to area Hispanic women of the many opportunities there are to become actively involved in the community,” Estrada explained. “Because there are different government structures not only between Kansas City, Missouri, and Johnson County, but between Wyandotte and Johnson counties, we decided to direct our focus here.” The Johnson County Latina Leadership Network members gather every other month in different venues. There are about 65 women currently on the group invitation distribution list, but the group’s leadership hopes to grow that number to 100. “The portrait of the membership is quite diverse,” noted Jaramillo. “While the majority of the women are professionals, some are retired. We have attorneys, business owners, some work at nonprofits, a real estate agent, a translator, a graphic designer, a librarian, an interior designer, a principal and two women who each own a bilingual newspaper and one of them also owns several Spanishlanguage radio stations.”
Argentina and Bolivia. Why, at one meeting, we had women there from seven different countries.” “These women are all ages and levels of education,” Jaramillo said. “But the group is for women only who live in Johnson County.”
Learning and growing together The womens’ reasons for joining the group are just as varied as their backgrounds. Some are looking for a social and cultural connection, others are interested in business networking, and some are interested in nonprofit work, civic or political issues. The friends hesitate to define the focus of the group. “It’s up to the membership,” Jaramillo said. “We don’t want to prescribe the direction.” The Johnson County Latina Leadership Network is a non-partisan group that hears presentations from a variety of civic groups and community leaders, such as the League of Women Voters, Mainstream Coalition, County Manager Hannes Zacharias, Deputy County Manager Penny Postoak Ferguson and Mary Birch, the government relations coordinator at Lathrop & Gage L.C., who spoke about civic opportunities. “I just think it’s important for our population to know what is out there in terms of community involvement,” Estrada said.
“We’re meeting civic leaders, political leaders and other people of influence in our community.”
“Not everyone is from Mexico,” Estrada added. “We’ve got members from Peru,
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“My history of working in nonprofits revealed to me that in general, many of our fellow citizens have a perception of the Hispanic population as being primarily first generation immigrants who need a lot of assistance. But we are a whole other population with so
Mary Estrada (left) and Mary Lou Jaramillo (right).
much to offer our community based on our experiences.” The members have all found their way to the network by word-of-mouth, with a common thread running throughout the group in one way or another. Some discovered they have been involved in the same organization, their grandchildren are in the same activities, or they know some of the same people. “It’s that surprise connection that I find exciting,” Jaramillo said. The women are clearly energized about opening doors and sharing among the group. “We’re learning of other Hispanic women who are involved in a variety of ways. We’re meeting civic leaders, political leaders and other people of influence in our community,” said Estrada, who recently completed the Johnson County Citizens Academy program. The group has a Facebook page, Johnson County Latina Leadership Network, where interested women may contact either Estrada or Jaramillo to get involved or for more information. Spring 2016
Vote “yes” to serving your community By AMANDA KELLER
The Johnson County Election Office is gearing up for two major upcoming elections — the Primary Election on Aug. 2 and the General Election Nov. 8. Election workers needed It takes a lot of people working together to make an election go smoothly; in our county it takes approximately 2,000 election workers, in addition to Election Office staff. The Election Office currently has about half the number of election workers it needs signed up to help with the quickly approaching Primary Election. Would you consider serving your community as an election worker? “Working the polls on Election Day is a terrific way to feel connected to the democratic process, serve the community and meet new people. It even comes with a small paycheck,” said Election Commissioner Ronnie Metsker. Many people don’t realize that election workers receive a stipend. Each election worker receives compensation of $135, which includes $110 for working a full Election Day (typically 6 a.m. to just after 7 p.m. when the polls close) and $25 for a mandatory three-hour training session prior to Election Day. Election workers perform a variety of tasks at the polling locations, including greeting voters, assisting at the registration table, accompanying each voter to a voting machine, verifying voter receipt information, collecting voter cards and issuing “I Voted” stickers. To serve as an election worker, you must meet the following qualifications: • Resident of Johnson County, Kansas • Registered to vote at current address • Able to provide Social Security Card and government issued photo identification prior to assignment • Available for the full Election Day and required training Apply at http://bit.ly/jocoelectionworker.
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More opportunities for young adults Prior to this year, each polling place was only allowed one student worker who could be age 16 or 17. The recently revised law now allows up to one-third of election workers at any given polling location to be students. Students working elections may be able to count the time they work as service hours, depending on the organization’s guidelines. Student workers must submit a letter of recommendation to qualify. The student application is available online at http://bit.ly/jocostudentworker. Two advance voting locations added The Election Office is excited to offer voters two additional advance voting locations this year, bringing the total number of advance voting sites up to six. By offering additional advance voting sites, election staff hopes to get more than half of all voters in the county to advance vote. Since 2000, the county has averaged about 40 percent of voters voting in advance in presidential election years, with the most being 48 percent in 2008.
ADVANCE VOTING LOCATIONS Hilltop Learning Campus 7700 W 143rd St, Overland Park, KS 66223 Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center 8788 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66212 Johnson County Northeast Offices 6000 Lamar, Mission, KS 66202 Johnson County Government Sunset Building 11811 S Sunset Dr, Olathe, KS 66061 Johnson County Election Office 2101 E Kansas City Rd, Olathe, KS 66061 Shawnee locations: Aug. 2 Primary Election Monticello Trails Middle School 6100 Monticello Rd, Shawnee, KS 66226 Nov. 8 General Election Okun Fieldhouse 20200 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS 66218
KEY DATES Aug. 2 Primary Election July 13: Advance voting by mail begins July 18–Aug. 1: Advance voting in person Nov. 8 General Election Oct. 19: Advance voting by mail begins Oct. 24–Nov. 7: Advance voting in person
JOCOELECTION.ORG
There are many advantages to advance voting, including; a shorter wait than on Election Day, picking the date and time that works best for you during a two-week window, selecting an advance voting site rather than going to your assigned location on Election Day. Voting by mail-in ballot is another way to vote at your own convenience. Visit jocoelection.org for more information.
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Left: Dep. Kyle Speichinger prepares his K-9 partner, Bono, for drills; above: K-9 Nora about to go for a ride after working hard.
Sheriff’s K-9 Unit helps keep our community safe By GERALD HAY
Bono, Nora and Marko are helping the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office take a bite out of crime locally. They are the four-legged members of the Sheriff’s Office’s K-9 Unit. All three — two Belgian Malinois and one German Shepherd — are used to collar illegal drug activities. Since the unit was formed a decade ago, canines have sniffed out more than $350,000 in suspected drug money and over 900 pounds of illegal drugs. The K-9 Unit is an important part of the Sheriff’s Office in its proactive role against the war on drugs by incorporating as many crime-fighting techniques as possible to further public safety. Illegal drugs are most often hidden and cleverly concealed until the canines detect them. “The ability of our K-9 partners to locate these drugs increases the safety of both law enforcement personnel and citizens alike by removing dangerous and illegal substances from our community,” Lt. Dusty Bernhardt said. He has been associated with the unit from the
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beginning as a former dog handler and now heads the unit. The unit fits into the core mission of public safety at the Sheriff’s Office — a commitment that Johnson County residents support and appreciate. According to the 2016 Citizens Survey, 91 percent of residents are satisfied with the public safety provided in the county and feel safe. That compares to a national rate of 81 percent and 78 percent among other communities similar in size to Johnson County (see page 15 for more survey results). All three canines have been officially deputized and have personnel files. The two-legged Sheriff’s Office deputies of this special unit are Kyle Speichinger, Shannon Chase and Travis Turner. Working with the dogs is a mixture of a lot of work and fun for the handlers. “Think of running around with a three-year-old and working,” Speichinger said with a laugh.
His partner is Bono, a Belgian Malinois born in Holland and trained in Germany with commands, of course, in German. Speichinger tries his best to bridge the language barrier. “I’m not fluent in the (German) language. I don’t know if I’m saying it right, but he knows what to do,” he said with a laugh. “If he doesn’t, he just looks at me until he understands.” Ultimately, language is secondary to the bond between handler and dog. The animal is trained to respond to its partner’s voice, associating an old command with the new command. All three deputies volunteered to become members of the unit and had to undergo eight weeks of dog-handling training. They constantly work with the dogs to keep them well trained and familiar with their job. “When they’re on duty, they’re working dogs,” Chase said, whose partner is Marko. Spring 2016
The Sheriff’s Office formed the unit because the canines’ sight and smell abilities are far greater than humans, which is especially helpful in drug searches and investigations. All three dogs are trained to detect marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines (meth). The K-9 Unit has deployed hundreds of times over the years. Its assignments have included looking for narcotics at vehicle stops or in high school lockers. The dogs have also been used for routine drug sweeps in Johnson County’s detention centers, both adult and juvenile, and Community Corrections facilities. Bono and Marko, both males, joined the Sheriff’s Office in mid-2015, becoming the second generation of dogs to the unit. They replaced Figo and Ace, who had eight years and nine and a half years of service respectively before retiring. Figo passed away in 2014; Ace joined him last year. During his time with the Sheriff’s Office, Ace found a total of 785 pounds of marijuana. Figo located 126 pounds of marijuana, 28 pounds of meth and five pounds of cocaine in various searches. The K-9 Unit has found numerous other small amounts of drugs over the years. The largest case involving drug money was the discovery of $335,000 by Ace
at a traffic stop. Nora, the only female dog in the current canine trio, located approximately $30,000 in drug cash in a semi-trailer truck underneath the sleeper. “They hit on drug odors on the money,” Bernhardt said.
When off-duty, the dogs are kept in outside kennels at their dog handlers’ homes. While the handlers develop close relationships with the dogs, they do not consider the dogs family pets or treat them as such.
Whether detecting cash or narcotics, Bernhardt explains that a “hit,” or an alert by the dogs, can provide enough probable cause for police investigators to obtain warrants to search for evidence and make arrests.
Each canine has its own unique personality. Bono and Marko, the Belgian Malinois breed, are dogs with high energy and all work with little play. Both are friendly to their handlers and their families, but not so much with other people.
The K-9 team (dog and handler) works eight-hour shifts. They patrol in specially equipped Sheriff’s vehicles with equipment needed to transport canines in addition to its standard patrol gear. The canines’ ears usually perk up whenever the patrol vehicle stops, signaling they are getting out to stretch their legs or work. After spending a lot of their time in the rear of the vehicle, they are eager for every opportunity. After completing their investigative duties, the dogs are rewarded with either a tennis ball, Kong ball or just the friendly tone of their handler’s voice. Like most dogs, they love to play and chew whenever they can. The K-9 Unit has a stockpile of rewards on hand in a large trash bin filled with tennis balls donated by local schools.
Conversely, Nora, the only German shepherd, is good natured and mild mannered almost all the time to nearly everyone. As the most people-friendly among the trio, she does most of the public appearances, such as visiting local schools. Nora joined the unit seven years ago. “She has tons and tons of energy. She’s as wild as they come,” Turner said with a smile. “She likes to work, but she’s the biggest teddy bear. She’ll knock you over to play with her.”
WEB EXTRA
For a video featuring the K-9 Unit, visit jocogov.org/JoCoMag.
Above, left: Dep. Shannon Chase poses with his K-9 partner, Marko; above, right: K-9 Nora sniffs out drugs hidden in a vehicle during a drill with her handler, Dep. Travis Turner. Spring 2016
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JoCo Appraiser’s Office documenting all properties By LORI SAND
When Johnson County homeowners receive their property tax assessments next November, they can be assured that the appraisal of their property is based upon the most accurate information available. Kansas law requires counties to update property information every six years. The Johnson County Appraiser’s Office has hired Tyler Technologies, Inc. to capture detailed, high-resolution street level photographs of every property in the county’s exterior. The photographs are taken from public right-of-way whenever possible. The images are used to create land record information that is a part of the appraisal process and are instrumental in maintaining accurate data on every parcel in the county. “Correct up-to-date property information is crucial to ensuring fair and equitable property values as well as making the appraisal process more efficient,” said Johnson County Appraiser Paul Welcome. “This project will provide high-quality photos of every house, commercial building, gazebo — every structure with value — on approximately 187,000 parcels of land.” The information gathered will improve the overall quality of the county’s real estate data and will save taxpayers money by making the property tax administration process more efficient. Other agencies will also benefit from the imagery; for example, the photos will be available for emergency management recovery in the event that reports need to be filed for state and federal assistance. The information will also be used to verify property addresses to identify homes for fire, police and medical emergency response. Tyler Technologies, Inc. began the project in early January and is expected to complete the project in the fall. Photos cannot be taken when trees are covered with leaves, as they obstruct the view of many structures. The customized white vans are clearly marked with signs indicating they are conducting an imaging and address verification project for Johnson County. All imaging crew members have photo identification badges that must be visible at all times. Local law enforcement are aware of the van descriptions and their locations. The Johnson County Appraiser’s Office posts the areas completed and in progress at jocogov.org/countypropertyphotoproject so residents can see if the vans are in their area. Anyone with questions may call the county Appraiser’s Office at 913-715-9000. Van with crew taking photos of Johnson County properties.
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Citizen satisfaction in Johnson County By CHRIS DEPUSOIR
Johnson County recently received the results of its citizens engagement survey completed by more than 1,500 residents (more than 220 from each of the county’s six districts). The survey shows the highest satisfaction with the county
since 2009. Johnson County continues to have above-average satisfaction levels compared to peer communities across the country (exceeding populations of 250,000 residents). Here is a snapshot of a few recent results:
9 4%
91 %
97 %
OVERALL FEELING OF SAFETY
Perception of Johnson County as
A PLACE TO LIVE
QUALITY OF LIFE in Johnson County
in Johnson County
2%
5%
7%
1%
1%
2%
Excellent or good (very safe or safe)
Neutral
Average/poor
margin of error: +/- 2.5%
95%
of respondents said it is very important or important to protect the general public from criminals when inside the courthouse.
87%
said it was very important or important that a new, improved courthouse should have improved security for victims.
85%
said it was very important or important that a new courthouse should have improved security for jurors.
See jocogov.org/JoCoMag for full survey results and jocogov.org/courthouse for more information about the courthouse project.
BAKER BUILDS ACHIEVERS Baker University graduates set the standard for their peers and their communities — especially Johnson County. They take what they learn in the classroom and go on to earn the highest average salaries in the state.
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES | SCHOOL OF NURSING
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION | GRADUATE PROGRAMS | Spring 2016
bakerU.edu jocogov.org
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Q4C
QUESTION FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
What’s your favorite warm weather spot in your district? “Our excellent recreational facilities.” Chairman Ed Eilert
“Enjoying the Merriam Turkey Creek Festival; Prairie Village Art Fair; Taste of Leawood; combined July 4th fireworks display by the cities of Roeland Park, Fairway and Westwood; Mission Summer Family Picnic; and other community events for all ages.” First District Commissioner Ronald L. “Ron” Shaffer
“The beach area in Shawnee Mission Park.” Second District Commissioner James P. Allen
“Prairiefire offers a lot of summer musts with shopping, dining, artwork, movies, bowling and, of course, the popular museum with a T Rex. All are fun to see and enjoy.” Third District Commissioner Steven C. Klika
“I enjoy running and biking through the park and trail system.” Fourth District Commissioner Jason Osterhaus
“I love Olathe Summer Concert Series at Frontier and Stagecoach Parks and the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle — the best summer events in Johnson County.” Fifth District Commissioner Michael Ashcraft
“Cooling off at Gardner or Black Bob pools, and fishing at Lake Olathe or Kill Creek Park.” Sixth District Commissioner John Toplikar
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jocogov.org
At work
with the Board of County Commissioners By AMANDA KELLER
Among its many duties, the Board of County Commissioners is, ex officio, the Board of Election Canvassers. As such, it is required to review, or “canvass,” and certify the results of elections conducted in the county. While unofficial election results are made public as soon as results are available on Election Day, results are not considered official until the canvass takes place the Monday following a given election. During the canvass meeting, the Board of Canvassers determines the validity of any provisional or challenged ballots. Provisional ballots include situations when a voter’s registration is in question or when records indicate the voter was already sent an advance ballot. Provisional ballots are sealed in special envelopes at the polls and must be individually researched and verified at the Election Office prior to presenting them to the Board of Canvassers. Following the processing of the valid ballots, the Board of Canvassers certifies the official vote summary as the final official election results. Canvass meetings occur at the Election Office (2101 E. Kansas City Rd., Olathe) and are open to the public. The 2016 primary election canvass will take place Aug. 8 at 9 a.m. and the fall general election canvass will occur Nov. 14 at 9 a.m. Spring 2016
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10787 Nall Ave., Suite 110, Overland Park, KS 66211 (Across the street from Top Golf)
RenuvaCenters.com jocogov.org
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the
Best Times Digest
INFORMING & SUPPORTING JOHNSON COUNTY’S 60+ ADULTS
Update your File of Life
Tips for avoiding scams
By JODY HANSON
By GERALD HAY
When you call 9-1-1 to have a Johnson County MED-ACT ambulance respond to your house for an emergency, it’s common to be in a stressful state of mind, making it difficult to remember facts and figures, as well as medications you or a family member are taking or a list of allergies. There’s a way you can prepare for such an emergency situation in advance by filling out a File of Life for every member of your household.
P.T. Barnum has long been quoted as once saying: “There’s a sucker born every minute.” Whether or not he actually said that remains in dispute decades later, but attempts to be swindled by a con artist, sharpie, smoothie or flimflammer remains timeless.
Available for download at jocogov.org/medact, the File of Life form includes areas to write down important, even life-saving, information such as: • Emergency contacts • Medical conditions • Allergies • Prescription medications • Preferred hospitals “We recommend you fill out this medical-history document for everyone in the home and keep it somewhere easy to access, such as on your refrigerator,” says Angela Fera, Johnson County MED-ACT public information officer. “The more a paramedic knows about your current health situation, the better he or she can treat you, armed with important and life-saving knowledge.” For more information on the File of Life or other Johnson County MED-ACT education programs, please call 913-715-1950 or visit jocogov.org/medact.
Scams come in many forms throughout the year in Johnson County. They have one thing in common — the demand for money. It is the job of the Sheriff’s Office and the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office to help protect older adults who appear as easy marks for a variety of illegal schemes. Lt. Douglas Bedford of the Investigations Division at the Sheriff’s Office offers a hint: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is just that — too good to be true.
Door-to-door solicitation scams As the weather turns warmer, the District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Office routinely see an increase in scam artists and opportunity seekers attempting to take advantage of local residents. Home repair scams increase during the warm spring and summer months, particularly regarding tree trimming, driveway paving and roofing jobs. “Residents are advised to be cautious about individuals who come to their door offering services, particularly when those services are being offered at some discount or special rate,” Assistant District Attorney Emilie Burdette said. “Affirmatively contacting local, reputable businesses for needed services cuts down on the risk of being taken advantage of by transient, unlicensed and unscrupulous contractors.” Bogus door-to-door solicitations for the sale of items such as magazines and cleaning products or for charitable donations also become more frequent during this time of year. “The District Attorney’s Office has taken action against several organizations purporting to raise funds for local charities, sports teams or other organizations when in fact the individuals have no ties to the area and no intention of providing the donations to the represented organizations,” Burdette said. “Residents are encouraged to place ‘no soliciting’ signs at their residences and to report any suspicious door-to-door sales activity to the DA’s Consumer Protection Division at 913-715-3003.” In addition, residents can obtain valuable information from: • Scam Detector iPhone app provides more than 500 of the most popular scams in the world, see scam-detector.com. • Johnson County District Attorney’s Office, Consumer Protection Unit, da.jocogov.org. • Better Business Bureau of Kansas City, bbb.org/kansascity. • Kansas Attorney General’s Office, ag.ks.gov/file-a-complaint.
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Spring 2016
Scams involving storm chasers Spring storms bring to town “storm chasers” who travel to storm-ravaged areas to provide hail repair, roofing services or other storm-related repairs to consumers. “These ‘storm chasers’ do not always have residents’ best interests in mind and have been known to request payment up front from residents or insurance companies prior to completion of any work,” Burdette said. “Most reputable businesses will not request any money prior to completion of at least some part (if not all) of the work. A contractor who demands full payment in advance should be thoroughly vetted.” Residents are encouraged to look for suspicious behavior, such as contractors who: • Show up at your door if you haven’t made an appointment. • Require all of the funds or a sizable amount of the project cost in advance. • Want checks made directly to them vs. their business name. • Use high pressure to get your money. Contact the Johnson County Contractor Licensing Department at 913-715-2233 if you have questions about a particular individual or company. If you suspect someone might be running a scam, immediately call local law enforcement and report the suspicious activity.
Bogus arrest scams Another popular scam involves claims of pending arrest warrants of a family member for failure to appear for jury duty or in court. The bogus callers may say they are from the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office or District Courts. The caller requests money, usually involving a Western Union money transfer or a Green Dot card, in order to avoid arrest warrants being issued. According to Bedford, the Sheriff’s Office procedure for contacting those with warrants does not include a demand for immediate bond payment. If someone contacts you claiming a family member is in financial trouble, check it out by contacting the family member directly to verify the information.
IRS impersonator scams The Sheriff’s Office has also received multiple reports of scam phone calls from subjects identifying themselves as members of the Internal Revenue Service. Aggressive and threatening phone calls by bogus IRS agents are part of the annual “Dirty Dozen” list by the IRS of 2016 tax scams with con scam artists threatening police arrest, court action, deportation, license revocation and other actions. Residents are advised that if they received a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, they should go to treasury.gov/tigta and click on the red “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” button. You will answer a series of questions that will help direct you to the correct IRS investigator. Residents may also report fraud to the Sheriff’s Dispatch at 913-782-0720. Spring 2016
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JOCO HISTORY
Native American heritage is all around us in JoCo By GERALD HAY
Reminders of the Native American legacy are abundant in Johnson County. School districts and buildings, streets, neighborhoods and cities are adorned with dozens of tribal names, Indian words and famous chiefs or their spouses.
City names with Native American roots The most popular tribal name in Johnson County is Shawnee, as the county was created on reservation land once belonging to the Shawnee tribe. The city of Shawnee had three name changes in its history, beginning with Gum Springs then later Shawneetown and finally shortened to Shawnee in honor of the Indian tribe. Chief Charles Bluejacket, a historically important Shawnee Indian chief, Methodist minister, prosperous farmer and land owner, served as the official interpreter in treaty negotiations between the tribe and the federal government. In Shawnee’s Herman Laird Park, a life-size bronze statue depicting Bluejacket with two of his 23 children memorializes the historic figure. The Shawnee Indian Cemetery, also known as Bluejacket Cemetery, is located near 59th Terrace and Nieman Road. The city of Shawnee also has Bluejacket Street, which touches parts of Lenexa and various stretches of Overland Park, along with Bluejacket-Flint Elementary School. Another statue honors the namesake of Lenexa. The city’s name is derived from the name of Shawnee Chief Thomas Blackhoof’s wife, who was variously recorded on census records as Na-NexSe and Len-Ag-See. There’s a statue of the city’s namesake outside Lenexa City Hall. A small park in her name can be found at 83rd Terrace and Lackman Road. Black Hoof Park is located at 9053 Monticello Road (research reveals both Blackhoof and Black Hoof as the spelling of the chief’s name). Olathe, too, has a historic connection to Native Americans, derived from a Shawnee word understood to mean “beautiful.” The city’s history includes Chief Black Bob, a chief of the Hathawekela division of the Shawnee tribe and head of the Black Bob Reservation, or Black Bob Reserve. Black Bob Park, Black Bob Road and Black Bob Elementary School all honor him. Native Americans have left their mark in other words, deeds and history. The word “Indian” is used in several school names, along with a few streets and subdivisions. For instance, Indian Creek snakes through part of Johnson County.
Native American history in Johnson County The legacy started in the 1820s and 1830s when several Native American tribes were relocated to the designated “Indian Territory” west of the newly-formed state of Missouri. The Shawnee tribe of Ohio and Missouri joined the migration in 1825 with a treaty setting aside 1.6 million acres in what would become Eastern Kansas, including Johnson County and stretching to Topeka. 20
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Chief Charles Bluejacket Fountain in Shawnee’s Herman Laird Park.
“The Shawnee way of life was already changing when they arrived. Some were developing settled farming practices and had embraced Christianity. Others resisted these changes and tried to follow the ways of their ancestors,” Mindi Love, director of Johnson County Museum noted in her book Johnson County, Kansas: A Pictorial History, 1825–2005. Establishing themselves along the banks of the Kansas River and nearby creeks, including Bull and Mill creeks, the Shawnees were skillful traders, hunters and farmers. They also produced the first newspaper in the Indian Territory and in Kansas before statehood. The first printing press was established by Baptist missionary Jotham Meeker and used an alphabet for the Shawnee language to print religious texts and the Siwinowe Kesibwi (Shawnee Sun) from 1835 to 1842. By 1846, the territory in what would become eastern Kansas was home to at least 19 Indian reservations, including the Shawnee, Cherokee, Delaware, Wyandot, Ottawa, Wea, Miami, Pottawatomie, Chippewa, Quapaw, Osage and Kickapoo, to name a few. The Kansa tribe also had a reservation adjoining the Shawnee reservation. Kansas was named after the Kansas River, which was named after the Kansa tribe who lived along its banks. Kansa is generally believed to be from the Sioux Indian word for “south wind people” or “people of the wind.” The Kansas Territory was established by the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, opening up the new territories for settlement after a Spring 2016
new treaty was signed with the Shawnee, reducing their reservation to 200,000 acres. The following year, Johnson County was created as one of the original 33 counties, founded on Aug. 25 by the Legislative Act of 1855 in the Territory of Kansas. Statehood came six years later.
Bob and his small tribe did not, refusing to farm their 33,000 acres in the southeastern corner of Johnson County and living a nomadic lifestyle. The nearly 40-year residence of the Shawnee came to an end by 1879 when federal legislation opened the remaining unallotted land of the Shawnee reservation for settlement. The final members of the Black Bob Band and many other Shawnee sold or abandoned their property, moving to the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma.
Movement westward As part of the nation’s westward movement, the federal government made it easy for white settlers to acquire land in Johnson County by making the Shawnee reservation private land. After the privatization of their reservation, some Shawnee left Kansas for new land in the new Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), while others took an offer of 200 acres to each Shawnee “man, woman and child” and built their homes in Johnson County among the new white settlers. Na Nex Se statue in Lenexa. Shawnee Indian Chief Charles Tucker and his wife, Mary, were among the members of his tribe to remain and farm in Johnson County, accepting the lifestyle of new settlers.
While Bluejacket, Tucker and other chiefs accepted changes encouraged by missionaries and allotment treaties, Chief Black
WEB EXTRA
The Blackfeather Farm, located at 8140 West 183rd Street, Stilwell, includes a historic stone house on land associated with the Shawnee Indians. The original land patent, which once belonged to the Black Bob Band, was awarded to To Wah Pea and her heirs, including Joseph and Johnson Blackfeather, in 1885. The property is privately owned.
Know of other markers of Johnson County’s Native American history? Send them to jocomag@jocogov.org. PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Protecting our most precious resource By DENNIS PATTON
H
ave you ever stopped to think about grass clippings once they’re cut? Yes, they can be a pain. But did you know about their effect on the water we drink? Research from leading universities found that lawn clippings that make their way into local ponds and streams decay, releasing harmful nutrients — nitrites and phosphates. This organic matter loads nutrients into the water, Spring 2016
creating algae growth that will harm fish, causes murky water and increases purification costs. It’s easy to do our part. Prevent clippings and other organic matter like leaves from staying on hard surfaces such as walks, drives and streets. When mowing, discharge the clippings back onto the lawn instead of blowing them into the street. After mowing, sweep or blow the debris back into the grass. The lawn acts like a safety net, catching and holding the clippings where they wither and decompose naturally. As an added bonus, the clippings return twenty-five percent of the fertilizer back to the lawn. This helps create a healthier lawn.
Whether you’re pushing the mower or you hire a crew, your last step is returning the clippings back to the lawn. Best of all, when you reach for that glass of cold water when you’re finished, take pride in knowing you did your part to ensure it is not only refreshing but clean.
In par tnership together
jocogov.org
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THREEQuestions By AMANDA KELLER
for NEW Johnson County Government employees
Chandrika Seenappa started with the Department of Technology and Innovation in March as a developer analyst II. Chandrika’s primary responsibilities are working with internal clients to develop department SharePoint sites, developing workflows and custom applications and researching new features or functionality in SharePoint 2013. Where did you work prior to coming to work for the county? I graduated with my Master of Science in Information Technology from the University of Kansas in December 2015. This is my first job after completing my graduate studies. Why were you interested in working for Johnson County Government? I liked the job profile and wanted to learn about how a government organization functions. I am from India and government organizations there function quite differently, so I wanted to see how they differ. Chandrika Seenappa Developer Analyst II
What’s your favorite thing about working for Johnson County in your experience so far? I like the work environment and the support I get from my colleagues. I also like the wellness classes, which I feel are helping me a lot.
Terry Kegin is assistant director, operations in the Emergency Management division of the Emergency Management and Communications Department. Having started with the county in April, Terry’s primary responsibilities include maintaining the Emergency Operations Center and supporting the countywide warning and response capability. Why were you interested in working for Johnson County Government? Johnson County, in the emergency management world, is the top of the mountain in my opinion. We have the best emergency management program I’ve seen in Kansas by far. What’s your favorite thing about working for Johnson County in your experience so far? The people. Everybody I have met so far seems to have a lot of respect for what EMC does.
Terry Kegin Assistant Director, Operations
What is one thing that has surprised you about the county since you started working here? How much everything has grown. When I left the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office in 1994, I felt that the cities were progressing faster than the county was in many areas and “county” was still just the unincorporated areas. When someone says “county,” it no longer just means the rural areas. The different cities and the county all work together on so many various levels, it feels much more like a unified community.
Kelvin Venerable, a psychiatric rehabilitation/supported housing specialist with the Mental Health Center, started with the county in March. Kelvin’s primary job responsibility is to assist in direct support and supervision to enable mental health clients to accomplish necessary daily tasks and develop important social and interpersonal skills. Where did you work prior to coming to work for the county? I worked in management for Wyandotte Mental Health at the Crisis Stabilization House and also for Res-Care Kansas City as residential manager. Why were you interested in working for Johnson County Government? I feel that Johnson County Mental Health is at the forefront in terms of treating mental health properly because of available resources and staff’s dedication to client care. Kelvin Venerable Psychiatric Rehabilitation/ Supported Housing Specialist
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What’s your favorite thing about working for Johnson County in your experience so far? My favorite thing so far has been developing strong supportive relationships with co-workers, management and especially working with the clients we serve. Spring 2016
10THINGS By JULIE DAVIS
to recycle at the Household Hazardous Waste facility
The county collects common household chemicals for safe disposal from residents for free. Drop off your items by making an appointment at jocogov.org.
1.
Latex paint. The program recycles thousands of gallons of latex paint every year. Re-blended, quality paint is available to purchase at discount prices in five gallon buckets.
2.
Automotive products, such as antifreeze, motor oil, brake fluid, batteries and gasoline are all recycled.
3.
Stain, varnish and wood sealer. All woodworking products are collected and either used as an industrial fuel or distributed through the FREE store, where residents can shop at no cost.
4.
Lawn and garden products such as pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and even banned pesticides such as DDT and Chlordane are safely disposed and kept out of our environment.
5.
Aerosol cans. Whether it’s paint, cleaners or pesticides, all aerosol cans are collected for recycling.
6.
Flammable liquids such as paint thinner, acetone and other solvents, are bulked by county staff and sent to be used as a fuel source.
7.
Cleaning products, whether they’re for your kitchen counters, bathroom or even cleaning concrete, can be reused.
8.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (the spiral ones) and tubes are safely recycled.
9.
Electronic waste. Second Saturdays ONLY, you can make an appointment to recycle any electronic item with a power cord or battery (fees apply for televisions only).
10.
Caulk, adhesive, grout, wallpaper remover, joint compound, tires, pool chemicals, propane cylinders and more! Visit jocogov.org for a complete list of accepted items.
Residents can shop for all these items at the free store! Products only slightly used and in good condition are redistributed to the public free of charge. No appointment is necessary to shop.
WEB EXTRA Spring 2016
For a video and more information about the Household Hazardous Waste program, visit jocogov.org/JoCoMag. jocogov.org
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Did You Know? One out of every four college-bound Johnson County seniors attend JCCC. Call 913-498-9360 or visit jccc.edu/college-bound to learn more.