[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6607712,"mediaKeyId","2948241-1d7cc27f65a9cc046c246f2855850941","parentId",2948241,"title","Residents urge formation of citizens commission and criticize legal commentary on state law","audioSeconds",196,"startMs",3449000,"endMs",3645000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2948241-1d7cc27f65a9cc046c246f2855850941&start=3449&end=3645","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2948241-1d7cc27f65a9cc046c246f2855850941/thumbnail_3449000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6607712/Shawnee-County/Kansas/Residents-urge-formation-of-citizens-commission-and-criticize-legal-commentary-on-state-law","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607712-dc86e5beca798c06d02750fcc22079fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149538&Signature=HHDJT9Yl61nbVgqyTNnic~xVCBWKNDDF-UZx3SBq9ecUhDrNGdLFgyxVh-7e6siidqVH4mOC6KMw8WzV-NdaWNSxliknLNkf12B50K6UnYbYOh50~huuJfLnaA7Aed46L8SJLTIrWQEeRJxH8srr7Zv528xGl7Le27aDIVk1Q7MQO-qo0jkykh1RHqr4TNf0k43HpxMq1Ni9OHothnuHuGDiPENehm0iVWSg0RzFmCm-jLqNIHT9T3Vg7FfEkk1KdqFqnAj5xsShkZAc9M6-EiYWgVKnuG-6xO~zKKShFvNMzKEaoR0tUy1Ypwy0qPP~TxSVE2~S1~Jb-htD3Vsf8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Shawnee County","date","2025-04-10T15:35:40.953Z","article","Two members of the public used the April 10 Shawnee County commission meeting public-comment period to press the board about a state statute related to a citizens commission and to criticize comments by county legal counsel.

Henry McClure of Topeka told commissioners he had previously misstated how his county commissioner took office and then criticized comments in the Capital-Journal about the citizens commission. He said Senate Bill 104 recently enacted by the state makes formation of a citizens commission optional and questioned how county officials would secure compliance if the law is optional. McClure said the commission could promote transparency if implemented and urged the county to work with the public on the idea. He also said, as a personal matter, that he remains unvaccinated and unapologetic; that statement was part of his public comment and not a county position.

Robert Williams of Shawnee County told the board he had raised the statute previously and said he believes county legal staff provided inaccurate or disingenuous statements to the public and press about the statute's scope. Williams said the difference between a commission and a committee matters legally—he characterized a commission as a mandate and a committee as advisory—and disputed an assertion that the statute applied only to Wyandotte County, saying the statute refers to all counties. He urged the commission to take action and criticized the delay in forming the citizens commission.

The speakers referenced state law (identified in the meeting as \"Senate Bill 104\"). Commissioners did not take action on the comments during the meeting; the record shows no formal response or directive to staff beyond the public comment entries.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Shawnee County Kansas Commission Meeting 2025/4/10","oneSentenceSummary","Two residents used the April 10 public-comment period to press commissioners on a state statute and the optional status of a citizens commission created by recent legislation; speakers questioned the county's compliance and the county attorney's public comments.","taxTitle","Shawnee County, Kansas","taxId",2886,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6607716,"Votes at a glance: Shawnee County commissioners approve contracts, personnel reclassifications and other routine business",0,3799000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2948241-1d7cc27f65a9cc046c246f2855850941&start=3799&end=3799","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2948241-1d7cc27f65a9cc046c246f2855850941/thumbnail_3799000.jpg","/articles/6607716/Shawnee-County/Kansas/Votes-at-a-glance-Shawnee-County-commissioners-approve-contracts-personnel-reclassifications-and-other-routine-business","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607716-8e9ffe681c97c2667eb65c68f635b2b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149538&Signature=U3rOfuY8rqzi9d5qB40QmWMO1Yme7kDBkR8aPJlJUskY44d~gNV6RWIxw~X5rUBAmOY01y36uBXKPODWJO3ew1w~8W8GOoj6Zqp~QP7MsA4GAun~KbQ59EHymgx1Ce6119tCOsZk7uZxSrf4EfMTVxUFpyCgf6SHqHU5DHl-gaw5-kpJ1H2JgP0Lhpp~8bGMY9xEckROSJT9aPLS6OTM9go-NrUdJc7~ICV4s~KM8QoIMdTDAIxW7pCFAoMdz65kiTTRKrn4~v-R3Je5UOwbUONtRHIBUTi1EyBI7q29G4jWupPAokePDmKK~2nQiJXKpdcdVVVz2DEw4D44EFduKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners on April 10 approved a series of routine consent items, vendor contracts, personnel reclassifications and schedule changes. All recorded roll-call votes in the meeting were unanimous, 3-0.

Key outcomes recorded on the meeting docket:

• Consent agenda: Commissioners approved the consent agenda (seven items) by voice vote. Motion recorded as moved by Commissioner Aaron Mays and seconded by Commissioner Kevin Cook; outcome recorded as approved 3-0.

• Vouchers: The board approved county vouchers totaling $5,077,168.50. Noted payments included $230,723.66 to King’s Construction Company, Inc. for progress on Southwest Auburn Road improvements and $203,444.69 to Election Systems and Software LLC for election systems and maintenance. Motion to approve vouchers was recorded and passed 3-0.

• Correction orders: The board approved correction orders as presented; motion recorded and passed 3-0.

• Contract C1482025 (courthouse roof): Approved with Meridian Roofing Solutions for $491,750 from the roof and parking lots fund (see separate article).

• RFP 010-25 (Mainer Conference Center water softener/water heater): Commissioners voted to reject all bid responses to RFP 010-25 and directed staff to reevaluate and pursue a different direction; motion passed 3-0.

• Bridge RFQ: The board approved issuance of a request for qualifications for design and construction engineering services for a bridge replacement project on Northeast Calhoun Bluff Road over a tributary to the Kansas River; motion passed 3-0.

• Reclassify mechanic: The board approved reclassifying one mechanic position to a new field mechanic designation and moving the position into a higher Teamsters pay range (the meeting record states the range was increased from Teamsters range 9.09 to 9.10); motion passed 3-0.

• Reclassify equipment operator: The board approved reclassifying one equipment operator to a bridge foreman position (a crew-leader equivalent for bridge work); motion passed 3-0.

• Contract C150-2025 (Topeka Community Cycle Project): Approved a continuation agreement with Topeka Community Cycle Project to provide bicycle education programming and repair services at Central Park Community Center with an annual $2,500 deposit to the Parks and Recreation Capital Maintenance Fund; motion passed 3-0.

• Contract C147-2025 (Binswanger Glass): Approved purchase through the TIPS cooperative for 10 replacement windows at the Lake Shawnee administrative building at a cost of $51,195 from the capital maintenance fund; motion passed 3-0.

• Cancellation of work sessions: Commissioners approved cancelling the April 24 and May 15 work sessions due to scheduling conflicts; motion passed 3-0.

• Executive session authorization: The board voted to go into executive session for two items—personnel matters concerning health department positions (10 minutes) and attorney–client privileged consultation regarding EMS services (15 minutes); motion passed 3-0. The meeting returned from executive session with no action taken.

All motions were approved by the three commissioners present: Aaron Mays (chair), Kevin Cook and Bill Rippon.","At its April 10 meeting the Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners approved multiple consent items, vendor contracts and job reclassifications, canceled two work sessions and authorized executive sessions; all recorded votes were unanimous 3-0.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6607721,"Shawnee County approves $491,750 contract to replace courthouse roof",36,2583000,2619000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2948241-1d7cc27f65a9cc046c246f2855850941&start=2583&end=2619","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2948241-1d7cc27f65a9cc046c246f2855850941/thumbnail_2583000.jpg","/articles/6607721/Shawnee-County/Kansas/Shawnee-County-approves-491750-contract-to-replace-courthouse-roof","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607721-464fc3b37bf5196ae68a5b00abcce729/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149538&Signature=c2EQBEBIAXVxx0D-ywHm-VdXd5qHX5yzi5WQ2jA753uZz9eQZjldY6OvIqGPOUCbEj7dGI177yR4A104svhuTDW1gsq6K229tPsZJkchp3~ajTBXfh4HRgwzWnEc5-s2pVFAwzpzU9NCSGXb7J7D5-YV3lv7wiaNxBj78at1iY1LXX4gV-ETPR7WMiFlQac~r3Qqkdg77OAsyLh8cDgpsCgmITC5p8wxYk-sHbp21hvPHYT76UxzkluNFCrAcKhbo69iZyUtYWhStmwo0-fds-YGnDqRUSI0f9zIbRX3y6Tc47agZUBXyjEN93XrDiFdYMMBrWazf6oxH8AIC9ZNdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Shawnee County commissioners on April 10 approved a $491,750 contract with Meridian Roofing Solutions to replace the courthouse roof.

The contract (C1482025) will be paid from the county’s roof and parking lots fund. The Facilities Management director’s request, read into the record by the county clerk, said the county issued a request for proposals and received eight bids; the selected bid came in under the county’s original estimate.

Commissioner Aaron Mays moved for approval and Commissioner Bill Rippon seconded. The motion passed unanimously, 3-0.

The Facilities Management director did not provide a start date or detailed timeline during the presentation; the meeting record does not specify a construction schedule or expected completion date.","The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners on April 10 approved a $491,750 contract with Meridian Roofing Solutions to replace the courthouse roof, funded from the roof and parking lots fund; the project drew eight bids and came in under the county’s estimate.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge formation of citizens commission and criticize legal commentary on state law

Votes at a glance: Shawnee County commissioners approve contracts, personnel reclassifications and other routine business

Shawnee County approves $491,750 contract to replace courthouse roof