The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners recessed into multiple executive sessions between 3:35 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Thursday to consult with legal counsel on pending or potential litigation involving the Sheriff’s Office, the county Human Resources Department, a matter described in the meeting as the “Johnson County Med Act,” and a dispute tied to Attorney General Opinion No. 2025-013. The board returned to open session after each recess and recorded no public action.

The motions to enter executive session were consistently moved by Commissioner Hanslick and seconded by Commissioner Allen Brand. Each motion cited KSA 75-4319(b)(2) as the statutory authority for closing the meeting for attorney–client privileged consultation. Chairman Kelly announced after the final return to open session: “We are out of executive session. No action’s being taken at this time.”

Why it matters: The board used KSA 75-4319(b)(2) to consult counsel on multiple legal matters in private. The repeated sessions covered different subjects the commissioners identified on the record, and the public record shows no votes or policy actions were taken during those closed discussions.

Chronology and scope: At 3:35 p.m., the board recessed for five minutes to discuss pending litigation involving the Sheriff’s Office. At 3:43 p.m. and again at 3:51 p.m. the board recessed—each time for five minutes—to consult counsel regarding potential litigation involving the Johnson County Human Resources Department; the 3:51 p.m. motion specifically listed Assistant County Manager Adam Norris among attendees for that session. The board then continued the prior executive session at 3:59 p.m. for another five minutes, and at 4:07 p.m. recessed for five minutes to consult counsel about an item identified in the record as Johnson County Med Act. Finally, at 4:15 p.m. the board recessed for 15 minutes to consult counsel about pending litigation relating to Attorney General Opinion No. 2025-013. Each motion was approved by roll call, with the minutes noting seven in favor and none opposed.

Attendance and procedure: The motions stated that the county manager, deputy county manager, assistant county manager (Adam Norris, when specifically named), the human resources director, and the county’s chief counsel would attend the executive sessions. The meeting record also notes that Adam Norris was not part of one of the earlier executive sessions.

Formal actions and next steps: All items on the record were motions to convene executive session under KSA 75-4319(b)(2). The clerk called the roll for each motion; the tally in each instance was recorded as seven in favor, none opposed. No formal policy, appointment, contract, ordinance or other public action was taken during or immediately after these sessions, and the meeting was adjourned following the final return to open session.

The transcripts record motions and roll calls but provide no additional public detail about the subject matter or the likely timetable for any public action or litigation developments.