Johnson County commissioners approved a $203,823 increase in contract authority for Tool Design Group LLC on June 26 to cover additional outreach and stakeholder engagement during development of the Johnson County Transit strategic plan. The revised not-to-exceed contract amount became $576,960 with the extension of the contract term to Aug. 31, 2025.

Transit staffer Josh Powers told the board the primary driver was added stakeholder engagement — an extra 13 meetings with municipal officials and mayors and city managers — and travel costs for a consultant team that is not locally based. “We recognized that there were certain activities that had not been captured in the scope… the amount of outreach and the amount of stakeholder engagement, particularly with our cities,” Powers said.

Funding: $163,058 of the increase will come from federal Section 5307 formula funds with a $40,765 local match.

The motion passed 5–2 after commissioners voiced concerns about timing and process. Commissioner Hanslick moved the authorization; Commissioner Myers seconded. Commissioner Brewer and Commissioner Ashcraft voted no, saying they would have preferred earlier commission notification before staff authorized additional scope. County management acknowledged the board should have been informed earlier and said staff would provide better advance notice in future scope changes.

The contract authority increase does not add new operating funds; it authorizes additional spending authority on the existing contract to finish outreach and prepare the final strategic plan.