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Votes at a glance: Shawnee County approves IRBs, sewer-district levies and several park and public-works contracts
Summary
At its Sept. 8 meeting the Shawnee County Board approved issuance of additional industrial revenue bonds, adopted three revenue-exceeding levies for sewer districts and approved park and public-works contracts and vouchers; all recorded votes were 3-0.
Shawnee County commissioners on Sept. 8 approved a package of formal actions spanning industrial revenue bonds, sewer-district levies, park contracts, construction bids and voucher payments. All recorded motions passed unanimously, 3-0.
Key outcomes:
- Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs): The board adopted Resolution 2025-71, authorizing issuance of an estimated $6,700,000 in taxable IRBs for the Phase 2 renovation of the former AT&T building at Southeast Sixth. Bond counsel explained the proceeds will finish first-floor renovations and convert that space into a laboratory hub; earlier IRBs of $3,815,000 from 2021 funded second-floor and asbestos abatement work. Commissioners recorded that, by statute, the county is not liable for IRB debt and tax revenues cannot be used to pay the bonds.
- Voucher approvals: Commissioners approved two voucher reports covering $6,000,599.81 (including $3,134,858 in GO bond principal and interest) and a Sept. 5 voucher report of $3,865,102.58 that included payments such as $391,210.20 to Bettis Asphalt and $119,512.18 to Raring Pacific Company.
- Parks and recreation contracts for Gage Park Playland and Ballfields: The commission awarded multiple contracts and purchases for Gage Park’s Playland and Shawnee North sewer replacement at the county ball fields. Notable approvals included contract C331-2025 with O'Neil Excavating for the Shawnee North sewer replacement; contract C337-2025 with Concrete Unlimited (DBA Unlimited Construction) for concrete pillars for the Playland SkyTrail; and contract C338-2025 with Aspire to Play LLC for play equipment in the ADA portion of the SkyTrail (amount: $59,340). Funding for Playland items was from the Gage Park sales tax fund; the sewer replacement will be paid from the department’s 3R fund.
- Street-benefit district solicitation: The board authorized solicitation of bids for a street-construction segment in Timber Ridge subdivision (an 18-lot street benefit district established by Resolution 2025-52) with a total project budget previously set at $730,000.
- Other routine consent and corrections: The board approved the consent agenda, correction orders and a series of routine items with no separate public debate.
Votes and procedure: Most motions included explicit maker/second on the record and all final votes were roll-call or voice votes recorded as 3-0 in favor. Several items included staff explanations of funding sources and project intent; commissioners noted staff had reduced the county proposed budget by more than $5 million prior to these approvals.
What did not happen: Commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed 2026 county budget but did not adopt the final county budget at the Sept. 8 meeting; final adoption remains scheduled for a future meeting and requires additional work by Audit/Finance and department directors.
Ending: The board adjourned without entering executive session.
