Shawnee County commissioners approve bonds, construction contracts and service agreements in unanimous votes

The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on a slate of resolutions, contracts and routine items at its May 19 meeting, approving industrial revenue bonds, road and parking-lot construction contracts, facility and service agreements, and several county administrative requests.

The commission approved two resolutions of intent to issue taxable industrial revenue bonds: Resolution No. 2025-34 for the 220 Southeast Sixth LLC project, an estimated $6.7 million phase 2 authorization to complete first-floor abatement, elevator work and electrical/HVAC improvements to create an innovation laboratory; and Resolution No. 2025-35 amending earlier approvals for Seal, Sim & Sons Incorporated to authorize an estimated $3,000,000 aggregate principal amount for facility improvements. Bond counsel described the 220 Southeast Sixth project as work on the former AT&T building; the Seal, Sim & Sons increase reflects higher-than-expected project costs and an allowance for additional improvements.

On facilities and events, commissioners approved a five-year license agreement (contract C188-2025) renewing a Kansas Kids Wrestling event at the Stormont Vail Events Center beginning March 2026. Kellen Seitz of the venue said the center can now host up to 22 mats, making it uniquely able in the state to hold the tournament under one roof.

Public-works and construction contracts awarded to Bettis Asphalt & Construction Co. included a $70,043.60 parking-lot maintenance contract for the courthouse and health department (contract C189-2025) and a $432,130 pavement replacement contract for Southeast Croco Road south of the I-470 bridge (contract C190-2025). The county also approved a sole-source agreement with Terracon Consultants Inc. (contract C195-2025) for monitoring, sampling and inspection services at the closed Shawnee County landfill to satisfy Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) requirements.

Other approved contracts and administrative actions included a three-year uniform services contract (contract C191-2025) awarded to Santos through the county RFP process; a $78,919.35 purchase and installation contract (contract C194-2025) with TaylorMade via the Greenbush Cooperative for turf surfacing at the Lake Shawnee Tenement Circle playground; a $12,776 Lamar Advertising contract (contract C196-2025) for an overdose-prevention billboard campaign funded by grant money; permission to solicit bids for election-equipment delivery for upcoming cycles; and reinstatement of a clinical-services nurse position for the 2026 personnel budget process.

All motions recorded in the transcript passed by a 3-0 vote. Commissioners present and recorded voting were Aaron Mays (chair, District 3), Bill Rippon (District 1) and Gavin Cook (District 2). Several items included brief staff presentations explaining scope and funding sources; funding lines recorded in the presentations included the 2025 roof and parking fund for the parking work and the 2025 public-works operating budget for the Croco Road project.

Votes at a glance (selected items and outcomes): - Consent agenda: approved, motion passed 3-0. - Voucher payments (multiple vendors): approved, motion passed 3-0; notable vendor amounts included $1,082,239.40 to MFA Inc. for chemicals for the weed department, $262,373.15 to Bettis Asphalt & Construction for a road improvement project, and $93,896.24 to Consolidated Rural Water District No. 1 for water line relocations. - Resolution 2025-34 (220 Southeast Sixth LLC IRB, est. $6,700,000): public hearing opened and closed with no speakers; resolution approved, motion passed 3-0. - Resolution 2025-35 (Seal, Sim & Sons Inc. IRB amendment, est. $3,000,000): approved, motion passed 3-0. - Contract C188-2025 (Stormont Vail Events Center license with USA Wrestling/Kansas Kids Wrestling, 5 years): approved, motion passed 3-0. - Contract C189-2025 (parking-lot maintenance to Bettis Asphalt, $70,043.60): approved, motion passed 3-0. - Contract C190-2025 (pavement replacement to Bettis Asphalt, $432,130): approved, motion passed 3-0. - Contract C195-2025 (sole-source agreement with Terracon for landfill monitoring): approved, motion passed 3-0. - Contract C191-2025 (uniform services to Santos, three-year term beginning July 1, 2025): approved, motion passed 3-0. - Contract C194-2025 (turf surfacing at Lake Shawnee playground, TaylorMade via Greenbush, $78,919.35, 5,175 sq ft): approved, motion passed 3-0. - Contract C196-2025 (Lamar Advertising billboards for overdose-prevention campaign, $12,776, grant-funded): approved, motion passed 3-0. - Reinstatement of a nurse position in clinical services for the 2026 budget process: approved, motion passed 3-0. - Permission to solicit bids for election-equipment delivery (Elections Office): approved, motion passed 3-0.

Funding and other clarifications provided during presentations: - The parking-lot work will be paid from the 2025 roof and parking fund; the Croco Road pavement replacement will be paid from the 2025 public-works operating budget. - The billboard campaign is funded with grant dollars tied to an overdose-prevention project. - The turf surfacing is 5,175 square feet at approximately $15.25 per square foot; the county noted prior use of similar turf at a recently opened park.

No items were tabled or failed. The meeting minutes show no public opposition raised during the public hearing on the 220 Southeast Sixth IRB authorization.

Commissioners recessed without holding an executive session.

Ending note: The majority of items were routine contract approvals or updates to previously authorized financings; several presenters noted contractor availability constraints for specialized work (culverts, bridge-related work) and explained timing of future re-bids for those projects.