Shawnee County commissioners approve $4.18 million in vouchers, several departmental contracts and a new weed office manager position

The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners on April 17 approved vouchers totaling $4,181,185.33 and cleared multiple departmental contracts and staffing changes in votes that carried 2-0.

The voucher report included several highlighted payments: $135,250 in allocations to local nonprofit and community services (housing and credit counseling, Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging, Meals on Wheels/Positive Connections, PARS, the Fair Association and Habitat for Humanity); $292,310 to TLG Operations for 2024 rear-loading refuse trucks (paid from the solid waste fund); $113,383.47 to Consolidated Rural Water District No. 1 for a progress payment on the Southwest Auburn Road waterline relocation (infrastructure fund); $296,044.72 to Rainbow of Heartland as a final payment for a modular sports floor at the Stormont Vail Event Center (equipment fund); $359,513.56 to King Construction Company Inc. for a progress payment on the bridge at Northwest 305th Street over a tributary to Soldier Creek (bridge project fund); and $110,430 to a contractor cited for sliding-door installation for the Department of Corrections (building and maintenance fund). The voucher motion was moved and seconded by commissioners and approved 2-0.

Department of Corrections items: Tim Phelps, Department of Corrections, requested approval for one employee to attend a virtual Mental Health First Aid instructor certification at a cost of $2,200, paid from the detention budget, and the commission authorized contract C159-2025 (education and training expense agreement). Phelps said the training will prepare a trainer to ready staff for behavioral health modules in the new detention facility. The commission approved the request 2-0.

Phelps also sought and received approval for contract C160-2025 with IDEMIA for annual maintenance of two detention facility fingerprint machines at $5,835, and for annual inspection of the detention facility sprinkler systems: a first-year inspection at $3,200 with 5% annual increases and a one-time piping inspection at $4,160. Phelps said the inspections are required for the county to comply with the fire marshal's annual inspections.

Public health: Theresa Fisher, director of the Health Department, asked the commission to enter a local health department mosquito surveillance agreement with funding from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Bureau. Fisher said this is the department's seventh year of trapping; staff will set six trap locations and KDHE will perform analysis. "It's about messaging, preventative measures that we can have," Fisher said, describing the program's role in identifying mosquito species of concern and informing public education. The commission approved contract C162-2025 2-0.

Noxious Weed Department: John Landon, director of the Noxious Weed Department, asked commissioners to close an Account Clerk II position and create and fill a classified, non-exempt Office Manager I position with an annual salary and benefits of no less than $62,182.25. Landon said the office role handles customer service, inventory control, supply ordering and other duties beyond clerical accounting and that the office commonly supports field crews. The commission approved the reclassification and hiring authorization 2-0.

Administrative updates: Landon also provided an update on seasonal conditions — reporting heavy honeysuckle growth and expanding measures to address Serissa and other invasive plants — and said rental sprayers and chemical supplies are available from the department. Brian Cole, Shawnee County Department of Corrections, announced an academy graduation expected to produce about 20 employees returning to the workforce; he said the event is scheduled for the next day and warned parking and entry details.

All motions on the contracts, inspections, staffing and vouchers were made, seconded and passed by recorded voice votes of 2 to 0; no abstentions were recorded.