Shawnee County commissioners approve intent to issue two IRBs, several contracts and 2024 weed report; authorize KDOT bridge funds

The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners on March 27 unanimously approved resolutions expressing the county's intent to issue two taxable industrial revenue bonds (IRBs), authorized multiple county contracts and accepted a state/federal bridge funding agreement, and adopted the county's 2024 noxious weed eradication report and 2025 management plan.

The actions included expressions of intent to issue IRBs for an independent-living project by Cedarhurst of Topeka Real Estate LLC and for a multifamily project by AMD Partners LLC; authorization of a public-works contract for culvert replacement design and construction engineering; acceptance of a KDOT agreement providing up to $500,000 for a bridge replacement project on Northwest Valencia Road; approval of a five-year, $270,910 contract with FairwayIQ for GPS units on county golf-course carts; and adoption of the weed department's annual report and management plan.

Why it matters: the IRB intent resolutions begin a multi-step tax-exemption and bond-issuance process that can lower upfront construction costs for private developers while requiring later city or county approvals; the culvert and bridge items address local transportation access and safety; the FairwayIQ contract is a revenue-funded, multi-year technology purchase affecting three county golf courses; and the weed report guides county noxious-weed control for 2025.

Industrial revenue bonds

Commissioners opened public hearings and voted 3-0 to adopt resolution No. 2025-24, expressing the county's intent to issue taxable IRBs and enter a lease-purchase agreement with Cedarhurst of Topeka Real Estate LLC to finance an independent-living facility near Southwest 17th Street and Euresh Road. Bob Perry, speaking for the applicant, described Cedarhurst as a subsidiary of the Dover Companies and said the project would add independent-living cottages to the site next to an existing assisted-living facility. An applicant representative told the board, "We're looking to expand our senior living facility there in Topeka. The first phase is now kind of leased up and stabilized and hoping to utilize the IRBs, which helped us on phase 1 to, to put in this phase 2 and expand our our care continuum." Commissioners closed the public hearing and adopted the resolution 3-0. The action expresses intent only; Perry told the board he expects the applicants to return later to request formal bond issuance after securing required city building permits and other approvals.

The board also opened a public hearing and adopted resolution No. 2025-25, expressing intent to issue taxable IRBs and enter a lease-purchase agreement with AMD Partners LLC for a multifamily project west of Southwest Lovanio Place and north of the Lowe's Big Park store. County staff said the IRB would allow a sales-tax exemption on construction materials and labor through a reinvestment district being pursued with the City of Topeka. The resolution was approved 3-0.

Public works and transportation funding

The commissioners approved contract C138-2025, a sole-source contract continuing design, bidding and construction engineering for a culvert replacement on Southeast Seventh Street over the West Branch of West Shawnee County's West Stone Creek at Lake Gevarra. Curt Nehaas, identified in the meeting as director of public works, said the original work began as an emergency repair after a metal culvert collapsed; the county's bridge crew stabilized the roadway but the approved contract would fund permanent replacement design and construction engineering. Nehaas told the board the county had already spent about $10,000 on initial design work and requested continuation with the same consultant to avoid discarding that work. The motion to approve the contract passed 3-0.

County staff also presented KDOT-Shawnee County agreement 19-25-25 (contract C139-2025), which provides up to $500,000 in state and federal off-system bridge replacement funds for construction and engineering related to a bridge on Northwest Valencia Road over the Silver Lake drainage ditch. Staff said the KDOT letting will cover construction engineering and construction up to that maximum and that the state letting will replace one participating bridge while the county will replace a second nearby bridge as part of the same project. The board approved the agreement 3-0.

Parks & Recreation GPS contract

The board voted 3-0 to approve contract C140-2025 with FairwayIQ to install GPS units on carts at Lake Shawnee, Cypress Ridge and Forbes golf courses. Tim Lorett of Parks and Recreation described the purchase as a sole-source procurement, saying the company holds patents that differentiate its product from competitors. Lorett said the units will "enhance the player's experience on the course," help track pace of play, deter cart use in restricted turf areas and provide usage data to guide maintenance. The five-year contract value is $270,910 to be paid from the golf revenue revolving fund; Lorett said the department expects to offset costs through in-app advertising sales. He also said the units are attached to county carts only and will not disable privately owned carts used on the courses.

Weed report and management plan

John Landon, director of the county weed department, presented the 2024 noxious weed eradication report and the 2025 management plan. Landon said the department has observed a "slight increase in the acreage of sericea infestation" since 2020, noted ongoing Johnson grass issues in right-of-way areas, and said honeysuckle control will be a focus in some locations. He told the board that new weeds (honeysuckle variants and others) have been signed off by the secretary of agriculture and are expected to appear on next year's report. The board adopted the report and plan 3-0.

Other administrative items

Human resources announced a mobile mammography unit scheduled for April 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. outside the county building in Evergy Plaza, and introduced Laura Azevedo as a new HR specialist.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: approved (motion by Commissioner Aaron Mays; second by Commissioner Kevin Cook). Vote: 3-0. - Voucher payments ($1,724,684.37): approved (motion by Commissioner Bill Rippon; second by Commissioner Aaron Mays). Vote: 3-0. - Correction orders: approved (motion by Commissioner Aaron Mays; second by Commissioner Bill Rippon). Vote: 3-0. - Resolution No. 2025-24 (intent to issue taxable IRBs; Cedarhurst of Topeka Real Estate LLC): approved; outcome: adopted 3-0. Motion to close public hearing and adopt by Commissioner Kevin Cook; second by Commissioner Bill Rippon. - Resolution No. 2025-25 (intent to issue taxable IRBs; AMD Partners LLC): approved; outcome: adopted 3-0. - Contract C138-2025 (culvert replacement design/bidding/construction engineering): approved 3-0. - KDOT agreement 19-25-25 / contract C139-2025 (up to $500,000 for bridge replacement on NW Valencia Road): approved 3-0. - Contract C140-2025 (FairwayIQ GPS installation at three county golf courses; $270,910, five-year term): approved 3-0. - 2024 noxious weed eradication report and 2025 management plan: approved 3-0.

Discussion vs. decision

Discussion notes: the IRB approvals were expressions of intent only; applicants were told they will return with final bond-issuance requests after obtaining required city permits and approvals. The culvert item moved from an emergency repair posture to a planned replacement after temporary stabilization; staff emphasized prior design work and requested a sole-source continuation. The KDOT agreement was presented as leveraging state letting to get construction engineering and construction paid for up to a $500,000 maximum. Parks staff framed the GPS purchase as a player-experience and maintenance-management tool with a revenue model tied to advertising. The weed department identified sericea and Johnson grass as priority targets for 2025.

Forward-looking notes

Staff indicated applicants for the IRBs will likely return to the board in coming months with completed financing requests and permit approvals. The culvert and bridge projects will proceed through design and state letting as described; the GPS system will be implemented subject to vendor installation and ad-sales planning. The county's weed department will incorporate the secretary of agriculture's listings into next year's reporting cycle.

Ending

The board held no executive session and adjourned after routine administrative communications and the listed votes.