Shawnee County approves vouchers, contracts, staffing and 2026 social services allocations

The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 27 approved a series of routine and budget items including voucher payments, multiple vendor contracts, a personnel appointment and two budget resolutions documenting 2026 allocations for social services and aging programs.

Among recorded actions, commissioners approved $3,001,407.46 in vouchers, awarded a contract to replace front doors at the JP Lewis Health Department, rejected responses to an HVAC professional services solicitation for that facility, authorized solicitation of bids for road and culvert materials, approved parks maintenance and on-call trade service contracts, and approved two resolutions allocating social services and elderly services funds for 2026.

Voucher payments: The commission approved a warrant list totaling $3,001,407.46, including a $195,290.98 payment to Aspire to Play LLC for playground equipment funded from the Parks Recreation Building Maintenance Fund.

Facilities contracts and procurement: Justin Leaman, director of Facilities Management, requested approval of contract C403-2025 with DH Pace to replace the JP Lewis Health Department front entry doors at a cost of $16,922; the commission approved the contract 3-0. Separately, staff recommended rejecting all responses to RFP 00825 for HVAC professional services at JP Lewis after emergency repairs restored system function; the rejection was approved 3-0.

Personnel: Human Resources recommended filling a vacant electronic archiving specialist position (RD1005B) in the Register of Deeds office at range 9 step 10 with a salary of $41,662.40 (excluding benefits). The commission approved the hire 3-0.

Public works procurement: The commission authorized solicitation of bids and permission to use negotiated purchase methods for certain road, culvert and bridge maintenance materials for 2026–27, noting past negotiated purchases of hot-mix asphalt and tack oil. The motion passed 3-0.

Parks and on-call services: Parks and Recreation Director Tim Lorent said GreenCare Lawn and Landscape was the lowest responsive bidder to maintain sports fields; the county approved contract C406-2025 at $6,270 per month. The commission also approved on-call trade service agreements: C407-2025 (B & T Construction LLC, carpentry), C408-2025 (Central Mechanical Construction Company, mechanical/HVAC), C409-2025 (Central Mechanical Construction Company, plumbing) and C410-2025 (DL Smith Electrical Construction, electrical). Those awards passed 3-0.

Budget resolutions: Jennifer Sauer, financial administrator, presented resolution No. 2025-84 to allocate 2026 social services funds and resolution No. 2025-85 to allocate 2026 service programs for the elderly. Both resolutions were approved 3-0; Mary Thomas of the Community Resources Council noted the county funds serve as match and help agencies leverage additional support.

Health department contract: The commission approved renewal of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program contract C411-2025 with an estimated agreement amount of $1,174,233 (plus any reallocated federal Nutrition Services Administration and breastfeeding peer counselor funds) to serve Shawnee, Osage and Wabaunsee counties for 10/1/2025–9/30/2026. Health department staff said no county funds are currently being used to support the program.

Meeting housekeeping: The commission also voted 3-0 to cancel its Oct. 30 work session because it conflicts with a township meeting.

Why it matters: The actions set funding and service arrangements for 2026 programs, maintain county facilities and infrastructure, and authorize procurement activity that will shape routine county operations into next year.

Sources: Public discussion and votes at the Oct. 27 Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners meeting.