Shawnee council grants tower permit, OKs fire rescue vehicle and hears 2027 funding requests

The City of Shawnee council on May 11 approved several routine but consequential items, including a special-use permit for a 160-foot wireless communications tower and authorization for the fire department to buy a new off‑road utility vehicle.

The council approved Harmony Tower’s special-use permit to build and operate a 160-foot wireless communications tower on Monticello Terrace inside the 3 and 2 Baseball Complex; the wrap-up recording reports the vote was 8 to 0. The wrap-up does not include mover/second names or additional debate in the recording.

Separately, the Shawnee Fire Department received unanimous approval to purchase a side-by-side utility task vehicle intended for off-road responses to fire and medical emergencies; the recording does not provide a roll-call tally for that approval. No purchase price or vendor was listed in the wrap-up.

During council committee, outside organizations presented requests for the city’s 2027 budget cycle. The requests recorded in the wrap-up were: Old Shawnee Days requested $55,000; United Community Services requested $200,000 (the wrap-up records $130,000 coming from the city's alcohol sales tax and $70,000 from Shawnee’s share of an opioid-settlement allocation toward the Johnson County substance‑use continuum-of-care fund); the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce requested $586,227 in city sponsorship; and Visit Shawnee requested $286,650. The recording states these requests will be considered as part of the ongoing 2027 budget process.

The council also recessed into a 25-minute executive session before returning to chambers and adjourning for the evening. City offices and the Civic Center will be closed Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day; because of the holiday the council's next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26 at 6 p.m.