Johnson County commissioners authorized nearly $15.5 million to overhaul a major wastewater treatment facility on Thursday, Oct. 22. The board also approved a new emergency medical services agreement covering Olathe, Lenexa and six other local agencies at the same meeting.
Commissioner Julie Brewer moved to adopt Resolution No. WD 26-032, authorizing up to $15,498,755 for the construction phase of the Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin Wastewater Treatment Facility Asset Renewal Project. Commissioner Shirley Allenbrand seconded the motion, according to the BOCC meeting summary.
The board also awarded an $11,659,463 construction contract to Dondlinger & Sons Construction, Inc. under the same project, designated IMB1-Contract 39. Brewer moved that item as well, with Allenbrand seconding.
The resolution gives the wastewater general manager authority to approve individual change orders up to $250,000. It also raises the threshold requiring board approval to 15 percent of the base contract amount.
Six of seven commissioners were present. Commissioner Becky Fast was absent.
Chairman Mike Kelly presided, joined by commissioners Jeff Meyers, Brewer, Janee Hanzlick, Michael Ashcraft and Allenbrand. The meeting summary does not record individual vote tallies for the wastewater items.
The Middle Basin facility is part of Johnson County Wastewater's system, which serves more than 500,000 people countywide, according to JCW's program website. The facility earned a Platinum 12 Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) in July, recognizing 12 consecutive years of full compliance with its federal discharge permit, according to a county news release.
The approval comes during Phase 2 of JCW’s 25-year Integrated Plan, which runs from 2025 through 2029 and covers long-term infrastructure needs at the Middle Basin and other treatment facilities, according to JCW's program website. The specific scope of work and construction timeline were not detailed in the meeting summary.
JCW is operating under interim leadership. General Manager Susan Pekarek retired effective Oct. 1 after 25 years with the organization. Chief Engineer Tami Lorenzen is serving as interim general manager, according to a county announcement.
EMS agreement spans eight agencies
The board also approved an agreement coordinating EMS medical direction among the county, five cities and three fire districts. The pact covers the county and eight local agencies: the cities of Leawood, Lenexa, Olathe, Overland Park and Shawnee, plus Johnson County Consolidated Fire Districts No. 1 and No. 2 and the Northwest Consolidated Fire District.
The EMS agreement was part of the consent agenda. Commissioner Hanzlick moved to approve the consent agenda as amended, with Allenbrand seconding. Commissioner Ashcraft had requested that a separate item be pulled from the consent agenda for further consideration. The EMS agreement was not the removed item.
The meeting summary does not detail the agreement's term, cost or what prior arrangement it replaces.
The county's approved 2027 budget of $1.378 billion includes seven new full-time positions for MED-ACT, the county's ambulance service, to improve response times, according to a budget announcement from September.
