Local Government

Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.

Local Government

Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.

Local Government

Latest reporting from the Local Government desk.

A zoning map open on a table beside a wooden gavel and pencil.

Spring Hill planners weigh auto shop, industrial rezoning Thursday

The Spring Hill Planning Commission meets Thursday, Oct. 1, to consider a 6,000-square-foot Bucyrus Auto repair facility in Country Meadows Industrial Park and rezoning requests for Ozark Ready Mix on Webster Street.

Aerial view of circular clarifier tanks and industrial piping at a wastewater treatment plant.

Johnson County Wastewater chief Pekarek retires Oct. 1

Susan Pekarek, general manager of Johnson County Wastewater, will retire Oct. 1 after 25 years with the utility, leaving behind nearly $1 billion in projected ratepayer savings from two major facility projects. Chief Engineer Tami Lorenzen will serve as interim general manager.

Seven people seated at a curved government board meeting dais with flags displayed.

Olathe families speak Tuesday before vote on six school closures

Olathe families face a Tuesday, Sept. 22 public hearing at Olathe South High School — their last chance to speak before the board votes Oct. 1 on closing Indian Trail Middle School and five elementary schools, a plan affecting about 2,200 students.

Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense against the Kansas City Chiefs, 2021-22 NFL Wild Card Playoffs.

Chiefs confirm Olathe facility will carry sponsor name

Chiefs president Mark Donovan confirmed Sept. 17 that the team's planned $300 million Olathe headquarters and training facility will carry a corporate sponsor name, with companies already in discussions for the naming rights.

Football players on a field at a packed NFL stadium with fans in red in the stands.

Chiefs form joint venture to develop Olathe HQ district

The Kansas City Chiefs and Hunt Midwest have formed Two-Point Development, a joint venture that will serve as master developer for the mixed-use district around the team's planned $300 million Olathe headquarters near College Boulevard and Ridgeview Road.

Official portrait of a woman in a dark red blazer smiling against a blue background.

Davids secures $8.3M to recruit Kansas teachers

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids announced $8.3 million in federal funding through the Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program for the Kansas State Department of Education, aimed at recruiting and retaining teachers across the state, including in Olathe-area districts.

This picture was taken when police was train to operate Drone to control crime.

Olathe, Lenexa police explore public drone-tracking portals

Olathe police say they are researching a public portal to track drone deployments, and Lenexa police are in vendor discussions about a similar tool, after Overland Park launched a drone transparency page Sept. 1.

Johnson County plans Kansas' first family safety center

Johnson County leaders held a two-day planning session to design the Johnson County Family Safety Center, which would be the first family justice center in Kansas, consolidating courts, counseling and legal aid for domestic violence survivors under one roof.

Tall cylindrical water tower with city name visible, surrounded by a parking lot and light poles.

Gardner votes Tuesday on $150M budget, road eminent domain

The Gardner City Council meets Tuesday, Sept. 8, to formally adopt its $150 million FY2027 budget, vote to exceed the revenue neutral property tax rate and consider eminent domain ordinances for three road projects totaling nearly $27 million.

Brick municipal building with arched windows, fountain, and manicured plaza at dusk.

Johnson County passes $1.91B budget; Olathe tax bills rise 4.3%

Johnson County commissioners voted 6-1 to adopt a $1.91 billion budget for 2027, keeping the tax rate flat but projecting a 4.3% increase in the average Olathe homeowner's property tax bill due to rising valuations.

Olathe council previews $285 million Santa Fe interchange redesign

Olathe's City Council got its first look at a preliminary design for the $285 million Santa Fe/I-35 interchange rebuild, the largest infrastructure project in city history, with major road closures not expected until 2029 and completion targeted for 2030.

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