The County Manager's Office is responsible to the Board of County Commissioners and the residents of Johnson County for the effective and efficient delivery of programs and services, using sound management and financial principles while emphasizing high ethical values, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Plans are underway for the 2016 Johnson County Veterans Day observance, recognizing local veterans from all wars, including a groundbreaking ceremony for a monument honoring local Gold Star families of fallen soldiers.
The Veterans Day event will take place on Friday, Nov. 11, at Olathe’s Veterans Memorial Park at Harrison St. and Dennis Ave. Activities will begin at 11 a.m. saluting veterans from World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan. The celebration marks Johnson County’s 30th anniversary of sponsoring an annual Veterans Day observance.
The observance traditionally starts on the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month. That means 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, at Veterans Memorial Park.
Featured speaker for the program will be Colonel Peter Jaramillo, state chaplain for the Kansas Army National Guard and a Catholic priest. He has lost soldiers in his unit while deployed and plans to talk about the sacrifices a family makes and the grief that they go through on losing a loved one. Ed Eilert, chairman of the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners, will emcee the ceremony.
Debbie Austin, president of the Gold Star Mothers Chapter, will also speak. Her son, Army Private First Class Shane Austin, of Edgerton, was killed in action in 2006 while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Gold Star families and members of the Northeast Kansas Gold Star Mothers Chapter have been invited as special guests. A Gold Star family is one with an immediate relative who was killed during active duty in the U.S. armed forces.
The 2016 program will feature: patriotic music by the Olathe Northwest High School band; special songs by the Central Elementary School choir in Olathe and Southside Singers from Olathe South High School; presentation of colors; placement of memorial wreaths by local veteran organizations; playing of “Echo Taps” and bagpipe music; and rifle salute.
Bins are in most county buildings for employees and members of the public to donate coats and other winter wearable items. This is another opportunity for you to live local/give local, as part of our United Way campaign for 2016. The county is partnering with the city of Olathe in this effort, and all donations are tax deductible. Contact the county manager's office for more information.
RideKC routes will offer free fares all day on Tuesday, Nov. 8, to make it easier for citizens to vote in the General Election.
Fares on Election Day on all RideKC bus routes serving Kansas City, Johnson County, Wyandotte County and Independence will be free. KCATA paratransit will also be free to ride.
Kansas City, Missouri, Major Sly James will join Johnson County Commissioner Steve Klika and KCATA CEO Robbie Makinen at a media event on Oct. 24 to announce the free fares on Election Day.
Johnson County voters can access election resources at jocoelection.org.
Customers are asked to plan their Election Day travel early. For help planning your trip, call 816-221-0660 and be ready to provide the starting address and address of your polling place. Customers can also plan a trip with Google Transit, available at RideKC.org. The Regional Transit Call Center is also open weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Beginning Monday, Oct. 24, registered voters in Johnson County can advance vote by mail or in person at one of six county polling locations.
Okun Fieldhouse, 20200 Johnson Dr., Shawnee.
Advance voting runs Oct. 24 to Nov. 7 in Johnson County, but advance voting on Monday, Nov. 7, will only be available at the Johnson County Election Office.
To advance vote by mail, visit jocoelection.org to complete an application for an advance voting ballot by mail and fax or mail to the election office. Applications are available at the election office and county libraries, and completed forms must be received by the election office before 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to the election. Your ballot must be returned by mail or hand-delivered to the election office before 7 p.m. Nov. 8 to be counted. Advance voting ballots will not be accepted at polling locations on Election Day.
Learn more about advance voting at jocoelection.org or 913-715-6800.
Ditch the bag! Mulching your leaves can help your lawn and save time. When done properly, mulch mowing your leaves and grass clippings can save you from bagging your yard waste and adds nutrients back into your soil.
Ditch the bag, mow over your leaves and leave your grass clippings on the lawn.
Mow your lawn frequently and with up to one inch of fallen leaves at a time.
By mulch mowing during the fall, you can incorporate up to six inches of leaves into your lawn without concern.
For more information and tips, read the related agent's article on Johnson County K-State Research and Extension's website.
Three Johnson County employees are being featured on Voya Financial’s NRSW national campaign. Click on the images below to watch the three videos!
Get access to published meetings, resolutions, transcripts, management reports, and general files from the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners board meetings.
