Olathe City Council Meeting - January 21, 2025
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Olathe City Council Meeting - January 21, 2025
The Olathe City Council met on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber. The meeting began with recognition of student champions, followed by the consent agenda and discussion of four removed items. After the live-streamed session, the council heard public comment, considered a report, held an executive session, and addressed additional items. All votes were 5-0 with two councilmembers absent (Gilmore and Schoonover).
Consent Calendar
- Approved the consent agenda (items A through C, E through L, N, P through W) as routine, with items D, M, O, and X removed for separate discussion.
- Approved meeting minutes of January 7, 2025.
- Approved new and renewal licenses as recommended by the City Clerk.
- Approved resolutions for stormwater and water/sewer revenue bonds, various street and infrastructure projects, and agreements with Johnson County.
Public Comments & Testimony
- David Losey, an Olathe resident, spoke regarding fluoridation of water during the General Issues and Concerns of Citizens portion.
Discussion Items
- Item D – Audit Services Contract Renewal: Councilmember Vakas requested clarification. Economy Director Jamie Robichaud explained the external audit function and that the contract with Allen, Gibbs, and Houlik L.C. covers the statutory independent audit, tax preparation, and single audits for federal grants. The contract was renewed after a 2023 RFP process; this is the second of three possible one-year renewals. Approved.
- Item M – 2026 Street Reconstruction Program: City Engineer Nate Baldwin presented a map showing seven primary streets for reconstruction in 2026 (Hamilton Circle, Public Safety Drive, Chester Street, Higher Street, Emory Street, Lakeview Avenue, Wabash Avenue) and four alternative locations. Design is underway; construction will address sidewalks, streetlights, and storm sewers. Councilmember Vogt noted the importance of the street preservation program. Approved.
- Item O – Spruce and Parker Geometric Improvements: This project adds a westbound right-turn lane at the intersection of Spruce and Parker (K-7) to reduce backups. A retaining wall is needed due to significant grade and utilities. Buildings on the site have been removed, and the city may sell the land for development. Signal timing will be adjusted. Approved.
- Item X – Salt Barn #2 Project: Field Operations Manager Tony Golec explained that the city currently stores 4,000 tons in one salt barn and leases space in Lenexa (5,000–7,000 tons) at the Meritex Caves, which is uncertain due to development plans. The new barn at the Robinson campus will hold additional salt, saving about $15,000 per year in leasing fees. During a recent winter storm, the city used approximately 2,000 tons of salt. The city salts all streets but effectiveness is lower on residential streets due to less traffic and cul-de-sacs. Approved.
- New City Council Business: Councilmembers shared updates:
- Councilmember Essex highlighted the upcoming Walmart meat packing plant opening in June, adding 600+ jobs.
- Councilmember Vogt recognized multiple Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations involving youth.
- Councilmember Felter discussed wildfire risks with Fire Chief Jeff DeGraffenreid. The chief said a similar event is unlikely but the city is prepared through collaboration, red-flag upstaffing, and mutual aid. He noted a grant for a community wildland protection plan was not awarded. He also reported progress on Fire Station 9 (College and Woodland) and Fire Station 10 (167th and Lone Elm), with groundbreaking expected this year, though behind schedule. Regarding parking, City Manager Michael Wilkes said the new two-hour spots in the downtown garage have not caused problems.
- Councilmember Vakas announced a meeting with a military reserve unit to discuss local government.
- Mayor Bacon promoted Student Government Day on February 7 at the Downtown Library, hosted by Teen Council.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved 5-0 (except items D, M, O, X).
- Item D (Audit Contract): Approved 5-0.
- Item M (2026 Street Reconstruction): Approved 5-0.
- Item O (Spruce and Parker Improvements): Approved 5-0.
- Item X (Salt Barn #2): Approved 5-0.
- Report on Chapter 3.60 (Risk Management Policy): Accepted without discussion.
- Executive Session: Council recessed into a 30-minute closed session to discuss personnel matters regarding the evaluation of a municipal judge (K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1)). Reconvened at 8:15 PM; Mayor Bacon stated the council is very pleased with Municipal Judge Jill Kenney’s performance.
- Additional Items: Councilmember Vakas inquired about an unsafe home on Cherry Street (to be demolished, city will not take possession) and about property on N. Cooper; City Attorney Ron Shaver will follow up.
- Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 8:19 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to City Hall and the regular meeting of the Olatha City Council for Tuesday, January 21st, 2025. The first item on our agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. Would you please stand with me for the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the United States of America. This award recognizes the hard work, dedication, and passion it takes to become a champion. So would Olatha Public Schools Director of Athletics and Activities, Matt Johnson, please join me. If you guys stand up here in the middle of the day, we have a lot of the same thing. Uh let's celebrate the amazing Olatha North gymnastics team for winning their four straight state championship. Not only did they break the state and school record for the team scorer, but their individual performances were incredible. And if you could step forward when I say your name, Greer Moyer uh placed second all around, fifth on vault, fifth on bars, second on beam, and third on floor. Ariana Easter placed fifth all around, sixth on vault, third on beam, and sixth on floor. Olivia Noteboom placed fourth on beam. Macy Ray placed sixth on beam, and Layla Hefferland placed fourth on bars. Congratulations on making history at Olatha North. Congratulations, ladies. And with that, is my honor to hand uh the baton over to Patrick Butler, AD at Olatha West. Good evening. My name is Pat Butler. I'm the athletic director at Olatha West, and on behalf of Olatha West and our principal Jay Novichek, I'm uh excited to recognize some state champions from uh Olatha West. First, we're gonna start with Braxton Theo. I'm gonna have our head cross-country coach Kelsey Carbajo come up. Um Braxton is actually on his way back from a college visit in Colorado, so he couldn't make it this evening, but we want to recognize Braxton, who became the first ever state champion in cross-country at Olatha West and was awarded the prestigious Bob Timmons award given to the fastest runner at the state meet. Braxton's journey is a testament to hard work and determination, starting as a C team runner, his freshman year and rising to become one of the top runners in Kansas. This season he placed in the top five in every race he competed in. While Braxton's unable to join us tonight due to his college opportunity, we are super proud of him and his accomplishments. So congratulations to Braxton, individual state champion in cross-country. Okay, I'd now like to welcome our girls' cross-country team. So girls come on up. The Olatha West girls' cross-country team achieved a remarkable achievement in November, winning their fifth consecutive state championship at Rim Rock Farm. The Owls had three runners finish in the top 20, and the race ended in a dramatic tie with Washburn Rural. The championship came down to the sixth runner. And thanks to her finish ahead of their sixth runner, the Owls were crowned with their fifth state championship. And as our principal Jay Novichek likes to say, winners win. We look forward to watching these girls compete for another state championship this spring in track. Please welcome these ladies. Lily Brewer, Liz Browning, Addison Burton, Laney Clements, Audra Gonzalez, Brooklyn White, Jasmine Steed, McKenna Taldo, Caitlin Walcott, Gillian Novachek, Haley Montgomery, and Reagan Seba. Head coach Kelsey Carbajo and her assistants, Macy Carbajo, Todd Clam, and Kayla Barnes. Congratulations to the five-time state championship owls. And I'd like to now introduce Steve Page, the athletic director at Olatha Northwest. Thank you, Pat. On behalf of myself, Chris Zook, principal of Latha Northwest, uh, I'd like to uh just thank everyone for coming out and being able to recognize these athletes. If I could have go ahead and have uh Sophia come on up uh with our gymnastics uh and then our tennis team, go ahead and come on up as well. We're gonna have everybody up and we'll we'll talk as we go. Megan. Uh our gymnastics team. Uh first of all, I'm gonna recognize young lady who is not here tonight. She was uh she's a multi-sport athlete and she was wrestling, and uh, I believe this weekend she hurt herself uh a little bit. I think she sh we don't know if she broke a rib or not, but anyway, uh Emmy Keller, who was the previous two-time state champion uh all around in gymnastics, and this year was the uh tied uh for first place in the floor exercise, and she wasn't able to be here. Um so we want to recognize her.
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