The Olathe City Council met on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The meeting began with special presentations, including the Leading the Way Award (sixth consecutive year), proclamations, and recognition of Civic Academy graduates and Teen Council seniors. The council then held three public hearings on industrial revenue bond requests, all of which were approved unanimously. The consent agenda was approved with four items pulled for separate discussion: a travel request for Municipal Judge Kenney, a real estate contract for 1114 E. Santa Fe Street, a sales tax exemption for Montage Apartments, and a payment processing contract. New business included the rezoning for the Olathe Range police training facility and resolutions for the Quivira Road improvement project. Key outcomes included the tabling of the Montage Apartments IRB for two weeks and the approval of all other items.
All three public hearings were opened and closed with no public comments. Each was approved unanimously (6-0).
The consent agenda was approved with the exception of items F, G, I, and W, which were pulled for separate consideration. Items approved en masse included:
Council for Tuesday, May 6th, 2025. The first item on our agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. Tonight, we have Trail Life Troop 1613 with us to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. So would the troop please come forward and lead us in the pledge. Okay, whenever you're ready. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Okay, let's thank Troop 1613. Let's go, boys. Okay, now we'll move on to special business. First item A is presentation of the leading away leading the way award to the City of Olatha. This award recognizes communities for outstanding city services. We're thrilled to announce Olatha is receiving this award for the sixth time in a row. Here to present is ETC CEO Chris Statham. Welcome, Chris. Mayor, members of the council, it is great to be back. And it's great to have such a crowd here this evening because the achievement that the City of Olatha has accomplished by getting this award is exceptional. Each year our firm uh conducts surveys of about two to three hundred cities and counties across the United States and around the world. And we have developed a standard for excellence that has to be achieved in order to rank in the top ten percent of all cities. The City of Olatha has done it for the fifth consecutive time this year. There have been more than a thousand cities conduct the survey during that period, and none have accomplished that feat. There is one other that has won it three times. It's like getting in the Super Bowl five years in a row. That sounds great. Yeah, so better than the Chiefs. So putting this in perspective, it's based on the overall quality of customer service, the value that residents think they get for their taxes, and also the overall quality of city services. There's 300 possible points, which means you'd have to get a perfect score. No one does that. The national average is 121 in those three categories. City of Olatha's is 248. And you've sustained it year after year after year. And not only that, of more than 50 services that are assessed, the City of Olatha ranks above average in all of them, and the city ranks above 29 areas, above 20% or more the national average. It's a truly amazing feat. So it's my honor tonight, Mayor, to present to you this 11-pound crystal award, which represents the 11 cities that first did our direction finder survey back in 2000. Olatha was one of them. So congratulations. Thank you, Chris. And you know, uh that award wouldn't be possible without our outstanding employees. So we're accepting it on their behalf, and so uh we appreciate all they do for our city. Uh I'll now move on to item B. Item B is a proclamation recognizing May 3th through the 10th as public service recognition. So this is an important week in the city of Olatha as we stop to recognize the hundreds of city employees who serve Olatha. Not only do they dedicate their time and talent to our great city, but they do it with passion and heart. So to uh accept the proclamation tonight is the City of Olatha facilities employee El Ray Page, and I'm not sure if I got you for your first name right. He has won the Vision Values and Mission Award last year, recognized for his great work ethic, always being so helpful, and especially for his positive energy. So, Elry, would you please come up and accept the population? The proclamation reads whereas pe uh public employees at the federal, state, county, and municipal levels deserve recognition and high praise for the work they do to keep our communities running and thriving. And whereas Public Service Recognition Week provides us the opportunity to celebrate these workers and to educate communities about the wide variety of ways Olatha employees make our community a better place. And whereas city staff set the standard for excellence in public service and are committed to serving our community with respect, accountability, initiative, and integrity. And whereas the dedicated dedication and commitment of city employees extended to the community through volunteer activities, being good neighbors and setting a positive example as exemplary citizens. And whereas the City of Olatha is pleased and proud to join other local governments across the nation in observing public service recognition week and celebrating the many vital contributions of city employees to our organization community.