Olathe City Council Regular Meeting Summary for November 4, 2025

The Olathe City Council convened on November 4, 2025, beginning with a closed executive session to discuss personnel matters and the potential appointment of a City Manager. Upon reconvening, the Council approved an executive session for further personnel discussions and officially recognized Terry Enright with a Veterans Day proclamation while honoring the Olathe Police Department for achieving the first state-level KLEAP accreditation. The meeting featured significant public testimony regarding proposed 2026 retiree health insurance premium increases, followed by discussions on utility code amendments and electric scooter regulations.

Consent Calendar

• Items A, B, D, E, G, H, I, J: Passed unanimously (7-0).
• Item F: Approved with one dissenting vote (6-1). The item involved authorizing an agreement with Project One Studio for the design and fabrication of a sculpture for the 119th Street and Northgate Roundabout. Councilmember Gilmore abstained/voted no, citing long-standing concerns previously expressed about the item.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Carrie Buser (President, Olathe Fraternal Order of Police): Expressed that the Olathe FOP has historically felt listened to and supported, but stated the public is concerned about drastic changes to retiree health insurance plans. She noted that employees hired before 2004 and retired before 2009 (Tier 2) are facing unexpected hikes, and those who retired recently were told they would retain original rates until a major change was announced.
• Damon and Gina Bell (Olathe Police Retirees): Expressed severe financial distress, stating their premiums will jump from $82 to $494 per month (a $988 total increase for the couple) in January 2026. They argued that because their retirement income is fixed, this 500%+ increase puts them in immediate financial hardship and fear of being unable to afford healthcare.
• Gary Nickerson (Olathe Fire Department Retiree): Stated that his individual insurance premium will increase by $800 a month to a point where the city pays $0. He argued that this sudden change creates a financial crisis for retirees who were never given a long-term plan, forcing some to seek full-time work in their "golden years," and called for a long-term financial plan rather than a knee-jerk reaction.
• Tyler Raleigh (President, Olathe Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 2542): Expressed full support for retired public safety members, arguing that the proposed hikes contradict the city's reputation as a destination employer. He noted that retirees on fixed income (KPNF) who cannot adjust their plans or delay retirement are being unfairly impacted.
• Steve Minke (Retired Police Chief): Highlighted that his annual family premium would increase by $9,389 (a 42% increase) in one year, with others facing even higher percentage hikes. He stated the budget process "missed the mark" and respectfully asked the Council to take another look to protect those who served.
• Brian Wesling (Olathe Police Retiree): Described the 500% to 800% increase as "going against human decency" and a broken promise. He noted that while the city has a reserve fund surplus, it is prioritizing reserves over honoring past agreements, and argued the city could afford a gradual increase.
• Don Wesling (Retiree Representative): Stated that the sudden cost increase will cause "total financial ruin" for many retirees who sacrificed for the city under a broken promise. She shared the history of the issue, noting a previous task force could have solved it, and expressed personal frustration over being labeled as an adversary after raising the issue internally.
• Eric Hardman (Olathe Police Officer): Reported that his personal healthcare costs are projected to jump from $10,000 to $74,000 (a 700-800% increase). He stated that this change is irreversible and that he would not have submitted his retirement paperwork had he known the costs, as he now would not be able to enjoy his time with family without working.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance 25-45 (Industrial Revenue Bonds): The Council approved the ordinance to issue up to $257 million in taxable industrial revenue bonds for Red King Fisher LLC (Walmart) for a beef processing facility. The building was noted as complete, representing a necessary final step in the bond issuance process initiated in March 2023.
• Ordinance 25-46 (Land Acquisition): The Council approved the acquisition of land and easements for the I-35 and Santa Fe Interchange Reconstruction project. Councilmember Bacon requested a follow-up on relocating a bus stop near McDonald's to avoid traffic backups; City Engineer Nate Baldwin agreed to investigate and report back.
• Proposed Amendments to Title 12 (Public Utilities): Assistant City Attorney Bob Gallimore presented proposed amendments to clarify utility locate requirements during the planning phase, addressing delays and cost overruns caused by utilities failing to respond to locate requests. He noted that while the state Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act covers "shovel-ready" contexts, this ordinance targets the planning phase. Penalties for non-compliance would mirror current right-of-way violations ($200-$500 per day). City Engineer Nate Baldwin supported the measure, citing that currently only 25% of utilities respond to locate requests during planning, causing significant project delays.
• E-Scooter Regulations: Councilmembers asked for a follow-up on electric scooter ordinances. Assistant City Attorney Bob Gallimore confirmed that the Council is reviewing the current ordinance, comparing it to sister jurisdictions (like Overland Park), and will not commence public education efforts until the ordinance revisions are finalized and presented to the Council.

Key Outcomes

• Executive Session Personnel Motion: Passed unanimously (7-0) to authorize staff to proceed with strategies regarding the City Manager position as discussed in closed session.
• Veterans Day Proclamation: Officially proclaimed November 11, 2025, as Veterans Day in Olathe.
• KLEAP Accreditation: The Olathe Police Department was recognized as the first agency in Kansas to achieve state-level accreditation via the Kansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (KLEAP), having met all 167 standards.
• Ordinance Vote Counts: Ordinance 25-45 passed 7-0; Ordinance 25-46 passed 7-0; Item F (Sculpture) passed 6-1.
• Next Steps: City Council will take public comments regarding retiree health insurance under advisement. City Staff will provide a report on the bus stop relocation for the Santa Fe project and return with a revised proposal regarding electric scooter ordinances.