The Olathe City Council convened on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The meeting featured a proclamation for Public Service Recognition Week, recognition of the 19th Civic Academy class, public hearings on industrial revenue bonds, three major industrial rezonings, and a planning session on the 2026 Federal Legislative Program. Mayor John Bacon presided, and all seven council members were present: Bacon, Schoonover, Felter, Vakas, Essex, Creighton, and Deneault. The meeting adjourned at 8:33 PM.
All three items were approved 7-0.
Good evening. Welcome to the regular meeting of the Olatha City Council for Tuesday, May 5th, Cinco do Mayo, 2026. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty. Just a real quick note on the agenda tonight. New business item D will be held for a later date as we further review the proposed ordinance, and that's regarding uh drone flying in the city limits. We'll now move to special business. Item A is a proclamation recognizing May 3rd through the 9th, 2026's public service recognition week. This week we pause to thank the more than 1,000 City of Olathe employees who serve our community, from our first responders to our engineers, budget analysts, to our special events team, and so much more. These public service employees commit their time, talent, and expertise to make Olatha a community that we are all proud to call home. Joining us to accept this proclamation tonight is financial strategy manager Kate Messer. Kate was the parti uh was the recipient last year of our leadership philosophy award. She was recognized for her ability to collaborate and innovate for being a true problem solver and for a presence and attitude that inspire those around her. Kate, would you please come forward? So I'll read the practice. Okay. I'll read the proclamation. It reads whereas 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 the ways Olatha employees make our community a better place. And whereas city staff set this set the standard for excellence in public service and are committed to serving our community with respect, accountability, initiative, and integrity. And whereas the dedication and commitment of Olathe, our city employees extend into 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 and community. Now, therefore, I John Bacon, mayor of the City of Olatha, do hereby proclaim May 3rd through the 9th, 2026 as Public Service Recognition Week in Olathe, urging all citizens to join in honoring our city employees and recognizing their achievements and contributions to the quality of life for all Olathians. All right. Thank you so much, City Council Mayor. On behalf of staff, thank you for continuously supporting us and giving this meaningful proclamation that we look forward to every every year. Public service recognition week is a reminder of the purpose behind the work we do every day, serving our community community with dedication, integrity, and care. So it's a privilege to show up to work every day with these fine folks and committed to serving the residents of Olatha. So thank you so much. Thank you. Appreciate that. So thank you, Kate, for being here tonight, accepting that proclamation, and thank you to each and every one of our staff members for your passion and public service. This incredible work you do makes it clear how much you care about Olathan and makes uh council look good too. So we appreciate that. So thank you for your dedication. We'll now move to the next item on our agenda, item B is recognition of 2026 uh Olathe Civic Academy graduates. Tonight, we are celebrating the graduation of our 19th Civic Academy class. Um what we do and why we do it. Volunteer coordinator Mimi O'Hare is here to present the certificates. Mimi, thank you, Mayor. Um I've had the pleasure of coordinating this class, which happens to be our largest class with 36 graduates. So that is a great, great thing to celebrate and be proud of. Um they have learned how the city operates, how their tax dollars are spent, and how to become more involved in the city. Um a program like this allows city staff to really showcase our passion for serving the community. I first want to thank the 36 participants we had in our group. What a great class. You all had fun, laughed, became friends, and enjoyed each other's company and asked a lot of great questions. Thank you to our city manager, Susan Sherman, for her investment in community engagement and allowing us to continue this program annually. Um I'd like to thank the staff that helped us put this together and putting in so much effort in doing so.