‘I would love to be a public servant in the future.’ These classes will help

The Johnson County Citizens Academy allows a handful of residents an up-close chance to see how county works each year.

The program is relatively new. Started in 2016 by Aaron Otto, who at the time was an assistant to the county manager, the program’s goals include making citizens better informed about county services and increasing the number of residents who want to be part of local boards and councils.

“There can be a disconnect between local government and residents. I think that this works on lessening that gap — that disconnect,” said Kiley Heine, an intern with the county manager’s office. “It’s also really important that taxpayers are understanding where their money is going and what the government is doing with their money.”

Each year, a 10-week fall and a spring session is offered, followed by a graduation ceremony. To date, 264 people have graduated from the program.

The group meets once a week for three hours. A typical session might feature a presentation from a county airport official; another from mental health services and a tour of the adult detention center.

“It definitely creates (the potential) for involvement and gives them an opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions and be engaged in government,” Heine said.

Meetings take place all over the county to make it possible for the group to tour as many county facilities as possible.

Any Johnson County resident who is at least 18 years old can apply to be part of the academy. Typically, the county receives at least 50 applications for each session. If you’re not selected for one session, you can still be considered for a future one.

For Olathe resident Claire Reagan, one of the most interesting features of the county was its wastewater treatment plant.

“I find the wastewater process to be fascinating. We don’t think about water as it leaves our house, and the county’s commitment to cleaning our water in a way that’s responsible and doesn’t use harsh chemicals — It’s a thing that’s part of our lives every day,” she said.

Reagan graduated from the program in November. The curriculum packs a lot of information into each session, she said.

“There was just so much information. It was like a firehose, and you’re just trying to keep up,” Reagan said.

One thing that surprised her was the sheer breadth of county services. She didn’t realize some programs, such as Meals on Wheels, were county-operated.

The time commitment of the program can be challenging for younger people like Reagan, who works and has young children. However, she felt it was worth it.

“You get to see the passion of people who work for the county,” she said. “You don’t think about the faces of the people who design the parks. I have a child with special needs — he’s on the autism spectrum.”

Knowing there’s such care about making play spaces is important, she said.

Being part of the academy has made her want to be more involved in the future when she can find the time.

“I would love to be a public servant in the future, but in order to do that well, it’s important to know what public service looks like,” she said. “Learning before doing is extremely important. The learning phase has been extremely fun, and I look forward to learning more.”

The deadline to apply for the spring session of the academy is Jan. 17, and meetings will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Tuesday from Feb. 11 to April 14, with a graduation ceremony April 21. Visit jocogov.org for more information about applying to the academy.

This story was originally published December 31, 2019 at 7:00 AM with the headline "‘I would love to be a public servant in the future.’ These classes will help."