County looks for feedback on Johnson County Square in downtown Olathe
Shawnee names police chief
After a nationwide search, Shawnee has chosen Sam Larson to replace the retiring Rob Moser as chief of police. Larson, who is now deputy chief, will be promoted on Feb. 24.
Larson joined the department and served as a patrol officer, traffic safety officer, STAR team officer and detective before being promoted to sergeant in 2005. Other promotions followed and he was named deputy chief last year.
Larson earned an undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Washburn University and a master’s in public administration from the University of Kansas. Last year, he graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va.
JoCo Square taking shape
Johnson County this month unveiled its preferred vision for the new Johnson County Square in downtown Olathe, which will be created after a new courthouse is finished next year and the existing one is razed.
The concept includes an iconic art element at the northeast entrance on Santa Fe and Cherry streets, a community green, an art garden with a non-traditional play area, a history/education plaza and a structure that can be used for performances and weddings. An existing fountain will remain with the idea of upgrading it later.
Through Feb. 29, the county is seeking feedback on the concept at surveymonkey.com/r/JoCoSquare3. Among other things, the survey asks which elements should be built first.
The county is working on the project with a design build and community engagement team consisting of JE Dunn Construction, TreanorHL, Fentress Architects, Newmark Grubb Zimmer, Hoxie Collective, Vireo and LandWorks.
Lenexa surveying residents on homeless shelters
When the Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church asked last fall to open a cold-weather homeless shelter at 9400 Pflumm Road in Lenexa, the city initially said no because zoning regulations didn’t allow it. After the church sued the city, an agreement was reached for the shelter to open temporarily.
The dispute exposed an omission in the zoning code, which didn’t address homeless shelters at all. Now, with input from city residents, Lenexa wants to fix that.
“The city of Lenexa wants to be part of a comprehensive solution to the homeless issue in Johnson County,” City Manager Beccy Yocham said in a news release.
An early step is for residents and other interested parties to take a survey, which will be posted through March 18. Comments also will be taken at a March 24 meeting when draft regulations will be presented. Officials plan to adopt the new regulations by early summer.
Find the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/lenexahomeless. A link and more details on the issue are at lenexa.com.
Indian Hills student wins county spelling bee
Indian Hills Middle School seventh-grader Ishya Bhavsar correctly spelled “legerdemain,” which means sleight of hand, to win the 2020 Johnson County Spelling Bee. She now advances to the state spelling bee in March.
Ishya, who competed last year in the state and national bees, said she discovered her love of words in fourth grade and found entering spelling bees was a way to learn more about words. She is interested in pursuing a career in a science-related field.
Her Prairie Village school is part of the Shawnee Mission School District.
Roeland Park extends City Hall hours on Mondays
As of Feb. 17, Roeland Park is keeping its City Hall open until 7 p.m. on Mondays to provide more opportunities for residents to conduct business.
Services will include licensing, limited permits, court payments, purchase of bag tags and the answering of general city questions about the city.
Olathe student composer best in state
Eric Martin, a junior at Olathe Northwest High School, won first place in the 2020 Kansas Music Educators Association composition competition. His piano sonata will be performed at the association’s upcoming in-service workshop in Wichita.
“We are so proud of Eric,” Olathe Northwest Principal Chris Zuck said in a news release. “We are continually amazed at his talents and attribute his continued success to his hard work and expertise, as well as the encouragement and instruction from our performing arts teachers.”
County hires health/environment chief
Sanmi Areola will leave Tennessee to start work March 23 as director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment He will replace Lougene Marsh, who retired last year.
Areola is now deputy director/interim director of health for the Metro Public Health Department in Nashville. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture (animal science) in Nigeria and received a Ph.D. in environmental toxicology from Texas Southern University in Houston.
“Dr. Areola is a self-described public health lifer and he has a tremendous passion for public health,” Assistant County Manager Joe Connor said in a news release.
New principal for Mill Valley High
Pending approval of the De Soto school board on March 2, Gail Holder will leave the Olathe School District this summer to become principal of Mill Valley High School in Shawnee.
Holder has been an assistant principal at Olathe East High School since 2018. At Mill Valley, she will replace Tobie Waldeck, who is retiring.
Holder joined the Olathe district in 1992 as an English language arts teacher at Olathe South High School, where she also was director of dance. In addition to her post at Olathe East, she also is the district’s coordinator for secondary English language arts.
Legislative coffee in Lenexa
Residents can learn about developments in the Kansas Capitol at a legislative coffee on Feb. 22.
State Sen. Dinah Sykes and Reps. Susan Ruiz, Brandon Woodard and Brett Parker are expected at the session, starting at 10 a.m. at the Lenexa City Center Library, 8778 Penrose Lane.
The periodic coffees are sponsored by the Johnson County Library and the League of Women Voters of Johnson County.
Shawnee State of City address
Shawnee Mayor Michelle Distler will give her annual State of the City address at a luncheon on Feb. 27.
The event starts at 11:30 a.m. at the Shawnee Civic Center, 13817 Johnson Drive. Get details and tickets at shawneekschamber.com.
Overland Park Orchestra to perform
Works by Gabrieli, Vivaldi, Rossini, Verdi and Respighi are on the program Feb. 23 when the Overland Park Orchestra will present its free winter concert for the public.
The performance, led by Music Director Raffaele Cipriano, will be at 3:30 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church, 9595 W. 95th St. in Overland Park. The concert is sponsored by the city of Overland Park.
This story was originally published February 13, 2020 at 4:28 PM with the headline "County looks for feedback on Johnson County Square in downtown Olathe."