It’s not open yet, but new JoCo Courthouse already installing new public art
The new Johnson County courthouse isn’t expected to open until early next year, but installation already has begun on the public art to be displayed there.
The work is “Open Prairie,” by Benjamin Ball with Ball-Nogues Studio in Los Angeles. His work was chosen from among 130 submissions. He’s using enamel paint plus more than 20,000 segments of stainless-steel ball chain to create an array of color above the courthouse entryway.
“While the county and artists have partnered on several public art installations in Johnson County government buildings, this project is unique,” Dan Wehmueller, project manager for the new courthouse, said in a news release. “This is the first time the installation of public art has happened this early in the construction process and has been so integrated into the design of a portion of the building in such a collaborative way.”
Installation began July 15, and the public can follow the county’s social media channels through July 30 to monitor the progress.
“There really will not be anything like this anywhere else in Johnson County,” said Christopher Leitch, a member of the county’s Public Art Commission. “This art will be visually engaging, and the installation will require a mix of creativity, engineering and technology.”
The advisory Public Art Commission is responsible for administering the public art program, including recommending an artist for approval by the County Commission.
Gardner nixes citywide cleanup
Gardner is canceling its citywide cleanup for this year, citing rising costs of the program and budget concerns caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The City Council made the decision on July 20.
“We recognize how valuable this service is to the community and plan to review the program for future budget cycles,” the city said in a news release.
Advance voting begins
Advance in-person voting for the Aug. 4 primary election is underway at seven locations in Johnson County, where officials are taking steps to reduce voter exposure to the new coronavirus.
The sites are not open every day. For dates and hours, visit jocoelection.org/advance-voting-0. The locations:
▪ Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park.
▪ Hilltop Conference Center, 7700 W. 143rd St., Overland Park.
▪ Johnson County Election Office, 2101 E. Kansas City Road, Olathe.
▪ Johnson County Northeast Offices, 6000 Lamar Ave., Mission.
▪ Johnson County Sunset Office Building, 11811 S. Sunset Drive, Olathe.
▪ Monticello Trails Middle School, 6100 Monticello Road, Shawnee.
▪ New Century Fieldhouse, 551 New Century Parkway, Gardner.
Shawnee offering $5,000 to businesses hurt by virus
Shawnee is offering one-time grants of up to $5,000 to small businesses in town that were negatively affected by restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Businesses can apply for the Shawnee Economic Recovery Assistance Grant Program between Aug. 3 and Aug. 23. They must use the funds to pay rent or mortgage costs not paid by insurance or other programs.
The money does not have to be repaid.
Shawnee is matching dollar for dollar the $168,955 the city received through the federal CARES Act, which Congress passed to lessen the financial impact of the pandemic. From the total budget of $337,910, the city will spend $224,000 on the business grants. The rest will help entities that provide direct assistance — such as utility and rent payments, food, health care and child care — to low- and-moderate income households. The money is restricted to households in Shawnee.
Go to cityofshawnee.org for eligibility details and application procedures.
Jewish Film Festival, at home
The Kansas City Jewish Film Festival is going virtual this year.
Presented by the White Theatre at the Jewish Community Center, the three-week festival begins Aug. 2 and offers a dozen award-winning films that can be enjoyed from home. A 48-hour viewing window has been designated for each of the films, which feature Jewish filmmakers, directors, actors and stories.
This festival begins Aug. 2 with “Miracle of Miracles,” the story of the making of the Broadway musical “Fiddler on the Roof.”
Next are “On The Map” on Aug. 3, “Crescendo” on Aug. 4, “After Munich” on Aug. 5, “Ahead of Time” on Aug. 9, “Extra Innings” on Aug. 10, “Picture of His Life” on Aug. 11, “Leona” on Aug. 12, “The Samuel Project” on Aug. 16, “Standing Up Falling Down” on Aug. 17, “My Polish Honeymoon” on Aug. 18 and “The Keeper” on Aug. 19.
The cost is $12 for a single film or $120 for all 12. To purchase tickets, visit KCJFF.org, where previews of the movies are posted.
WaterOne to resume shutoffs
Beginning in August, WaterOne will resume shut-offs for non-payment.
“This comes after a four-month pause on service disconnections in support of the community during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to a news release from the utility, which serves a large area of Johnson County.
For those still experiencing financial difficulties, WaterOne encouraged customers to contact Johnson County Human Services to see if they are eligible for utility assistance. The utility said it is making an additional $100,000 contribution to that program.
Customers can discuss payment arrangements by contacting WaterOne at 913-895-1800 or WaterOneCustomerService@waterone.org.
Air show canceled
The Kansas City Air Show, originally scheduled for Sept. 5-6, at New Century AirCenter in southwest Johnson County, has been canceled because of COVID-19 safety concerns and the restrictions required.
The event has been rescheduled for July 3-4, 2021, when the U.S. Navy Blue Angels are scheduled to perform. Any tickets or special seating already purchased for the September show will be honored next year.
This story was originally published July 24, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "It’s not open yet, but new JoCo Courthouse already installing new public art."