Shawnee County Kansas Commission Meeting 2026/07/09

The Shawnee County Commission held a meeting on July 9, 2026, where several procurement and contract matters were addressed. The commission approved a conditional use permit for a new fire station in Soldier Township, including plans for combining two lots and building a facility staffed with six personnel per shift. They also approved contract C2026251 with Astra Mental Health and Recovery for care coordination services at the adult detention center at no cost to the county, and contract C2026252 with Century Business Technologies for service and maintenance of printers used by the Treasury Division and Motor Vehicle Division. A significant capital improvement project discussed was the renovation of the Gage Park carousel, with an amendment totaling $4,441,026 establishing a guaranteed maximum price, funded entirely by Gage Park sales tax funds. The project includes refurbishing the carousel, building a climate-controlled facility, and adding event spaces. The commission unanimously approved the contract for this project. Public comments focused heavily on concerns about proposed data centers, including noise pollution, water usage, and impacts on nearby schools and communities. Commissioners noted that no formal application for a data center had been submitted to the county yet, and emphasized the need for proper application and review processes before any decisions could be made. The meeting concluded with reminders about upcoming election registration deadlines and early voting dates.