Earlier this summer, the Post asked our readers what issues you wanted to hear candidates in contested races address leading up to the Nov. 5. election.
Based on that feedback, we developed a five-item questionnaire centering the issues most important to residents across Johnson County.
Each day this week, we’ll publish the candidates’ responses to one question. Read the candidates’ responses to the previous question about homelessness, property taxes and housing affordability, and the budget and spending.
Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
Johnson County continues to experience significant growth, especially in the more rural and exurban fringes in the south and west. Residents in these areas frequently express concerns about increased industrial development and truck traffic, especially around the new Panasonic EV battery plant near De Soto and ongoing warehouse projects around Edgerton. What can the county commission do to mitigate some of the changes for longtime residents in these areas of Johnson County?
Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on the issue:
District 6
Shirley Allenbrand
As a County Commission, we have to balance both personal property rights and strategic planning.
Every property owner has the same right to develop, lease, use, or sell their property as their neighbor does and the county has to be consistent with how we interpret these codes and statutes.
On the other hand, our county planning commission has development codes and we have to work in tandem with city governments for new developments coming into the District. These needs developments should make sense for the economic and community needs in question. Intentional development helps with our local economy and expands the tax base, which reduces that tax burden on each family.
While I respect the rights of each property owner, I oppose the use of shell companies to intentionally hide intentions from community members.
Mike Storm
Realistically, the County Commission’s hands are tied in many of the development decisions made by city governments, due to their ability to control their own zoning and tax abatements.
As a member of the county commission, I would responsively advocate for the views of my constituents in situations that the Johnson County Commission can control. An example includes protecting the safety of county residents by keeping intermodal traffic on appropriate roadways and opposing projects that elicit significant public backlash from my constituents. I also am committed to doing my due diligence and applying any necessary oversight to ensure we are making wise investments that improve our country’s overall infrastructure.
I do not support controversial developments, such as the sale of a New Century Airport warehouse building that was accompanied with tax incentives to a business that has identifiable ties to the Chinese Communist Party. I am, however, supportive of investing in our county’s roads and highways and believe our critical infrastructure for wastewater services should be appropriately addressed.
I believe our county government has a responsibility to maintain a healthy balance between the urban and rural communities in our county. The commission should prioritize preserving rural assets when possible to ensure our county’s green spaces, agricultural businesses, and diverse character are preserved for any residents who want to enjoy the Johnson County dream in more of an exurban or rural setting.
District 2
Mark Hamill
The most important part of managing growth in Johnson County is making sure that it fits within our existing communities and neighborhoods. We need to gather input from residents when a proposed project comes before the county commission.
Although something might benefit our community financially, it could have a negative impact on the residents who live closest to the development. As a county commissioner, I will value the concerns of my constituents in Johnson County over big out of state developers and corporations. Taxpayers should always come first! People invest a lot of money to move to the outlying areas of Johnson County and I believe we have a duty to protect their land and privacy as much as possible. In the same breath, we also need to value their safety on the roads.
I am concerned about the truck traffic along 199th street and other rural areas of Johnson County. We can limit what vehicles are allowed on certain roads, particularly the two lane roads that do not have shoulders or medians. Our number one priority as county commissioners should always be public safety. Smarter infrastructure is a huge component of keeping residents safe on the road and reducing traffic accidents. This takes a proactive approach that considers all risks and potential dangers and puts Johnson County residents safety first in priority.
Jeff Meyers
Issues such as water, bridges, utilities, fire, broadband connectivity are being felt in these rural and exurban fringes.
The County’s CARS Program (County Assistance Road System) can and should be utilized to help with road infrastructure in these areas. This program uses “Gas Tax” along with County support to fund about $18,485,000 in road improvements across the County. This program uses a 50% City/50% County cost/share. The County is currently looking to add Edgerton Road from K-10 Highway to 103rd Street to the CARS eligible list.
The Stormwater Management Program is another tool for cities in the west and southern parts of the County to mitigate stormwater challenges. It uses a 75% County/25% City cost share. The County budget expenditure for 2025 will be about $27,775,000 for this program.
The City of Gardner is doing a system management inspection program to determine needs in their area of the County. In addition, the County continues to help fund public safety and fire services in these areas to help maintain qualified staff, equipment and facilities.
Along with these programs, the Commission in accordance with County staff can look for other opportunities through state and federal programs to help offset costs to improve and meet the challenges of these areas.
District 3
Julie Brewer
District 3 includes all of southeast Johnson County and Spring Hill. As I share with voters in Stilwell and Aubry, my husband and I spent the first nine years of our marriage in a town of less than 3000. I appreciate what draws residents to the rural portions of our county. I believe having rural options is a positive for Johnson County.
So how do we manage growth and lessen the pain points around change? I am a big believer doing things with people, not to people. I want to use my professional expertise and host townhalls with residents in District 3, something I haven’t experienced since living in this district. Voters at the doors have shared their concerns regarding road safety and infrastructure needs. For me intentional planning begins with having all stakeholders, including residents, at the table.
By right, property owners can and do ask to be annexed into cities, which often results in change. The County and cities need to coordinate planning and communication regarding future growth and development.
Sixty years ago, Johnson County’s population was approximately 150,000 folks and today we are more than 620,000 residents. The population doubled just between 1950 and 1960, which prompted the formation of many planning organizations like the one I used to lead. Having a plan and involving as many of our residents, employers, and stakeholders is vital to addressing all aspects of change that growth brings to ensure Johnson County stays the place folks want to call home.
Charlotte O’Hara
The county commission missed a critical opportunity to protect the rural character of the area around De Soto by not adhering to the original plan for the Sunflower Ammunition Plant. Instead, we allowed industrial development to explode without necessary infrastructure in place. This was all driven by corporate interests and massive tax incentives.
The State of Kansas gave Panasonic $800 million and De Soto granted them a $200 million Tax Increment District. These decisions have placed additional strain on longtime residents through higher property taxes and increased truck traffic.
County Commissioners must ensure future growth is more balanced, preserving quality of life for local communities instead of prioritizing profits for multinational corporations.
