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May 2008

City Offices Closed Memorial Day: Trash Schedule Unchanged
Released 5/19/08

City offices will be closed Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day.  Residential trash, recycling and yard waste collection will not be affected by this holiday.  It is important for residents with Monday trash collection days to place their trash, recycling and yard waste at the curb on Monday as scheduled.  This is a change for residents due to the five-day trash collection program implemented at the end of January.  In the past only yard waste was collected on Mondays.

The Olathe Solid Waste Transfer Station, 1681 South Valley Rd., will be open regular hours, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the Olathe Composting Facility, 127th and Hedge Lane, will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Memorial Day for residential yard waste drop-off and mulch giveaway. 

Olathe Municipal Services - Solid Waste Collection



 

Community Shred Day Scheduled June 14
Released 5/19/08

The City of Olathe, including the Municipal Services and Police Departments, will host a community shredding event this summer.  The event will offer Olathe residents the opportunity to safely dispose of documents containing personal or sensitive information such as canceled checks, bank statements and credit card receipts.  To ensure timely service, residents are encouraged to bring no more than three bags or boxes of materials to be shredded.

The event will be held in conjunction with the June HHW drop-off event from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 14 at the Municipal Services Center, 1385 S. Robinson Dr.  This service will be offered free to Olathe residents. 

Cintas, a document management company, will provide the shredding service.

In addition to reducing opportunities for identity theft, because Cintas recycles all shredded materials this event also will help divert waste from the City's waste stream.



 

Portion of I-35 Closed Next Weekend for Lone Elm Bridge Demolition
Released 5/19/08

I-35 will be closed to traffic from 175th St. to 169 Highway beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, May 30.  This is to facilitate the demolition of the Lone Elm bridge as work begins on the construction of an interchange at I-35 and Lone Elm Rd.  Detours will be provided.  Traffic is expected to be open to at least one lane in each direction by 8 a.m. Saturday, May 31.  All lanes should be open to traffic by Monday, June 1.

Lone Elm/I-35 Interchange Project



City-Programs Assist Income Eligible Residents with Home Repairs & Improvements
Released 5/19/08

Olathe residents in need of repairs and improvements to their homes may qualify for programs, at little or no cost to them, offered by the City for those meeting income eligibility requirements and other guidelines.

The following are some of the programs offered by the city to assist residents:

  • Deferred Loan Program - Homeowners in need of major home repairs can apply for an interest free - 0 percent home improvement loan. These loans are based upon home equity with the maximum loan allowable $35,000. There are no monthly payments; the loan is deferred until the property is sold, the title transfers, or the property is turned into a rental.
  • Handicap Accessibility - Homeowners with physical limitations may apply for this grant to remove structural barriers from their home.
  • Elderly Homeowners Assistance - Elderly homeowners unable to maintain their homes can apply for assistance at little or no cost. Examples: sink, water heater and toilet repairs; yard work and gutter cleaning
  • Emergency Repair - Homeowners with serious health and safety violations that left unaddressed will worsen. Examples: roof, sewer and furnace work
  • Exterior Paint Program - Homeowners can apply for free paint and primer      

Eligibility for all programs is based on several factors, some of which include gross annual family income, appraised value of the home, current insurance policy on the property, real estate taxes must be up-to-date and proof of ownership must be provided for several of the programs.

To be eligible for the program, the maximum income level for a single person $38,300, for a family of two - $43,800; a family of three - $49,250; family of four - $54,700; family of five - $59,100; family of six - $63,500; family of seven - $67,850; and a family of eight - $72,250. Full-time students older than 18 and employed will be pro-rated.

For more information or to request an application, call 971-6274 or e-mail llane@olatheks.org.

Home Improvement Programs



City Swimming Pools Open This Weekend
Released 5/19/08

The City's swimming pools will officially open Saturday, May 24, marking the beginning of a new swim season.

The pools will be open from 12:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. weekdays and weekends.

City of Olathe Swimming facilities: Black Bob Park Pool, 14570 W. 151 St.; Frontier Pool, 15909 W. 127 St.; Mill Creek Park Pool, 320 E. Poplar; and Oregon Trail Pool, 1800 W. Dennis.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.olatheks.org/ or call the City of Olathe Parks & Recreation Department at (913) 971-6263.

Olathe Swimming Pool Information



City Accepts Applications for 2009 Community Program Funding
Released 5/19/08

The City of Olathe is accepting applications for funds to be used for community service agencies, programs and/or special events directly benefiting the citizens of Olathe as a part of the 2009 budget process.

The application deadline is May 29, 2008.  This funding is allocated from the City's general fund and distributed to agencies, programs and/or events that enrich the quality of life of Olathe citizens by providing needed public services or cultural opportunities.

This process supplements the City's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
Community Program funding will target services that emphasize: 
           First Priority - Economic well-being
           Secondary Priorities - Youth enhancement and art and cultural enrichment

For more information or to request an application, visit the City of Olathe Neighborhood and Human Services Department, 201 North Cherry Street, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; email a request to krankin@olatheks.org or call 913-971-6260.



City Undertakes Effort to Update Comprehensive Plan for Growth

Updated 5/12/08

The City of Olathe is currently in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan.  The Comprehensive Plan outlines the City's official goals, policies, and guidelines to direct the growth and development of the community.  The Comprehensive Plan describes the vision and goals of the community and provides a framework for future zoning, development and policy decisions.

The City's existing Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1997.  Since then, the City has grown significantly, both in population and land area, and new demographic and land-use trends have emerged.  Many of the goals, objectives, and implementation strategies in the existing Comprehensive Plan have become out-of-date or been accomplished.  The update will also help align the Comprehensive Plan with the City's Strategic Plan goals and priorities. 

In December 2006, the City Council created the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee to provide direction and guidance on the update and revision of the Comprehensive Plan.  In June 2007 the advisory committee recommended an update.  Last week the City Council approved a contract a firm to assist the City in the update process, which is expected to take one year. 

The update will include an extensive visioning process with a high level of interaction and participation by the City Council, Planning Commission and public.  The plan will build upon and integrate the work of existing plans and studies that are underway or have already been completed and address priorities that have emerged in the years since the current plan was adopted.  The goal is to create an interactive and user-friendly Comprehensive Plan that will set the standard for public accessibility and usability.

For more information about the Comprehensive Plan update process, contact Sr. Planner Thomas Morefield, (913)-971-8676.

Volunteers Needed for Americana Jubilee Event June 7
Updated 5/12/08

Volunteers are needed for the 3rd Annual Americana Jubilee celebration to be held Saturday, June 7, from 11a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm, 1200 Kansas City Rd.

Volunteers are needed throughout the day, but particularly between 10:30a.m. and 3:30 p.m.  Volunteer job descriptions and shifts can be found on the Americana Jubilee website, www.olatheks.org/ParksRec/Events/Jubilee/Volunteers.  Volunteers will receive lunch and a volunteer t-shirt.

This is a great opportunity for youth needing volunteer service hours. 

For more information, or to volunteer, contact Erin Vader at esvader@olatheks.org or (913) 971-6490. 

Renovation of Oregon Trail Park Begun: Voter-Approved Park Sales Tax Project
Updated 5/12/08

Construction on the renovation of Oregon Trail Park, 1100 S. Robinson, is underway.  The City Council awarded the construction bid for this $3.3 million project to Feyerherm Construction, Inc. at their May 6 meeting and construction began just two days later on May 8.  The park is now closed.

The project is primarily funded through voter-approved 1/8 cent sales tax for parks projects.  The project also includes funding from Olathe Youth Baseball and Johnson County Stormwater Funds.

This project will renovate the current park and will include the construction of four youth baseball fields, a concession/restroom facility, new playground and volleyball area, enlargement of the existing pond, construction and expansion of the parking lot as well as a concrete looped trail system that will connect to the Rolling Ridge Trail to the north. 

Weather permitting, work is expected to be complete by the end of this year.

The project also includes an agreement with Johnson County Public Works to partner on a best management practice to improve stormwater runoff in the area.  The project will include a parking lot constructed in part with porous concrete pavement which will filter the parking lot stormwater runoff prior to reaching the park's pond and the downstream Lake Olathe Watershed area.

City of Olathe and PDAB to Present Plaques to Accessible Community Award Recipients
Updated 5/12/08

The City of Olathe and the Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board (PDAB) will present plaques to the Accessible Community Award recipients at 5:30 p.m. on May 14 during PDAB's meeting in the City of Governors' room of Olathe City Hall, 100 E. Santa Fe, Olathe.

The award recipients are Johnson County Catch-A-Ride and Kansas Education Foundation.  The entities will receive the award for meritorious service in the pursuit of cultural diversity and advocacy of human rights which benefit Olathe citizens.

The award recipients were announced at the Fifth Annual Community Awards Program at Olathe City Hall on April 17, but representatives of the organizations were unable to attend.

For more information about the award recipients, call the City of Olathe Office of Human Relations at (913) 971-6490. 

Cultural Learning Links Series Concludes with Asian American Focus
Updated 5/12/08

A multicultural group of panelists, representing the Asian American community, will come together to dispel myths, discuss multiculturalism, and share personal stories and experiences at the last panel discussion of the 2007 - 2008 Cultural Learning Links series.

"Celebrating Diversity and Honoring Unity" is the theme of the series, which began in September 2007 with a discussion about multiculturalism.

The Asian American panel discussion, free and open to the public, will meet from 1 - 3 p.m. May 22 at MidAmerica Nazarene University's Bell Cultural Events Center, 2030 E. College Way, Olathe.

The Cultural Learning Links panelists, listed below, will each answer different questions about diversity and culture and then discuss their answers with each other. The audience will have an opportunity to write questions on note cards for the moderator to ask the panelists.

The panelists:

  • Saycocie Phouvieng X of Laos
  • Di Le - Olathe North High School student of Vietnamese descent
  • Elizabeth Fosberg -  Olathe East High School student of Korean American descent
  • So Choi - Blue Valley High School teacher of Korean American descent
  • Samara Nazir  - Mdivani Law Firm law clerk from Pakistan
  • Jacqueline Shao  - Chinese School principal of Chinese descent

The event moderator will be Paulette Markel, Managing Partner, Imua Associates LLC.

MidAmerica Nazarene University President Edwin H. Robinson, Ph.D., will welcome panelists and the audience to the discussion.

The event is sponsored by the City of Olathe, Americana Jubilee, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Olathe Public Library, and Ken Hinson's KHR radio.com.

The meeting room is accessible.  For additional accommodations or an interpreter, please call at least one week in advance of the meeting.

For more information about Cultural Learning Links, contact the Office of Human Relations at (913) 971-6490 or go to http://www.olatheks.org/.

Joint Meeting with Olathe School Board
Released 5/5/08

The Olathe City Council and Olathe School Board will hold a joint session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 at the Bell Cultural Events Center located on the MidAmerica Nazarene University campus.  The governing bodies meet routinely to discuss issues and opportunities that affect both entities.

Celebrate National Drinking Water Week
Released 5/5/08

The City of Olathe will join the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and water utilities across North America in recognizing National Drinking Water Week, May 5 - 9, 2008. Celebrated for more than 30 years, Drinking Water Week provides a unique opportunity for water professionals and communities they serve to join together to recognize the vital role water plays in our daily lives. 

A safe, reliable water supply is critical to the success of any community.  It creates jobs, attracts industry and investment, and provides for health and welfare of citizens in ways ranging from disease prevention to fire suppression.  The water supply is often taken for granted until it is threatened by drought, water main breaks, or some other events. 

The City has a number of projects in place to highlight National Drinking Water Week: 

  • The City is revising its Water Conservation Plan in accordance with new guidelines issued by the Kansas Water Office. 
  • Recently, the City became a utility partner to the EPA WaterSense Program. This program is designed to help consumers conserve water through high-efficiency plumbing fixtures and efficient irrigation practices. 
  • The City's 2008 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report will be sent to water customers on May 14, showing the City continues to meet all state and federal standards for safe drinking water. 
  • The City is proceeding with plans to construct a 42-inch transmission main to enhance the water distribution infrastructure to meet the community's long-term needs.

May 13 City Council Packet Posted Late to Web Due to Scheduled Maintenance
Released 5/5/08

Due to scheduled maintenance of the City of Olathe website, the agenda for the May 13 City Council meeting will not be available on-line until Monday, May 12.  Typically City Council agendas are available on-line the Friday prior to the meeting.  Visit www.olatheks.org/Council for more Olathe City Council information.

Council to Consider Restrictions on Payday and Title Loan Businesses
Released 5/5/08

The Olathe City Council will consider at their May 6 meeting regulations on payday and title loan businesses in Olathe.  The purpose of these restrictions would be to minimize the detrimental effects such businesses can have on residents.  There are currently 11 payday and/or title loan businesses within the city of Olathe. 

Staff's recommended proposal outlines an annual licensing fee as well as restrictions on where a business may operate.  If approved, new payday and title loan businesses could not be opened within 5,280 feet of a similar business or within 200 feet of a single family residence. 

In 2007, the cities of Overland Park, Lenexa and Shawnee enacted similar regulations.

Welcome Reception for Dr. Dan Richardson, CEO, K-State Olathe Innovation Campus
Released 5/5/08

The City of Olathe and the Olathe Chamber of Commerce will host a reception to welcome Dr. Dan Richardson, Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas State Olathe Innovation Campus, his wife, Kathy, and the KOIC staff, to Olathe.

The reception will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, at the Olathe City Hall, 100 E. Santa Fe St., Olathe.  There will be brief welcoming remarks, beginning at 5 p.m.  The reception is open to the public.

Dr. Richardson, a veterinarian, is a nationally-known expert in biosciences and animal health. He was recently vice president, Pet Nutrition Center, and chief animal welfare veterinarian for Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., in Topeka, Kan.

He was named President and CEO of the K-State Olathe Innovation Campus last October.  This unique research park, made up of the KSU campus, research facility, and a bioscience business incubator, is expected to generate 3,000 new jobs with $57,000 in average, annual salaries, and provide $150 million in public and private investments.

The innovation campus is located on 92 acres of City-owned property near College Blvd. and Lone Elm Rd.  

Mark Your Calendars: Americana Jubilee is June 7
Released 5/5/08

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site

Visitors of all ages will come to celebrate Olathe's diverse multicultural heritage and enjoy a variety of free entertainment that is fun for the whole family at the third annual Americana Jubilee!

The free family-friendly event is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm, 1200 Kansas City Rd.

Highlights of the event:

  • Two stages featuring cultural dances, music, and entertainment
  • Interactive children's area featuring crafts and activities from around the world
  • Educational booths highlighting culture, service, and historical contributions
  • A variety of ethnic food vendors

And new this year a Summer Concert Series performance at 4 p.m. featuring the "high energy, swamp funky Zydeco music" of Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band on the main stage.

Americana Jubilee is sponsored by the City of Olathe, Comcast, Farmers Insurance, Univision, Alpha & Omega, United in Service/Unidos En Servicio, Brown Mackie College, First National Bank of Johnson County, Chick-fil-A, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Fulk Chiropractic, Asian-American Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City, Olathe Public Library, and Johnson County Coupon Magazines.

For more information and a schedule of events, go to www.olatheks.org/ParksRec/Events/Jubilee.

Olathe Accepting Applications for 2009 CDBG Funds: Deadline May 15
Released 5/5/08

The City of Olathe is now accepting applications for 2009 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.  Applications are due Thursday, May 15, 2008.  The City of Olathe's CDBG program has funded housing rehabilitation programs, public services, public improvements and neighborhood revitalization projects that benefit low and moderate income persons or older neighborhoods since 1975. 

The City is inviting applications from local social service agencies and community organizations that provide a service to Olathe citizens that meet one of the national CDBG objectives:

1. Benefit low and moderate income persons or neighborhoods.

2. Aids in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight.

3. Meets an urgent community need.

Federal funds have been invested in Olathe through the CDBG program in nearly every neighborhood in older parts of Olathe providing a wide variety of neighborhood revitalization activities including housing rehabilitation, streets, water mains, sewer lines, storm drainage improvements, sidewalks, curbs, parks, historic preservation and human services.

When requesting an application packet, please specify whether you would like a public service, housing or public improvement/neighborhood revitalization application.

For more information or to request an application packet, visit the City of Olathe Housing and Human Services Office located at 201 North Cherry Street, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.; e-mail a request to Carol Ramseyer at cramseyer@olatheks.org; or call 913-971-6260.

City of Olathe Receives Award for Support of National Defense
Released 5/5/08

The City of Olathe received the Pro Patria Award at the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) annual awards banquet held April 12 in Topeka, Kan.

ESGR is a United States Department of Defense organization.

The "Pro Patria" award is presented annually by each ESGR Committee to the one employer in their state or territory who has provided the most exceptional support of the country's national defense through leadership practices and personnel policies that support their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

The oval-based shaped marble award is decorated with a bronze eagle atop a bronze tree with the seal of the Defense Dept.

By receiving this award, the City of Olathe qualifies to be considered for the national award. The recipient of the national award will be announced in the fall. 

For more information about the award, contact the Human and Organizational Development Department's Anita Dickey at (913) 971- 8934.

Work on Downtown Parking Garage Expansion Project Continues: "Old" Section to be Closed Temporarily
Released 5/5/08

As part of the parking garage expansion project, additional repairs within the previously-existing garage are scheduled to begin on Monday, May 12.

Due to the nature of the repairs, parking will not be permitted within the previously-existing portion of the garage.  All parking will be limited to the new parking garage addition beginning Thursday,

May 8 and remain effective for approximately six weeks.

The existing parking garage will remain open only to provide vehicular access to the new parking garage addition. The Cherry Street entrance and exit will remain open throughout this process.

For any questions related to this work please contact Jeff Blakeman, project coordinator, City of Olathe, 913-971-8767 or jblakeman@olatheks.org.