Examples of matters handled by the Legal Department:
- Litigation, including cases relating to contracts, construction, and employment issues (gender, race, age, disability, and civil rights); draft related legal pleadings and make court appearances in state and federal courts and at administrative hearings.
- Planning and zoning (and related litigation).
- Annexations.
- Personnel decisions, including discipline, terminations and general compliance with County policies, as well as state and federal laws.
- Draft, review and interpret resolutions, policies, codes, contracts, leases, licensing agreements, interlocal agreements, and purchasing documents.
- Legal Research.
- Bankruptcy (primarily related to unpaid taxes) - file claims, and litigate any objections that are filed against the County's bankruptcy claims.
- Employee benefit plans (Section 125 cafeteria plan, Section 457 deferred compensation plan, and Section 401 supplemental plan).
- Legislative issues - draft and review proposed legislation and assist the County lobbyist as requested.
- County Codes Court prosecution.
- Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA) - defend the County's position in tax appeals that go before the Kansas BOTA and advise the County Appraiser's Office regarding tax appraisal matters.
- Open Records Act compliance.
- Land records.
- ADA compliance.
- Emergency Management & Homeland Security.
- Elections - all legal aspects of the election process, including ward boundaries, petitions, ballot language, recall issues, and contract matters.
- Risk Management.
- Tax collection and foreclosures. Note: Kansas statutes allow the County to file a lawsuit to foreclose upon delinquent real estate and to offer the property for sale at public auction to collect delinquent taxes. This is a detailed process that generates a lot of phone calls, both from property owners and from the general public. The past nine foreclosures generated more than $5.8 million dollars in redemptions and sale proceeds from approximately 900 properties.
- Protect the County's interest in mortgage foreclosures.
- Public improvement projects.
- Condemnations.
- Environmental regulation.
- Wastewater utility regulation.
- Solid waste management.
- Township issues.
- Fire District issues.
- Water District issues.
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Johnson County Legal Department
111 S. Cherry St., Suite 3200
Olathe, KS 66061-3486
Phone: (913) 715-1900
Fax: (913) 715-1873