Our Team: Partnerships Based on Communication
With Residents
JCW believes that the most effective form of wastewater treatment results from a partnership between those we serve and ourselves. This partnership is based on communication between the two. One method of communication is the participation by our customers at public hearings or informational meetings held by the Board of County Commissioners. Another method is plant tours available by appointment. To find out more information about JCW, wastewater treatment in our community, or to schedule a plant tour, please call the Director of Communications at 913-715-8572.
With the Board of County Commissioners
The Johnson County Board of Commissioners is a seven member board. Board members are elected to four-year terms by voters in their respective districts. They hold regular business sessions every Thursday, except observable holidays, at the Board of County Commissioners Hearing Room, 111 South Cherry, 3rd Floor Olathe, Kansas.
The Board holds public hearings and information meetings on wastewater projects and district creations. Normally these meetings are advertised ten days prior to the meeting date in the Olathe Daily News in Johnson County. Notices to potentially affected property owners concerning wastewater issues are mailed 14 days prior to the meeting date.
Who is my County Chairperson and District Commissioner?
Click the link below for more information about your county chairperson and district commissioner.
Chairperson | District 1 | District 2 | District 3 | District 4 | District 5 | District 6
With County Management
County Manager - Hannes Zacharias
The County Manager is responsible for implementing policies adopted by the Board of County Commissioners and for managing Executive Staff in the execution of Board directives. The County Manager serves as a liaison with elected officials and independent county boards, coordinates delivery of services provided by more than 3,800 employees, directs the development and administration of the annual operating and capital budgets totaling more than $810 million, and makes recommendations on program options to the Board of County Commissioners. The County Manager serves Johnson County, a county of more than 552,000 people, 20 incorporated cities, and a land area of 477 square miles.
Deputy County Manager - Penny Postoak Ferguson
Within Our Department
Wastewater General Manager - John O'Neil
John O'Neil, wastewater general manager, oversees all functions of Johnson County Wastewater (JCW). He was appointed as general managerin February 2006, after providing 17 years of leadership to Operations and Maintenance personnel. John has a Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering technology from Kansas State University, and holds a Master of Science in environmental health science from the University of Kansas.
Prior to joining JCW, John worked as an environmental engineer for the city of Athens, Georgia, for five years and as a research engineer for the city of Atlanta for three years.
John's professional memberships include the Kansas Water Environment Association, American Water Works Association, American Public Works Association, and Water Environmental Federation.
Chief Engineer -
- To be determined. -
This Chief Engineer is responsible for oversight of all of the engineering functions at Johnson County Wastewater.
Operations & Maintenance
Director - Kurt Winters
JCW's Director of Operations & Maintenance, Kurt Winters, provides leadership to personnel responsible for the collection, transportation and treatment of wastewater generated in our service area. He also provides leadership for the engineering section. Section responsibilities include planning, inspecting, and repairing or upgrading JCW’s sewer lines, pump stations, and treatment facilities.
He earned an Associate of Arts with an emphasis in science and mathematics from Johnson County Community College and a Bachelor of Science in environmental studies from the University of Kansas. Kurt is currently a member of the Water Environment Federation and the Kansas Water Environment Association.
The Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Division has the responsibility of ensuring that wastewater discharged to the collection system is safely transported to one of the county's treatment plants. There, it is treated to levels consistent with operating permits issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment prior to being discharged in receiving streams. O&M staff operates and maintains the collection system (gravity lines, manholes, pump stations and force mains) and treatment facilities to ensure they perform to their design intent which is to protect the water quality in the receiving streams and the health of area residents.
Business Operations & Planning
Director - Beth Brandel
As identified in JCW's Strategic Business Plan, Beth Brandel, director of Business Operations & Planning, is responsible for moving JCW forward. She heads up the financial, human resources, and information technology departmental functions.
Prior to coming to JCW, Beth served as manager of personal property for the Johnson County Appraiser’s Office. She also worked for Sprint Corporation as a financial analysis manager and as an auditor for the Missouri Public Service Commission where she worked on utility rate cases. Beth holds a Bachelors of Business Administration and a Masters of Business Administration from Pittsburg State University, and is a CPA, licensed in the state of Missouri.
The Business Operations & Planning Division provides vital support services to the other divisions of JCW. These include accounting, budgeting, computer operations, human resources, payroll, and employee relations. Business Operations & Planning employees are involved in many ongoing projects aimed at automating and improving processes at Johnson County Wastewater for the betterment of all its employees and the service that JCW provides.
Asset Management
Director -
- To be determined. -
Asset Management is responsible across all JCW divisions for providing the logical, cost effective decision-making framework for making organizational and operational changes. Such project planning helps to strengthen financial and physical resource investments and to prolong the life of the wastewater infrastructure system.
Customer Relations
Director - Lisa Davis
Lisa Davis is the Customer Relations director, one of JCW’s newest roles. For the previous five years, Lisa served as JCW’s user charge manager. She helped to establish and oversee the growth of this new and vital section of JCW.
The Customer Relations Division serves as a single source for all key customer service activities, including informational needs. The Customer Relations Division links business functions such as inspections, permitting, and system expansion activities as well as billing and collections. The ability for staff to meet peak workloads between the various functions and cross-train is enhanced by the creation of this division.
Communications
Director - Lori Sand
Lori Sand is well-suited as the director of Communications. Her previous communications and media expertise in the Kansas City metro area and Johnson County is notable. She served for nearly 15 years as the director of Communications for the Blue Valley School District, a renowned public education system in Johnson County. Lori earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communications from Iowa State University and is a member of the National Association of County Information Officers.
Communications is a focal point for JCW to communicate public information and provide relevant informational materials to the general public, media, JCW staff, and others.
Water Quality Lab
Director, Water Quality Lab – Tony Holt
Tony Holt, director of the Water Quality Lab, plans and oversees all new projects, researches new technologies and methods and sets the direction and priority of lab work. The Director also acts as a Technician in the field and as a Lab Tech whenever needed. Tony spent six years in the custom lab business before coming to Johnson County in January 1987. He assumed his duties as the Lab Director in 1990. Tony earned a BS in Chemistry (ACS) from UW River Falls in 1981. Tony is a WEF member, KLEA member, and received the Meloan Award from the KLEA in 2011. He also received the NACo award for New Lab Design in 2008 and is a member of the WERF Emerging Contaminant Work Group. Johnson County's novel large pipe sampling system which is powered by solar and passive water power was written up in Municipal Sewer and Water magazine in 2008.
The Water Quality Lab is a small, flat organization where all staff serves in multiple roles to support each other, depending on their project load. While JCW projects are top priority, the lab is expanding its role as a provider in the private market to offset the cost to JCW.