City Council - Regular Meeting

Greetings from beautiful Shawnee, Kansas, and today's match, the 2027 Municipal Budget. That's right, today's game will be shaped by how we respond to the needs of a growing community, how we ensure our first responders are ready to answer the call, how we keep your roads smooth and drivable, your parks looking great for everyone to enjoy, and everything that makes Shawnee your hometown with heart. Let's meet the people responsible for leading Team Shawnee to success. Leading the first responders at the left forward position is Police Chief Sam Larson, who heads up the city's largest department and whose budget includes a new dispatcher to help handle the more than 22,000 calls for service the department received in 2025. And at the right forward position, Fire Chief Rick Potter leads the Shawnee Fire Department that rolled out its new Advanced Life Support program in 2026 that will continue to grow in 2027. On the wings, Deputy City Manager Colin Duffy and Assistant City Manager Lauren Grasshop lead the city's administration team that handles everything from human resources to the municipal court. In the midfield, IT Director Mike Inich keeps the city's technology infrastructure humming while protecting hundreds of computers by blocking more than 169 million digital intrusions. each year. Roving the defensive midfield, keeping watch over more than 1,000 acres of land, 25 parks, two aquatic centers, and one living history museum, you can rely on Parks and Rec Director Tanya Leckyer and her team to effectively manage all the recreational opportunities in Shawnee. From building inspections to business licenses, planning to codes, Community Development Director Doug Allman and his team take care of it all in the second defensive midfield position. If you've ever driven on a Shawnee street or strolled down the sidewalk, that's thanks to the Public Works team led by Kevin Manning. In 2027, the department will add a pavement maintenance worker to make sure Shawnee's infrastructure remains world-class. Sweeping up the numbers for Shawnee taxpayers to make sure every tax dollar is accounted for, it's Finance Director Sean Rocco and the nationally recognized finance team. Wearing the captain's armband, overseeing the field from the keeper position, it's City Manager Paul Kramer. With an operational budget of more than $81 million, Kramer is responsible for 365 city employees, delivering nationally accredited services year-round to every resident, visitor, and business in the city of Shawnee. So when it comes to the full starting lineup for your hometown with HART, know that you can rely on and trust every city employee, from full-time to part-time, every single day. You can find out more about the city's annual budget by visiting cityofshawnee.org.