Podcast Transcript: Shawnee Pulse - Episode 1

Communications Director Doug Donahoo:
Welcome to the Shawnee Pulse. My name is Doug Donahoo. I'm the Communications Director for the City of Shawnee. This is an experiment that we're trying to reach out more to the residents of the City of Shawnee, to our visitors, to let them know what else is happening. Give them an inside look at the City Hall, at the Parks and Recreation Service Center, at everything else we have going on in the city. Talk to the folks who are working every single day to make Shawnee a great place to work, live, and play. As we go through this year, we're going to be providing you with an inside look at a lot of different topics from around the city.

Of course, we want to hear from you. You can reach out to us via email at [email protected]. Today, we're going to be talking with Deputy City Manager Colin Duffy about the new Landfill Voucher Program and Delivery System that's going to be hitting mailboxes here in the city of Shawnee very, very soon. And here with us now, Colin Duffy, Deputy City Manager for the City of Shawnee. Colin, thanks so much for being our inaugural guest here on the Shawnee Pulse.

Deputy City Manager Colin Duffy:
Yeah. Thank you, Doug. Very excited to be here. Thanks for having me on your podcast.

Doug:
Well, we think there's a lot of information that you can share with the residents of Shawnee, but first, tell the folks a little bit about Colin Duffy.

Colin:
Yeah, definitely. Happy to introduce myself. Colin Duffy, been with the city for two years now. Deputy City Manager for only a few months. Served as Assistant City Manager when I first started two years ago. Kansas kid grew up in Topeka, my whole family, they've been part of local government since I can remember, so kind of following in their footsteps.

Went to school at Wichita State, where I got my undergrad and then stuck around for my master's in public administration. Knew I wanted to get into local government as well, so followed the family into city government. After I graduated with my MPA, worked for Andover, the city of Andover, just a small community just outside of Wichita.

Did that for a year before finally making my way up to Kansas City, where I worked for KCK, Wyandotte County Unified Government. So I was in their auditor's office there for a number of years. Absolutely loved it, great opportunity to learn about all different facets of both city and county government and how each department kind of runs there.

And then after that opportunity, I moved down south pretty far to Johnson County. So, worked there in the County Manager's Office there, worked with some great people, learned a lot about management. A little bit about how to work with the governing body there, and then kind of a year and a half into that, there was an opportunity here in Shawnee and saw a great opportunity to work for a good organization, so took a chance and thankfully, made my way over here to Shawnee to work in the City Manager's Office.

Been here for two years, kind of moved around working with different groups. But I've absolutely loved the community here, loved the organization. I think we have a very lean, mean, fighting machine in the organization. Great people, very humble, very hardworking, diligent. I'm happy to add and contribute to their success.

Doug:
Talk to me a little bit about what you do currently now as Deputy City Manager. You're just a couple of months into the role. But obviously, it's an important one in a city like Shawnee. What are some of your day-to-day responsibilities that folks might not be aware of?

Colin:
Yeah, great question. So if you kind of think about it in corporate terms, Paul Kramer, who's our City Manager, would be likened to the CEO of the organization. My role kind of steps into the CEO role when he is out of the office or when he's traveling or things like that. So kind of fill in as that number two, but really I serve as kind of the Chief Operations Officer.

So I help oversee a lot of the day-to-day management of the organization specifically to administration. I kind of oversee a few different departments and divisions within the city, so I assist with court IT, our volunteer program, as well as working on the budget, which is kind of our largest initiative that we take on each year. It seems like once one budget is finished, you kind of wrap that up and you jump right into next year's budget and the planning and development of that too. So kind of work with those facets, a little bit of economic development, and of course, kind of the main thing is working with our governing body to really execute on their vision and what they have planned for the city.

Doug:
And something else that you are responsible for that is the reason you're here today is you work pretty closely with the trash hauling companies here in the City of Shawnee and with our Landfill Voucher Program.

Can you talk to us just a little bit about Shawnee's relationship with what's known as the Johnson County Landfill? It’s previously known as the Deffenbaugh Landfill, then Shawnee annexed it. Talk to us a little bit about that relationship and how it benefits the City of Shawnee and residents in the city.

Colin:
Yeah, definitely. I think I'll go back a little bit to when it was first created and kind of talk a bit about Ronnie Deffenbaugh. So for those who don't know, Ronnie Deffenbaugh kind of started his waste career in Johnson County with just two trucks, I believe. So, really small operation but grew quite large.

And really kind of developed a name and reputation, not just in Kansas City, but across kind of the whole region over here. So they have the landfill, which is, of course, in Shawnee, right on the corner of 435 and just north of Johnson Drive and south of the river there. 800 acres, fairly large. Each cell is kind of worked on and filled before they move to the next one. So in 2002, during our westward expansion of Shawnee, we annexed the landfill, which brings a little bit of a connotation to it.

But it provides both a benefit and some cons. Of course, you have some smell, you have a lot of trash haulers driving in and out of the city as they're dropping off, which services the entire region. But really, what it does is it keeps our trash costs low here. They don't have to take it 30 miles outside of the city to drop off. So, it keeps costs low.

It's already here. We already know it's going to be here. So, it's something we planned for, and we're prepared for. And really, just try and keep that partnership as less of a nuisance as possible while maximizing the return that we get from it.

Doug:
Shawnee is in an interesting spot in Johnson County in that we basically have an open market for any trash hauling company that wants to come in and offer its services to residents, correct?

Colin:
Yeah, that's right. There are two different ways the city can go about this. They can either contract or operate their own trash service, which a lot of communities do. Even our neighboring community to the east, Merriam, they were actually an open trash hauler community. But this last year, their governing body decided to tease out and look towards a single trash hauler.

Here in Shawnee, though, we do offer kind of an open market, so to speak, where we do have six licensed trash haulers. Of course, they have to be licensed by both the Johnson County Health and Environment Department as well as go through our permitting process, too. So, we have six trash haulers.

That would be Waste Management, Republic, GFL, KC Disposal, Constable, and our newest one, which got added this last year in 2024, Earth First. So, anybody in Shawnee, whether it's a resident in their own home or an HOA, can contract with any one of those six haulers. That's correct.

Doug:
So, what benefits are there in terms of having that open marketplace?

Colin:
The general idea is you get some competition. So ideally, the prices are competitive, and if one service isn't meeting the needs of our residents, they have options to discontinue service with that provider and switch to someone else.

You'll see, I would say, most of our residents either contract with Waste Management or Republic. I'd say a lot of the larger HOAs or even some of the multi-family communities, they tend to lean towards GFL or KC Disposal. So, each one has their own kind of niche market of where they are and where they have better strengths suited to their clients.

Doug:
So that kind of goes into the number of trash haulers that we have in the city. Let's go back and talk a little bit more about the landfill. There is something interesting that Waste Management, as the owner and operator of the landfill now, provides to the city. And that's basically a usage fee for lack of a better term, and that's split 50/50 in the city, correct? How is that spent?

Colin:
We do get a check from Waste Management to operate their landfill each year. Half of that money goes to kind of our Mill and Overlay Program to make sure that our city streets are smooth, that any damage done by all the trash haulers bringing their trash through into Shawnee to the landfill is addressed.

The other piece of it, the other half, goes to our Economic Development Fund, which we use to bring in businesses and incentivize those businesses who are here to either remain in Shawnee or to grow and expand.

Doug:
Another benefit that is available to all residents in the city of Shawnee is something that has gone by a couple of different names over the course of the years. It's been known as Large Item Pickup, it's been known as Tidy Town, and now it is basically a landfill drop-off opportunity where folks can take larger items or items they may have had trouble getting rid of in the past and take them directly over to the landfill, correct?

Colin:
Yes, that's right. And it's kind of a unique service that we have here that I really haven't seen in many other communities. So, something that goes a little bit above and beyond what typical cities do. This year, we were actually kind of really trying to deliver the name that's most accurate to the program itself with the Landfill Voucher Program.

Doug:
Talk to me about what that voucher allows residents the opportunity to do.

Colin:
So, one time a year, our residents receive a voucher in the mail.

They can then take that voucher along with their ID and a truckload, carload, whatever it may be of waste that they want to get rid of. Maybe it is a bulky item. Maybe it's a bunch of kind of spare things that they found in the garage. They can take it to the landfill and drop it off free of charge.

There are a couple of things though that aren't included in that. That would be kind of the white appliances, those Freon refrigerators, or the like, which cannot be dropped off. But everything else should be available. One other use a lot of people take advantage of is after storms that come through. If they aren't impactful enough for us to open our debris site, they can take their yard waste there as well and drop that off.

Doug:
Any resident in the City of Shawnee is eligible to make that trip to the Waste Management Landfill and do that drop-off?

Colin:
Correct. Yes. All they need is their voucher and then their ID proving proof of residence, and they're able to take it off. Again, they just need to go to right off 435 and Holiday Drive. There's an attendant right there. All they have to do is redeem that voucher, and they're able to drop it off.

One thing new this year is the delivery method that we have for the voucher. Last year and in years prior, we had sent that by mail as an individual item. But this year, we're doing something unique—realizing some cost savings and kind of providing them a good opportunity to learn a little bit more about the program. That’s by including it on the front page of our All Things Hometown magazine. So that is scheduled to hit mailboxes, I believe, in February.

Doug, I think you're the expert on that. When can they expect that?

Doug:
So, All Things Hometown is our quarterly magazine that is published four times a year to give folks an update on everything that's happening in the City of Shawnee—events, news, a message from the mayor, Parks and Recreation programming that's available to enroll in, and yes, as Colin said, this year for the Spring Edition, we are going to send it in the first week of February.

You'll find a wraparound the magazine that will include the voucher that you can detach from the magazine itself. You can still hold on to the magazine—it’s still good and packed with information—and that's the voucher that you'll then take to the landfill to make whatever drop-off you'd like to make.

As Colin said, you do need proof of residency in the form of your driver's license, but that's really it. The other thing to note is Shawnee is also rare in the fact that you get to make this large item drop-off directly at the landfill. We also have a requirement that all trash service companies are required to provide at least one large item pickup to every resident they service in the city. Isn't that correct?

Colin:
That is, yes, Doug, and I’m glad you brought that up. So, I would say most cities have their bulky item pickup, and depending on their trash hauler, it's either a specific time of year, or they can schedule it.

For us, it's kind of up to the trash hauler on the methodology that they use to deliver their bulky item pickup. For instance, if you're a customer of Waste Management, Republic, GFL, or Constable, all you have to do is call and schedule your free bulky item pickup with your trash hauler. Again, if you have any issues in doing so, you can reach out to the city. We'll be happy to assist you with that.

For others like KC Disposal, they offer bulky item pickup twice over the summer. They communicate with their customers pretty frequently leading up to it.

Doug:
So, the big thing that we want folks in Shawnee to know is that even with this change of the voucher delivery system, we haven't taken anything away. In fact, Shawnee residents have two shots to get rid of large items: either through a pickup with their trash hauler that is scheduled in advance or on a set date the trash hauler lets the customers know about, and also to take items directly to the landfill with this voucher.

Colin:
Exactly, yeah. So two opportunities for them to do it—one as they need or as they see fit to take it, and the other one scheduled with their trash hauler.

And of course, for anybody who wants additional information on what those limitations are when you take your voucher to the Johnson County Landfill, you can go to cityofshawnee.org and under the Residents tab, click on Trash Collection, Recycling, and Yard Waste.

Doug:
If you do have any questions, we're always happy to answer them. You can reach out to us at [email protected], and we'll be happy to answer any questions you have.

We'll continue to update folks as the All Things Hometown Spring Edition is hitting mailboxes. So, follow us on Facebook, on Nextdoor, or on Instagram. We'll be providing updates as the magazine begins to hit mailboxes.

And again, happy to answer any and all questions you might have. Colin, you've been an excellent first guest. I think everybody will agree that this was a great way to kick off the Shawnee Pulse to give folks some information about this program and to let them know the changes that are coming this year. So, we appreciate you joining us.

Colin:
Doug, thank you. Very excited to talk trash with you. Always a pleasure.

Doug:
Once again, that was Colin Duffy as our first-ever guest on the Shawnee Pulse podcast. Colin was an excellent guest with a lot of great information. Of course, you can find out more information on our website at cityofshawnee.org.

Joining me now is Kate Kincaid of our Shawnee Parks and Recreation Department to talk about previous and upcoming events. Kate, how are you?

Parks & Recreation Program Manager Kate Kincaid:
I'm good. How are you, Doug?

Doug:
Doing okay. This is going to be the other part of our regular episode: looking at what’s happened recently in the city and what’s coming up so folks can update their calendars. One thing we want to include is a brief update on what happened with the most recent city council meetings.

The first council meeting of the new year took place on Monday, January 13th. Not a lot happening that evening. The big event was the council approved the rezoning of a third of an acre on West 65th Street from commercial neighborhood to a duplex residential zoning for a future planned development in that area on a 7-0 vote.

The next council meeting will happen on Monday, January 27th at Shawnee City Hall, starting at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers. You can find more about that when the agenda is published in about a week and a half on cityofshawnee.org.

Kate, what else is going to be happening in the city for folks to know about?

Kate:
Yeah, absolutely. So, the snow is not slowing us down. We've got plenty of great upcoming events.

Doug:
Indoor events, I hope.

Kate:
Indoor events, that's good. We're sticking indoors for January and February.

Starting with History on Tap on January 22nd. That is going to be at Shawnee Town 1929 in their Town Hall. They do this monthly throughout the winter months when the museum's closed. It’s great—you get a great speaker, hear a great story, and it’s $8 per person, which includes a drink and your presentation. That is on January 22nd at 7 p.m.

Doug:
What is the presentation for January?

Kate:
January's presentation is Found in Grandma's Attic: Exploring Photography.

Doug:
Oh, well, photography is a great way to track history, especially in a community like Shawnee, where the history goes back so far, even before Kansas was a state. So, it’s great to see that Shawnee Town is keeping that history alive and letting folks explore more about it in a fun environment like History on Tap.

Kate:
Absolutely, absolutely. It’s definitely a great presentation to come and check out. We have another one in February as well.

Doug:
Yes, please tell us all about the one in February.

Kate:
February 19th at 7 p.m. at Town Hall as well. That one is going to be Heading to Market: Truck Farming Then, Now, and Going Forward. For those who are unaware, Shawnee has a huge history of being a truck farming community.

They're going to explore that a little bit. They have local breweries that come out and share some drinks with you. So, you get to fill up your glass and listen to a great presentation. That one is also $8 and starts at 7 p.m. at Shawnee Town Hall on February 19th.

Doug:
Excellent. What do we have for families and the kiddos coming up?

Kate:
Yeah, so on Friday, January 24th, we have our Kids’ Night Out. That is a double win: Mom and Dad, girls’ night out, whatever you’d like—you can hit the town while we watch the kids at the Shawnee Civic Center. That is $15 per child from 6 to 9 p.m. if you register before Wednesday the 22nd. After that, it's going to be $20 per child.

Doug:
Is there an option for me to just leave the child at the Civic Center overnight?

Kate:
Unfortunately, it's not a lock-in.

Doug:
Oh, alright. Well, win some, lose some.

Kate:
Win some, lose some. That's for ages 5 to 12. But you can get a night out and enjoy some fun, safe activities for your kids there at the Civic Center.

We also have the Princess Tea for our little ones. This is for children ages 2 to 5. We set up our big castle in the Civic Center. You can come out, take pictures with princesses, dance the morning away, drink some lemonade, and get some goodies like that. Lots of photo opportunities. That is Saturday, February 1st at 10:30 a.m. at the Civic Center. That’s $20 per prince or princess.

Doug:
Excellent. I think the most important thing to take away from all of these events in January and February is they are all indoors.

Kate:
Indoors, yes. We are not venturing out just yet. We don't trust Mother Nature quite that much.

Doug:
The good news is there are plenty of great outdoor activities that will happen soon in Shawnee. With the Pulse, we’ll keep everyone updated on these activities in every episode.

Kate, thank you so much for being with us here, and we will see you in February.

Kate:
Yep. Thank you, Doug. Thanks for having me.

Doug:
And thank you for listening to the Shawnee Pulse wherever you are—walking, in your car, or at work. Thanks so much. You can find more information about the Shawnee Pulse on our website, cityofshawnee.org.

Of course, we want to hear from you. If you have any comments or ideas for topics you'd like to hear us talk about, please reach out via email at [email protected].

Thank you again for joining us here on the first episode of the Shawnee Pulse. We’ll see you again in February.

Podcast Transcript: Shawnee Pulse - Episode 2

Communications Director Doug Donahoo:
Welcome to the Shawnee Pulse Podcast! I'm Doug Donahoo, Communications Director for the City of Shawnee. Thank you for tuning in to this special episode. We have our regularly scheduled February episode coming next week, where we'll discuss summer job opportunities with the Parks and Recreation Department.

Today, however, we’re taking you behind the scenes with the Shawnee Public Works Department as they work tirelessly to keep our streets clear during a snowstorm. Snow removal is a massive effort that begins long before the first flakes fall and continues well after the storm has passed.

This morning, I had the opportunity to ride along with Joe Huggenberger from the Shawnee Public Works Department as he tackled snow-covered streets. Let’s jump into the conversation.



Doug:

Joe, thanks for letting us ride along today! What truck are we in?

Joe Huggenberger, Traffic Maintenance Coordinator:

We’re in a single-axle dump truck, number 422 in the fleet. This one doesn’t have a wing plow, but many of our newer trucks are getting them because they allow us to plow wider areas more efficiently. This is one of our older models, but it still gets the job done.

Doug:

Tell us a bit about yourself. How long have you been with the city?

Joe:

I’ve been with the City of Shawnee for 10 years now. Before that, I worked for the City of Casper, Wyoming, for five years. So, I’ve been doing this kind of work for quite a while.

Doug:

So you’re no stranger to snowfall! When you're not behind the wheel of a plow, what’s your role in the city?

Joe:

I’m the Traffic Maintenance Coordinator. I was promoted to this position two years ago. Before that, I was the Traffic Signal Technician, responsible for maintaining the city's 53–54 traffic signals. My team also takes care of street signs and streetlights across Shawnee. It’s a big job!

Doug:

Where are we headed this morning? It’s just after 8:00 AM, and the snow is still coming down.

Joe:

We’re going to Area 6B, which runs from K-7 on the west side to Monticello on the east, and from Shawnee Mission Parkway to 83rd Street.

Doug:

The work of the Public Works crew starts well before the snowstorm even arrives. Can you walk us through that preparation process?

Joe:

Absolutely. For this storm, forecasts predicted snowfall about a day and a half ago. So, on Monday night, we started pre-treating streets with salt to make snow removal easier once it hit. That early preparation is key to keeping roads manageable.

Doug:

Now that the snow is falling, how does the city keep up with it?

Joe:

We run 12-hour shifts, covering 16 different zones, plus three major arterial routes—Shawnee Mission Parkway, Johnson Drive, and Nieman Road. There are also three sub-routes. It takes a lot of people to handle everything. We bring in staff from City Hall, the Parks Department, and even a few officers from the Police and Fire Departments to assist. It’s an all-hands-on-deck operation.

Doug:

It definitely sounds like a team effort! And I’m glad I’m not the one driving—probably best for everyone on the road.

Talk to me about these 12-hour shifts. Right now, you're on the daytime rotation, but last month you were working overnight. How does that adjustment work?

Joe:

It can be tough. In January, I was on the night shift, working 7 PM to 7 AM. When you’re used to working daytime hours, switching to nights is an adjustment. Trying to sleep during the day isn’t easy, but we do what we have to. Lots of coffee, Mountain Dew—whatever it takes to stay awake and alert.

Doug:

Now that we’re in your zone, what’s the priority for plowing?

Joe:

We focus on main roads first to keep traffic moving. We know people still have to get to work, so we clear primary routes before moving into residential areas.

Doug:

How long does it take to get into residential neighborhoods after the snow stops?

Joe:

It depends on the storm. We don’t always wait for the snow to stop before we start residential streets. Sometimes we have to keep making passes as the snow continues falling. The goal is to keep roads as clear as possible, as quickly as possible.

Doug:

You mentioned different types of plows earlier. What kinds of trucks are out working today?

Joe:

On major roads like Shawnee Mission Parkway and Johnson Drive, you’ll see double-axle trucks. They’re larger and can handle heavy snowfall on high-traffic streets. The truck we’re in today is a single-axle, which is better for secondary and residential roads.



Doug:

Joe, thanks for giving us an inside look at what it takes to keep Shawnee moving during a snowstorm. Your team does incredible work!

Joe:

Thank you! We appreciate the community’s patience and support as we work to clear the roads.

Doug:

That wraps up this episode of the Shawnee Pulse Podcast. Stay safe out there, and we’ll see you next time!

Podcast Transcript: Shawnee Pulse - Episode 3

Communications Director Doug Donahoo: Welcome to the March episode of the Shawnee Pulse Podcast. My name is Doug Donahue. I'm the Communications Director for the City of Shawnee. We thank you for joining us here in March. It is springtime in Shawnee, and spring means the return of severe weather.

We've dealt with snow, ice, and really cold temperatures earlier this year. Now we're looking at severe weather of a different kind—rain, flooding, tornadoes. There's a lot to be concerned about. That's why our Divisional Chief for Emergency Management, Matt Epperson, is here.

He's going to talk about the importance of staying severe weather aware, what the city is doing to respond to severe weather incidents, and how you can prepare your family. Let’s hop into this conversation with the one man who has a deeper voice than I do.

That's right, from the Shawnee Fire Department, our Divisional Chief for Emergency Management, Matt Epperson. Chief, how are you today?

Divisional Chief for Emergency Management Matt Epperson: I'm doing good. How are you?

Doug: You look like you're really enjoying sitting in front of the microphone.

Matt: Yeah, this is my favorite thing to do.

Doug: This is a man who has responded to fires all over Shawnee and Johnson County, and this is probably the last place you want to be.

Matt: I would rather run into a burning building than talk on the microphone.

Doug: Let’s talk about your experience with the City of Shawnee and the Fire Department.

Matt: Absolutely. I started as a volunteer firefighter in 1998. I was going to JCCC, working on my fire degree. I became a volunteer, worked here for about a year and a half before getting hired full-time. I've been a firefighter with Shawnee since 1999. I worked my way up, drove fire trucks, got promoted to captain. In 2016, I moved off the truck from shift work to a 40-hour schedule to oversee EMS, emergency management, and accreditation.

Doug: What was that change like going from 24-hour shifts, driving the truck, responding to calls, to an 8-to-5 office schedule?

Matt: It was a shock. Seventeen years of shift work, working with fire crews—it was a lot of fun. At the time, I was looking for a new challenge, and I definitely got one. But it was also for my family. I had a young daughter getting into sports and other activities, and the switch gave me the time to be home every night.

Doug: Did it still surprise your wife when you walked in the door at five o’clock that first evening?

Matt: Yes. She did enjoy those nights when I was at the fire station because she got the bed to herself.

Doug: When Netflix became a thing, she didn’t have to pay attention to what anyone else wanted to watch.

Matt: That's right.

Doug: Let’s talk about your role as Divisional Chief for Emergency Management. What does that involve?

Matt: It has changed since I took the role nine years ago. Responsibilities for EMS and accreditation moved to others, allowing me to focus on emergency management. A big part of my job is planning—regional hazard mitigation, emergency operations, continuity of operations plans. Once plans are written, we train and exercise to make sure they work. Plans are useless if you don’t train on them.

Doug: People might be surprised at the amount of time our firefighters and police spend training—physically and mentally—to be ready when situations arise.

Matt: Absolutely. Both fire service and emergency management have to be ready for anything. We train for a broad range of scenarios.

Doug: March is Severe Weather Preparedness Week. We’ve seen wild weather in 2025, and there's no better time to prepare. Why is individual preparedness so important for Shawnee residents?

Matt: If there’s a severe weather outbreak, everyone needs a plan. There are only so many first responders. If something happens, it may take time for help to arrive. Having knowledge and a preparedness plan is crucial because you may have to navigate the situation on your own.

Doug: One key safety message is “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.” People underestimate how quickly moving water can carry a car off the road.

Matt: Absolutely. Every year, people are injured or die from severe weather events. Flash flooding causes many deaths because people drive through floodwaters, not realizing how powerful moving water is. If water is over the road, don’t drive through it.

Doug: Beyond flooding, what other severe weather should people be prepared for?

Matt: Our regional hazard mitigation plan identifies top hazards: tornadoes, severe thunderstorms (wind, hail, lightning), winter weather, and flooding. In the Midwest, we have to watch out for lightning, especially during sports season, tornadoes, high wind events, and flooding. We don’t worry about hurricanes, but we do see their aftereffects—rain and storms making their way up here.

Doug: What steps can people take to prepare their families, homes, and vehicles?

Matt: Like a good Boy Scout—be prepared. The biggest thing is planning. Build a kit for your vehicle and home. Kits should have food, water, toiletries, medicine, flashlights, batteries, and phone chargers. FEMA recommends supplies for at least 72 hours, but recent recommendations extend up to two weeks. Also, develop a communication plan. If cell towers go down, how will you contact family? Ready.gov has a list of preparedness steps. Have a meeting place if communication isn’t possible.

Doug: Why is the 72-hour timeframe a standard for disaster preparedness?

Matt: In extreme situations, like an ice storm, you may be stuck at home without power. Stores may be closed. Having supplies makes it easier to get through that period. After a disaster, first responders’ call loads go up, and response times may be longer.

Doug: There’s also triage—first responders prioritize the hardest-hit areas before reaching others who may be facing power outages or other issues.

Matt: Absolutely. Our priority is always life safety. Depending on the severity of the event, response times vary. We assess the hardest-hit areas first before moving outward.

Doug: Your role isn’t just about coordinating first responders. You bring together all city departments—Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and even Communications—to ensure everyone is prepared to respond in an emergency.

Matt: Yes, emergency management involves everyone. It's not just fire and police. Public Works clears debris. Parks and Recreation provides shelters if needed. Communications keeps the public informed. It’s a citywide effort to make sure Shawnee is prepared and resilient.

Doug: Now, we should note from meetings I've attended that you've hosted and put together, this is something all departments in the city are willing to do and have been wanting to coordinate for some time.

Matt: Yes, absolutely. Let's talk a little bit about how this works outside the city of Shawnee. We're part of Johnson County, surrounded by many other communities. From your standpoint, how does coordination work between counties and other cities? What services and support are available in an emergency when different agencies come together?

Doug: I would say we are very fortunate in Johnson County and the metro region in general because of our strong partnerships. Fire departments work together, police departments collaborate, and across the board, there are amazing working relationships.

I work daily with Johnson County Emergency Management, and the resource-sharing here is second to none. I feel very fortunate to live and work in this community, where we can handle any situation that arises. In many places, that level of coordination is rare, but here, it's a priority.

Matt: Well said. Now, let’s give folks more information as they make their own preparedness plans. You mentioned Ready.gov, FEMA’s website, where people can find guidance on creating preparedness kits for their home, car, and other situations. Are there any other resources you recommend?

Doug: Yes, there are a few great places to look. FEMA is the number one source, offering a wealth of information in multiple languages, including Spanish. Another useful resource is PrepareMetroKC.org, developed by the Mid-America Regional Council and the Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee. It contains similar information but is tailored more to the Kansas City area.

One key aspect of preparedness is knowing how to receive alerts. Last week, we participated in a statewide tornado drill, where outdoor warning sirens were activated. It’s important to remember that these sirens are meant for outdoor alerts and may not be heard indoors over a TV, vacuum, or podcast.

To stay informed, I recommend signing up for Notify JoCo, Johnson County’s emergency notification system. It allows you to customize alerts based on your needs. Unlike constant notifications, emergency management only uses it when there is critical information to share.

Matt: That’s a great resource. When the National Weather Service issues a watch or warning, Notify JoCo provides real-time updates on potential or ongoing incidents.

Doug: Exactly. I also recommend having a NOAA Weather Radio, especially for overnight emergencies. Many severe weather events in recent years have happened at night, and a weather radio’s audible alarm can wake people up and keep them safe.

Matt: Chief Emerson, we appreciate your time and all the valuable information on weather preparedness as we head into spring and summer. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Doug: Yes, I’d like to highlight our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes. These classes train residents on preparedness, fire safety, light search and rescue, and other critical emergency skills. Our next session starts at the end of March and is currently full, but residents can sign up on the Shawnee Fire Department website to receive notifications about future classes.

CERT graduates also volunteer at city events like Moonlight Market and Shawnee Day, helping spread emergency preparedness awareness.

Matt: Absolutely. For more details, visit cityofshawnee.org, click on “Departments,” then “Fire Department” for CERT training information. Chief, thanks so much for being here.

Doug: Thanks, Matt.



Doug: That was a great conversation with Chief Matt Emerson, Divisional Chief for Emergency Management with the Shawnee Fire Department. Now, we’re joined by a much more pleasant voice—Kate Kincaid from the Parks and Recreation Department. Kate, how are you?

Kate: Hey, I’m good, Doug. How are you?

Doug: Doing well. I wanted to give a quick update on our most recent City Council meeting. The March 10th meeting was canceled, so the next one will be on Monday, March 24th. At the end of February, students from Belmont Elementary led the Pledge of Allegiance at a council meeting. If any school groups or scout troops want to participate, they can email us at [email protected].

Representatives from the Johnson County chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution also presented a plaque for installation in Shawnee’s Veterans Tribute Park in honor of the semi-quincentennial of the Declaration of Independence. The official installation will take place on Veterans Day in November.

The council also approved renovations at Garrett Park, which include a new playground, field updates, trail improvements, and an outdoor workout facility along Monticello.

Kate: Yes! The new playground and workout equipment will be great additions for residents. The funding comes from the Parks & Pipes sales tax, which Shawnee residents have renewed three times.

Doug: Deputy City Manager Colin Duffy also presented final renovation plans for the Facilities and IT Building at Johnson Drive and Caenen Street. The council also discussed short-term rental regulations and provided direction to staff.

The next council meeting is Monday, March 24th, at 6:00 PM at Shawnee City Hall. You can attend in person or watch online.



Doug: Now, Kate, let’s talk about upcoming events. What’s on the calendar?

Kate: Spring is here, and we have a busy schedule!

March 26th at 7:00 PM – History on Tap at Shawnee Town 1929, discussing anti-Black violence in Kansas City and Eastern Kansas (1900s-1940s). Tickets are $8.

March 27th at 4:00 PM – State of the City at the Aztec Shawnee Theater, featuring Mayor Sanders’ annual address. If you can't attend, the full speech will be live-streamed and released as a podcast.

March 29th from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM – Healthy Yards Expo at the Civic Center. This free event features vendors and sustainability resources.

April 5th from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM – April Showers Craft Festival at the Shawnee Civic Center, featuring over 60 handmade vendors.

Doug: Warmer weather also means pool season!

Kate: Yes! Pool passes are on sale now. If you renew by April 15th, you’ll save 10% with our early bird special. Renew online, over the phone, or via the new Shawnee Parks & Rec app, which also lets you digitally show your pass at the pool.

Doug: Shawnee is entering the 21st century!

Kate: We sure are!

Doug: Thanks for the updates, Kate! Next month, we’ll preview the return of Moonlight Market with Assistant City Manager Lauren Grashoff and Royal Kruger from Shawnee Town 1929. They’ll discuss the market’s history and what’s new this season.

Join us in April for the next episode of the Shawnee Pulse Podcast. Visit cityofshawnee.org for more details.

Kate: Thanks for having me!

Doug: Thanks for listening! We’ll see you next month.

Podcast Transcript: Shawnee Pulse - Episode 4

Communications Director Doug Donahoo: Welcome to the March episode of the Shawnee Pulse Podcast. My name is Doug Donahue. I'm the Communications Director for the City of Shawnee. We thank you for joining us here in March. It is springtime in Shawnee, and spring means the return of severe weather.

We've dealt with snow, ice, and really cold temperatures earlier this year. Now we're looking at severe weather of a different kind—rain, flooding, tornadoes. There's a lot to be concerned about. That's why our Divisional Chief for Emergency Management, Matt Epperson, is here.

He's going to talk about the importance of staying severe weather aware, what the city is doing to respond to severe weather incidents, and how you can prepare your family. Let’s hop into this conversation with the one man who has a deeper voice than I do.

That's right, from the Shawnee Fire Department, our Divisional Chief for Emergency Management, Matt Epperson. Chief, how are you today?

Divisional Chief for Emergency Management Matt Epperson: I'm doing good. How are you?

Doug: You look like you're really enjoying sitting in front of the microphone.

Matt: Yeah, this is my favorite thing to do.

Doug: This is a man who has responded to fires all over Shawnee and Johnson County, and this is probably the last place you want to be.

Matt: I would rather run into a burning building than talk on the microphone.

Doug: Let’s talk about your experience with the City of Shawnee and the Fire Department.

Matt: Absolutely. I started as a volunteer firefighter in 1998. I was going to JCCC, working on my fire degree. I became a volunteer, worked here for about a year and a half before getting hired full-time. I've been a firefighter with Shawnee since 1999. I worked my way up, drove fire trucks, got promoted to captain. In 2016, I moved off the truck from shift work to a 40-hour schedule to oversee EMS, emergency management, and accreditation.

Doug: What was that change like going from 24-hour shifts, driving the truck, responding to calls, to an 8-to-5 office schedule?

Matt: It was a shock. Seventeen years of shift work, working with fire crews—it was a lot of fun. At the time, I was looking for a new challenge, and I definitely got one. But it was also for my family. I had a young daughter getting into sports and other activities, and the switch gave me the time to be home every night.

Doug: Did it still surprise your wife when you walked in the door at five o’clock that first evening?

Matt: Yes. She did enjoy those nights when I was at the fire station because she got the bed to herself.

Doug: When Netflix became a thing, she didn’t have to pay attention to what anyone else wanted to watch.

Matt: That's right.

Doug: Let’s talk about your role as Divisional Chief for Emergency Management. What does that involve?

Matt: It has changed since I took the role nine years ago. Responsibilities for EMS and accreditation moved to others, allowing me to focus on emergency management. A big part of my job is planning—regional hazard mitigation, emergency operations, continuity of operations plans. Once plans are written, we train and exercise to make sure they work. Plans are useless if you don’t train on them.

Doug: People might be surprised at the amount of time our firefighters and police spend training—physically and mentally—to be ready when situations arise.

Matt: Absolutely. Both fire service and emergency management have to be ready for anything. We train for a broad range of scenarios.

Doug: March is Severe Weather Preparedness Week. We’ve seen wild weather in 2025, and there's no better time to prepare. Why is individual preparedness so important for Shawnee residents?

Matt: If there’s a severe weather outbreak, everyone needs a plan. There are only so many first responders. If something happens, it may take time for help to arrive. Having knowledge and a preparedness plan is crucial because you may have to navigate the situation on your own.

Doug: One key safety message is “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.” People underestimate how quickly moving water can carry a car off the road.

Matt: Absolutely. Every year, people are injured or die from severe weather events. Flash flooding causes many deaths because people drive through floodwaters, not realizing how powerful moving water is. If water is over the road, don’t drive through it.

Doug: Beyond flooding, what other severe weather should people be prepared for?

Matt: Our regional hazard mitigation plan identifies top hazards: tornadoes, severe thunderstorms (wind, hail, lightning), winter weather, and flooding. In the Midwest, we have to watch out for lightning, especially during sports season, tornadoes, high wind events, and flooding. We don’t worry about hurricanes, but we do see their aftereffects—rain and storms making their way up here.

Doug: What steps can people take to prepare their families, homes, and vehicles?

Matt: Like a good Boy Scout—be prepared. The biggest thing is planning. Build a kit for your vehicle and home. Kits should have food, water, toiletries, medicine, flashlights, batteries, and phone chargers. FEMA recommends supplies for at least 72 hours, but recent recommendations extend up to two weeks. Also, develop a communication plan. If cell towers go down, how will you contact family? Ready.gov has a list of preparedness steps. Have a meeting place if communication isn’t possible.

Doug: Why is the 72-hour timeframe a standard for disaster preparedness?

Matt: In extreme situations, like an ice storm, you may be stuck at home without power. Stores may be closed. Having supplies makes it easier to get through that period. After a disaster, first responders’ call loads go up, and response times may be longer.

Doug: There’s also triage—first responders prioritize the hardest-hit areas before reaching others who may be facing power outages or other issues.

Matt: Absolutely. Our priority is always life safety. Depending on the severity of the event, response times vary. We assess the hardest-hit areas first before moving outward.

Doug: Your role isn’t just about coordinating first responders. You bring together all city departments—Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and even Communications—to ensure everyone is prepared to respond in an emergency.

Matt: Yes, emergency management involves everyone. It's not just fire and police. Public Works clears debris. Parks and Recreation provides shelters if needed. Communications keeps the public informed. It’s a citywide effort to make sure Shawnee is prepared and resilient.

Doug: Now, we should note from meetings I've attended that you've hosted and put together, this is something all departments in the city are willing to do and have been wanting to coordinate for some time.

Matt: Yes, absolutely. Let's talk a little bit about how this works outside the city of Shawnee. We're part of Johnson County, surrounded by many other communities. From your standpoint, how does coordination work between counties and other cities? What services and support are available in an emergency when different agencies come together?

Doug: I would say we are very fortunate in Johnson County and the metro region in general because of our strong partnerships. Fire departments work together, police departments collaborate, and across the board, there are amazing working relationships.

I work daily with Johnson County Emergency Management, and the resource-sharing here is second to none. I feel very fortunate to live and work in this community, where we can handle any situation that arises. In many places, that level of coordination is rare, but here, it's a priority.

Matt: Well said. Now, let’s give folks more information as they make their own preparedness plans. You mentioned Ready.gov, FEMA’s website, where people can find guidance on creating preparedness kits for their home, car, and other situations. Are there any other resources you recommend?

Doug: Yes, there are a few great places to look. FEMA is the number one source, offering a wealth of information in multiple languages, including Spanish. Another useful resource is PrepareMetroKC.org, developed by the Mid-America Regional Council and the Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee. It contains similar information but is tailored more to the Kansas City area.

One key aspect of preparedness is knowing how to receive alerts. Last week, we participated in a statewide tornado drill, where outdoor warning sirens were activated. It’s important to remember that these sirens are meant for outdoor alerts and may not be heard indoors over a TV, vacuum, or podcast.

To stay informed, I recommend signing up for Notify JoCo, Johnson County’s emergency notification system. It allows you to customize alerts based on your needs. Unlike constant notifications, emergency management only uses it when there is critical information to share.

Matt: That’s a great resource. When the National Weather Service issues a watch or warning, Notify JoCo provides real-time updates on potential or ongoing incidents.

Doug: Exactly. I also recommend having a NOAA Weather Radio, especially for overnight emergencies. Many severe weather events in recent years have happened at night, and a weather radio’s audible alarm can wake people up and keep them safe.

Matt: Chief Emerson, we appreciate your time and all the valuable information on weather preparedness as we head into spring and summer. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Doug: Yes, I’d like to highlight our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes. These classes train residents on preparedness, fire safety, light search and rescue, and other critical emergency skills. Our next session starts at the end of March and is currently full, but residents can sign up on the Shawnee Fire Department website to receive notifications about future classes.

CERT graduates also volunteer at city events like Moonlight Market and Shawnee Day, helping spread emergency preparedness awareness.

Matt: Absolutely. For more details, visit cityofshawnee.org, click on “Departments,” then “Fire Department” for CERT training information. Chief, thanks so much for being here.

Doug: Thanks, Matt.



Doug: That was a great conversation with Chief Matt Emerson, Divisional Chief for Emergency Management with the Shawnee Fire Department. Now, we’re joined by a much more pleasant voice—Kate Kincaid from the Parks and Recreation Department. Kate, how are you?

Kate: Hey, I’m good, Doug. How are you?

Doug: Doing well. I wanted to give a quick update on our most recent City Council meeting. The March 10th meeting was canceled, so the next one will be on Monday, March 24th. At the end of February, students from Belmont Elementary led the Pledge of Allegiance at a council meeting. If any school groups or scout troops want to participate, they can email us at [email protected].

Representatives from the Johnson County chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution also presented a plaque for installation in Shawnee’s Veterans Tribute Park in honor of the semi-quincentennial of the Declaration of Independence. The official installation will take place on Veterans Day in November.

The council also approved renovations at Garrett Park, which include a new playground, field updates, trail improvements, and an outdoor workout facility along Monticello.

Kate: Yes! The new playground and workout equipment will be great additions for residents. The funding comes from the Parks & Pipes sales tax, which Shawnee residents have renewed three times.

Doug: Deputy City Manager Colin Duffy also presented final renovation plans for the Facilities and IT Building at Johnson Drive and Kanan Street. The council also discussed short-term rental regulations and provided direction to staff.

The next council meeting is Monday, March 24th, at 6:00 PM at Shawnee City Hall. You can attend in person or watch online.



Doug: Now, Kate, let’s talk about upcoming events. What’s on the calendar?

Kate: Spring is here, and we have a busy schedule!

March 26th at 7:00 PM – History on Tap at Shawnee Town 1929, discussing anti-Black violence in Kansas City and Eastern Kansas (1900s-1940s). Tickets are $8.

March 27th at 4:00 PM – State of the City at the Aztec Shawnee Theater, featuring Mayor Sanders’ annual address. If you can't attend, the full speech will be live-streamed and released as a podcast.

March 29th from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM – Healthy Yards Expo at the Civic Center. This free event features vendors and sustainability resources.

April 5th from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM – April Showers Craft Festival at the Shawnee Civic Center, featuring over 60 handmade vendors.

Doug: Warmer weather also means pool season!

Kate: Yes! Pool passes are on sale now. If you renew by April 15th, you’ll save 10% with our early bird special. Renew online, over the phone, or via the new Shawnee Parks & Rec app, which also lets you digitally show your pass at the pool.

Doug: Shawnee is entering the 21st century!

Kate: We sure are!

Doug: Thanks for the updates, Kate! Next month, we’ll preview the return of Moonlight Market with Assistant City Manager Lauren Grashoff and Royal Kruger from Shawnee Town 1929. They’ll discuss the market’s history and what’s new this season.

Join us in April for the next episode of the Shawnee Pulse Podcast. Visit cityofshawnee.org for more details.

Kate: Thanks for having me!

Doug: Thanks for listening! We’ll see you next month.

Podcast Transcript: Shawnee Pulse - Episode 5

Communications Director Doug Donahoo:

Well, hello city of Shawnee. This is Doug Donahue, Communications Director for the city, bringing you this special episode of the Shawnee Pulse Podcast. You won't be hearing much more from me this episode. We'll get into it pretty quickly. This is a recording of the 2025 Shawnee State of the City from Thursday, March 27th, delivered by Mayor Mickey Sandifer at the historic downtown Shawnee Aztec Theater. Mayor Sandifer laid out a look at the previous year for the city and was joined on stage by Ann Smith-Tate from the Shawnee Chamber, Celine Armstrong of the Armstrong Collective, Ryan Wells from the Kansas Department of Commerce, Patrick Reagan from Coldwell Banker, Laurie Barngrover of Keller Williams, and Tiffany Harris from North Point Development and the Chadwick Apartments in Shawnee. Mayor Sandifer laid out his vision for the coming months and years for the city of Shawnee and also talked about some of the highlights from the previous calendar year. So without further ado, let's get right into it. The 2025 Shawnee State of the City featuring Mayor Mickey Sandifer.

Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer:

Good afternoon and thank you all for being here. It's my pleasure to appear before you again at the beautiful Aztec Shawnee Theater. It's a landmark to the continued improvements we've made in the downtown area. Last year I spoke about our city coming together as a Shawnee United. Regardless of what neighborhood we call home, which schools our children attend, or where we work, together we are Shawnee. And I'm proud of what our community has accomplished in the previous year. Together with the city council named our new city manager, Paul Kramer in a unanimous vote. Paul, if you'd stand up. Thank you. Together we said hello to some familiar and new faces in our other leadership positions at City Hall. Together we opened two newly renovated fire stations. Together we celebrated community-wide achievements in sports, academics, and other activities. We demonstrated the power of Shawnee together and how unified we can take our place as a leading community in Johnson County and in the state of Kansas and across the entire country. Because together we all know and share a singular piece of valuable knowledge: Shawnee is a great place to call home.



Shawnee video narration:

Home is where the heart is. Home, it's not a place. It's a feeling. It's a people. It's what draws us together. For whatever reason you have to call Shawnee home. Whether you grew up here, moved here, built a business here, this is your home now. The home we're all invested in to keep historic, to keep beautiful, to keep improving, to keep that small town feel and those big city amenities. The services we rely on to keep us moving, to keep us engaged from hometown businesses to our festivals, from our parks to our pools, from our streets to our neighborhoods. This is our home, because there's no place like home, because there's no place like Shawnee. Welcome home to Shawnee.



Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer:



Finding a place to call home is a choice for many of us. I think everyone in this room would agree with me. There are many reasons to make Shawnee a great home.

It starts with having strong leadership, heading up a world-class professional staff at City Hall. That's why I was so pleased to announce the hiring of Paul Kramer as a new city manager, yet last year stated the city. just his first year on the job, Paul has strengthened our team and department directors with the new deputy city manager, Colin Duffy. Would you stand? And with the new assistant city manager, Lauren Grashoff. Public Works Director and IT Director. Well, Shawnee has said farewell to a number of talented individuals who served the city loyally and faithfully for decades. I believe this new generation of leaders will continue that proud lineage of commitment and service to our residents.



That commitment is realized and honored in so many of our departments. In fact, the City of Shawnee is home to four departments nationally accredited in their fields. Our police, fire, public works, and parks and recreation departments are all accredited by their respective national associations. Outside of City Hall, I do want to honor the accomplishments of the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce for earning its own five-star accreditation from the United States Chamber of Commerce. Out of more than 7,000 chambers in the U.S. Only 1 % has earned this designation. Those honors put our city in a rarefied air. Shawnee is one of only six cities in the entire United States to boast all four city departments and the Chamber of Commerce earning accreditation. And that's quite an achievement. To receive such an honor requires a commitment to the community they serve, a constant need to improve, and a dedication to uphold the highest levels of professional standards every single day.



Because of that commitment, Shawnee is the ultimate benefactor of the efforts of all of those city employees. We can see it in the numerous programs offered by our Shawnee Parks and Recreation Department, the professionalism in our officers interacting with the public, the fast response of our firefighters when residents call 911, and the round-the-clock commitment to get roads plowed during a snowstorm we saw on display multiple times this winter. Additionally, our finance department received its 19th straight award of excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. And the S &P Global Ratings affirmed the city's AAA bond rating. It's the highest rating a community can receive. Shawnee was recognized locally by Kansas City Business Journal as one of Kansas City's area's healthiest employers.


When I took office as mayor just over a year ago, I was not sure in what shape I would find Shawnee's professional workforce. Indeed, the group known as Team Shawnee faced numerous setbacks over the course of many years. Despite leadership changes leading to uncertain futures, at no point did the hard work of our city staff falter. At no point did their dedication waver. Indeed, every step of the way, I was left more and more in awe of the work accomplished on a day-to-day basis by Team Shawnee. That work is not accomplished in margins. It's not easy and it's not simple. The work of Shawnee's professional staff is under the microscope every single day by residents, businesses, and visitors to our fine city, as it should be. The excellence of the work they provide makes our city better every single day.


Together, Team Shawnee ensures we have smooth roads to drive, an easy path to start a home-based business, high standards of professional work from the first responders and parks to enjoy, and so many more achievements than can be listed in this speech alone. All of these accomplishments are possible thanks to the strong foundation established by the experience of our employees and championed by leadership we have at the city of Shawnee. I had the privilege to watch my dad build a business from the ground up. And the most important lesson I learned, every accomplishment requires a strong foundation from the very beginning. Dick Sandifer would not have been a success without Cee Cee Sandifer answering the phone to sell used cars while my dad was driving airplane engines across the country to support our family. Likewise, Shawnee must build a strong foundation to support our families by welcoming a broad collection of businesses to create a strong property tax revenue base through which we can provide the critical day-to-day services and resources by residents.


We have areas of Shawnee primed for business investment. What we need are those individuals ready to invest in our community. This year, we've seen companies increase their revenues, grow in Shawnee, and even relocate to Shawnee from other parts of the metro area in the country. Because they understand what it means to call Shawnee home.

Shawnee Video Narration:

There's so much opportunity and growth happening here in Kansas. And you can see it happening every day in our hometown with heart. I just like the feel of Shawnee. It's a great place to raise a family. It's a safe community. And they continue to invest in the area. It's allowed us to increase our production capabilities and just look for that next step in our next growth in the company. Growth fueled by a city encouraging companies to expand. We love the city and it was just a great opportunity and the city had some great industrial areas. And inviting new businesses to set up shop. They very welcoming and happy to see manufacturing remain and shopping. Because that's what happens when a sense of strong community meets smart, forward-thinking economic development. Once I built my house here and I started to get more involved with the community, I started to meet more develop relationships that made me really want to put this in Shawnee, this new building. You know it feels like a much smaller community than say where it was in Kansas City, Missouri. The business development folks in your office reached out to me right away. They engaged with me. That support means delivering better housing and better schools, all at a lower cost. We know that quality of life here in Kansas is so far greater than what people really imagine it to be. And the cost of living is far less than what people think of. Especially compared to some of our neighbors. Business in Missouri can be challenging at some times. Taxes may not be as favorable as on the Kansas side. I think a lot of the people that are coming from the Missouri side will finally recognize how good Kansas really is. The opportunities in Shawnee are hard to miss for employers and employees. There are so many new companies that are looking to come to Kansas. They're not just, you know, factory jobs, but they need an HR person, they need an accounting person, they need attorneys in those jobs as well. And the addition of just one more person has a positive ripple effect throughout the entire community. Growth coming in the form of new warehouses, new offices, and new headquarters. The new building is about 85,000 square feet, manufacturing facility, and office building. We call it Project Zenith. It's kind of the pinnacle of my career. feel like this is the next step for us to really build.

To help all of Shawnee flourish, the city is supporting the Love Kansas campaign. Love Kansas is essentially a love letter to a loved one who moved away. And what we ask is that people from Kansas write a love letter to a family member or a friend and tell them, hey, why don't you think about coming back home? A message some don't need to be told twice. Well, I grew up in Shawnee. And so after I graduated from K-State, I moved to Chicago. My dad told me he was going to close down the business and you know, right off into the sunset. And before the evening was over, we had made a deal for me to buy him out. So whether your business is looking to expand or in need of a new home, consider this your invitation to find it right here in Shawnee. Call the city, some of those leaders in the city. I think they're going to jump right in. you have an idea, I don't think that there's a more welcoming state or city that would be willing to listen to your idea and see how to make it happen. And I don't think that's something you can get in Los Angeles or Santa Barbara or San Francisco. I think you can get that right here back in your home state.


Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer:

Now I'm pleased to be joined on stage by Ann Smith-Tate, President of the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce, Ryan Wills, Special Project Coordinator with the Kansas Department of Commerce and Love, Kansas, and Celine Armstrong, owner of Armstrong Collectives. I've a question for Ann Smith Tate. Ann, your job is to attract companies, companies like this, to Shawnee, from your experience. What support are companies needed to ask for when it comes to finding a new home?


Ann Smith Tate:

We had the privilege of working with both of the companies that were featured in the video today. And I think one of the strategic advantages that we can offer as the community of Shawnee and one of the ways that we do stand out is that we are very intentional about the relationship driven approach that we take to doing business in this community. Our chamber staff, the city staff, we really want to work hand in hand with a community, or excuse me, with a company, not just as a ministry but truly as their partners in growth, we listen, we ask the questions. We want them to grow not just in Shawnee, but because of Shawnee. So I think that relationship-driven approach has set us aside, and that's something that they definitely are looking for from the beginning of the process. As we continue into that process, certainly access to all the things that were mentioned in the videos to make sure that they have access to good solid workforce, amenities in the community and a certain level of certainty through the process at City Hall is exceptionally important from their first interaction to their final approvals.

Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer:



Thank you. And Celine, your story is somewhat similar to Matt's. You're from Kansas, went to work in New York City, and recently relocated back to Kansas. What about Shawnee attracted you to win?


Celine Armstrong:

So this will shock everyone or no one. It's the people. My husband had some friends out here and I, you know, was tight to KC Moe maybe needing to live in the city and we fell in love with the people here. We researched schools in Johnson County from New York and identified three of them and one of them happens to be the school that we can walk to and that was very important for us to be here and so far we love all of our neighbors and we're thankful that we landed with Shawnee.

Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer:

Thank you. Ryan, what partnerships are available between the state of Kansas and Shawnee to support our new and existing local businesses?


Ryan Wills:

That's a good question. For the state and Kansas Department of Commerce specifically, there's a wide array of tools and the whole goal of the Kansas Department of Commerce is basically to be a one-stop shop for business development, workforce development, community development, and tourism. So when it comes to actually specific business efforts, there are really helpful incentives that are performance based. We have our HPIP program that offers tax incentives to companies that pay higher than the average wage and have a focus on skills development. We have our PEAK program that allows qualifying companies to retain or be refunded 95 % of their payroll withholding tax. And also our KIT and CUR, which are training programs for new and existing businesses in Kansas. What I would also really recommend is to make sure that you reach out to us. I think a lot of times knowledge is power and it wasn't until I started working at Commerce that I realized how many things actually existed and there are several. I believe Wendy Enright is your in-state business rep. have her contact information. She could explain those programs much better than I could. But in addition to that, there's a whole other part of Commerce that's that holistic community-driven approach where there are community development block grants, there's art grants, HEAL grants, all sorts of different opportunities that can really help build up communities. I brought a real small handful of a recently published grants guide that we have now, but it can be found online. And it's super helpful because it gives you an idea of everything that exists out there, as well as deadlines and eligibility. And I think that can be really supportive to a city like Shawnee.

Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer:

Thank you. Next, how does Shawnee stand out from other communities in Johnson County and Kansas City area when it comes to attracting new and expanding businesses?

Ann Smith Tate:

Well, I think really to echo some of those sentiments that I expressed initially that that relationship driven approach is something that I feel like we've done a great job honing in on with our partners at the city, with our partners at the state, and certainly the staff, the professional staff that we have working at the chamber every day. you know, also our access around the Kansas City Metro is really unprecedented with access to 435-35, K-7 direct access, and then obviously close proximity to K7, excuse me, K10, and I70 provides us with a strategic location access obviously to KCI, the schools, the affordable housing, all of those things are important to the business owner and their employees. We also have fair tax policy. We work hard with our partners in the legislator in Topeka to make sure that we have good, fair business policy. And I think those that we are communicating out to them is also very important. And then just having the space available is key. mean, it does really come down to the real estate so much of the time.

Ryan Wills:

I would totally agree with that. I'd also mention that Shawnee specifically has something going for it with its historic and vibrant downtown. That doesn't exist in possibly other cities within the Johnson County area where, I don't know, I kind of feel like Shawnee has this third Goldilocks bear vibe to it where you, and it was kind of mentioned in the video where you do have the amenities and the proximity to a large metropolitan area, but there's still this intangible but real small town feel to it and you're not small but you're kind of checking boxes and being able to have your foot in both of those camps. I think that really matters when it comes to a place for a business to choose to put its roots or grow in. You've also made significant investment in a variety of different industrial parks and logistics parks that plays a huge role too of being prepared. We talk often at the Department of Commerce that speed is the new incentive. So being ready when a business is looking for things is really important to success. Thank you.


Celine Armstrong:

I would say it's the opportunities here, as you mentioned, for space and real estate and the ability for the city leadership to be innovative and open to being the best. Like, as you say, it feels like a small town. are like little villages around Shawnee and there's such opportunity to like beat all the other cities because there's space here and there's willingness to just be innovative and be the best.

Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer:

Okay, where is Shawnee best situated for additional office and industrial development?

Ann Smith Tate:

So I think we'll see a lot of that along the K7 corridor obviously the Heartland logistics Park there at 43rd Street and K7 is We're still working on building all of that out. We have opportunities that existed the K7 logistics center and of course along the still in perimeter Park there's opportunities for expansion we see a lot of our communities like ever seal and NASDAQ and Hans Rudolph that are all making continual investment in property craft tools, another one of those as well. I think we will see some opportunity potentially in medical office. As we know, the office market's really been in flux since COVID. We are starting to see some traction and companies asking their employees to come back into the office. But given the space that's still on the market in Johnson County, I think we'll see a lot of absorption in other communities before we can see the justification of new office developments.

And then was the question also just office and retail? Yeah, so I think really K-7 is where the land is it's where the opportunity exists Certainly we're and part of the halo from what Panasonic is bringing to the entire metropolitan area So we will continue to see those suppliers and those ancillary services that need to be close to a facility like Panasonic to Shawnee because of all the amenities that we've mentioned previously.

Ryan Wills:

I would second just all of those logistics parts are prime for industrial development and the fact that they exist here is a huge leg up. I would say in addition, the state's also been really focused on opportunities with data centers. Those can provide significant growth. We talked about building that property tax and that tax-based revenue that can really help with that. Neutrality data center here in Shawnee is a perfect example of that concept being called to action. And of course location. Panasonic is going to affect all sorts of parts of the metro and being in that area matters a lot. As far as office and retail goes, I'd also just mention that We focus a lot at Commerce on outside investment coming in from outside of the state, even outside of the country. We also really want to prioritize homegrown businesses. So that's why we also now have the Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship and we the Office of Innovation to try to help assist with that next great idea, that next startup. So the next billion dollar company can maybe be something that is born in Kansas, supposed to just also coming to Kansas.

Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer:

Thank you. We're out of time and thank you guys for coming. The clock ran out, I was told. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Thank you again to the Shawnee business leaders for joining me today and for choosing to call Shawnee Of course, you have heard the most important resource all companies need are their workforce, a talented, strong, and local workforce. And that does, what that does, that workforce needs after securing the job is a place to call home. Who better knows what attracts residents to put down roots in Shawnee than the people who are selling and renting these homes every single day.

Shawnee Video Narration:

It's just the feel of Shawnee. It's got the small town feel that people love but it still has all the amenities of the bigger towns. We have some holes, have some trees, you know, the look of the area. We've got great schools, parks, everything people are working for. No matter the reason, when people decide to move to Shawnee, it doesn't take long to call it home. I think that neighborhood feel is a big, big draw to these things. Everybody is very welcoming in these subdivisions. There's always a slurry of activity. There's always people outside working on the yards. There's kids in the driveway. That's the kind of stuff that our clients like to see what they do. And the improvements outside of residential neighborhoods make a positive impact and help Shawnee stand out. All you have to do is walk outside the city hall on a Friday night now and see everybody go. It's a big deal. out west and these ones at Swarner Park and all of these and gum springs and all of that stuff is big. Folks love that when we drive by in May and that's a nice pose. out west is great and the idea of developing that area so people have something to do. When it comes to new residents moving to Shawnee, some are looking for a good value. see a lot of the younger people, first time home buyers, looking around the east side of Shawnee. It's more affordable. They're smaller homes. They want to be close to I-35 to get downtown. They like the downtown Shawnee vibe. The younger demographic really wanted the opportunity to be close to downtown and their businesses, but still kind of be in more of a suburban setting. And, you know, between 67th Street and 75th Street. And Shawnee, was the perfect location. Our residents could be downtown in a matter of minutes. We're always gonna need single family homes, it's very important. We also need to be considerate to the need for more affordable housing and keeping the young people here and engaged. And I really think that's one thing that the city of Shawnee needs to be a little more. Willing to do is allow a developer to create a multi-family option because that's what's affordable now for some people. And that's what they want because they want that multi-family option with a lot of amenities. So when opportunity arrives in Johnson County, Shawnee can benefit. Anytime you have the creation of a lot of different jobs, you're have an influx of people. 34 % of rent and there's going to be a really big need for housing and multifamily is the perfect tool to satisfy that housing. We have to create housing for these people. mean there is such a pent up demand and we do need. I'm a real estate guy, okay, but I do believe Shawnee needs to be a little more developer friendly than maybe we have in the recent past. We were very surprised how many residents were actually coming from outside of Shawnee. At one time it was up to about 90 % and we were really proud of that. because some of those were coming from Caseyville. Residents actually wanted the opportunity to live close to downtown but have a suburban feel and Shawnee was just that absolute perfect thing to do. That can lead to a long future in Shawnee. After renting for a few years, know, they all hope and plan to buy homes and stay in the area once they've gotten used to the community and their kids are here, this is where they want to stay. Because finding a place in our hometown with heart means a stronger future for everyone. I love this city. I've put a lot of my life into selling property here.

Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer:

Now I'd like to invite to join me on stage, Lori Barn-Griever of Keller Williams Reality Partners and Patrick Reagan of Cold World Bankers, Reagan Realtors, Tiffany Harris from North Point Development. Would you guys join me on stage? Pat, what does the Shawnee housing market stand right now? Where does the housing market at right at this moment?

Patrick Reagan:

Well, first I want to say that developer friendly remark I hope was all taken well. Real estate guy. OK. This is the state of the city and the state of real estate, residential real estate in Shawnee is strong. Over the past year, according to our MLS in the city of Shawnee, we've had around 1,100 homes sell. And in that amount, we've got average sales price of around a half a million. We have a medium days on market of three. Okay? And that's the stat you need to know. We are desperate for inventory for residential real estate. We put a house on the market on Thursday. It's sold by Sunday Okay, and that's What's going on and that's what's pushing pricing up and all but that's also what you saw with the previous people that in our real estate market we have to find ways to get more people here and More affordable housing for young families and all to get here.

Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer:

How does that compare to the rest of Johnson County and the Kansas City area?

Lori Barngrover:

I looked up these stats right before coming over here to confirm. So, you know, looking at the whole metro, Jackson County, Missouri is actually beating out Johnson County by a tad, but we're both neck and neck. And within that Shawnee is third, only behind Overland Park and Olathe. And I think that's mostly because they have more homes on the market to sell. So again, going back to we need more housing to sell. Still have low inventory, so homes are selling fast. Going under contract in a few days, I just did an open house last weekend over on Nieman and there was probably 30 people through in the two hours I was there. was, and a lot of like families wanting to move their kids in. So it would be like the parents trying to get their kids to move in where they live. So yeah, still seeing multiple offers. Mid-price range, 300 to 500 is kind of where a lot of people need to be, and we just don't have that inventory. So Shawnee's going to have a great spring sales market. Thank you.

Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer:

Tiffany, How has interest in the Chadwick maintained its opening through today?

Tiffany Harris:

Yes, so we welcomed our residents in late summer of 2023 and since then we have actually had over 4,000 inquiries about our apartment homes and we could not be more proud of that. Of those 4,000, over a thousand of them have came to actually tour our community. We have 345 apartment homes at the Chadwick and a very extensive amenity package and it's been so well received by the community. So I would say that it's and A plus for us. It's definitely been a high demand community and we are excited to see it for years to come.

Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer:

What do you see as Shawnee's greatest housing challenge in the coming 10 years?

Patrick Reagan:

Our greatest challenge is going to be how do we have the mix of housing that we need, you know, from the estate homes to something that's available for a 20-something family just starting out. And I think what it's going to take is really good leadership and imagination to get things done and the gall to do it and make sure that we're providing some multifamily options that younger people can live in our community because what we are seeing is that $300,000 to $500,000 market is so tough. Every time a house goes on the market in that range, it's multiple offers. It's so difficult for them to buy and they get disenchanted with the situation and can't find someplace to have the American dream, to enjoy what we were so easily able to find when I was in my 20s a long long time ago. So I think our greatest challenge is how do we provide a community for everybody out there that's looking for it.

Tiffany Harris:

Yeah, I think I can definitely add to that as well. think just honestly lack thereof. know, as folks in the apartment business, obviously we've seen some serious growth over the last couple years, but we need to make sure that we keep a fair balance. And by keeping a fair balance, it's adding more communities, adding more units, and cities truly being developer friendly. You know, as the comment you made earlier, it is a partnership. And our projects can't happen without that partnership just in fairness. So I think that it's quantity for sure and of course I think the continued collaboration overall.

Lori Barngrover:

Pretty much the same thing. I see a lot of people wanting to move out West Shawnee where their kids go to school and there's just a lack of anything under 500,000 out in West Shawnee so we need to address that problem and figure out how to keep a good mix of homes available for people.

Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer:

Thank you guys for coming up here and coming to help us today. As mentioned, one of the reasons that attracts families to Shawnee is our great school systems. We’re home to four fantastic high schools and it’s my pleasure to honor their academic and athletic achievements this year.

The volleyball teams from Mill Valley and Maranatha Academy both took home state titles.

The Mill Valley cheer squad brought home its second straight title, and the Shawnee Mission Northwest cheerleaders finished 10-th in the nation at the High School National Championship.

And, just two weeks ago, the Shawnee Mission Northwest boy’s basketball took home the 6-A state title for the second year in a row!

In the classroom, Shawnee students also found their names among the best in the country.

Mia Deeble, Willie Lin, and Jackson Weems from Shawnee Mission Northwest; along with Shubh Patel and Carter Tollman from Mill Valley; and Oliver Evans and Ava Oglesby from Maranatha Academy were all honored as National Merit Semi-Finalists.

These students are all in the top one percent of high school seniors in the United States.

And, this afternoon, before I got up here, we had some real talent on display thanks to the music provided by Zach Chesser.

Brayden Evans...

Zane Lauer...

And Kia McGarry

from the Mill Valley Jazz Band.

All of the accomplishments of these students in the classroom and beyond are thanks to the community that surrounds them.

That is why I am so proud to have representatives from Shawnee’s four high schools here with us today.

When I call your school, please stand, and remain standing, so we may recognize your accomplishments academically, athletically, and throughout the Shawnee community.

From the Midland Academy Mustangs’ basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and cross-country teams!

From Maranatha Academy Eagles’ bowling, volleyball, basketball, and one of our National Merit Semi-finalists!

From the Mill Valley High School Jaguars’ state champion cheerleading squad and jazz band!

And from the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School Cougars’ bowling, wrestling, and back-to-back basketball state champs!

Thank you all for being here today. You truly are the future of Shawnee, and we know that future is in good hands.

As we look forward to that future, it’s important to celebrate what we accomplished over the last 12 months.

We’ve opened new City buildings...

Seen commercial development get a kick start...

Welcomed new businesses...

And watched new homes break ground.

All of this is thanks to our Governing Body working together to lead our City and our talented professional staff carrying through on the day-to-day business that makes Shawnee go.

Let’s take a look back at the highlights of 20-24.

Shawnee Video Narration:

one year, 12 months, 366 days. Countless stories across the city of Shawnee. 2024 was a year for new beginnings. Two new homes for our fire department. A fully renovated station 73 and a new office for the fire department leadership at station 71. As firefighters responded to more than 7,200 calls for service. A freshly rehabbed Quivira Drive. along with more than 56 lane miles of Shawnee streets milled and overlaid. A new look and experience for Gum Springs Park that brought in visitors from across the Kansas City area to explore the first of its kind play structure in North America. With countless weekend gatherings and parks and recreational facilities across Shawnee, including more than 91,000 visitors to the city's two aquatic centers and events that brought our community together. including the Shawnee police officers who appeared at 152 events. From moonlight markets to parades to countless other gatherings large and small across all of Shawnee. And when it comes to helping our neighbors in need, Shawnee residents answered, donating more than 9,800 hours of their time as volunteers. 2024 marked continued investment in Shawnee's downtown. New life springing up in historic buildings. An auto repair shop turned into a neighborhood hangout. An old office becoming a new restaurant with an international flair. And a former law office turning into a showcase for local vendors. What was a former fire station is now giving folks a different kind of wake-up call. Plus, we're still honoring history with Shawnee town's latest edition and award-winning live exhibit that returns this fall. All of it adds up to building a stronger community, stronger services, and a stronger home. Welcome home to Shawnee.

Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer:

This City and its accomplishments have always made me proud. You don’t need to serve in elected office to take pride in our community.

One of my greatest honors as Mayor is to welcome scout troops and student councils from Shawnee schools to lead our Council meetings in the Pledge of Allegiance.

A message I always share with the students is they are the future of our Shawnee and the earlier they get involved the better.

Today, I share that same message with you. Regardless of your age, education, or current job, there is no better time to get involved with the City of Shawnee than right now.

There is only so much a governing body can accomplish.

Only so many hours in the day for our professional staff.

There is ample opportunity to support your neighbors.

Support our students.

Support our wildlife and natural wonder.

I want to pay tribute to Pastor Chris Winn of Community Life Church. Pastor Winn launched our Faith Community and City Partnership that is so important to help people in need throughout our City.

His and other congregations have shoveled driveways, performed minor home repairs, and raked leaves all across the City of Shawnee.

The Chamber recognized Chris as its Heart of the Community Award winner, and I would say there is no greater embodiment of the heart of Shawnee than Chris Winn.

I started volunteering for Old Shawnee Days in 19-98, a short 25 years later I was elected Mayor.

That’s how easy it is to get started. How ever you choose to get involved, I encourage you to reach out to your neighbors...

Volunteer for the Chamber’s Community Impact Day on April 25-th.

Reach out to Elizabeth Griffith with the City to join Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

Become a mentor through Caring for Kids.

Attend a Moonlight Market.

Help paint a house...

Volunteer for a week at Shawnee Town 19-29...

Spend time in our community to make it better. Because a better tomorrow starts right now.

And 20-25 promises to be a big year.

Garrett Park will undergo extensive renovations thanks to the Parks and Pipes sales tax.

Shawnee Mission Parkway will experience a major facelift with a massive mill and overlay project from K-7 to 4-35.

And the Midland Entertainment District will once again be a hub for dining and activities for families and visitors.

There is more work to be done. Some of which is only possible thanks to the partnerships we build in Topeka and Washington D-C.

We need to build the 75-th street bridge over K-seven highway. That will take the support of K-DOT

We have the opportunity to provide our residents with another connection to Kansas City and beyond with Johnson County’s only AMTRAK station. That will take the support of the state and federal governments.

And we need to plan for the future of the Johnson County landfill. Estimates place its remaining lifespan at roughly 20 years.

That means in 20 years time, we no longer receive the millions of dollars in annual usage fees and property taxes from Waste Management.

And the City of Shawnee will receive the donation of more than one-thousand acres of future park land.

The future of the Johnson County landfill will be one we make as a community and a conversation we need to begin in the very near future.

Because that conversation ensures a successful and prosperous future for our City.

That is a future you can be a part of starting today.

The Chamber has some Love Kansas post cards out in the theater lobby where you can write a letter to a family member who has moved away.

To a colleague who may be looking to re-locate.

Or a friend searching for a new home.

This is our opportunity to share the story of Shawnee, Kansas and start talking about a new future for our community.

One that will encourage new development.

Will open new businesses.

Sell new homes.

Welcome new families to Shawnee.

Invite visitors to discover our hometown for themselves.

And, whether someone finds themselves here for a lifetime, a season, or a day...

We will say... welcome home to Shawnee. Thank you!

Communications Director Doug Donahoo:

Once again, that was the 2025 Shawnee State of the City delivered by Mayor Mickey Sandifer from the historic downtown Shawnee Aztec theater. We appreciate the Aztec for hosting this annual event. And we thank you for taking the time to listen. If you weren't able to join the speech live, either in person or watching it via our Facebook page, we appreciate you taking the time to listen to it here on the Pulse Podcast. We'll be back with our regularly scheduled April episode where we look ahead to the upcoming season of Moonlight Market. That's right. It's just about a month away as we approach May and the start of summer here in Shawnee. So thanks so much for listening. We'll see you in just a couple of weeks with Lauren Grashoff, Assistant City Manager and Royal Kruger from Shawnee Town 1929 to discuss all things Moonlight Market. Thanks for listening to the Shawnee Pulse Podcast.

Podcast Transcript: Shawnee Pulse - Episode 6

Doug Donahoo: Welcome back to the Shawnee Pulse Podcast. I’m Doug Donahoo, the Communications Director for the City. Thanks for joining us in April. We hope you enjoyed the special State of the City episode we released a few weeks ago.

We’re back with our regular episode, and we’re talking about the return of one of Shawnee’s favorite summer events: Moonlight Market. It’s back for the 2025 season.

Do you know what went into creating Moonlight Market or what to expect this season? We’re talking to someone who was there from the beginning and still helps guide it. Assistant City Manager Lauren Grashoff is here to talk all things Moonlight Market.

Lauren Grashoff: Thank you, Doug. Happy to be here.

Doug Donahoo: We’re happy to have you. For those who may not be familiar with your role, could you introduce yourself?

Lauren Grashoff: I’m currently the Assistant City Manager. I started this position in December of last year. I’ve been with the City for 10 years. I was previously in the Community Development Department as a planner. Over the years, I’ve worked on events like Scarecrow Festival and Moonlight Market. I’ve also done development reviews for commercial, industrial, and residential projects. I’ve been very involved in downtown, engaging with businesses and residents, helping projects go from concept to completion and supporting their continued success.

Doug Donahoo: That downtown connection played a big role in the creation of Moonlight Market, right?

Lauren Grashoff: Yes. We meet quarterly with downtown businesses, the Chamber, and Visit Shawnee. In one of those meetings in 2019 or 2020, businesses said they wanted something that regularly brought people downtown. At the time, we had events like the Scarecrow Festival and Old Shawnee Days, but they wanted something monthly that would bring consistent foot traffic to downtown. That’s how Moonlight Market began.

Doug Donahoo: What did that first summer look like in 2021?

Lauren Grashoff: Our innovation team, Disruption by Design, responded to that request. We wanted to help downtown thrive, so we created Moonlight Market. We also saw an opportunity to expand our farmers market-type vendors but on a different day. Saturday mornings are competitive with other cities, so we chose Thursday evenings. We focused on handmade, homemade, and fresh food vendors. We started with 25 vendors, and we were thrilled.

Doug Donahoo: That’s a solid start. How did it grow from there?

Lauren Grashoff: We quickly increased to around 35-40 vendors by leveraging our relationships with vendors from other events. The community showed up, and vendors were eager to participate. Since the first year, we’ve had more vendors than spaces, so we implemented a lottery. Last year, we expanded onto Johnson Drive for a blockbuster event with about 80 vendors. Now, we have high demand from vendors and strong attendance from the community.

Doug Donahoo: And the Common Consumption Area?

Lauren Grashoff: It wasn’t the defining factor, but it enhances the experience. Our 2024 survey showed over 50% of attendees had been to more than four markets, and most stayed for at least two hours. There’s something for everyone—kids’ activities, vendors, food, and adult beverages. It’s all part of a great atmosphere.

Doug Donahoo: How has Moonlight Market impacted downtown?

Lauren Grashoff: It’s brought tremendous exposure. People come for the market and discover businesses like District Pour House, Hank’s Garage, or Flying Cow Gelato. It’s been a great introduction to downtown and has driven return visits. The businesses benefit from the increased foot traffic and visibility.

Doug Donahoo: The survey results showed nearly 90% of attendees would recommend the event.

Lauren Grashoff: Yes. People love the variety of vendors, food trucks, the fun atmosphere, and seeing friends. One person even said it has a “balanced vibe,” meaning there’s something for everyone.

Doug Donahoo: Let’s talk about 2025. What are the themes?

Lauren Grashoff: The first market is May 15—a Block Party with about 80 vendors, including booths on Johnson Drive. June 12 is the Yeehaw Roundup, featuring a city open house. July is Christmas in July, kicking off the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund. August is Land of Oz. September is Oktoberfest, and October is Halloween Hoopla. November wraps up with Christkindl Market and the tree lighting.

Doug Donahoo: How will the Johnson Drive streetscape project affect the event?

Lauren Grashoff: It shouldn’t impact it too much. There’s slightly less space in the City Hall lot, but we’re expanding into Johnson Drive. A new elevated plaza at Barton and Johnson will become our entertainment stage. Once the project is done, we’ll have more sidewalk space for vendors.

Doug Donahoo: Let’s talk vendors.

Lauren Grashoff: Vendor interest is high. To provide more variety, we’ve limited vendors to four events per season. We’ll still have fan favorites like salsa, candles, and freeze-dried Skittles, but we’re also bringing in new and youth vendors. We expect about 70 vendors per event.

Doug Donahoo: What are your top three vendor types?

Lauren Grashoff: I love homemade jewelry, dog accessories like bandanas, and gluten-free baked goods.

Doug Donahoo: And entertainment?

Lauren Grashoff: Charlie Putler from Shawnee Town 1929 books great acts. We’ll have returning and new performers. Past hits include 80s music and Tom Petty covers. It adds to the energy.

Doug Donahoo: June is a special date this year, right?

Lauren Grashoff: Yes, it’s on the second Thursday—June 12—because the third Thursday is a holiday. We’ll do extra promotion to make sure people are aware.

Doug Donahoo: Final thoughts?

Lauren Grashoff: Downtown has plenty of public parking, even with construction. We have a new mobile map to help visitors find spots. It’s no farther than walking across a grocery store parking lot. Don’t let parking concerns stop you from enjoying the market or visiting downtown.

Doug Donahoo: That was Lauren Grashoff, Assistant City Manager for the City of Shawnee, discussing one of the big events of the summer—and really spring and fall too—Moonlight Market. But there are other events to talk about as well. Kate Kinkaid is here. Kate, welcome back!

Kate Kinkaid: Thanks, Doug. It's going really well, and even better now that you’re here. People want to hear about all the other great things happening on Shawnee’s event calendar.

Doug Donahoo: Like you said last month, we’re diving straight into event season.

Kate Kinkaid: Absolutely. One of the first events coming up is the Bike Rodeo, hosted by the Shawnee Rotary Club. It takes place at Shawnee Mission Northwest on Saturday, May 3rd, from 9:00 AM to noon. Kids can get a free helmet, and it’s a great way to promote safe biking early on.

Doug Donahoo: Starting bike safety young is so important. Helmets, training, and experience make a big difference.

Kate Kinkaid: Exactly. Plus, there are fun activities like a bike safety obstacle course where kids learn to recognize stop signs and navigate safely.

Doug Donahoo: Sounds fun and educational. What else is coming up?

Kate Kinkaid: We also have Remake Learning Day and Remake Learning Night.

Remake Learning Day is at Shawnee Town 1929 on Saturday, May 3rd, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. It includes free admission and hands-on activities throughout the museum.

Remake Learning Night is on Friday, May 9th at the Shawnee Civic Centre. It features activities in the gym, and if you’re one of the first 100 to pre-register, you get a free pizza dinner.

Doug Donahoo: That’s better than a Royals bobblehead!

Kate Kinkaid: Definitely! And there’s a kids' vendor fair that evening too. It’s like a mix of a science fair and makers fair. Last year, we had a kid who built incredible Magnet Tile structures and showed off how he made them. It’s a great opportunity for young entrepreneurs to showcase their creativity. Booths are free, but space is limited.

Doug Donahoo: So it’s like a mini Moonlight Market for kids. Love that!

Kate Kinkaid: Exactly.

Doug Donahoo: What else is happening?

Kate Kinkaid: Our Recycling Event is on Saturday, May 10th, at Splash Cove from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Proceeds benefit the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund, which supports local organizations selected by Mayor Mickey Sandifer later in the year.

Doug Donahoo: So you clean out your house, stay green, and support a great cause. That’s a win-win-win.

Kate Kinkaid: Couldn’t agree more!

Doug Donahoo: What about late May?

Kate Kinkaid: Our Senior Health and Fitness Fair is on May 30th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Shawnee Civic Centre. It’s free, but if you want lunch, we ask that you pre-register. We partner with our "Healthier Because We Live Here" organizations, and there are wellness vendors, snacks, drinks, and educational sessions. It’s a great way to kick off summer health goals.

Doug Donahoo: Sounds like a great morning.

Kate Kinkaid: Now let’s talk pools!

Doug Donahoo: Yes! When do the aquatic centers open?

Kate Kinkaid: Saturday, May 24th—the Saturday before Memorial Day. This year, school won’t extend past Memorial Day, so we can start the season on time. We’ll be open regular hours, and we’ll have special holiday hours on Memorial Day.

Doug Donahoo: Awesome. Pool passes are available now, right?

Kate Kinkaid: Yes! You can renew online, over the phone, or purchase in person at the Civic Centre with proof of residency. And we’re excited to launch the new Shawnee Parks & Recreation app, which was previewed at the April 14th City Council meeting.

Doug Donahoo: That app is free and easy to use. Speaking of that Council meeting—

Mayor Sandifer proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, recognizing Sunflower House.

Council extended the moratorium on battery energy storage systems for six more months to finalize zoning updates.

Friction Beer received a $100,000 seed loan to complete their second-floor meeting space.

The meeting wrapped up with an executive session.

If you live in Ward 3 or want to connect with Councilmember Kurt Knappen, he’ll host a town hall on Sunday, May 4th, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM at the Monticello Library (22435 W. 66th Street).

Doug Donahoo: Kate, always great to see you.

Kate Kinkaid: Always a pleasure.

Doug Donahoo: Thanks to everyone for listening. We’ll be back in May with another episode of The Shawnee Pulse. I’m Doug Donahoo. See you next month!