Public hearing set for 2027 county budget and revenue neutral rate

J.M. Smucker Co. sponsors Lake Shawnee dog park

Final construction phase begins for Gage Park carousel

New basketball court under construction at Shawnee South Community Park

Ribbon cutting scheduled for jail behavioral health housing

1. Public hearing set for 2027 county budget and revenue neutral rate

SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — Shawnee County taxpayers will have an opportunity to weigh in on local government finances next month. Financial administrator Jennifer Sauer announced that the public hearing for the county's 2027 budget and the revenue neutral rate is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Sept. 3.

2. J.M. Smucker Co. sponsors Lake Shawnee dog park

SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — Commissioners approved a three-year, $36,000 advertising and sponsorship agreement with the J.M. Smucker Co. to adopt the Lake Shawnee dog park. The company will provide $12,000 annually to the Parks for All Foundation for improvements around the lake and the dog park. The partnership also includes a spring volunteer cleanup day at Ted Ensley Gardens, advertising on park structures, and principal sponsorship of four dog-focused community events, such as Pooches and Peeps and the end-of-season dog swims.

3. Final construction phase begins for Gage Park carousel

SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Director Tim Laurent announced the county has received the final permit to begin the construction phase of the Gage Park carousel building, with dirt work already underway. Laurent also noted that Oklahoma-based carousel restoration company Sandy Creek Carousel, tasked with restoring the ride's animal figures — including horses, chickens, pigs and goats — is regularly posting progress photos of the restorations on Facebook for residents to follow along.

4. New basketball court under construction at Shawnee South Community Park

SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — Construction is actively underway for a new basketball court at the Velma K. Paris Community Center at Shawnee South Community Park. The concrete foundation has been poured and will require a few weeks to cure before the new court can be painted and opened for public use.

5. Ribbon cutting scheduled for jail behavioral health housing

SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — The Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new behavioral health housing units at the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, at the jail facility, taking the place of the commission's regular morning work session.

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