News and Press Releases - 2010
NEWS – APRIL 23, 2010- RESCINDING OF HEALTH ADVISORY
Johnson County Health Department - News Release
RESCINDING OF HEALTH ADVISORY FOR WATER IN LOWER INDIAN CREEK
In collaboration with Johnson County Wastewater and Johnson County Environmental departments, the Johnson County Health Department has lifted a health advisory to residents living near Lower Indian Creek in the vicinity of 105th and Indian Creek and Lamar and Nall. The advisory was originally issued due to the release of wastewater into that stream. The sanitary sewer line is in the vicinity of 105th and Lamar in the City of Overland Park.
The Johnson County Health Department issued the first advisory on March 31st to TV stations and newspapers for residents living near the stream.
Recent test results have confirmed that this stream is no longer affected by the release of sewage, which occurred on March 30, 2010. However, residents should be aware that there may be areas with elevated bacterial counts caused by natural sources such as rain, wildlife, pets and urban runoff, and should continue to use caution and practice good hygiene practices when coming in contact with any urban streams.
If you have any further questions, please contact Darrell Thornbrugh at 913-207-2302 or Lori Sand at 913-715-8572.
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NEWS – MARCH 31, 2010 - AVOID CONTACT WITH WATER
Johnson County Health Department - News Release
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY
AVOID CONTACT WITH WATER IN LOWER INDIAN CREEK UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
In collaboration with Johnson County Wastewater and Johnson County Environmental departments, the Johnson County Health Department has issued a health advisory to residents living in the area between 105th and Indian Creek and Lamar and Nall, due to a break in a sanitary sewer line at 105th and Lamar in the City of Overland Park. The ditch runs down to Indian Creek, south of the break by a couple of blocks.
Johnson County Wastewater crews are in the process of repairing the line and are monitoring this location to ensure there are no further discharges into the creek. JCW crews will also clean up the area after the repair is made.
The Johnson County Health Department issued an advisory for residents living near the creek, in an area which includes the break to a couple of blocks south. The Health Department advises individuals to have no contact with Lower Indian Creek at this location until further notice. Residents are also advised to keep their pets from making contact with the water.
The Johnson County Environmental Department is conducting water tests on the creek to determine when this notice can be lifted.
For further updates, please call contact Kurt Winters, director of Operations and Maintenance, at (913) 715-8608 or Lori Sand, director of Communications, at (913) 715-8572 or cell (816) 560-6713.
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Wastewater Bill Phone Scam Continues
Olathe, KS, March 10, 2010 – Johnson County Wastewater (JCW) is once again warning residents about an ongoing telephone scam that seeks to illegally obtain banking information from wastewater customers.
JCW spokesperson Lori Sand said that several residents have reported receiving an automated phone call stating that their account is past due and requesting them to call back a number the scammers provided with a check or credit card information. “The number on the recording is an 816 number, but so far customers have yet to provide us with the full 10 digits,” she said. JCW officials say they do make automated collection calls, but the call does not originate from an 816 area code. JCW’s automated collection call requests the customer to contact JCW and does not ask for financial information.
Should customers have any questions, they are encouraged to call JCW’s customer service line at 913-715-8590.
County residents who receive such scam calls are asked to gather as much information as they can from the call and notify their local police department. If residents have given any financial information as a result of these calls, they should also notify their financial institution immediately
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Troy Young is JCW STARS recipient
Congratulations to Troy Young, JCW’s 4th quarter Special Thanks And Recognition Spotlight (STARS) Award recipient. As a 16 year veteran, he has worked throughout the department and has become appreciated for his “can-do” attitude.Cynthia Williams, user charge manager, surprised Troy with the announcement of his award at a staff meeting.
Troy first worked as a line cleaning crew member for a year and a half. He then hopped over to the TV truck crew and worked with Ed Unrein just short of a year. Then he spent about another year and a half with the vapor-rooter/jet truck team before becoming an I/I inspector, a job he held for nine years. It was then that he made the transition to the administrative side of the department, taking the position of Commercial/Industrial Customer Liaison in Customer Relations where he’s been for the last five years.
The diversity of his background and his attitude are evident to his co-workers.
“Troy is very knowledgeable in several areas and if there is something that he doesn’t know, he is not afraid to step up to the plate and learn it,” says Celeste Chaney, operations supervisor, in her STARS nomination of Troy.
Troy credits his previous supervisors, Ron Thomann and Ed with instilling those attributes in him. “Ed always encouraged us to do more and move forward,” he said. “He likes to see the guys better themselves. As far as Ron is concerned, I don’t think the word ‘no’ was in his vocabulary. If something needed to be done, we pitched in and did it, if we could. He gave me lots of opportunities to do a variety of things. I’ve dabbled in many and am an expert at none,”
In addition, Celeste highlighted the service Troy provides as he acts as a liaison for the I/ I Team, working with JCW and an outside vendor.
It’s also all the extras that Troy provides that earned him notice. “Troy is also a member of the Cayenta core testing team. He supports others in extracurricular activities such as Feed the Need, vending, he keeps all the cars at Sunset up to date on maintenance, etc; and he also handles backup receptionist duties when needed; all of which are outside his current job duties,” Celeste said
Employee Recognition Archive
2009
- December, 2009
Patrick Beane is JCW STARS recipient. - August, 2009
Susan Pekarek is JCW STARS recipient. - May, 2009
Richard Howe is JCW STARS recipient.
Press Release Archive
2009
- August, 2009
Phone Scam Alert. - July, 2009
Bill Scam Alert. - May, 2009
JCW 101 on 710 AM KCMO.
2008
- September, 2008
Prestigious Awards for JCW. - April, 2008
Lori Sand is the new Communications Director.
2007
- September, 2007
Four Prestigious Awards for JCW.
- August, 2007
Beth Brandel is the new Director of Business Operations and Planning. - August 8, 2007
...lifted a health advisory to residents living near the Indian Creek tributary ... - August 3, 2007
Avoid contact with water in Indian Creek tributary ... - April, 2007
Kurt Winters is the new Operations and Maintenance Division Director. - March, 2007
Randy Robinson, Director of Administration, joining the city of Henderson, Nevada, as Deputy Utility Services Director. - February, 2007
County funds major expansion of wastewater treatment facility...add a nutrient removal system and to expand the treatment capacity of the Douglas L. Smith Middle Basin Treatment Plant in Overland Park.
2006
- September, 2006
... JCW news release and following lifted health advisory near Turkey Creek ... - June, 2006
... JCW has lifted a health advisory near the Dykes Branch ... - June, 2006
... health advisory to residents living near the Dykes Branch tributary stream ... - May, 2006
... two individuals posing as JCW employees attempting to collect money on wastewater bills ... - May, 2006
... ASPA chapter to honor Smith with 2006 award ... - March, 2006
... JCW moves to new Johnson County Sunset Drive Office ... - January, 2006
... John P. O’Neil has been named the new administrator of the department ...
2005
- December, 2005
... Douglas L. Smith honored by BOCC. - September, 2005
... Douglas L. Smith plans retirement. - September, 2005
... JCW mourns death of Myron Nelson.
2004
- November 4, 2004
...has lifted a health advisory to residents living near Royse Swimming Pool. - October 20, 2004
... a health advisory to residents living near Royse Swimming Pool.
2003
- April 14, 2003
...has lifted a health advisory to residents living or recreating near a small tributary stream of Indian Creek... - April 10, 2003
...has issued a precautionary health advisory to residents living or recreating near a small tributary stream of Indian Creek due to a break in the sewer line in the general vicinity of 104th and Cody... - January 9, 2003
...has lifted a health advisory to residents living or recreating near a small tributary stream of Mill Creek due to a blockage in the sewer line. The sanitary sewer line is in the general vicinity of 119th Street and Ridgeview Drive...
2002
- December 30, 2002
...has issued a precautionary health advisory to residents living or recreating near a small tributary stream of Mill Creek due to a back up in the sewer line in the general vicinity of 119th and Ridgeview Drive... - October 31, 2002
...has lifted a health advisory to residents living near the Mill Creek... - October 24, 2002
...has issued a health advisory to residents living or recreating near Mill Creek from north of Johnson Drive... - July 16, 2002
...has lifted a precautionary health advisory to residents living near the Indian Creek tributary stream... - July 10, 2002
...has issued a precautionary health advisory to residents living near the Indian Creek tributary stream due to a broken sewer line in the general vicinity of 99th Street and Hardy Drive...
2001
- December 6, 2001
...has lifted a health advisory for Little Mill Creek... - October 31, 2001
Johnson County Wastewater crews are in the process of repairing a 21-inch sewer main at Greenwood and Hallet in the City of Lenexa after discovering a break in the line on Monday, October 29, 2001. The break resulted in a sewage discharge into Little Mill Creek. As a result... - July 3, 2001
Shawnee, Kansas–Johnson County Wastewater (JCW) crews responded quickly to clean up spilled sewage from two severed force main sewer lines near the Kansas River...