County announces library–museum pass pilot and flags Shawnee TIF hearing

County Manager Postoak Ferguson and Mary McMurray, director of the Johnson County Museum, told commissioners that the county will pilot a museum‑pass program with the library and parks & recreation. The pilot will make five single‑use museum passes available per week at each of the library’s 14 branches (70 passes weekly, about 3,640 per year). The passes will be tracked by museum staff and the pilot will be evaluated for impacts on admissions, memberships and staff capacity.

Postoak Ferguson said there are no new operating costs associated with the pilot and that staff will monitor sustainability and potential sponsorship opportunities. The museum pass pilot will launch alongside World Cup community engagement efforts and run into 2027 ahead of planned museum admission fee changes.

In other business, the county manager reported that Shawnee will hold a May 11 public hearing on a proposed TIF redevelopment district near I‑435 and Midland Drive; staff noted the board’s ability to review materials and asked commissioners to consider timing and potential fiscal impacts on county taxing districts.