City development doesn’t just happen. “It’s thought out in five, ten or even 20-year plans,” said Kim Portillo, City of Lenexa Planner III.

From picking up roadkill on a hot summer day to chasing a loose cow back into a pasture and removing bats from inside a home, the sights for Lenexa Police Department Animal Control Officer Noah Jaksetic are ever changing.

Vegetable gardening has always been a passion for Jenny Doty, Recreation Supervisor and Farmers Marker Manager for Lenexa Parks & Recreation. She didn’t know it would turn into a 15+ year career working in local government.

Being a public servant comes naturally for Lenexa Community Development Department Senior Plan Analyst Dave Byl. His interest in helping people while knowing the ins and outs of building projects and permits has led to his 30+ year career in local government.

He was working a full-time job he wasn’t passionate about and had no interest in working out. But when Josh Geary, fitness supervisor at the Lenexa Rec Center, became a dad — his desire for health, wellness and fitness became a priority.

William “Billy” Mercer, park maintenance worker II — facilities with the Lenexa Parks and Recreation Department, conquers his fear of heights each year when he gets on a lift to string holiday lights at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park.

Getting engaged. Planning a wedding. Then suddenly having five kids. It’s been nearly two years since Lenexa Police Department Public Service Officer II (PSO) Sarah Bell got married to her husband, Jeremy, and became a stepmom to their five children, ages four to 12 years old.

He always knew he wanted to be a dad; he just didn’t anticipate the long journey of in vitro fertilization. Alec Brown, street maintenance foreman with the City of Lenexa Municipal Services Department, joined parenthood when his wife Brittany gave birth to their daughter, Camille, eight months ago.

For her morning shift, working from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. five days a week, City of Lenexa Building Services Worker III Banchialem (BONCHI-allum) Kereta is routinely in charge of cleaning Municipal Court, Lenexa City Hall and the Lenexa Rec Center.

As an 18-year-old, Petline Noon discovered her calling as a 911 dispatcher. Fifteen years later, she's still answering the call.

Growing up on a family farm in the outskirts of Independence, Mo., Lenexa Assistant City Attorney Steven Shrout learned how to care for animals, work with his hands and find solutions to problems.

A puzzle master at heart, Katie approaches emergencies the same way she tackles 1,000-piece puzzles — through strategy and perseverance. At work, that means routinely inspecting the fire truck at the start of her 24-hour shift.

Laura Ehrlich is a familiar face and voice for Lenexa Parks & Recreation. For 15 years, she’s been a customer service representative but her real joy at work comes from interacting with seniors.

For Bobby Lyon, being a facilities maintenance technician is more than keeping things in working order. It’s about helping others, learning new skills, and seeing his handiwork across the city.

Watching the 9/11 terrorist attacks unfold on national television was the moment Hunter Tschippert decided he wanted to become a police officer. He was five years old.

A professionally trained flute player and a dedicated employee, Jennifer Martin joined the City of Lenexa in 2000 as a customer service representative in the Community Development Department, knowing very little about government or construction.