Douglas and Jefferson counties are updating their joint Solid Waste Management Plan, which outlines how trash, recycling, organics and other materials are managed in both urban and rural areas.

The revised plan will evaluate current systems and facilities, compare existing programs with potential alternatives, identify strategies to improve efficiency and support long-term environmental sustainability.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority celebrated the opening of Delmar Place Apartments with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 6. Located at 2129 Clinton Parkway, the $4.7 million development adds 32 one-bedroom apartments for low-income seniors.

Real estate and personal property tax bills will be mailed by the Douglas County Treasurer’s Office on Dec. 5. These taxes, based on property valuations and tax levies set earlier this year, fund essential community services, including schools, public safety, water, roads and other infrastructure.

The first half payment for both real estate and personal property taxes is due Dec. 22, 2025, with the second half due May 11, 2026.

There are several ways to pay taxes:

Douglas County will host an open house Thursday, Nov. 20, for residents to review and provide input on the developing Wakarusa Vision Plan. The come-and-go event will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Douglas County Public Works, 3755 E. 25th St. Refreshments will be provided.

Metropolitan Energy Center has been awarded a $250,000 Market Building Grant to support planning efforts for potential energy-saving projects that will benefit Douglas County. Securing the award and the forthcoming project is a partnership with the County’s Sustainability Office.

The grant, awarded by the Coalition for Green Capital and supported by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA, will fund the development of financing models and energy-efficiency strategies tailored to the needs of the Douglas County community.

Douglas County GIS Analysts Helen Bontrager and Mattie Wiseman received recognition and awards at the Kansas Association of Mappers annual conference, held Oct. 28-31 in Manhattan.

Bontrager earned first place in the Printed Masterpiece category for her map titled “Patchwork,” which highlights a subset of the layers and spatial data available to county departments to support informed decision-making. Many of these layers are available to the public at https://dgcoks.gov/geoportal.

Today, 105 Inside: Built for Zero Kansas announced that Douglas County has met the rigorous by-name data standards needed to solve homelessness. This makes Douglas County the 88th community in the United States to reach this necessary and catalytic standard needed to measurably solve homelessness. Douglas County is the second community to achieve this standard for at least one population in the state of Kansas.

The Native Lands Restoration Collaborative and Douglas County will host two events to collect native prairie seeds at the Ivan Boyd Prairie Preserve, 184 E. 2000 Road, east of Baldwin City off of Highway 56 near Black Jack Park.

The events will be:
•    Saturday, Nov. 1, 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. (New date)
•    Sunday, Nov. 9, 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Douglas County is partnering with Teladoc Health to provide residents with free, confidential access to its mental health service, available online 24/7.

Teladoc Health’s mental health service offers support for people managing depression, anxiety, stress, sleep issues, grief, relationships and more. Users can set health goals, track progress and receive personalized plans with suggested activities tailored to their needs.

According to Teledoc Health, 90% of users report feeling better after using the service.

Chief John Mathis, of Douglas County Consolidated Fire District No. 1, didn’t set out to become a firefighter. 

He started as a nuclear engineering major at Texas A&M University and then later attended Louisiana State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in printmaking. In 1992, he moved to Lawrence to pursue graduate studies in fine arts at the University of Kansas.

But a serious vehicle accident a few years earlier led him toward a different career path: one grounded in purpose, community and resilience.

Life-changing experience

The Property Valuation Division of the Kansas Department of Revenue performs an annual compliance review of county appraisal offices. The review evaluates the accuracy and uniformity in the property appraisals of each county as well as compliance with Kansas laws and regulations related to the administration of the property appraisal system.

Douglas County Emergency Management is accepting registrations for its Fall 2025 CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) weekend class. The course is designed to teach individuals to be better prepared to help themselves, their families and communities before, during and after a disaster. 

The training will be Oct. 3-Oct. 5 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St., in Flory Meeting Hall. The hours are: