Jim Carpenter’s primary task may sound strange for a member of a prosecutor’s office.

“I was brought in to help to keep people out of jail,” said Carpenter, a new senior assistant district attorney in the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.

Moody’s Investors Service assigned a bond rating of AAA, the highest possible rating an entity can receive, to Douglas County with a stable outlook. The county first received this rating in November 2020.

According to an April 1 Moody’s news release, the rating reflects the county’s maintenance of stable financial operations and strong operating reserves coupled with low debt and pension burdens. The rating also incorporates the large and growing tax base with above average resident income that is supported by the institutional presence of the University of Kansas.

When Kent Brown was elected Register of Deeds in November 2020, he had an extensive spreadsheet of all of the traits that he was looking for in a Deputy. These included: leadership skills, industry experience and a willingness to learn. Shari Hicks, who was working in the County Clerk’s Office as the real estate coordinator, checked all of the boxes and more, he said.

“Shari’s positivity and enthusiastic attitude really made her stand out. She’s exactly the kind of energy I want to bring to this office.”

Douglas County is accepting grant applications for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Monday, May 2.

Funds can be used for qualifying expenditures that occur between March 3, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2024. Projects should fall within one of these categories:

The Douglas County Public Works Department is seeking your input on a proposed Vegetation Management Plan. The plan is intended to direct operations that include roadside mowing, park maintenance, revegetation practices, herbicide use and noxious weed control. It will go before the County Commission for approval on March 23.

The phone rings.

A dispatcher in the Douglas County Emergency Communications Center answers, “Douglas County 911. Do you have a police, fire or medical emergency?”

Douglas County offers drop-off recycling for residents who live in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County. Residents can use any of the sites that are available. If the recycling bins are full, please wait until another day to drop off items.

Douglas County Emergency Management is offering “Weather 101” from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 3, in conjunction with Severe Weather Preparedness Month. The educational class will be in Flory Meeting Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St., and it is open to anyone at no cost. It will include information about severe thunderstorm development, identification of storm features and safety tips.

The Douglas County Public Works Department is accepting applications for the user-fee dust control program. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, March 11.

The Douglas County Commission will consider a new emergency public health order during its Feb. 9 meeting. The new order would require individuals to wear face coverings at indoor gatherings in which 500 or more individuals are in attendance in a single space, such as a concert, sporting event, trade show or convention.

The Douglas County Clerk’s Office is well known for conducting elections. However, it also is responsible for paying all of the county’s bills and employees as well as maintaining current records of real estate property in Douglas County.

That’s where Chief Deputy County Clerk Marni Penrod plays an important role. She works closely with elected officials, county department leaders, employees and vendors to ensure everyone is getting paid and the county is meeting all of its financial requirements.

Chief Judge James McCabria signed an administrative order today (Jan. 25) that adds Juneteenth as a holiday beginning this year for the Seventh Judicial District. In the order, it states June 19th marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The order also recognizes: