Earlier this week we witnessed another horrific act of racism. Believing that our Board of Douglas County Commissioners meeting on Wednesday night (June 3) would be an appropriate place to say a few words addressing this tragedy, I had planned to speak then. A few people for whom I have tremendous respect encouraged me not to wait, but to speak up now. To them, thank you. Your encouragement helps me to see that my privilege gives me the choice to wait. Waiting is something not afforded to the vulnerable, including those who live in fear due to the color of their skin.

Route 1055 (East 1500 Road) — from Route 458 (North 1000 Road) to North 1175 Road — will be closed to through traffic beginning Monday, June 15, weather permitting, for construction of a road rehabilitation project.  The project includes pavement rehabilitation and safety improvements including paved shoulders, flatter roadside slopes, and replacement of narrow culverts.

Douglas County is soliciting formal proposals from qualified individuals to complete structural assessments of five or six barns that have been identified as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

The consultant will check the adequacy, structural integrity and soundness of structures and their components and will prioritize recommended repairs. Completion of the assessments will aid the barn owners in preservation efforts and assist Douglas County in preserving the rural character of the county that reflects its natural and cultural history.

Douglas County Government’s offices will be closed Monday, May 25, for Memorial Day.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Dispatch Center, and Criminal Justice Services will be operating. If you have an emergency, please call 911. If you have a non-emergency, call 785-843–0250

Douglas County’s Unified Command structure that has been responsible for leading the comprehensive COVID-19 pandemic response since March will transition next week to an expanded COVID-19 Recovery Coordination Team to help manage the community’s long-term recovery.

The COVID-19 pandemic required the closure of Douglas County District Court earlier this spring. All traffic cases scheduled before June 1, 2020 on the Traffic Docket, held every Friday morning in the ProTem Division, were continued. The Court has since mailed notices and new dates to all of the impacted individuals. When District Court reopens in June, individuals with traffic cases will likely face significant wait times during the Traffic Docket. 

Douglas County Government and the Douglas County Community Foundation received a $26,000 matching grant from Partners for Places. The match was provided through local donations to the Douglas County Community Foundation.

The $52,000 in total funding will be used to complete Phase 1 of a three-phase Open Space Plan development and implementation process:

Effective immediately, the Douglas County District Court Clerk’s Office will be open to the public for limited purposes by appointment only. Appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance, and all persons entering the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center will be required to wear a mask and follow established social distancing guidelines. Any person with a temperature over 100 degrees will be denied entry.

Douglas County District Court hearings are open to the public via live streaming on its YouTube channel.

Douglas County buildings are open to the public. The public should wear a face covering when inside buildings and maintain six feet of distance between employees and others in the building. Departments and elected officials may have additional screening tools for clients and visitors, depending on the services provided.

The Kansas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration are hosting a virtual meeting for the public to learn more about the South Lawrence Trafficway Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).

The virtual open house provides project updates and shares the reasonable alternatives for the South Lawrence Trafficway (SLT) improvements. Participants have the ability to submit questions and comments through an online form that is sent directly to the project team and they respond as needed.

The Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) met virtually on May 12 using Zoom. Chair Pam Weigand, Director of Douglas County Criminal Justice Services, facilitated the meeting.

Researchers Jack McDevitt, of Northeastern University, and Janice Iwama, of American University, provided an update on the Law Enforcement Contact Study.