The Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council (HCC) announces $210,000 in funding is available through its 2023 Natural & Cultural grant program. An additional $75,000 is available this year for projects that inform Douglas County’s Open Space planning.

The Heritage Conservation Council encourages applications that focus on the conservation of cultural, natural, agricultural or environmental resources, or projects that produce educational programs or products on these topics. All projects must take place in Douglas County, Kansas, and be completed within two years.

The Douglas County Appraiser’s Office mailed change of value notices for about 41,290 properties on Feb. 28. The information includes last year’s value and the new 2023 value.

Property owners who want to appeal their value need to fill out the request form on the back of the notice and submit it to the Appraiser’s Office by 5 p.m. March 30. It can be mailed or dropped off at the office, which is located in the basement of the County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St.

Douglas County Commissioners will discuss a map option for five districts during their next meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 5:30 p.m. in the County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St., on the second floor in the Commission meeting room. The meeting also is available by Zoom. Meeting information is posted here: http://dgcoks.org/commissionmeetings. There will be an opportunity to hear from the public during the meeting.

Landowners typically burn their fields and brush piles – commonly referred to as prescribed burning - in the spring. The practice is used to restore native grasslands, recycle nutrients, control woody plants and weeds, and improve certain wildlife habitat.

Douglas County Emergency Management and the Topeka National Weather Service are hosting “Weather 101,” a free severe weather training at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2, at Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St. It will include information about severe thunderstorm development, identification of storm features and safety tips.

Public Works is accepting applications for the 2023 user-fee dust control program. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, March 10.

UPDATE ON FEBRUARY 1

When Dagna D’Ercole started as a Lawrence Police Department dispatcher in 1989, the dispatch center looked much different than it does today with all the technology in the now-consolidated Douglas County Emergency Communications Center.

K-State Research and Extension – Douglas County, in partnership with the Douglas County Community Foundation, is hosting a four-part series, “Welcome A-Board: Board Leadership Basics,” that begins Feb. 16.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has begun a 30-day public comment period for the draft Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP): Transportation 2050. The plan identifies future needs and makes investment recommendations for all modes of transportation including automobile, public transit, bicycle, pedestrian, etc. This plan reflects the feedback and perspectives provided from the community engagement conducted in 2022. This plan is required by federal regulations to ensure funding for transportation projects throughout Douglas County.

The Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council is conducting an intensive historic resources survey of downtown Baldwin City. A public information meeting will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Baldwin City Public Library, 800 Seventh St., with survey consultants to provide details about the survey and answer questions. The work consists of research, field survey and a project report. The survey focuses on buildings and structures that are at least 50 years old.

In partnership with the Douglas County Community Foundation, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Network Kansas, and Forward Cities, Douglas County is excited to kick off the E3 Nation Tour. This event will help our community take next steps on the path towards designing, leading and sustaining equitable entrepreneurial communities in Lawrence and Douglas County.