Douglas County Government’s offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, for Labor 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 learned Monday (August 17) that one employee who works in the Treasurer’s Office has tested positive for COVID-19.

The Treasurer’s Office has been conducting its services mostly by phone, email or mail. In-person meetings have been by appointment only in the County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts Street. Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health has determined this to be a “low-risk exposure” for employees and the public. Douglas County will continue to work with the health department and follow its recommendations.

District Attorney Charles Branson announces today, after a review of the investigation of the officer-involved shooting of Nicholas Hirsh that took place on June 15, 2020, there is ample evidence to indicate that it was reasonable for law enforcement officers to believe that deadly force was necessary to protect themselves, other officers, and members of the public from death or great bodily harm.

The Board of Douglas County Commissioners approved a plan to distribute $24.9 million in funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act during a special meeting on August 14.

The funding needed to meet eligibility requirements developed by the U.S. Treasury and the State of Kansas. There were two categories for the funding:

A presentation about public defender offices was given by Heather Cessna, executive director of the Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services (BIDS), during the Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council meeting on Aug. 12 using Zoom.

Cessna said about 85% of adult felony criminal defendants require appointed counsel. Every attorney appointed on an adult felony case in Kansas is provided by BIDS. They use two systems:

On Monday, August 10, Douglas County Public Works is planning to close East 2300 Road south of North 1137 Road to all traffic for a drainage maintenance project. The project is expected to take about two weeks, weather permitting.

The project includes increasing the size of an existing culvert, installing two new culverts where they do not currently exist, and increasing the ditch capacity.

Douglas County Public Works will treat reemerging areas of Eurasian Water Milfoil in isolated areas of Lone Star Lake with an herbicide. The treatment with an herbicide called Navigate is scheduled for Thursday, August 6, weather permitting.

Due to the treatment, Lone Star Lake will be closed Thursday, August 6, to all water activities and signs will be posted. Public Works will reopen the lake on Friday, August 7.

2020 Primary Election Results

The Douglas County Clerk's Office has posted the official results for the August 2020 primary election. They results can be found here: http://dgcoks.org/primary2020

Douglas County Commissioners set the 2021 county budget for publication during a public meeting July 9. They recommended a budget of $125.5 million with a flat mill levy of 46.430 mills.

Commissioners reviewed $2.8 million in requests for additional funding. Of those requests, they approved four for a total of $285,318. They are:

The State of Kansas received $1.034 billion from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund. Of that money, the state allocated $450 million in July to Kansas counties based on their population to improve health and economic outcomes. Douglas County received $24.9 million.

Building upon Douglas County’s use of the Unified Command structure to lead a comprehensive COVID-19 pandemic response, local government, health, education and business leaders will partner to provide a coordinated reopening and response strategy among education institutions. The goals: protect students, staff, and faculty; reduce community impacts; and, minimize disease spread. Leaders of Douglas County, City of Lawrence, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, LMH Health, University of Kansas, Lawrence Public Schools and The Chamber will participate.