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.

Chief Judge James R. McCabria announced July 15 that three employees of the Seventh Judicial District were recognized for contributing 20 years of service to the district.

The Douglas County Clerk’s Office is deploying a tool called Ballot Scout, a service that allows voters and election staff to track the delivery and receipt of mail-in ballots through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Ballot Scout will be available to use for the primary election.

Route 1055 from west of East 1700 Road to North 790 Road will be closed to through traffic beginning Monday, July 20, weather permitting, for a road project.  The project includes reconstruction of pavement and safety improvements including paved shoulders, flatter roadside slopes, and replacement of two narrow bridges and one culvert.

No signed detour will be provided. Alternate routes from southern Douglas County to Lawrence include U.S. 59 Highway and Route 1057 (East 1900 Road) from Route 460 (North 700 Road) to K-10 Highway.