Douglas County Public Works was recently awarded a federal grant to help with the cost of constructing an ADA-accessible viewing platform with shelter and an ADA-accessible picnic shelter at Wells Overlook Park, which is a few miles south of Lawrence along N1000 Road.

The Land & Water Conservation Fund grant will reimburse 50 percent of the eligible expenses, up to $44,790, and it is administered by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism. County Commissioners approved the project agreement during their Jan. 15 meeting.

The project includes:

Douglas County is one of 13 counties selected by the National Association of Counties to participate in a new County Justice Peer Learning Network. As a participant, Douglas County will receive technical assistance to implement solutions to provide support for justice-involved individuals with mental illness using a racial and ethnic disparities framework.

The Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council is hosting a public meeting about the Historic Building Reconnaissance Survey that was recently completed in Marion and Willow Springs townships. The meeting will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 25, at Marion Springs School Building, 316 E. 900 Road, near Baldwin City.

In 2012, the Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council (HCC) began a countywide survey of natural, cultural and historic sites and structures by townships.

The Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council announces funding is available through the 2020 Natural & Cultural Grant program and informational sessions about the grant program will be held in January. Members of the public interested in the conservation of local landmarks and natural areas within Douglas County are encouraged to apply.

Informational sessions will be:

Chief Judge Peggy Carr Kittel retired December 31, 2019, after 19 years of service. She had served as chief judge of the 7th Judicial District, which is composed of Douglas County, since 2016.

By Kansas statute, the Appraiser’s Office is responsible for determining the value of all taxable property in Douglas County, which includes real estate and personal property like boats, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, jet skis and planes. As of October 28, the county had 40,943 parcels, including 31,144 residential homes, 1,519 commercial properties, 1,710 farms with a home and 2,956 plots of agricultural land.

Douglas County is scheduled to launch a pilot Drug Court in January and the program will accept 15 participants. Douglas County District Court Judge B. Kay Huff will preside over the specialty court in addition to her regular judicial duties.

Drug Court is a 16-month, four-phase program for adults who have been arrested and charged with a non-violent felony offense and are having difficulty staying substance free.