Join us for Discovery Day on Tuesday evening! | | |
Douglas County Discovery Day is Tuesday, April 29, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Open Pavilion at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 21st and Harper streets. This free, family-friendly event is open to the entire community!
Event Highlights:
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Touch-a-Truck experience: Explore equipment and vehicles from Public Works, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, Consolidated Fire District No. 1, Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Management, Emergency Communications and Maintenance.
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Interactive games and activities: Enjoy a scavenger hunt, cake walk, giant jenga, music, bounce house and more.
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Delicious eats: Satisfy your cravings with food available for purchase from JB’s Tacos, Pretzelly and Barbwire Barbecue.
You can connect with staff who work in the following areas: Youth Services, District Attorney, Clerk/Elections, Administration, Appraiser, Treasurer, Zoning and Codes, Register of Deeds, GIS, Heritage Conservation and District Court.
Representatives from Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, Engage Douglas County, Treatment and Recovery Center of Douglas County, Senior Resource Center, and A Place for Everyone will be at the event, too.
We hope you can join us for an evening of discovery, fun and community connection as part of National County Government Month!
| | Heritage Conservation Council awards total of $210,000 in grants to 12 projects | |
The Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council has announced the recipients of the 2025 Natural and Cultural Heritage grant program. A total of $210,000 was awarded to 12 projects.
The projects are expected to be completed within two years.
"These projects exemplify the diverse ways in which our heritage is celebrated, documented and shared in Douglas County," Heritage Conservation Coordinator Kaitlyn Ammerlaan said.
The 2025 recipients are: KU Museum Studies program, Ducks Unlimited Inc., Haskell Indian Nations University, LRM Foundation, Somos Lawrence, Lawrence Juneteenth Organization, Ecumenical Campus Ministries, Lecompton Historical Society, Baker University, Lawrence branch of the NAACP, Lumberyard Arts Center and Children’s Learning Center.
To view their projects and the amounts awarded, click on the news release.
| | Board of County Commissioners | | |
Douglas County Commission meetings are at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the historic County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St., on the second floor in the Commission meeting room. Meetings are also available on Zoom. Commissioners will not have a meeting this week on April 30.
Commissioners took the following action on regular business agenda items in April. They unanimously approved:
- a text amendment to revise the Home Occupation standards and registration process.
- a charter resolution to revise the appointments for the Douglas County Fair Board.
- the Heritage Conservation Council’s 2025 Natural and Cultural Heritage grant recommendations.
- maintenance, repairs and upgrades to the HVAC system in the Public Works and Zoning and Codes building.
- an employee healthcare plan for June 1, 2025-May 31, 2026.
- a resolution to authorize the sale of General Obligation Sales Tax Improvement Bonds to help fund the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center renovation and addition project and the construction of the Public Safety Building.
- a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to Plan 2040 that would revise the land use recommendation in the southeast corner of the intersection of Bob Billings Parkway and K-10 Highway from public and institutional uses to medium-density residential land uses and neighborhood-scale commercial uses.
- a site plan revising the phases of the Hamm-Eudora Quarry located at 1232 E. 2300 Road.
- a request to rezone about 18 acres located east of East 900 Road and North 1800 Road from agricultural district to limited industrial district.
- an agreement amendment with Treanor architects to complete professional design and construction administration services for Phase II of the new Douglas County Public Safety Building.
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* Recordings of the meetings can be found on the Douglas County YouTube channel.
Work sessions
Commissioners have work sessions to study and discuss various topics throughout the year. No action is taken during work sessions. The following work sessions are scheduled at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays before the business meeting:
- May 14 - Public Works and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) overview.
- May 28 - Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical new medic unit and budget.
| | Lawrence High School students from the "Intro to Human and Public Service" class tour the Emergency Communications Center on April 10. | | Commission honors Emergency Telecommunicators for their life-saving work | | |
Earlier this month, the Douglas County Commission officially proclaimed April 13-19 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, recognizing the dedicated professionals of the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) for their vital role in keeping the community safe.
During the April 16 meeting, Commissioner Karen Willey, a volunteer firefighter, expressed her personal gratitude to the ECC team, stating, "You are lifesavers. Thank you."
The ECC is staffed by approximately 30 highly skilled professionals, serving as the critical link between the public and emergency responders. Whether managing medical emergencies, fires or law enforcement situations, these dispatchers remain calm under pressure, expertly guiding callers and coordinating responses to ensure swift and effective action.
ECC Director Tony Foster described his team as the "heartbeat of all emergency response," emphasizing their unwavering commitment: "They work countless hours and are truly dedicated to the citizens and first responders. A day like today, with grassfires spreading in the county, reminds us just how vital our telecommunicators are in helping to save lives and property."
As Douglas County reflects on National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, the community is encouraged to recognize and appreciate the indispensable contributions of these professionals who stand ready to answer the call — day or night.
| | Congratulations to these individuals who completed Douglas County Emergency Management's CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training April 11-13 at the University of Kansas. | Emergency Management training aims to better equip individuals with skills for disasters | |
Twenty-five individuals completed Douglas County Emergency Management’s Spring 2025 CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training April 11-13 at the University of Kansas.
The course aims to help individuals be better prepared to help themselves, their families and communities before, during and after a disaster. The training includes information on preparedness, fire safety, medical operations, light search and rescue, terrorism and team organization.
At the conclusion of the training, graduates can register to become a CERT volunteer. Authorized CERT volunteers provide support to first responders and other agencies during a disaster and at community events as directed by Emergency Management. Emergency Management is grateful for its approximately 45 CERT volunteers!
“CERT volunteers play a critical role in helping Douglas County be more resilient to disasters,” Deputy Emergency Management Director John Stipetich said. “They are our ambassadors for disaster preparedness and help us reach the community through events. Our volunteer teams are also ready to jump into action after a disaster by supporting first responders and the community in a variety of ways, like assessing damage in a neighborhood, distributing supplies or assisting disaster survivors.
The next CERT training will be Oct. 3-5 in Lawrence. To register, visit: dgcoks.gov/dgcocert
| | Trainees use search and rescue techniques to clear a structure and provide potential life safety measures. | | Trainees participate in a tabletop exercise where they walk through scenarios and discuss how they would apply their skills to various situations. | | Sheriff's podcast features Criminal Justice Coordinator Katy Fitzgerald | |
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is offering a behind-the-scenes look at public safety and criminal justice through its new View from 100 podcast. Hosted by Sheriff Jay Armbrister, this long-form conversation series aims to connect with listeners who may not be deeply familiar with the Sheriff’s Office and the broader issues shaping justice in the community.
In the second episode, Sheriff Armbrister sits down with Katy Fitzgerald, Douglas County’s Criminal Justice Coordinator, who was hired in July 2022 after working in Mecklenburg County, N.C. Fitzgerald plays a key role in facilitating the Douglas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) — a body established in 2016 by the Board of County Commissioners to enhance collaboration among justice system stakeholders. The Sheriff’s Office has been an integral part of the CJCC since its inception, with Armbrister serving as a council member.
During the discussion, Fitzgerald highlights several impactful initiatives, including the county's competency restoration program, efforts to improve mental health assessments for probation clients in partnership with community partners, and collaboration with the Justice Management Institute.
| | Leo, the county appraiser's loyal assistant, ensuring every Change of Value notice is prepared to purrfection. | Appraiser's Office to mail Change of Value notices for personal property on May 1 | |
On May 1, the Douglas County Appraiser’s Office will mail 6,600 Change of Value notices for personal property for the 2025 tax year. These notices will include appraised and assessed value information for property such as mobile homes, commercial machinery and equipment, off-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, worksite utility vehicles, race cars, camping trailers and watercraft.
Personal property owners should notify the Appraiser’s Office if there are any changes such as:
- Purchase of new personal property
- Sale of personal property
- Changes in the use
- Changes where the property is stored
Property owners who want to appeal their property value must contact the Personal Property Division of the Appraiser’s Office by 5 p.m. Thursday, May 15. Submissions can be mailed or dropped off at the office, located in the basement of the County Courthouse at 1100 Massachusetts St. or emailed to personalproperty@dgcoks.gov.
For more information, visit: https://www.dgcoks.gov/appraiser/personal-property. For assistance, contact the Appraiser’s Office at (785) 832-5292 or personalproperty@dgcoks.gov.
| | Pilot program provides $30,000 in property tax relief | | |
Douglas County provided a total of $30,624 in property tax relief to low-income seniors and disabled veterans through its pilot Property Tax Rebate program.
The county received 135 applications and 109 qualified for a rebate. On average, participants received a rebate equal to 13% of their total property tax bill and 37% of the county’s portion of that bill. The maximum rebate per household was $300 or the county portion of property tax, whichever was less.
Those who qualified should receive a check in the mail by June. County Commissioners approved funding for the pilot program in October 2024.
| | Lawrence Virtual School students earn exemplary rating at Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge | |
Ninth-grader Lawrence Dao and seventh-grader Daniel Dao, of Lawrence Virtual School, earned an exemplary rating and a $2,500 cash prize at the Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge held on April 17 in Manhattan.
The brothers previously took first place in the Douglas County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in February at the Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center where they received a $1,250 check. Their business idea, “Don’t Panic AI Tutors,” offers tutoring and workshops that aim to demystify AI, spark curiosity and equip students with the skills they need for a tech-driven future.
| | May is Mental Health Awareness Month | | How to access services for mental health, substance use treatment in Douglas County | |
Need someone to talk to? You're not alone. Help is available in Douglas County.
Trained counselors are ready 24/7 to provide free emotional support, crisis assistance, and referrals to services — whether you're seeking help for yourself or someone you care about:
- Call the Douglas County Crisis Line at 785-841-2345
- Chat online at 988lifeline.org
- Text or call 988
These counselors will determine if referral to the Mobile Response Team is right for you. These are mental health professionals who can connect with you in your home or in the community. The Mobile Response Team is available 7 days a week between 8 AM and 2 AM.
Need a safe place to go? Visit the Treatment and Recovery Center of Douglas County, 1000 W. Second St., in Lawrence. No appointment is needed.
Douglas County, in partnership with Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center and HeadQuarters Kansas, has created resource cards to help individuals access these services. These cards are available in the community, including at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St. First responders, including the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, also carry them to share with those in crisis or simply in need of support.
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Courthouse:
1100 Massachusetts Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
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Judicial and Law Enforcement Center:
111 East 11th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
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