Proposed 2024 County budget includes flat mill levy

The proposed 2024 Douglas County budget is $194,572,032 with a mill levy of 46.219 mills, which is a flat rate from last year. One mill is one dollar per $1,000 of assessed value. 

In the general fund — the largest and most general purpose of the County’s budgeted funds — approximately 77% of Douglas County’s revenues are from ad valorem taxes and 10% are from sales taxes. Total assessed valuation for real estate and personal property increased 10.98% in 2022 compared to 12.44% the year before. During the past two years, the assessed valuation growth rate has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic stimulus, leading to fluctuation in the normal rate of growth seen in Douglas County. From 2018 to 2020, the average increase in assessed valuation was 5.09% percent. When the past two years of 2022 and 2023 are included for a five-year average, the rate of growth is 7.23%.

• Read the full news release: http://dgcoks.org/063023news 
• Budget hearings begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 5. Here's the schedule.

Community members participate in an Open Space Plan meeting on June 9 at Lone Star Lake.

We're still gathering input for the Open Space Plan

The Open Space Plan is a local effort intended to protect shared community values and county character, identify voluntary land management options and partnerships, and foster appreciation and access to nature for future generations.

Your input is important! The Open Space Plan project team recently toured wetlands, prairies, trails, farms and historic sites as well as held focus groups and community meetings. In the coming weeks, they are:

• hosting a focus group for teens and young adults, ages 15-25, on Thursday, July 6, at 5:30 p.m. at the Lawrence Public Library in meeting room B. RSVP by email to openspace@douglascountyks.org.

• seeking input through this survey: dgcoks.org/opsurvey. So far, they’ve received at least 500 surveys. The survey will close July 8.

• hosting a photo challenge! Your photo may be featured in the final Open Space Plan and you could win a $100 gift card. Submit your photos here: http://dgcoks.org/ospcontest

Elizabeth Burger, who serves on the Open Space Plan advisory committee, says she and her husband, Greg, will look to the Open Space Plan for guidance. They have spent the past five years buying land contiguous to their original acreage in northwest Douglas County because they care about the conservation and preservation of open and undeveloped space.

“This is not about the county taking land or creating restrictions,” Elizabeth said. “It’s about helping landowners, like us, who just want their land to do the greatest good it can for the future, which means keeping it just like it is today - open.”

For the Burgers story and to learn more about the Open Space Plan, visit: dgcoks.org/openspace

Greg and Elizabeth Burger, of Lecompton Township

The Douglas County Elections Office is located at 711 W. 23rd St., Suite 1.

Deadline to register to vote in primary is July 11

The primary election will be held August 1. The ballot will include nominations for Lawrence City Commission and the Lawrence (USD 497) School Board.

Key dates to know:

• July 11 – Last day to register to vote in primary (register at ksvotes.org)
• July 12 – Advance voting in person begins
• July 12 – Advance voting by mail begins (apply at ksvotes.org)
• July 25 – Last day to request an advance ballot to be mailed
• July 31 – Advance voting closes at noon
• August 1 – Polling locations open 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

More information: douglascountyelections.com

A community meeting about the draft housing and homelessness strategic plan was held May 18 at Lawrence Public Library.

Housing Stabilization Collaborative seeing increases in assistance needs, eviction filings

Between Jan. 1 and June 21, 2023, the Housing Stabilization Collaborative (HSC) provided approximately $452,000 to about 410 households through its rent/utility assistance program. 

However, the need is much higher.

The program received 912 household applications totaling a requested amount of about $1.2 million. Most of these households are below the income threshold needed to afford a two-bedroom home without being cost-burdened, which is an hourly rate of $19.73 according to a new study from the National low Income Housing Coalition. 

In the first quarter of 2023, 243 evictions have been filed. If this rate continues, Douglas County will see a 64% increase in eviction filings this year compared to 2022, according to data from Douglas County District Court.

Affordable housing is one of the priorities in the draft housing and homelessness strategic plan, which is called “A Place for Everyone: A Community Plan to End Homelessness.” Douglas County, the City of Lawrence and community stakeholders recently held listening sessions about the draft plan. Here’s a summary of what they heard:

• Prioritize basic needs. Unhoused community members are seeking safety, dignity, health and well-being (food, toilets, showering, hygiene, storage).
• Need sufficient staffing. To reach goals, organizational capacity issues must be addressed to provide sufficient services and housing with the necessary support.
• Peers provide critical roles. It is important to include those with lived experiences in program design and strategic planning and to compensate them for the work.
• Collecting and sharing data. More community engagement and education is needed to increase community support in a plan and to invest in solutions.
• Need for affordable housing. There’s a significant need for additional accessible, quality housing for unique populations, such as families, single parents, LGBTQ+, transition-age youth.

Douglas County Commissioners received an update about the strategic plan during their work session on June 28. To view the work session, visit: https://youtu.be/cvrHRPExEFM

What are the next steps? Douglas County, the City of Lawrence and community stakeholders will prioritize community engagement and education, document immediate, short and long-term cost estimates, and continue to develop the strategic plan.

Ways to help:

• If you are a renter, have rented in the past 24 months, or are looking for rental housing in Douglas County, please take this Tenant Experience Survey: bit.ly/DGCOtenantsurvey. The survey was created by the Sexual Violence Prevention workgroup of LiveWell Douglas County.

• The Douglas County Community Foundation has established a fund for the Housing Stabilization Collaborative, which works with renters to eliminate housing barriers and with landlords to provide safe and affordable housing. Donations help local households stay in their homes and build healthy lives. To donate.

About your Board of County Commissioners

Chair Patrick Kelly

Vice Chair Karen Willey

Shannon Reid

The Board of County Commissioners meets at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts Street, on the second floor in the Commission meeting room. Meetings are also available on Zoom.

They are scheduled to be in budget hearings and deliberations from 9 a.m.-noon July 5-7 and July 10-13. Here's the schedule and more information.

The County Commission took the following action on regular business agenda items in June:

• approved a grant match of $20,000 for the Lasting Infrastructure and Network Connectivity (LINC) program — if selected — to support expanding access to broadband in unserved areas of Douglas County.
• approved extending DCCCA's peer-led social detox project through the end of 2023 at a cost not to exceed $223,000.
• approved temporary business-use permit requests from William Wilkins, of NextEra Energy Resources, for West Gardner Solar to allow utility-scale, solar-related testing activity from June 22 to Aug. 21.
• approved funding for truancy programming through O'Connell Children's Shelter and the Center for Supportive Communities.
• approved a Treatment & Recovery Center reimbursement request from Behavioral Health Partners, Inc.
• approved a site plan for a change of use from event center to small scale industrial and office use at 316 E 900 Road.
• deferred a text amendment for Zoning and Land Use regulations allowing a salvage yard with a conditional-use permit.
• approved a text amendment to correct 2020 revisions to the Zoning and Land Use regulations for the unincorporated area of Douglas County.

** Recordings of the meetings can be found on the Douglas County YouTube channel.

Work sessions

County Commissioners also have work sessions to study and discuss various topics throughout the year. No action is taken during work sessions. If there's a work session, they are held at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays before the business meeting. Here’s the schedule for work sessions in July; however, it may change. So, please check the agenda before attending.

• July 26 – Capital Improvement Projects

Cognitive placards available at Treasurer's Office

The Douglas County Treasurer’s office has cognitive placards for any individual with a cognitive disorder, including children on the autism spectrum. The cognitive placards serve as an indicator for emergency responders. It lets them know that someone in the vehicle has a cognitive disorder and could have alternate ways of communicating, listening or following directions.

It’s recommended that placards are placed on the driver side dash and decal stickers should be placed in the lower left corner of the license plate on the left side of the bolt hole. The application can be found at https://www.ksrevenue.gov/pdf/tr264.pdf and needs to be signed by a doctor.

The Treasurer’s Office has three locations:

• County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
• South Iowa Street, 2000 W. 31st St., Lawrence, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
• Baldwin City Market, 112 Eighth St., Baldwin City, second full week of each month, 8-11 a.m. and noon-4 p.m, Monday-Friday.

Sheriff's Office duo create paintings for nonprofit

Sheriff Service Dog Ciro and Deputy Austin Abram of the DGSO K9 Unit on June 14 created two paintings for Friends of the K9 Vest, Midwest. The organization provides K9 units in the region with advocacy and support, including vests and food. One painting will be auctioned as a fundraiser for the organization, and another painting will go to a donor who is helping to fund food for Ciro.

More info: http://www.facebook.com/k9friendsofvest

Deputy's father graduates from Citizen's Academy

Members of the 2023 Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Citizen's Academy graduated in June.

Sheriff Jay Armbrister presented the class members with their certificates and thanked them for their dedication and participation to learn more about the functions and responsibilities of the Sheriff's Office during the six-week course.

The class included Stuart Sweeney, father of Deputy Claire Sweeney. Family support for law enforcement officers is often integral to their success, and fostering that support is important to Sheriff Armbrister and staff leadership.

Kansas Rural Center Executive Director Tom Buller, far right, will provide a workshop on weed management at 10 a.m. July 16 at the Incubator Farm.

Common Ground hosting workshop on sustainable weed management on July 16

The Common Ground community gardening and urban agriculture program will host a workshop on sustainable weed management on Sunday, July 16, 10-11 am, at the Incubator Farm, located on Highway 24/40 in Lawrence.

Kansas Rural Center Executive Director Tom Buller will be the instructor of the workshop and will cover the most common weeds in residential gardens and small specialty crop farms in Northeast Kansas and teach the basic methods of sustainable weed management.

The workshop is free and open to the public.

For more information or questions, contact Common Ground Program Manager Umut Bayramoglu at ubayramogly@douglascountyks.org or 785-312-2347.

Thirteen projects to receive a total of $210,000 in Heritage Conservation Council grant funds

The Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council recommended $210,000 in funding for 13 projects that were approved by County Commissioners during their meeting on June 14.

The 2023 projects range from a collaborative seed collection team and heritage plant guide to Kansas Riverbank restoration work and signage at Baker University’s Ivan L. Boyd Arboretum.

To view all of the projects: http://dgcoks.org/hccgrants23

We’re seeking to hire people with all kinds of talents, skills and occupational interests. Our job openings include:

• Chief Building Official in Zoning and Codes Department
• Recording clerk in Register of Deeds Office
• Firefighter for Consolidated Fire District No. 1
• Emergency 911 Communications Officer
• Reentry Case Manager for Sheriff's Office
• Account Clerk in County Clerk's Office

For more information and a full list of Douglas County job openings, visit: http://dgcoks.org/jobs

Fireworks: Where to buy, discharge and view them!

Fireworks can be legally discharged in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County as long as the property owner has given permission and provides supervision. Fireworks should not be discharged on a public street or roadway. Fireworks are allowed at the following times:

• Saturday, July 1 - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday, July 2 - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Monday, July 3 - 7 a.m. to midnight
• Tuesday, July 4 - 7 a.m. to midnight

At Lone Star Lake, fireworks are permitted only in signed designated areas. This includes the upper parking lot east of the campground during the following times:

• July 1-2 - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• July 3-4 - 7 a.m. to midnight



Fireworks are also allowed on the point of land southwest of the maintenance buildings and also between the maintenance buildings and community building from 6 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. on July 4. Fireworks are not permitted on any other Lone Star Park lands, including the campground and beach areas.

The Douglas County Zoning & Codes Department regulates the retail sale of fireworks at firework stands and issues the permits for firework stands. Here's where you can purchase fireworks July 1-4.

'Summer Fest' will be July 3 at fairgrounds

The community is invited to attend the City of Lawrence’s “Summer Fest,” a free Independence Day event, on Monday, July 3, at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper Street. Food trucks and live music will begin at 4 p.m., followed by a fireworks display at 9:45 p.m. Viewing will be available from the derby arena. More info: https://lawrenceks.org/summerfest.

Douglas County government offices will be closed Tuesday, July 4, for the Fourth of July. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!

Judicial and Law Enforcement Center:

111 East 11th Street

Lawrence, KS 66044