HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

The Administration office is rocking retro vibes this holiday! Staff brought the '80s back in style with neon outfits, big hair and even an Elliott costume straight out of E.T. For more costume fun, check us out on Facebook and Instagram! Wishing everyone a safe and festive holiday.

Douglas County joins national ranks with 'by-name' homelessness data recognition

Douglas County was recognized this month by the Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services for meeting rigorous by-name data standards — a critical step toward ending homelessness.

By-name data is a real-time, person-specific list of everyone experiencing homelessness — including those who are sheltered and unsheltered — that is updated in real time and provides communities with a full and up-to-date view of homelessness in their geography. Using information collected and shared with their consent, each person on the list has a file that includes their name, homeless history, health and housing needs.

Douglas County is now: 

• The 88th community in the U.S. to reach this standard.

• The first region and second community in Kansas to achieve quality data for single adults.

Now, with by-name data, Douglas County has current and detailed information on every unhoused single adult. With this detailed information, the community can better match housing solutions with need of the individuals. By-name lists often form the basis for case conferencing meetings, where all the providers within the community meet to coordinate and advance housing solutions for people.

• Full news release

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

Voting information for general election

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Registered voters can cast an advance ballot at the Douglas County Elections Office, 711 W. 23rd St., Suite 1, at the following times:

• Today, Oct. 31, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 3, 8 a.m.-noon (closes at noon by law)

You can also vote in advance from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Lecompton Community Building, Eudora City Hall and Baldwin City Public Library.

Most frequently-asked questions:

Q: Am I registered to vote? 

A: https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/voterview

Q: How can I vote?

A: https://www.dgcoks.gov/county-clerk/voting-and-elections/ways-to-vote

Q: Who is running for office?

A: https://www.dgcoks.gov/county-clerk/voting-and-elections/current-candidates

Ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled Nov. 6 for new senior housing

The community is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Delmar Place Apartments at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at 2129 Clinton Parkway. Light refreshments and tours will follow the ceremony.

The building, owned and operated by the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority, includes 32 one-bedroom apartments for low-income seniors. The apartments are designed to maximize residents’ functional abilities and reduce barriers through thoughtful design and support services. 

Delmar Place features accessibility elements that allow residents to age in place, including three times the federally required number of fully accessible units for seniors who use wheelchairs. The building also includes safety features that accommodate tenants with visual or hearing impairments as well as access to transportation, food delivery, recreation and on-site technology.

The $4.7 million project was funded by a $3 million American Rescue Plan Act grant awarded by the Douglas County Commission and $1.4 million from the housing authority’s reserve funds.

Board of County Commissioners

Douglas County Commission meetings are at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays in the historic Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St., on the second floor in the Commission meeting room. Meetings are also available on Zoom. There will be no meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Commissioners took the following action on regular business agenda items in October. They unanimously approved:

• the 2024 financial statement and audit.
• a 2026 property tax rebate program for low-income seniors and disabled veterans.
• a Community Child Care Scholarship Challenge Fund.
• a procedure for evaluating and awarding Municipalities Fight Addiction Fund (MFAF) and special alcohol funding requests from community partners.
• a 2026 service agreement.
• a request for temporary business use permits from Evergy Kansas Central to allow environmental testing activity related to a commercial/utility scale solar energy conversion system project in Grant Township.

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 session is scheduled at 4 p.m. before the business meeting:

• Nov. 5 - Mobile integrated health and coordination of vulnerable seniors.

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

A new addition to the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. Eleventh St., is on track to be finished in summer 2026. The new addition is pictured on the right-hand side of the building.

Construction progresses on Judicial Center addition, Public Safety Building

Construction on the addition to the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center (JLEC) as well as the new Public Safety Building remains on schedule for completion in summer 2026.

The JLEC addition, located on the building’s south side, will include six courtrooms, judges’ chambers, office space for District Court staff and new holding areas for individuals in custody making court appearances. 

The Public Safety Building will serve as the new home for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Emergency Communications (911) and Emergency Management.

JE Dunn Construction hosted a topping-out ceremony Oct. 6 to mark the completion of the structural phase of the Public Safety Building. This event celebrated the placement of the final beam at the highest point of the structure. Signed by construction workers, county employees and elected officials, the beam was lifted into place by a crane.

The final beam is hoisted into place by a crane at the Public Safety Building, which will be located near the Douglas County Correctional Facility, 3601 E. 25th St.

Join the prairie seed collection effort near Baldwin City; no experience needed

The Native Lands Restoration Collaborative and Douglas County will host two events to collect native prairie seeds at the Ivan Boyd Prairie Preserve, 184 E. 2000 Road, east of Baldwin City off of Highway 56 near Black Jack Park.

The events will be:

• Saturday, Nov. 1, 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 9, 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Volunteers are needed to harvest native prairie seeds to support local ecological restoration projects and free seed libraries. No experience is necessary, and all ages are welcome. Host agencies will provide gloves, tools and education. Participants should wear long pants and sturdy, close-toe shoes.

To participate, RSVP by emailing NativeLandsKS@gmail.com so organizers can contact you if the event is rescheduled or canceled due to inclement weather.

Community invited to provide input on Wakarusa Vision Plan during Nov. 20 open house

Douglas County is hosting an open house from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at Douglas County Public Works, 3755 E. 25th St., for residents to review and give input on a developing Wakarusa Vision Plan. 

The plan will serve as an actionable, guiding framework for balancing the diversity of conservation values, including ecology, recreation, cultural heritage and agriculture, within the river corridor and the needs of our growing community. 

For more information, visit: dgcoks.gov/openspace/wakarusa

Survey seeks input from single-parent families

The Anti-Poverty Work Group, in partnership with the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research, is conducting a survey to better understand the experiences of single-parent families in Douglas County.

Single-parent households, particularly those led by single mothers, are more likely to face poverty, housing cost burdens and difficulty securing employment that pays a living wage. But data alone doesn’t tell the full story.

Behind every statistic is a person, a family and a journey. That journey may include hardship, but also joy, resilience, creativity and strength.

By sharing their experiences, single parents can help shape a more complete and honest picture of life in Douglas County. The survey aims to elevate community voices and inform efforts to improve economic mobility, health and well-being.

The goal is to collect at least 100 stories.

To participate, visit ourtomorro.ws/DGCOthrives

Sheriff's Office updates deer list process for county residents to remove deer after crashes

The Sheriff’s Office has updated its process for Douglas County residents to be included on the deer list, which allows individuals to respond and remove deer killed in non-hunting situations, such as crashes on county roads and highways.

The previous list was purged, and the Sheriff’s Office created a new online form at DGSO.org. Anyone who wants to be added — including those on the previous list — will need to complete the new form.

Dispatchers contact the next person on the rotating list when a deer needs to be removed.

This is also a seasonal reminder to watch for deer, particularly on county roads and highways. Be cautious as you drive, especially near dusk and dawn as more deer will be on the move and crossing roads.

Deputy Sebastian Daniel, Deputy Conner Foster, Lt. Rita Fulton-Mays and Special Crimes Analyst Sarah Lunn operated the drive-through site for the Sheriff's Office on Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 25.

Sheriff's Office collects nearly 400 pounds of unused medications as part of Drug Take Back Day

The Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 25 delivered 391 pounds of unused medication from the public to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for safe destruction as part of National Drug Take Back Day.

Deputies collected 14 boxes as part of the drive-through site on Oct. 25 and the year-round drop box in the lobby of the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. Eleventh St.

The goal of National Drug Take Back Day is to provide a safe disposal of unneeded medications from homes to prevent medication misuse or opioid addiction. The next National Drug Take Back Day will be in April 2026. 

Members of the public can bring small amounts of unused medications during business hours to the drop box in the lobby.

Members of the Douglas County Underwater Search and Recovery Team, from left, Lt. Robert Berryman, Lawrence police officers Jeremiah Risner and Parker Finch, Deputy Colton Bonner, Sgt. Tyler Jackson and Lt. Deb Porter helped remove debris from Lone Star Lake as part of a training exercise in October.

Underwater search and recovery team cleans up depths of Lone Star Lake

The Douglas County Underwater Search and Recovery Team under the Sheriff's Office conducted its annual public service project Oct. 9 to remove debris from Lone Star Lake.

The team incorporates its training into the cleanup every year. Divers practiced recovering objects from the water near the swim beach and bagged the trash.

The dive team includes members of DGSO Operations and Corrections divisions as well as officers from the Lawrence Police Department and Eudora Police Department.

County joins Operation Green Light for veterans

Douglas County is proud to join hundreds of counties nationwide in Operation Green Light, a campaign to show veterans that their service and sacrifice are recognized, appreciated and supported.

From Nov. 4-11, the historic County Courthouse will be illuminated in green to honor veterans and their families. We invite residents and local businesses to participate by displaying green lights at their homes and storefronts.

Douglas County has 52 employees who have served in the military. We extend our deepest gratitude to them and to all veterans for their dedication to our safety and freedom. A proclamation will be read at the County Commission meeting on Nov. 5.

In observance of Veterans Day, Douglas County government offices, District Court and the Senior Resource Center will be closed Tuesday, Nov. 11.

Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday. Don't forget to turn back your clocks and test your smoke alarms this weekend.

Judicial and Law Enforcement Center:

111 East 11th Street

Lawrence, KS 66044