[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6521959,"mediaKeyId","5077394-2792d06df03ecdad12ee7b6059ae0ed5","parentId",5077394,"title","Commissioners discuss EDC bylaw change that gives commission appointee a vote and explore sustainable funding options","audioSeconds",284,"startMs",656000,"endMs",940000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5077394-2792d06df03ecdad12ee7b6059ae0ed5&start=656&end=940","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5077394-2792d06df03ecdad12ee7b6059ae0ed5/thumbnail_656000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6521959/Douglas-County/Kansas/Commissioners-discuss-EDC-bylaw-change-that-gives-commission-appointee-a-vote-and-explore-sustainable-funding-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6521959-ef1494a061106ec2fbfbd2b51232e3eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186189&Signature=IfMiy2ysJDvcjD85U48hTsMn6wq56bFAlQvNqxasZ-hYgk4QGgj0Ez49Xeza1e0FSGtEM1QZLodrFDBXWlvHBlh6Z955XqtIzQHH9Dn2BJa4hrVimj1PnJePbnrPBUsy2jn3xEqdYl6Fz5KGFLClWeaFs6rRVjt038dRqkF9cEh399A2KDJefBqAXnSVlsAcjUk~0omDtjeVPeeseC4nWM~jTjRRFfAoJa2TFJH4OI0wt9CmsILPf7UA9eiWUBY2Hbaik~Z5TJVAXwMBV~aJCidnliGN3B8lz42475X1pTCoYcjtd6OZhA1~MeAT9AIaImKkViPwUsQNW0~sMCi7xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Douglas County, KS","date","2025-06-25T23:36:17.643Z","article","Douglas County commissioners on June 25 discussed changes to the Economic Development Corporation's bylaws that make the county commission's appointee or designee a voting member and flagged next steps on sustainable funding and board composition.

Commissioners said the EDC recently passed new bylaws that, among other changes, make the county commission's appointee or a designee a voting member. The same change applies to the city commission's appointee. Commissioners discussed whether the county should continue to appoint an elected commissioner as its voting member or instead designate county staff or a community member.

Members also discussed setting goals and committees intended to improve attendance and engagement. Commissioners and EDC leadership identified four goal areas and committee structures to drive work plans; the goals were developed by EDC leadership and staff and discussed and voted on at a May EDC meeting, according to the transcript. Commissioners said they may reconsider the size of the EDC board if attendance does not improve.

One commissioner said they will serve as co-chair for a sustainable funding committee for the EDC and noted that the county is exploring alternative funding models, including models used elsewhere in the state.

County staff (Sarah) reminded commissioners of upcoming administrative items: a quarterly lunch with district court judges on July 1 and a 4:00 p.m. work session next week on consolidated fire district number 1 and an analysis from EFCI.

No formal county-level change to the EDC appointment process was recorded at the June 25 meeting; the transcript records a discussion of the EDC's internal bylaw changes and steps staff and commissioners may take going forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Douglas County, KS, Commissioners Meeting on June 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Douglas County commissioners discussed a recent Economic Development Corporation bylaw change that makes the county commission's appointee or designee a voting member, and considered possible changes to board size and funding models.","taxTitle","Douglas County, Kansas","taxId",2887,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6521963,"Public commenter urges review of Bert Nash staffing and finances, raises concerns about political violence",159,167000,326000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5077394-2792d06df03ecdad12ee7b6059ae0ed5&start=167&end=326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5077394-2792d06df03ecdad12ee7b6059ae0ed5/thumbnail_167000.jpg","/articles/6521963/Douglas-County/Kansas/Public-commenter-urges-review-of-Bert-Nash-staffing-and-finances-raises-concerns-about-political-violence","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6521963-0ef75d7238d4118942efaed257f46fa3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186189&Signature=KRC8Cdc6PXOcNotECqob4JgQ3unx8Zz7UbBOOib56GCBlrlQGyZAG0qUyDEw3h5awdR7vqkUcLdUJBCMeiLKZVHlcEHJKH5m9Hj9iKET6RNrL8~x6z-k3~JkPyhsEHXwsxGI6TNPrp61jJ6Ea5KL2UuyTF9N2BcK-SA9YCabbMGfyjGnnFCoIl-kfJVxhzT3LyDAsprmKTxxwyX~qo6ftKWstoqwc5sNoPAnYKXJLWnGVdyOXxFim4oYAbEcpNMFKuWXkCZHFba0Rlg7EumF4g3i0batKlhP4ojPKI3KpHMB1obhWGxJNSCjg12ysG7fmFuPMusuRnRCl6iY3Y7hmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A public commenter told the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners on June 25 that the county should press community mental-health provider Bert Nash to perform a comprehensive staffing and financial review following staff departures.

Michael Dean introduced himself during the general public comment period and said he had emailed Matthew Herbert requesting a full financial assessment and \"a top to bottom review of the staff, strengths and weaknesses, mental health and problem solving.\" He said Bert Nash had \"lost some good people\" and expressed concern that those departures help explain shortcomings in street-level services.

Dean also used his remaining time to raise concerns about what he called incidents of political violence and urged commissioners to speak out. He said a local Democratic party chair had endorsed political violence and described incidents of people being locked out of public spaces; he asked county officials to discourage such behavior. He referenced former school board service and suggested the county commission could provide advice to the local school district.

The transcript records these remarks as public comment; the commission did not record any formal action or response to Dean's specific requests during the meeting.","Michael Dean urged the Douglas County commissioners to press mental-health provider Bert Nash for a top-to-bottom personnel and financial review and also raised concerns about political violence involving local party leadership.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6521969,"Resident says developmentally disabled man lost roughly 50 pounds in Douglas County jail, urges county health oversight",76,391000,467000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5077394-2792d06df03ecdad12ee7b6059ae0ed5&start=391&end=467","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5077394-2792d06df03ecdad12ee7b6059ae0ed5/thumbnail_391000.jpg","/articles/6521969/Douglas-County/Kansas/Resident-says-developmentally-disabled-man-lost-roughly-50-pounds-in-Douglas-County-jail-urges-county-health-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6521969-34b057d13374039fb8dfc433ab8318c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186189&Signature=CZw1eVyUjUObuwPOyqarPcwV6Z0CP3FslSxaPaRknwfZvQe-HCSSWCqur1vTG1bwzoas6GsCa98D0NqAVEHO9bxqXfQ2Rf1k~ruCdoQ16ZQiV1gK6saMMZ6e7n02Dw-M-XnZBVQJnBkwWzYxS792CksiDkjbczcXEMh1ZFX5Q9wCkr5-cnF2XHOkupN8Da0UGvPc6DrEoohOrr6ax5~MiDG2~u1SKrq-K1aLSy0U4~0OMyzLB7dIGdwTLUb22vuhHmi3NOYZ7PHg4D-w8KR8SVj~4mWjwI1JvQ~KwQvenXIbMzUQvk6zYuwOt8MKeQbdr~A9HwUZ8YVFKvmrjm~eZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident told the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners on June 25 that a developmentally disabled man she visited in the county jail had lost about 50 pounds while detained and urged the county to establish health-care oversight for the jail.

Helen (last name not provided) said she visited the man in April and May and described him as having severe level-3 autism and not intellectually impaired. She said his ideal body weight for his height (6-foot-7) would be about 220 pounds and that he left custody weighing 170 pounds. On the record she said, \"he exited that jail weighing 170 pounds,\" and that \"he starved in that jail because he could not advocate for himself.\"

Helen said she raised the issue with a lieutenant at the jail but that medical staff had repeatedly reported the inmate as \"fine.\" She told commissioners that relying on corrections personnel alone to override medical assessments can be dangerous and that county-level oversight is needed because the state lacks a mechanism for health-care oversight in jails, in her view.

She said she provided the commission with a copy of a 2008 American Bar Association resolution (dated 02/2008) recommending oversight and that she had drafted a local resolution suggesting decarceration strategies to help pay for such oversight. Helen said she believes the county should not wait for state-level changes and urged immediate attention.

The transcript records her comments as public comment; the commission did not record any formal vote or direction on the record in response to her remarks during the June 25 meeting.

No medical records, provider names, or staff responses are recorded in the meeting transcript. Helen said the facility had retained medical professionals but that, in her view, \"the experts failed us.\"","A resident told the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners that a developmentally disabled man she visited in the county jail lost about 50 pounds and urged the county to establish health-care oversight for the jail, citing an American Bar Association resolution.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":44,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6521974,"Douglas County commissioners approve consent agenda, appoint Commissioner Karen Willie to Solid Waste Advisory Board",517,139000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5077394-2792d06df03ecdad12ee7b6059ae0ed5&start=139&end=656","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5077394-2792d06df03ecdad12ee7b6059ae0ed5/thumbnail_139000.jpg","/articles/6521974/Douglas-County/Kansas/Douglas-County-commissioners-approve-consent-agenda-appoint-Commissioner-Karen-Willie-to-Solid-Waste-Advisory-Board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6521974-27d68a299877f8623f0859fc4a46d9a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186189&Signature=WJpeD9adH8rlKO35ZIXdep~qtRtK8UeQ5UziG86fPBZK4mXFt8ow1-nHrOBINWmqtrbQIlY1sn~wcbYf~xZDDWOGq9tOJLDbDrdu9kO7BAsjVd7ZQMZBPHe8xT7TFEYw3Yc1iY17YAC04D~LTk3pnbFMTSB7W73EeoEfVsBi4ICTaUqiEc0E8SyfeDl0EP3l3OGCFBIT4IuJcFchuAa43UKHcjU748J8aoBx4EfzPoZzW-OhYP5WSJTor5iExuI3uoK5gOgaCJs4FZNxzhtox3egU-xkXt-YbyAmbmH0m0SzvkRuNy5eKHkiUyGR3ZfYlUkHj-jGDoSROZePQvQbPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved its consent agenda and appointed Commissioner Karen Willie to the county's Solid Waste Advisory Board at the June 25 business meeting.

Commissioners voted to approve the consent agenda items labeled 1.1 and 1.2 after a motion and second; the chair called the vote and the clerk recorded the outcome as 5-0 in favor. The commission then moved to appoint Commissioner Karen Willie to the Solid Waste Advisory Board. The motion to appoint was moved and seconded, and the commissioners voted in favor by voice, recorded as unanimous.

The meeting packet lists the consent agenda as containing two items (1.1 and 1.2). The transcript does not specify the contents or subject matter of those two consent items.

No additional conditions, amendments, or follow-up tasks tied to either the consent items or the appointment were stated on the record.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (items 1.1 and 1.2): Approved; vote tally recorded as 5-0; motion moved and seconded; details of the consent items not specified on the public record at the meeting.

- Appointment: Commissioner Karen Willie to Solid Waste Advisory Board: Approved; motion moved and seconded; vote taken by voice, recorded as unanimous; no further qualifications recorded.

The meeting moved on to general public comment and other administrative items after the votes.","At the June 25 Douglas County Board of County Commissioners meeting, the commission unanimously approved the consent agenda and voted to appoint Commissioner Karen Willie to the Solid Waste Advisory Board.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners discuss EDC bylaw change that gives commission appointee a vote and explore sustainable funding options

Public commenter urges review of Bert Nash staffing and finances, raises concerns about political violence

Resident says developmentally disabled man lost roughly 50 pounds in Douglas County jail, urges county health oversight

Douglas County commissioners approve consent agenda, appoint Commissioner Karen Willie to Solid Waste Advisory Board