[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6520414,"mediaKeyId","5331689-ba7b381005847f3d394799555819f4b1","parentId",5331689,"title","Board ends JDAI participation as of July 31; amendment to retain coordinator fails","audioSeconds",2507,"startMs",5174000,"endMs",7681000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5331689-ba7b381005847f3d394799555819f4b1&start=5174&end=7681","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5331689-ba7b381005847f3d394799555819f4b1/thumbnail_5174000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6520414/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Board-ends-JDAI-participation-as-of-July-31-amendment-to-retain-coordinator-fails","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520414-40f0f96688f938b0dd31a3ba20c4bfd8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771231836&Signature=PitxNtocpIyIq3QsP0gctPRmK7EiBSGOYKG9zUpQp8bpvQVYxXwW0X3fTxMUYpe8kKiYlJFviPUUH8WkbD23u17iTlF0VuwYFotyHQDNcUQDTWXXoUf2BrrurpWPjJYGPkiXSNmHW9UdjjZTChVRx7soUZk6yJlaPXK-KHlHmj43mqefVJ84jhkToKNx01Ev4qRojAXcz6-HsLiZb~MV3vFJelvawxrzTVp59nCPO1AJW6MPWZYEINBQ4DqhBT2jlX4I8PqNNSGNUFd1rFrlRCzRuwJU5n8SOELGFKSj4TlPnQ-p~2GW6UjIPgNZ9R9UMxkOe-xiXJyvxs1Vkj8lgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Douglas County, NE","date","2025-07-08T21:23:47.073Z","article","The Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted on July 8, 2025 to end the county’s JDAI (Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative) participation and funding effective July 31, 2025.

Why it matters: JDAI has been active in the county for more than a decade and drew sustained discussion over staffing, local responsibilities, and whether the initiative’s state-level support should continue. Commissioners debated whether the county should retain the JDAI coordinator role locally, convert the existing state-funded position to a county position, or redeploy funds to other county juvenile-justice priorities.

Key actions and votes
- An amendment by Commissioner Rogers to continue JDAI efforts and funding (including maintaining the coordinator position locally) was put to a vote and failed: Commissioners Rogers and \"Porgerson\" voted yes; all other commissioners voted no.
- The main motion to conclude JDAI efforts and funding as of July 31, 2025 passed with a 5–2 vote (Commissioners Rogers and \"Porgerson\" voting no). The board record shows the final tally and that the motion included the date change from June 30 to July 31.
- Separately, the board approved a technical resolution to provide funding for the JDAI coordinator position through July 31 so the transition could proceed; that narrow funding motion passed 7–0.

During debate, commissioners expressed divergent views. Supporters of concluding the initiative said JDAI energy had waned and that the county should pursue a new realignment focused on pre-adjudication services, placements and partnerships with schools and community providers. Those urging continued local staffing argued the coordinator role had institutional knowledge that would be difficult to replace and could be used to lead a reconstituted county-level effort.

County administration noted there is no existing county job classification to directly absorb the state position without creating and posting a new county position; administration cautioned the county would need to define job responsibilities and funding sources before creating a new county role. Commissioners discussed alternatives such as contract hire or a county-funded position but did not adopt a plan to hire the coordinator as a county employee at the meeting.

The board recorded a final vote approving conclusion of JDAI funding as of July 31, and asked staff to pursue strategic alternatives for juvenile justice coordination and service alignment going forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners Douglas County Nebraska meeting July 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted to end county participation and funding for the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) effective July 31, 2025 after extended debate on staffing and county responsibilities.","taxTitle","Douglas County, Nebraska","taxId",2554,"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},6520419,"Board appoints Tim Kavanaugh as Douglas County treasurer; he is sworn in at meeting",375,3125000,3500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5331689-ba7b381005847f3d394799555819f4b1&start=3125&end=3500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5331689-ba7b381005847f3d394799555819f4b1/thumbnail_3125000.jpg","/articles/6520419/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Board-appoints-Tim-Kavanaugh-as-Douglas-County-treasurer-he-is-sworn-in-at-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520419-081d8bf63cb558be85b6f1fbbfa7577f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771231836&Signature=QQJHfsq20CprjBumXLno2R626FPLoUfU1NOi5tYz-E0dC3SO5vrcpRUt6UICVW-AGzsnW0sWDwl8kJ~jyvDwpCKHn5M4RUA2zplnWxqkYcAHw3Q9mMS1Hnr180W9WtobXPfd~9GlVDtMyd0aICVEkg2PRx9qk8z7uEHnvsaXGLfeSsOMLLswfl9v9QVkWuNUYfYxZzYzCuukiMdepClkYPkf0oZlVc5DBfeiK20MCpN8brnzP6px2tLTpfaS2FKngg6XST0~Fwgjdx2smz~vAZMTlbAEwNzdS2QL9StqVhuoi9FfDbcceBTrumoVeSnt8c3YHsaZyk3dUjOiZuqNVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 on July 8, 2025 to appoint Tim Kavanaugh to the office of Douglas County Treasurer to complete the unexpired term of John Ewing.

Why it matters: The treasurer’s office handles property-tax collection and related administrative functions. Commissioners said they sought a nonpolitical, experienced internal transition to maintain continuity during software updates and other administrative projects.

The board moved and seconded the resolution to appoint Kavanaugh and approved a clerical correction in the resolution language before the final vote. Kavanaugh was sworn in at the dais by Judge Panikin; after the oath he addressed the board, thanked staff and commissioners and said, \"Taxpayer experience is number 1 with me.\" He said he will prioritize continuity and the public’s trust as he assumes the office.

Commissioners who spoke in support described the appointment as bipartisan and focused on operational continuity. Commissioner Cavanaugh called the choice \"nonpartisan\" and said the appointment will help complete administrative projects already in progress.

The board also took a scrivener’s-step to fix a typo in the text of the resolution before finalizing the item.","The Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint Tim Kavanaugh to complete the unexpired term of former Treasurer John Ewing. Kavanaugh was sworn in at the meeting by a county judge and pledged to prioritize taxpayer experience and continuity in office operations.",{"_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},6520424,"Douglas County receives OJJDP planning report recommending prevention, navigation and career-pathway priorities for youth",466,70000,536000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5331689-ba7b381005847f3d394799555819f4b1&start=70&end=536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5331689-ba7b381005847f3d394799555819f4b1/thumbnail_70000.jpg","/articles/6520424/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Douglas-County-receives-OJJDP-planning-report-recommending-prevention-navigation-and-career-pathway-priorities-for-youth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520424-ecfea51f14588f697d0150be65427d4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771231836&Signature=Of5Q9finlDu1OFut14itA2uPhKGfqpPxx05e-N3oaSdMvKhQhaTrihOFKPL4U5ZzUa9u~ePyCcoHw2sL9n4B77nL9eHh8ccisg4iR4ID7T6i1Y6~2PZI809P5AP9mLoi5yEvowrw1gY9-P03obPEAi7r8xHj1Pm94KE6GppGebdWcXan1jxL62Opnph-cDCHtmKHr1XqpZG8YdfA-4F9tWPCtW9g4MDE5DQJCQyYhgBYRHFVUVHHBuPacMuXtUP5K93H4DowaVU2wGAnMyahYC-OCPvjVHfOBZQUAvSfcVhUUOTAcU0gTgkyd1ryOy0GCAfvwF49m76Kw8xcVlYfHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kim Havocati, deputy county administrator overseeing juvenile justice, presented the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention planning grant assessment to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners on July 8, 2025.

The report, awarded May 2024 under an OJJDP planning grant, summarizes a year of assessment work including focus groups with more than 170 community service providers, about 250 youth and over 200 families, and more than 100 legal and law enforcement personnel. Havocati said the process included an external facilitator and evaluator and produced an asset map and a strategic plan in draft form.

Why it matters: The planning grant aims to develop a sustainable, evidence-based continuum of care for at-risk and system-involved youth in Douglas County. Commissioners said the report’s findings—high absenteeism in school, elevated youth mental-health needs, and concentrated poverty in particular ZIP codes—underscore persistent system and community gaps that affect juvenile justice outcomes.

The assessment identified three prioritized goals: strengthen families’ ability to navigate community resources, improve youth life skills (both soft and hard skills), and expand access to career and workforce pathways. Havocati said the county’s strategic planning council has developed implementation steps and is drafting action items, with a fuller strategic plan and evaluation materials expected later in the year.

Havocati described findings from the county’s data review and community input. She cited the statewide youth risk assessment showing nearly 27 percent of youth reported feeling sad or hopeless and that 23 percent said their mental health was not good most of the time. She said juvenile justice case data show about 50 percent of youth in the county juvenile justice system have a diagnosed mental-health issue, and school-discipline data cited in the report show disparate suspension rates by race.

Commissioners pressed for details on funding, metrics and implementation. Commissioner Tim Cavanaugh asked that a separate grants summary be attached to the report; he referenced a list of federal and state grants discussed during the meeting. Commissioner Fahey requested the underlying data sources and an appendix identifying which organizations contributed focus-group information; Havocati said a more comprehensive report and appendices will be released by December to meet grant and public-record requirements.

Public commenters and several commissioners emphasized transportation, availability of affordable extracurricular activities and mentorship shortages as barriers identified by youth and families. The report’s asset map—being developed in partnership with United Way of the Midlands and other providers—will be combined with a searchable on-line resource as part of the implementation work.

Havocati said the grant-funded work included convening a Juvenile Justice Advisory Council and that implementation, communication and evaluation steps are underway. She told the board the planning grant’s purpose was to \"assist jurisdictions in planning and assessing evidence based prevention and intervention services to develop a continuum of care for at risk and system involved youth.\"","County staff presented a year-long Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) planning grant assessment that recommends three priority goals—navigation to community resources, youth life skills, and career pathways—after focus groups with hundreds of youth, families, providers and system actors.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6520405,"Board approves Visitor Improvement Fund awards; commissioners split and one abstention recorded",954,9700000,10654000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5331689-ba7b381005847f3d394799555819f4b1&start=9700&end=10654","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5331689-ba7b381005847f3d394799555819f4b1/thumbnail_9700000.jpg","/articles/6520405/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Board-approves-Visitor-Improvement-Fund-awards-commissioners-split-and-one-abstention-recorded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520405-bef33cb37d2d6d6823d9c76e233a1a39/orig.mp4?Expires=1771231836&Signature=QrLZ8cH93NRTEmd7s66arLF-QzC6sOWqXfuJsXANmTbipddMY6v0NikdayJzwRNNo2leYivclZG9JG~a3enLmUSXMhDUDRXgHq-oe2G5pHrJi8vBVoVVslgIb7QAVSlYM9jqync3QUvOtdPGw3UGqXpol4OAxd2JFN1Nl-0RzIPG8rdDQE9C4y29tOaSfBWWC6czvdOGKBeW0LqOGqueuj6xahObwalnO8Kw-6h7H06YME17l0wLoPjoHRxOFgqKpKNBY78pvGgl2g9Y5qNZ0Qj1hcHj~-SMMJgsPik7ooCQIq4SyZueqPDdacY5AR48QFW4YBOzWsVdEqMrzZ88qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved the Visitor Improvement Fund committee’s recommended awards at the July 8 meeting following public discussion about the fund’s purpose and eligibility.

Why it matters: The Visitor Improvement Fund is financed by hotel/motel tax revenue and is intended for projects that increase visitor activity and support tourist attractions. Commissioners and committee members debated how to weigh project metrics (heads-and-beds impact) versus quality-of-life or community events that may not directly drive lodging revenue.

The board voted to approve the committee’s recommendations. The roll call recorded Commissioner Fahey abstaining and Commissioners Borgeson and Friend voting no; the remainder voted yes (final recorded tally shows the motion passed). Committee vice-chair Jay Lund and staff said the application and scoring materials were provided and that committee members had applied selection criteria developed in the grant review process.

Contested item: Several commissioners and an applicant asked the board to reconsider or re-evaluate the committee’s decision not to fund the Outland Trophy event bid fee. Commissioner Borgeson said the award historically brought national-level visitors and argued the event fit the fund’s purpose; county staff and the committee had concluded the specific request was not a good fit under the committee’s interpretation of the criteria. Commissioner Friend and others asked the board to review the scoring and selection process and suggested better tracking of visitor-origin data.

Board members asked staff and committee representatives to consider improvements including clearer eligibility guidance, better post-award tracking of visitor origin and zip-code reporting, and whether surplus revenue could be applied to projects the committee declined this cycle.

The board approved the awards package with the recorded abstention and two no votes; commissioners asked staff to return with process improvements and additional transparency measures for future cycles.","The Douglas County Board approved the county Visitor Improvement Fund committee’s recommended grant awards after debate about eligibility and the fund’s purpose. The vote recorded four yes, two no and one abstention; commissioners flagged potential next steps to improve measurement and transparency.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6520409,"Board approves multiple farmstead lot splits and related rezones in county planning hearings",328,4994000,5322000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5331689-ba7b381005847f3d394799555819f4b1&start=4994&end=5322","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5331689-ba7b381005847f3d394799555819f4b1/thumbnail_4994000.jpg","/articles/6520409/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Board-approves-multiple-farmstead-lot-splits-and-related-rezones-in-county-planning-hearings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520409-046790b7a108bb2a204b6948cd1b8250/orig.mp4?Expires=1771231836&Signature=SoUvo7j~nPk5NkxoXec9Aa8GZ~egQKOAnYZ38QT33Rm8KubIKxO5FMGpK8Y4Pu-6UEY5r5bedyECurYlkKnzwYzzuENxIjGBTVuj5xNflgJ6hJZnuSZ73~ISI1nYA3eyzVLRLIXBkh-g7~4uj1LP6X0T68unq3~M6iB-zb-dS~BngItzJVB2VU966MkQHxTrIsfEFBURL-jGXVjQfCUU1JnnUvd7veCjzd3UkvHOulmiIjZwr4lrRLGzO2zCqkPTbWq5OthQk-IbHzwb1ZrwLHWKDAqGgoYYDP6hPe-uXlsPVy5N1t~02DF02Zs06KE7UeyPx9W~Uu2NpqjoBXp4vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved several planning and zoning matters during public hearings on July 8, 2025. The items were presented by Laura Dietrich, planning and zoning coordinator, and had received favorable recommendations from the county Planning Commission.

Items approved (all votes 7–0):
- Posh Estates: preliminary and final farmstead lot split (approx. 3.5 acres) splitting the homestead and ag buildings from the larger agricultural parcel; associated rezone of the split parcel from AG to rural residential.
- Batten Acres: preliminary and final farmstead lot split (approx. 3.25–3.5 acres) and associated rezone from AG to rural residential for the farmstead parcel.
- Jeff Stoll parcel: amendment to the future land use map to change a medium-density residential designation to low-density residential (to permit up to ~4 units/acre) and a companion rezoning request from AG to R1 to allow a lower-density subdivision; Planning Commission recommended approval and the board approved both items 7–0.

Why it matters: Farmstead lot splits allow an agricultural parcel to separate the homestead and farm buildings while leaving the larger parcel in agricultural zoning. The Stoll application represents a downzoning request tied to the developer’s plan to build a lower-density subdivision that would connect to municipal services; Dietrich said municipal service capacity and developer-funded infrastructure are prerequisites for the lower-density designation.

During the hearings, commissioners asked whether the requested redesignations would deviate from the county’s future land-use map; staff said the Stoll parcel can be served by municipal services and the change was not inconsistent with the Planning Commission’s guidance. Commissioners also asked about who pays for municipal service extensions; staff said developer-funded infrastructure would be required.","At its July 8 meeting the Douglas County Board approved several farmstead lot-split preliminary/final plats and associated rezones to rural residential, and approved an amendment and rezone for a developer request to lower planned density to R1 (low-density residential) for a Jeff Stoll parcel.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board ends JDAI participation as of July 31; amendment to retain coordinator fails

Board appoints Tim Kavanaugh as Douglas County treasurer; he is sworn in at meeting

Douglas County receives OJJDP planning report recommending prevention, navigation and career-pathway priorities for youth

Board approves Visitor Improvement Fund awards; commissioners split and one abstention recorded

Board approves multiple farmstead lot splits and related rezones in county planning hearings