[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6147908,"mediaKeyId","5518668-477224cb82325b3c7eb008b985526c08","parentId",5518668,"title","Board appoints John Thomas to Palmyra Fire District No. 2 board","audioSeconds",127,"startMs",4799000,"endMs",4926000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5518668-477224cb82325b3c7eb008b985526c08&start=4799&end=4926","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5518668-477224cb82325b3c7eb008b985526c08/thumbnail_4799000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6147908/Kansas/Board-appoints-John-Thomas-to-Palmyra-Fire-District-No-2-board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147908-d113f1af2cf059962f8d71fca2c40c64/orig.mp4?Expires=1775607574&Signature=JUV28Joz483Jj5OrG5yhPUa~u-4h3I6~i6sCXB1tgL55ev686U7JOdPj5nXAWWB1GO3pQV3avdov0WXYq4HQXulYbimeM36--it0v0X6-ZjY0MnIQZTOMc1CIF6dzaFBsP5IVcPcLFpjbSG0Cjqv293ZSZiCEy5svs~phgGj6QtkA-8vEtDJ6M5SFDuXgE-5uAWQ2ovCRa2zBI-BUCju5hlLRpGi084afyJu9zmrHaAGFx4MtElu1moqeuNvX2PMOrTwt7khK~OybTBhNbnzrIfIROAyIETjT~Uv2pF2AxWZh1z4p5ZnWOZSpli9L1pTxlDELfw5sZ2EA-Pqit0wBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Douglas County, KS","date","2025-07-31T15:18:52Z","article","The Douglas County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an appointment to the Palmyra Fire District No. 2 board on July 30, appointing John Thomas to fill an open seat.

County staff said Commissioner Willie recommended Thomas and that Thomas had visited with the board and attended a meeting. A commissioner who said they had served with Thomas seconded the appointment. The motion passed on a 5-0 voice vote.

The appointment fills a current opening on the Palmyra Fire District No. 2 board; no public comment was recorded on the item at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Douglas County Commissioners Meeting on July 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission approved the appointment of John Thomas to the Palmyra Fire District No. 2 board by a 5-0 vote after a commissioner recommended him and staff said he had met the board and attended a meeting.","taxTitle","County Commission, Douglas County, Kansas","taxId",69828,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6147914,"Commissioners review $150 million 2026–2030 capital improvement plan; staff recommends pausing new allocations to 1242 Massachusetts Street",2487,2352000,4839000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5518668-477224cb82325b3c7eb008b985526c08&start=2352&end=4839","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5518668-477224cb82325b3c7eb008b985526c08/thumbnail_2352000.jpg","/articles/6147914/Kansas/Commissioners-review-150-million-20262030-capital-improvement-plan-staff-recommends-pausing-new-allocations-to-1242-Massachusetts-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147914-0f1480ea898227921b8f2b037766b158/orig.mp4?Expires=1775607574&Signature=WNJrMnYY-lCYeVGM4bW6kPfDf~dIJBGzU9Ah0p~bLB1pLRZ7j05OEOBh3ZxUPycauXmBvW3rJHGBjzMTQuIvAeXbhgIfd85R4qw3n-sr0cM1K5VoFDtzJdtBSoYxCXrXjkahhzXNiL3N68NgqKmnUVAAExw9GD3lV4bHgUS1GBIU3h53Pzne1BJO0Q23CKtigi8ecbhEMK4cJmOWHkt~aZV8cwq7XXWJpTUrgBZ85seRyNp3zJxLcvLMXXGwCDYVTaHOj0YXdrvrYYQhRO9XchAGwL4qmhOehHWjdc3yHqjZMoY3p02O9J4EHsRswXIb9py3XSVfSHXSdflyPDaeVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Douglas County staff presented the 2026–2030 Capital Improvement Plan to the Board of County Commissioners on July 30, outlining roughly $150 million in capital projects over the five-year window, including an $89 million allocation for the Public Safety Building.

Brooke, who led the presentation, summarized completed projects, current-year expenditures and planned projects including facilities renovations, bridge replacements, the Walkerusa Drive extension, park improvements and an open-space program. Brooke said the county had already recorded roughly $15.3 million in CIP expenditures in 2025 and highlighted that 2025 may be one of the higher-spend years in recent memory.

Public works staff described bridge and road priorities and cautioned that contractor availability is limiting the county’s ability to bid and complete several bridge projects; two recently advertised bridges drew bids on only one of the two projects and staff said contractors report being fully booked through 2026. The Walkerusa Drive extension is currently estimated at about $10.3 million; staff said federal approvals (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) are required before design can proceed and that construction is likely to be bid in 2027.

Brooke and Chad reviewed facility projects and called attention to 1242 Massachusetts Street. Staff recommended that, following the courthouse renovation and relocation to the Public Safety Building, the county likely will not need 1242 Massachusetts for its operations. Commissioners asked whether to continue allocating new funds to that building; after discussion the board provided direction not to add new allocations to 1242 Massachusetts in the CIP and to retain existing funds on the project to cover any necessary actions while staff prepares a formal recommendation on disposition or sale. Staff noted statutory and procedural requirements for selling county property, including the need for a unanimous commission vote to sell.

Other items noted in the plan included a $625,000 ARPA allocation for park improvements (with $231,000 already spent), use of FEMA tornado recovery funds and insurance settlement proceeds to replace a maintenance building, and a KDOT grant of $1.4 million for a bridge project that must be contracted within a KDOT timetable; staff warned that scheduling conflicts with nearby KDOT work could constrain the county’s window to complete that bridge.

The CIP is a working document; staff will return with edits before formal adoption and will follow up on commissioner direction regarding 1242 Massachusetts Street.","Staff presented a $150 million CIP focused on public safety, roads, bridges and facilities; Public Safety Building represents $89 million of that total. Commissioners directed staff not to add new allocations to 1242 Massachusetts Street pending discussion of selling the property and to retain the existing balance for potential short-term needs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6147918,"County authorizes $149,520 HUD Continuum of Care grant renewal after funding cut",281,2082000,2363000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5518668-477224cb82325b3c7eb008b985526c08&start=2082&end=2363","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5518668-477224cb82325b3c7eb008b985526c08/thumbnail_2082000.jpg","/articles/6147918/Kansas/County-authorizes-149520-HUD-Continuum-of-Care-grant-renewal-after-funding-cut","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147918-71919d478f8d7b2eaeacd333b194e3cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775607574&Signature=MLht5scNRQc9MLPQ~nzdENK2MFdkDJKfTfyf86nVKpe4~R-yRpOWhh9FRbFFvseEqqGOZQqcfwwLGyi9D0BuKdoUUUDPDr5BbZ37Dr2tYvfxHfVsXdhf6SWv6QTttKjvlEZ4CmVTHeFLls6iJk3HEy2RYncs6eA37Kjz2hfoWsqHGsI9ID5p5BlmvH17GEpt6ZLIYF032Ks2SVrXEnut2MNHBZ585EyKyOkpy2TOx7Lvh2nycQ3Rnda2Sycn2~djS6yJWRZFBKu45M5hS5OfdfipCfNVuLUZnykxz-uC4Mp4yi8yUXj5v2t3sP-Zu3ee8zEfFHbPF0BW01RmTWw8FA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Douglas County Board of Commissioners authorized the county administrator to sign a renewal grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for $149,520 on July 30. The 12-month renewal begins April 1, 2025, and continues a permanent supportive housing program originally funded in 2022–24.

Jill, who presented the item, said the county initially received a 2022 award that totaled $321,032 for the first year; that award supported a 15-month initial program period beginning Jan. 1, 2024, and that the program successfully housed 12 chronically homeless individuals and that two of those participants later obtained vouchers through the housing authority. When HUD published the renewal award amount earlier in July, Jill said the county’s renewal was reduced to $149,520.

Jill told commissioners that staff does not expect the program to be fully sustained by HUD in the 2026 cycle and that there is no national, identified alternative funding source for permanent supportive housing should Continuum of Care allocations be reduced or eliminated. She said staff is prepared to apply for future renewals if funds are restored.

Commissioners approved the grant authorization by a 5-0 vote. No public comment was offered on the item during the meeting.

The board’s vote authorizes execution of the grant agreement at the reduced amount; the action does not itself create a long-term funding commitment beyond the 12-month grant term.","Douglas County authorized a 12-month HUD Continuum of Care renewal for $149,520 to sustain a permanent supportive housing program that previously received $321,032 in its initial award; staff said the program housed 12 chronically homeless people and that national funding for the program is uncertain in 2026.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6147923,"Officials give update on Public Safety Building phase 2; county estimates $6.5–$7.5 million for tenant fit-out",1519,573000,2092000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5518668-477224cb82325b3c7eb008b985526c08&start=573&end=2092","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5518668-477224cb82325b3c7eb008b985526c08/thumbnail_573000.jpg","/articles/6147923/Kansas/Officials-give-update-on-Public-Safety-Building-phase-2-county-estimates-6575-million-for-tenant-fit-out","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147923-9bcb46b433bd090351c493aa90490c40/orig.mp4?Expires=1775607574&Signature=Bx-YOTTnHeYuFCN3~jnUs5fFTlHosNiRc7jEx7rWatcHg6bUqn1-d-YqPk-FCFVIFvaKHesEYaXTkSHGugpvYKETZKc-6-CJxRNuZ1W-IBUOn9VLm3cyNQNhoNMvoSMA8Z-Eo1bJhkId1oAgAoE32UaBQ2svAVG2amqFQa1HRkVs64PeI4bp1IUqZM390TgPY1vnuoRzz4qkil03ga-tMlLkwkUUWd5~EWpsa5NeixdvjivvWOD0gTLgnjveqN9cHk6sy7bNAWDFy6hQsQBxF8v3etVP94jisHGa6RnR3SLVW0JkOxWEGtibXOYyhXMM2N6c2M~HOXUcMb38j9jePQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Douglas County staff and the design-build team gave commissioners an update July 30 on phase 2 tenant finish work for the county’s Public Safety Building, describing a plan to complete the sheriff’s office fit-out, vehicle storage, evidence space and shared circulation, and a projected additional cost range between $6.5 million and $7.5 million.

Jeff Lane of Trainer Architects said the design team met with users to refine finishes, acoustics, daylighting, and furniture layout and to build modest future expansion capacity into the floor plan. Lane noted the team worked to ensure vehicle bays and evidence storage would fit the county’s prioritized vehicles and evidence handling needs.

Mike Comer of J.A. Dunn said pricing solicitations have returned and subcontractor bids are still being validated; he said structural steel erection has begun and work is progressing on site. County staff told commissioners that the project’s expanded guaranteed maximum price (GMP) will likely return to the board for approval either Aug. 13 or the following meeting, depending on final bid validation.

Staff emphasized several cost drivers: a larger generator to support the entire building rather than a partial load, changes to electrical gear and switchgear that were already part of the base contract, and a revised vehicle-storage scope (including a slightly larger west garage door and the option for a drive-through apron that is not yet being built). A county staff member said, “Between about 6 and a half and 7 and a half million, is where I think this project's gonna come in.”

J.A. Dunn noted market volatility in trade scopes — particularly electrical — and that some subcontractors are reluctant to price projects that will be built in 2026–27 because of tariff and cost-uncertainty concerns. Staff said the team has preserved options for access control, audio-visual systems and acoustics and is avoiding unnecessary “bells and whistles” while meeting functional needs for the sheriff, emergency management and dispatch teams that will share parts of the facility.

Commissioners asked about expansion capacity and were told the layout could likely accommodate about 10 additional staff using the same furniture footprint or more if smaller furniture is chosen later. Commissioners also asked whether the sheriff's boat and search-and-recovery vehicle would fit in the bays; staff confirmed the boat is planned to be stored in the garage.

No action was required at the meeting; staff will return with a recommended expanded GMP and contract documents for commission consideration in mid-August.","Design and construction team reported on tenant finish for the sheriff’s space, citing vehicle-bay changes, a larger generator to power the whole building, access-control needs across shared uses, electrical-market volatility, and a planned vote on an expanded GMP in mid-August.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6147928,"Douglas County commissioners begin process to rescind minimum-maintenance designation on North 1 Road",67,528000,595000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5518668-477224cb82325b3c7eb008b985526c08&start=528&end=595","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5518668-477224cb82325b3c7eb008b985526c08/thumbnail_528000.jpg","/articles/6147928/Kansas/Douglas-County-commissioners-begin-process-to-rescind-minimum-maintenance-designation-on-North-1-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147928-473fdd444ad0cf618744335f038860bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775607574&Signature=eLC2OhtKiCLyRg0-w8ifhqu-rdbSjJov7KVQ918avg3f8-dT6IgNG2ApTZTz-kGmrxnMZdmykmn2DqrZ2Ttg~BBoZieeWteXn7U4AdwJvRtREyLQzelK32mE1wPCjGwvNtRxnrK-LZzbOe8m7QexPWLqTkkb2P1oUOuxRo2asbpdZmUhXctz0NEwNfG1v2btTLyvRHkQ8QpbIYqeYCczSDz3a8eAGDBWe2I6Pg692dBpVAxuDFYdLwoEmPZi22J7jcEKk0oimfdz~r8OdfzxgqtkxMjz4gFEicYKv~99MVOfRNUGYk8Dax2ZYmKOW3QmtCbQhpiaHJQo7JeUkjLxcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 on July 30 to approve Resolution 25-30, starting the process to rescind the minimum-maintenance designation on a portion of North 1 Road in Palmyra Township and asking for recommendations from the Palmyra Township Board of Highway Commissioners and the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission.

The matter matters to the landowner because removing the designation would clarify that parcels along the stretch could be treated as buildable for sale. County staff said the segment has been maintained by Franklin County for decades even though the house on the road sits on the Douglas County side of the county line.

Staff member Kevin, who spoke during the discussion, said the arrangement grew from operational convenience: Franklin County historically maintained the full mile west of County Route 1055 and it made operational sense for them to also maintain this short quarter-mile segment. Staff also told commissioners that Douglas County’s code sets a formal process for declaring minimum-maintenance roads and that reversing a declaration is not the mirror image of that process; the county could vote to reverse the designation now but staff plans to review the code for a longer-term text amendment to simplify similar cases.

Commissioners asked whether there was more than a single occupied residence on the road; staff said there is one occupied residence and additional parcels with driveways that could become buildable if the designation is rescinded. The motion approved by the board explicitly requests recommendations from the Palmyra Township Board of Highway Commissioners and the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission before further county action.

No public comment was received on the item at the meeting. The resolution passed 5-0; staff will return any recommended findings from the township and planning commission as the rescission process continues.

The action was procedural — commencement of the rescission process — not a final removal; further review and the bodies requested will inform any final decision.","The Board voted 5-0 to start rescinding a minimum-maintenance designation on a segment of North 1 Road in Palmyra Township after a landowner asked to clear title and enable potential sales; staff said Franklin County has maintained the segment for decades despite the property being on the Douglas County side.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board appoints John Thomas to Palmyra Fire District No. 2 board

Commissioners review $150 million 2026–2030 capital improvement plan; staff recommends pausing new allocations to 1242 Massachusetts Street

County authorizes $149,520 HUD Continuum of Care grant renewal after funding cut

Officials give update on Public Safety Building phase 2; county estimates $6.5–$7.5 million for tenant fit-out

Douglas County commissioners begin process to rescind minimum-maintenance designation on North 1 Road