Douglas County’s Heritage and Land group — including historical societies, Freedom’s Frontier, the conservation district and the extension council — presented requests and updates July 8 as part of the county’s 2026 budget hearings, asking for one‑time funding for celebrations and staffing support while reporting new state grants and collaborative planning work.

Caitlin Amerlin, the county’s heritage conservation coordinator, described a needs assessment launched in May to map the local heritage ecosystem and to recommend how the county can support long‑term sustainability. Amerlin said the assessment will conclude in October and could inform strategic planning for county funding of historical partners.

Heritage organizations requested continued support for a community celebrations grant program. Commissioners approved an initial $20,000 cohort last year; Amerlin reported demand exceeded available funds with 12 applications requesting roughly $68,000–$70,000 in total. The heritage group’s 2026 supplemental asks include $20,000 to create a second cohort that would fund established annual events and legacy celebrations.

The Watkins Museum and other partners described shared services and payroll support for smaller historical organizations. Steve Novak, executive director of the Watkins Museum, said the museum has been a regional hub to provide administrative and staffing support for smaller partner organizations — an arrangement now in its second year for some societies and intended to reduce overhead for volunteer-led sites.

Freedom’s Frontier told commissioners it closed a standalone office and is now operating out of the Watkins Museum to reduce overhead; the organization reported redirecting funds into public programming and partnership events. Freedom’s Frontier also presented a one‑time supplemental request to fund a half‑time collections manager for a limited period tied to a donor match and possible grant applications.

Conservation District Manager Susie Mooney reported a recent state increase to the statutory minimum match to conservation districts and said Douglas County’s conservation district received a reimbursement grant to hire a full‑time technician — a three-year, renewable reimbursement arrangement that will require the district to pay up front and seek reimbursement. Mooney said the district is running more conservatively in 2025 while it adjusts to NRCS and state changes.

Marlon Bates, county extension director, discussed the extension council’s separate statutory budget process and said the council will file a proposed budget with the county clerk this week but can make adjustments after commissioners’ deliberations if needed. Commissioners and Bates discussed the statutory 10‑day cycles that govern extension budget submission and review.

Commissioners and heritage partners also discussed a legacy Sester Centennial and larger community events tied to the 2026 World Cup timeline; partners described collaboration to present local history to visitors while seeking ways to expand programming without creating unsustainable recurring county obligations.

No formal funding votes were taken at the hearing. Commissioners asked staff to include the heritage needs assessment results and updated grant data when they review supplemental requests during final budget deliberations.