Douglas County approves $250,000 toward acquisition of Blackjack Battlefield to keep site public

Douglas County commissioners voted 5-0 on Sept. 24 to approve a financing agreement and a joint-ownership memorandum of understanding with the city of Baldwin City to keep the 40-acre Blackjack Battlefield site in public ownership.

County staff told commissioners the recommended agreements would provide a $250,000 county contribution to help Baldwin City acquire the property from the Blackjack Battlefield Trust, and then place the site under joint ownership with the city. “The outcome of that effort was that the property would be best served, if put into public hands,” County staff member Sean said during the presentation. Caitlin Ameren, Douglas County heritage conservation coordinator, said staff had relied on information provided by the trust while preparing recommendations.

Why it matters: Blackjack Battlefield is nationally significant for its ties to the events of Bleeding Kansas. County staff said Douglas County has already invested roughly $466,000 in preservation work at the site since 2011, and officials argued acquiring the land now would protect public access and avert possible private development if the trust could not meet financial obligations.

Key facts and agreements - County contribution: $250,000 toward purchase by Baldwin City. The county contribution is structured to be disbursed only after a clear title and closing conditions are met. - Existing county investment: Staff reported the county has invested roughly $466,000 in preservation at Blackjack since 2011. - Lease and option: Baldwin City currently holds a lease with the Blackjack Battlefield Trust that includes an option to purchase that expires in November 2025; the lease cited in the meeting included a monthly payment of $1,500 for December 2024–November 2025. - Governance: The agreements call for a joint advisory board with equal representation from the city and the county; the advisory board is to meet at least twice annually and make recommendations on maintenance, capital projects, programming, signage and strategic planning. The city and county retain final decision authority on property matters. - Additional staff recommendation: A preservation report recommended maintaining ongoing county support for site programming at about $9,737 per year; that figure was noted as part of the preservation committee’s report but is not spelled out in the acquisition agreements themselves.

Public comment and stakeholder concerns Trust members and local advocates spoke during public comment, urging better inclusion and clearer answers about restricted funds and the trust’s future. “We have never been brought into this,” said Kerry Altonburn, who identified herself as vice president of the Blackjack Battlefield Trust, describing a history of private fundraising, bridge loans and an unresolved set of pledged funds that the trust says dissipated when a supporting foundation disbanded. Marta Jardin of the Santa Fe Trail Historical Society said she was present at the recent Baldwin City council meeting and that the city did not pass any restriction banning trust members from serving on a future advisory committee.

County staff and commissioners framed the agreements as a step to keep the property public and to create a forum for broader discussions about programming, capital needs and stewardship once ownership is secured. Staff emphasized that the county’s obligation to transfer funds would be conditional on the city receiving clear title and completing the purchase; the agreements include remedies for title defects discovered after closing.

Commission deliberations and next steps Commissioners asked staff for additional details about the ad-hoc committee that informed the preservation recommendations; staff said that group met roughly three to four times over the summer and produced notes and a committee report but was not a formally chartered county committee. Commissioners discussed the uniqueness of this heritage acquisition compared with prior interlocal agreements and noted the county has partnered with cities and nonprofits on stewardship and land-management matters in the past.

The board’s formal motion, made by Commissioner Reed and seconded (second not specified in the transcript), approved both the financing agreement and the joint-ownership memorandum. Commissioners voted “aye” and the motion passed 5-0.

Votes at a glance: the commission also approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting (items 1.1 and 1.2) by a 5-0 vote, and later approved routine appointments including a reappointment to the Lawrence Community Shelter board and the appointment of Tasha Dare to the Heritage Conservation Council.

What remains unresolved Trust members said questions remain about restricted funds, the disposition of pledged capital and the long-term role of the Blackjack Battlefield Trust after a sale. Staff said those issues largely fall to Baldwin City and the trust to resolve as part of the purchase and to be addressed in future advisory-board discussions. The advisory board’s membership and formal appointment process will be brought back to the board for input, and the county indicated it expects to work with Baldwin City on the advisory-board appointment process.