Meeting Information
4:00 p.m.
-Convene
CONSENT AGENDA
(1)(a) Consider approval of Commission Orders;
(b) Consider approval of Commission Order approving annexation and attachment of land to RWD#4 in Douglas County as presented at the 08/31/11 meeting. (Craig Weinaug)
REGULAR AGENDA
(2) Receive information regarding the Kansas Forest Service partnership with the Planning and Development Services Department to conduct an assessment of the forest resource in Douglas County. The staff memo and attachments outlines the goals of the assessment, describes the process, and defines the Planning Departments participation in the project. (Mary Miller is the Planner)
(3) Consider request from Theatre Lawrence for $20,000 per year for five years to help fund a new theater and education facility. (Mary Doveton, Executive Director Theatre Lawrence)
(4) Consider partnering with KDOT and City of Lawrence on TIGER grant application for construction of interchange at Bob Billings Parkway and K-10 highway (Keith Browning)
(5) Other Business
(a) Consider approval of Accounts Payable (if necessary)
(b) Appointments:
Building Code Board of Appeals - vacancy
Douglas County Advocacy Council on Aging - vacancy
Douglas County Community Corrections Advisory Board - 12/2011
Douglas County Senior Services, Inc. Board of Directors - 12/2011
Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging Tri-County Advisory Council - vacancy
Fire/EMS District No. 1 - 12/2011
(c) Public Comment
(d) Miscellaneous
(6) Adjourn
Flory called the regular meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 with all members present.
CONSENT AGENDA
Flory moved approval of the following Consent Agenda:
► Commission Order Nos. 11-024 and 11-025 (on file in the office of the Clerk); and
► Commission Order approving annexation and attachment of land to Rural Water District No. 4, Douglas County. Legal description of land is as follows:
TRACT 5B: A tract of land located in the South Half (S 1/2) of the Northwest Quarter (NW 1/4) of Section Twenty-Seven (S27), Township Thirteen South (T13S), Range Twenty East (R20E) of the 6th P.M., Douglas County, Kansas, more particularly described as follows: Commencing at the Southwest corner of the Northwest Quarter (NW 1/4); thence North 89°51'40" East a distance of 1,313.43 feet to the point of beginning, said point being on the South line of the Northwest Quarter (NW 1/4); thence North 00°27'01" East a distance of 662.68 feet; thence North 89°50'42" East a distance of 437.70 feet; thence South 00°27'01" West a distance of 662.80 feet, said point being on the South line of the Northwest Quarter (NW 1/4); thence South 89°51'40" West a distance of 437.70 feet to the point of beginning.
Motion was seconded by Thellman and carried 3-0.
PLANNING 09-14-11
Mary Miller, Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Staff, updated the Commission on a Kansas Forest Service Tree Survey project being conducted by the Kansas Forest Service and Mid-America Regional Council (MARC). The Kansas Forest Service has developed a forest Resource Assessment and Strategy that addresses the agency's priorities and helps identify areas the state wishes to devote resources to. The survey estimates the number of trees in the area, the tree value and energy conservation benefits. This information will be beneficial to the education and outreach principal component of our comprehensive plan's environmental chapter. No action was taken.
THEATRE LAWRENCE 09-14-11
The Board considered a request from Theatre Lawrence for the County Commission to commit $20,000 per year for five years for a total of $100,000 to help fund a new theater and education facility in the Bauer Farms development in west Lawrence. The building is expected to cost $6.2 million to build. Theater Lawrence board members felt a $100,000 commitment would help secure a $1 million grant that will be lost if the theatre group d sn't reach their campaign goal by the end of September. Janis Bunker, Campaign co-chair, presented the item
Flory opened the item for public comment.
Hubbard Collinsworth, resident, stated a $100,000 was already approved by the City of Lawrence. He said he has a problem with asking the County to also provide that same amount of money especially since the County has been so gracious to fund some recent social service items.
Fred DeVictor, Theatre of the Arts Board Member, stated the theater has provided a service to the community for 35 years with no taxpayer support. He asked the County to commit to funding.
Bob Newton, Theatre Lawrence Board Member, said the County won't find a better project to get a bigger bang for the buck. Theatre Lawrence also offers many youth and education programs that aren't getting a lot of recognition.
Bobby R. Patton, Board Member, commented that the Board has not asked for money in the past. This request is a quality of life issue.
Dean Bevan, Board of Director for Theatre Lawrence, said the productions bring in people from around the county and surrounding communities. Lawrence is a desirable place for retirees to relocate. The new facility would also accommodate for the handicapped.
Mary Ann Saunders, theatre volunteer, stated she works with senior citizen acting groups. A lot of patrons of the theatre are retirees.
Flory stated he no doubt feels this is a worthwhile project and beneficial for the community. He feels the problem is determining where the money would come from. The Lawrence City Commission already approved $100,000 and he stated he is glad they did. He is supportive of the request but concerned funding this program would be competing with other programs, some which are essential fundamental social services. Next year's budget will be even tougher. Flory commented that he would consider supporting this request if we can find a way to fund it with money set aside for heritage and open space preservation or economic development funding.
Gaughan said he feels supporting the theatre is a quality of life issue. It's a thing that makes Lawrence special. This is a 7.5 to one return on the grant. He stated he is comfortable using economic development funding to support this project.
Thellman stated she has mixed feelings about this when according to the new 2010 Census results, we now know there are more people living in poverty than in previous years. Thellman said if we do this it seems more related to economic development. Also, Theatre Lawrence is welcome to apply for the heritage conservation grant money. Proportionately, a $100,000 donation from the County budget is a larger donation than a $100,000 donation from the City's budget. She would like the Board to consider a smaller contribution.
There was further discussion that if Theatre Lawrence were to receive a sizable donation if the County could waive their commitment, even though the idea is unlikely. Mary Doveton, Executive Director of Theatre Lawrence, stated once the goal is met they still have to find funding for equipment.
Thellman asked what will happen to the County's contribution if Lawrence Theatre's fundraising goal is not met by September 30, the deadline for raising matching funds1/2 Doveton replied she believes the goal will be met.
Gaughan moved to approve the funding request of $20,000 per year through 2014 with an intent to fund in future years (for a total of five years) without committing future Commissions in accordance with Kansas Cash Basis Law. Motion was seconded by Flory and carried 3-0.
PUBLIC WORKS 09-14-11
The Board considered a request to partner with KDOT and the City of Lawrence on a TIGER III grant application for the construction of an interchange at Bob Billings Parkway and K-10 highway for 2015. Keith Browning, Director of Public Works, presented the item.
KDOT recently informed the City and County they cannot afford to construct bicycle/pedestrian facilities, as part of the interchange project, which are estimated to be $800,000 to $1 million. The City of Lawrence is working with KDOT to prepare an application for TIGER III funding for the construction to include the bike/pedestrian paths. KDOT is asking that the City and County commit to $100,000 each to strengthen the application. If approved, KDOT would commit $8-10 million to the project.
Funding for this project was discussed. There is no money in the CIP for the project, however, the County has not committed projects through 2014 and there is a line item in the budget for unplanned project, such as this one.
Flory opened the item for public comment. No comment was received.
Flory moved for the County to make a financial commitment for the TIGER III grant application of $100,000 and directed staff to prepare a letter in support of the grant application. Motion was seconded by Thellman and carried 3-0.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE 09-14-11
Flory moved to approve accounts payable in the amount of $158,369.21 to be paid on 09/08/11, manual checks in the amounts of $150.00 paid on 09/12/11 and $414.00paid on 09/09/11; payroll in the amounts of $791,323.98 paid on 09/12/11, $783,527.54 paid on 09/12/11; $789,568.89 paid on 08/10/11 and $790.00 paid on 09/12/11; FICA in the amounts of $58,273.30 paid on 09/09/11, $57,626.99 paid on 08/26/11 and $58,083.49 paid on 08/12/11; KPERS in the amounts of $79,721.32 paid on 09/09/11, $79,783.22 paid on 08/26/11 and $80,814.89 paid on 08/12/11; Motion was seconded by Thellman and carried 3-0.
Flory moved to adjourn the meeting; Gaughan seconded and the motion carried 3-0.
________________________ ___________________________
Jim Flory, Chair Mike Gaughan, Vice-Chair
ATTEST:
________________________ _____________________________ Jamie Shew, County Clerk Nancy Thellman, Member
Time and Date