Meeting Information
2:00 p.m. - Legislative Forum at the Senior Center, 745 Vermont Street Lawrence, Kansas (More than one Commission will attend. No county business will be conducted.)
4:00 p.m. Regular Meeting
-Proclamation for “National 4-H Week” October 5-11, 2014
CONSENT AGENDA
(1) (a) Consider approval of Commission Orders;
(b) Consider accessing a HGAC Cooperative Contracts for Public Works equipment
(Doug Stephens); and
(c) Consider grant for Hazardous Materials Tabletop and Full Scale Exercise (Teri Smith)
REGULAR AGENDA
(2) Extension request for Conditional Use Permit, CUP-13-00281, Water Treatment Plant for Public Wholesale Water Supply District No. 25, a Public Utility on approximately 28 acres located ¼ mile east of intersection of E 1750 and N 1500 Roads. Mary Miller is the Planner.
(3) Consider proposal from Treanor Architects for planning and design services for expansion of Douglas County Jail (Weinaug/McGovern)-backup to follow on Monday.
(4) (a) Consider approval of Accounts Payable (if necessary)
(b) Appointments
-Board of Zoning Appeal (2) eligible for reappointment 10/2014
-Building Code Board of Appeals (1) eligible for reappointment 12/2014
-Fire District No. 1 – 12/2014
Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging Board of Directors – (2) vacancies
Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging Tri-County Advisory Council – (2) vacancies
(c) Public Comment
(d) Miscellaneous
(5) Adjourn
Thellman called the regular meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1, 2014, with all members present.
PROCLAMATION 10-01-14
Thellman moved to approve a proclamation declaring October 5-11, 2014 as "National 4-H Week." Motion was seconded by Flory and carried 3-0.
CONSENT AGENDA 10-01-14
Thellman moved approval of the following Consent Agenda:
- Commission Order Nos.14-041 and 14-042 (on file in the office of the County Clerk);
- Authorized staff to access the HGAC contract with Murphy Tractor & Equipment Company to purchase a loader in the amount of $175,388; and
-
Accepted the Hazardous materials Emergency Preparedness Grants for FFY 2014-2105 for the following:
- $30,000 grant to conduct a hazardous materials tabletop exercise,
- $80,000 grant to conduct a hazardous materials full scale exercise.
Motion was seconded by Gaughan and carried 3-0.
PLANNING/CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 10-01-01
The Board considered an extension request for Conditional Use Permit, CUP-13-00281, Water Treatment Plant for Public Wholesale Water Supply District No. 25, a Public Utility on approximately 28 acres, located a quarter mile east of the intersection of E 1750 and N 1500 Roads. Mary Miller, Lawrence Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Staff, presented the item.
On September 23, 2013, the Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the CUP for the Public Wholesale Water Supply District No. 25 Water Treatment Plant. The applicant did not obtain a building permit within the one-year deadline and is asking for an extension, as their pilot testing of treatment process took longer than anticipated. Staff recommends approval the extension subject to conditions. The request was also approved by the Planning Commission on a 10-0 vote subject to conditions recommended by staff.
Flory asked if there has been any changed to the plan since the CUP was approved in 2013. Miller replied "no."
Thellman opened the item for public comment.
Joshua East, 1771 N 1500 Road, stated he purchased a house directly across from the propose Whole Water District 25 facility. He said he feels the facility is not compatible with the character of the area due to the plant’s industrial nature; the building and water tower will affect the visual interest of his property and prevent him from enjoying his home as he will view it from most all windows of his home; and he is concerned about the facility’s impact on his neighbors, the Schaakes, agritourism business.
Thellman asked East if he owned the property a year ago when this project was approved. East said he was not under contract for the property until September 30, 2013. East said he was not aware of this project until he received notification in the mail for this meeting.
Thellman said she feels the project has been in process too long to be able to address East’s concerns at this stage.
Jacob Narverud, 1771 N 1500 Road, stated he first learned about this project September 11, 2014. He stated he has put $70,000 into renovations for his property and is concerned the water facility will affect its value.
Flory added the CUP has been in existence for a year. Before the Commission today is a request for an extension. Flory added staff has done a lot to minimize the impact on the neighbors. He understands the concerns, but this water treatment facility to impact 1000s residents in need of water resources. Flory said he plans to support the request.
Gaughan added the Commission has already approved the water district.
Flory moved to approve the one-year extension for CUP-13-00281, a Conditional Use Permit for a water treatment plant for Public Wholesale Water Supply District No. 25 subject to the conditions approved by the County Commission at the September 23, 2013 meeting. Motion was seconded by Gaughan and carried 3-0.
JAIL EXPANSION 10-01-14
The Board reviewed an assessment from Treanor Architects for planning and design services for an expansion of the Douglas County Jail. Ken McGovern, Douglas County Sheriff; and Dan Rowe, Treanor Architects presented the item.
Treanor Architects designed the original jail facility. Rowe presented a brief scope of work outlining the five steps needed for the expansion project as follows:
- Confirmation: A study to evaluate the effect of the creation of a Mental Health Court and Mental Health Crisis Intervention Center to determine bed projections for the current detention facility.
- Benchmarking and Public Education: Determine what has been successful in other communities related to mental Health Courts and detention solutions.
- Concept Design: Focus on a building design that meets the needs determined from the study and research.
- Operational Impact Study: Determine staffing needs.
- Architecture/Engineering Services: Provide architectural design to seek competitive bidding for the construction of the project.
Flory asked for clarification that the actual contract will come back before the Board for approval. McGovern stated that is correct.
Rowe said what this d s is prevent the County from having four separate contracts. It will be one contract for all services. The Commission can approve before moving to each phase and it can be stopped at any time.
Thellman said she is pleased to see the needs concept. Our community needs a study before committing to a certain size of mental health care facility at the jail. She said we need to know how we might keep some chronically ill mental health members of the community out of the jail and in a more appropriate venue when their crime is having a mental health issue and not having real criminal tendencies. Maybe we can expand our acute health care services in our community and the County can help lead the way.
Thellman said in a sense Rowe is leading a study that may shrink his building. She asked Rowe if he able to do that. Rowe said he d s that frequently. He would love to work himself out of a jail market. He has no interest growing the difference between a $5 million and a $15 million project as he doesn’t want to create a half empty jail. Rowe said he is an advocate that those needing mental health treatments should received it outside of a detention environment.
Gaughan stated in the process of confirming a need for services, is there a point where we may identify a gap in services in Lawrence and Douglas County, but it’s it not the responsibility of the County to fill the gap"
Rowe responded we need to make sure we are solving the correct problem. The idea is to figure out if there are diversionary programs that can be incorporated that might keep the number of jail confinements down for financial reasons and to keep productive citizens out of jail. The study might suggest that a mental health court would divert people from being in detention that could otherwise be receiving treatment, much like a drug court.
McGovern added he has spoke with Judge Fairchild about the County heading toward this type of solution. Judge Fairchild has already talked with people at the state level who are researching this possibility.
Gaughan stated he is exciting because he feels this is exactly the kinds of questions we should be asking.
Thellman said if we were to find a way to downside the expansion and inmate population, perhaps the savings could go toward a partnership to provide crisis intervention. Right now, there is no place for mentally ill offenders to go but to jail. She feels our community deserves a deeper look.
Flory moved to receive the outline of Needs Assessment for the jail expansion and directed Dan Rowe, Treanor Architects, to draft a contract for jail expansion services and bring it to the Commission for consideration. Motion was Thellman and carried 3-0.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE 10-01-14
Thellman moved to approve accounts payable in the amount of $970,033.69 be paid on 10/02/14. Motion was seconded by Gaughan and carried 3-0.
Thellman moved to adjourn the meeting; Gaughan seconded and the motion carried 3-0.
Nancy Thellman, Chair
Jim Flory, Vice-Chair
ATTEST:
Jamie Shew, County Clerk
Mike Gaughan, Member
Time and Date