Ozone report raises cost concerns

Douglas County’s ozone levels are creeping toward a regulatory danger zone that could end up costing area residents time, money and convenience, according to a new county report.

The report, compiled by the county’s Air Quality Advisory Committee, showed that tests this year found that the county’s air had not yet exceeded federal guidelines for ozone.

But the Kansas City metropolitan area’s air contains enough ozone, and reaches high levels often enough, to subject the area to tighter federal controls on emissions, the committee found.

If Douglas County gets pulled into the metro area for regulatory purposes, county residents could one day be required to buy more environmentally sensitive fuels and businesses could face tighter controls on emissions and other regulations.

“It’s a surprise – an unpleasant surprise,” County Administrator Craig Weinaug said of the report. “Anything that happens, once you’re declared to be out of compliance, involves specially formulated gasoline and things that basically drive up the cost of living for people living in that metropolitan area – so it’s not in Douglas County’s interest to be lumped in with Kansas City.”

County commissioners will consider the report during their meeting Monday at the county courthouse, 1100 Mass. The meeting’s start is being postponed from 9 a.m. to 6:35 p.m., to accommodate a commissioner’s schedule.

Also in the meeting agenda:

  • Notify townships about plans to issue licenses for businesses to sell cereal malt beverages.
  • Approve a zoning change previously approved by commissioners in 1994 but not yet endorsed by resolution.
  • Approve an emergency vehicle permit for Steve Weese, who has completed a training program and intends to drive a vehicle to handle emergency responses in the Lecompton area.
  • Discuss possible floodplain regulations being considered by a committee of the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission.
  • Learn about the economic effects of arts on the Lawrence area.
  • Consider a request to help finance a Heritage Summit.
  • Discuss possible responses of county government to budget cuts announced Tuesday by Gov. Bill Graves, including a $1.6 million loss for the county.