Local briefs

Appraiser to mail personal property forms

Happy New Year from the folks at the Douglas County Appraiser’s Office.

Come Tuesday, 9,000 assessment forms for personal property will be dropped into the U.S. Mail, destined for owners of boats, mobile homes, large trucks, trailers and business machinery and equipment.

The forms — filling 30 mail trays in a stairwell at the county courthouse, — list all personal property owned by county residents and businesses in 2002. Owners are to certify that they still own the property, or make adjustments to reflect current ownership.

Forms are to be signed and returned by March 15. Appraiser’s officials intend to mail out tax bills for personal property in May, with payments due in November.

Holiday

Free taxi rides offered New Year’s Eve

The Tipsy Taxi will be back on the streets Tuesday night for the sake of inebriated New Year’s Eve celebrants in Lawrence.

Party-goers who have too much to drink can get a ride home in the taxi without charge. Local agencies and businesses are sponsoring the Tipsy Taxi rides from 8 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday.

The free rides will be given only to those who specifically ask for them and only to a person’s home — not to another business or party. There might be a wait due to high demand.

To get a ride call the Lawrence Taxi Service at 842-TAXI (8294).

Schools

Deadline nears to apply for bond issue projects

The clock is ticking on architecture firms interested in working on projects contained in the school district’s proposed $59 million bond issue.

Firms have until 1 p.m. Jan. 3 to submit qualifications for performing design, construction document and postconstruction services associated with projects in the bond issue.

Voters go to the polls April 1 to decide whether the board’s plan for renovating and expanding school buildings should be approved.

Proposal documents can be picked up at district headquarters, 110 McDonald Drive. For more information, contact Rick Gammill, director of facility planning for the district.

An Overland Park company, DLR Group, is coordinating the district’s facility study. If the bond issue is approved, DLR would coordinate program and construction management services for the district.