Teaming up to take care of Broken Arrow Park is one thing.

Figuring out how to merge all or some functions of Lawrence and Douglas County governments is quite another, Douglas County commissioners acknowledged Monday.

“I think we make a serious mistake if we try to rush into something,” said Commissioner Bob Johnson. “There are all of the economic issues, but there also are political issues. We have to recognize that, and move slowly and surely.”

Instead of barreling ahead with talk about potential targets for government consolidation, commissioners instead spent much of their Monday meeting focused on sharing maintenance responsibilities for Broken Arrow Park, northeast of 31st and Louisiana streets.

The park’s ownership is split in two, with the city of Lawrence owning the north side and the county owning the south.

Under the agreement which awaits approval tonight by Lawrence city commissioners the county would mow grass on both sides, excluding the city’s softball field, while the city would care for playground equipment and shelters on both sides.

The money-saving concept has led to talk of further governmental combinations, and county commissioners said they would welcome suggestions even if it means stirring up heated emotions among employees, administrators and the taxpayers that pay their salaries and use their services.

“If it’s unsettling, that’s the price of progress,” said Commissioner Charles Jones, who has envisioned future combinations of police functions and, eventually, city and county governments.

Not all government mergers save money, said Craig Weinaug, county administrator. Some, such as the combination of city-county emergency communications services, cost more initially but boost efficiency.

But Jones said mergers should save money and provide quality services at a reasonable price.

Weinaug said he’d already started a “brainstorming” list of possible service consolidations, and would forward it to commissioners within a few weeks. The review’s recommendations or eventual determinations will not come in time for inclusion in the county’s 2003 budget.