Douglas County commissioners to consider Army request for site

The U.S. Army wants to be prepared, and officials of a Lawrence-based reserve unit are asking for Douglas County’s help.

The Army’s 946th Transportation Detachment is seeking permission to use the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds as a backup assembly site in Lawrence. The site would be used only if the unit’s “primary assembly area”  its reserve center at 21st and Iowa streets  is incapacitated.

“That’s the kind of situation where we all need to pull together to do what needs to be done,” said Craig Weinaug, county administrator.

County commissioners will consider approving the request during their meeting at 9 a.m. Monday at the county courthouse, 1100 Mass. Also included on the meeting agenda:

l Consider a request from Alta-Sport LC for the county to pay overtime costs of sheriff’s deputies working traffic control at this year’s Lawrence Memorial Hospital Triathlon. In June, commissioners agreed to charge the company for the expected $920 in overtime costs, citing an imminent budget crunch; commissioners also said they would consider billing other organizations for use of deputies in the future. Alta-Sport also wants use of Lone Star Lake’s marina, which recently closed for the season.

l Consider directing county officials to negotiate with Central National Bank to provide banking services for the county.