Lawrence lures newcomers

Schools, cultural activities attractive to people new to city

For Tracy Ford Stacey, you can go home again.

She grew up in Lawrence and attended Kansas University where she met Greg Stacey. They married, moved around the Midwest and started a family.

After 10 years away from Lawrence, they returned so Greg Stacey could take a job with a Topeka bank.

Tracy said she was a little apprehensive about coming back, thinking Lawrence may feel too much like a small town, especially after having lived in large cities.

But those worries quickly disappeared.

“It’s shocking how big Lawrence is,” she said.

And despite its rapid growth, it’s still easy to settle in Lawrence, she said.

“The schools are so good. It was so nice to come here and feel like any area would have been a great area to live in,” she said.

Tracy, the mother of a 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son, said the move has been relatively easy from dealing with Realtors to hiring craftsmen to finding a preschool.

“We haven’t had a problem,” she said.

Even for those with no previous history with Lawrence, moving to the city can be simple.

Tom and Virginia Mach recently retired from their jobs in San Jose, Calif., and started looking for places to live.

They wanted to reside in a college town to be near cultural activities. They did their research, made their visits and decided on Lawrence, moving here in July.

“We didn’t know anybody, but I think we made the right choice,” said Tom Mach, who had been a market research consultant. “We are finding pleasant surprises,” he said, such as the fact that Kansas is not all flat and that Lawrence is a hot-bed of Civil War history.

Mach, who is devoting himself to writing, said he had started a novel that takes place in Ohio during the Civil War. He has now changed the location to Lawrence.

Here are some tips to help in making a move to Lawrence.

Utilities

Westar Energy provides Lawrence residents with electricity. The name of the company used to be Kansas Power and Light and is still often referred to by that name. KPL has recently closed its office for walk-in customers in Lawrence. The customer service number is 1-800-794-4780; the Web site is www.wr.com.

For residential customers, Westar requires a deposit of twice the average bill.

Early applications receive priority. Seven to 90 days notice usually will assure service when requested, although there may be some delay during peak moving season.

Aquila provides Lawrence residents with natural gas. The name of the company used to be Kansas Public Service/EnergyOne. The company used to have an office for walk-in customers in Lawrence, but no longer does. Services can be set up on the phone or Internet; the customer service number is 1-800-303-0572; the Web site is www.aquila.com.

Most new residential customers are not required to pay a security deposit, but late payments may result in a security deposit being assessed. Aquila will schedule morning or afternoon turn-ons, but no specific times. There is a $7 flat fee per month. Aquila offers a budget payment plan and an automated bank payment plan.

The city handles water, garbage pickup and sewer. Applications can be made on the second floor of City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.

A $40 deposit is required for most residences. The deposit may be paid in two equal monthly installments staring with the first bill.

Water, garbage pickup and sewer services are billed through Lawrence Utility Building, PO Box 708, Lawrence, 66044. The customer service phone number is 832-7878. The fax is 832-3231.

Service can be started in person, phone, mail, fax, or online at www.lawrencefinance.org/

You, or another person, must be present for a two-hour timeframe when your water turn-on is scheduled. If you can’t be present, you must sign a waiver release form.

You can avoid the two-hour appointment if you are willing to match your turn-on date with the previous tenant’s turn-off date.

By matching these dates, the water service will remain on to allow a meter reading to be taken on the requested service date.

Lawrence Utility Billing also offers Auto Bill Pay, an automatic bank payment plan. Customer service representatives can provide you with details.

Sunflower Broadband provides cable television and high-speed Internet service in Lawrence. Offices are at 1 Riverfront Plaza, Suite 301. Customer service phone number is 841-2100. Office hours at 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 am. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

County information

Voter registration

To vote in an election, a person must be registered to vote 14 days before the election day. Persons may register at the county clerk’s office in the Douglas County Courthouse, 11th and Massachusetts streets, or call 832-5267 to request a registration form.

State law requires that persons who move, even if the move is within the same building, must re-register.

Hunting, fishing and boating licenses also are available at the county clerk’s office.

Vehicle registration and taxes can be handled through the county treasurer’s office in the courthouse, or at the treasurer’s satellite offices at Dillons, 3000 W. Sixth St., and 2109 W. 27th St., Suite 1.

Address changes

Change of address cards are available at the main post office, 645 Vt. and Jayhawk Station, 1901 W. 31st St. Post office boxes also are available for more information, call 843-1681.

Driver’s license

Motorists must notify the Kansas Division of Motor Vehicles within 10 days of a move. For $2, you can get a new driver’s license.

The office of the driver’s license examiner is at 1035 N. Third St., Suite 122.

The telephone number is 843-9593. More information can be found at www.ink.org/public/kdor.

If you are seeking a Kansas license and have a valid out-of-state license, a vision test is required. If you move to Kansas and have a valid out-of-state license, the cost for a new license is $14. If you do not have a license, a test is required that costs an additional $3. If you are under 21, a first-time license is $13.

Office hours for testing are 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. The office remains open for driver’s license renewals and duplicates until 5:45 p.m. but no tests are given after 5 p.m. The office is closed Mondays.

Libraries

Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt.

New residents can get a free library card by showing proof of residency, such as a utility bill with the current address, a student ID or a driver’s license.

Kansas University libraries

To get a card for the Kansas University libraries, you must be a Kansas resident and present a current Kansas driver’s license or Kansas photo identification. The cards cost $5 and are available at the main desk of Watson Library on Jayhawk Boulevard. For more information, call 864-8983.

Important phone numbers

Fire, police, ambulance, sheriff emergency: 911.

Before you dig: 1-800-344-7233

Directory assistance: 1-411

Other emergency numbers

FBI (Topeka) 1-785-235-3811; if no answer call Kansas City, Mo. 1-816-512-8200.

Highway Patrol (Topeka) 1-785-296-3102.

Kansas Arson/Crime Hotline 1-800-KS CRIME.

Kansas Crisis Hotline (Domestic violence and sexual assault) 1-888-363-2287

Kansas Road Conditions Hotline 1-800-585-7623

Poison Control Center 1-800-332-6633

To report toxic chemical and oil spills 1-800-424-8802.

Non-emergency numbers

Fire, 832-7600; Police, 832-7650; Ambulance, 843-0250

Helpful websites

Lawrence Chamber of Commerce www.lawrencechamber.com

Lawrence Visitors Center www.visitlawrence.com

Lawrence school district www.usd497.k12.ks.us

Lawrence community www.lawrence.com

Douglas County www.douglas-county.com

Lawrence public library www.ci.lawrence.ks.us

Downtown Lawrence www.downtownlawrence.com

Labor statistics www.laborstats.hr.state.ks.us

Real estate listings hometown.lawrence.com