A Lawrence paving company wants to relocate its rock-recycling operation to an 11.2-acre field at the southeastern edge of town, and Russell and Jaunita Bailey say they are willing to get out of the way.

For a price.

Monday morning, Douglas County commissioners held off on approving LRM Industries’ plans for setting up rock piles and a burn pit at the northeast corner of North 1360 Road and what would be an extension of East 1700 Road. The area is east of LRM’s existing asphalt plant and south of Smith Motors and R.D. Johnson Excavating, which are along the south side of Kansas Highway 10 east of town.

While Commissioners Bob Johnson and Jere McElhaney said they were ready to approve the project, Commissioner Charles Jones said he wanted to give the Baileys, whose garden would back up to the new center, another week to negotiate a sale of their land to LRM.

Because the Baileys and another nearby property owner filed a protest petition opposing the project — a petition certified by Patty Jaimes, county clerk — LRM needs a unanimous vote to move ahead.

And while Jones acknowledged LRM’s proposed use as “fine,” he refused to commit a vote until the two sides had a chance to find common ground.

“I can make the call, but somebody’s going to win and somebody’s going to lose,” Jones said. “And I don’t think it needs to be that way.”

Commissioners intend to settle the issue during their next meeting, set for 9 a.m. Monday at the County Courthouse, 1100 Mass. If commissioners agree to rezone the 11.2-acre agricultural site for industrial uses, commissioners also would consider approving a site plan that outlines details for the project.

Both sides have been negotiating since April. LRM representatives say they need a new site for the company’s recycling operation, which is being relocated from a site farther to the southeast to make way for eventual completion of the South Lawrence Trafficway.

The Baileys have lived on their property at 1708 N. 1360 Road for 43 years. In the city’s and county’s long-range plans, both the LRM and Bailey properties are earmarked for future industrial development.

In other action Monday, commissioners:

• Discussed the potential for buying the site of a former fertilizer plant from bankrupt Farmland Industries Inc. Commissioners met in executive session for 30 minutes with their attorney and several Lawrence officials: Mayor David Dunfield, Commissioner Sue Hack, City Manager Mike Wildgen and David Corliss, assistant city manager.
• Approved guidelines for identifying potential land in the county for development of future business parks.
• Appointed Melissa Boisen to a two-year term on the county’s Community Corrections Youth Services Advisory Board. She replaces Forrest Swall, whose term expires this month.