Church seeks county’s blessing for flag display

Come Monday, a church’s flag display no longer should be flapping in the regulatory wind.

That’s when Douglas County commissioners are scheduled to consider approving a revised site plan for Heritage Baptist Church, whose 600-square-foot flag display northwest of Lawrence has triggered some red glares from neighbors upset about the display’s lights.

Back in May, county officials told church leaders to turn off the lights, saying the church had failed to secure a site plan for the display.

Heritage elders objected, arguing that even if they did need to submit a site plan — something their attorney claimed was unnecessary — they weren’t about to pull the plug on a patriotic display that cost $10,000 to create and an invaluable amount of military courage to defend.

The flag was raised in support of U.S. troops fighting in Iraq, said the Rev. Scott Hanks, the church’s pastor.

Craig Weinaug, county administrator, said five people had contacted either his office or the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Department with questions or concerns about the flag’s presence.

The county has no specific rules regarding “light pollution,” he said, but developments are expected to refrain from directing lights into peoples’ homes.

Either way, he said, if the church wants to retain its flag it will have to add it to the site plan. The church has done its part by submitting the documents and paying the application fee.

Now it’s up to commissioners to decide whether they want to bless the church’s display. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the county courthouse, 1100 Mass.

Also Monday, commissioners will:

  • Discuss prospects for creating a special tax district to finance maintenance of requested roads in Eudora Township.
  • Consider approving a lease for AT&T Wireless to install communications equipment on a tower at the county’s Judicial & Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. 11th St.
  • Consider approving a resolution that would rescind the “minimum maintenance” designation for a portion of North 200 Road in Palmyra Township.