The Lawrence engineer who has spent the last decade trying to solve the city’s stormwater flooding problems is ready to dive into a new challenge.

Chad Voigt, the city’s first ever stormwater engineer, is leaving his position with the city on Friday. City commissioners recognized his nine and a half years of service at Tuesday night’s meeting.

“We don’t have the number of calls that we used to have about flooding,” City Manager Mike Wildgen said.

Voigt said he hadn’t found another job but decided he was ready to seek new challenges within the engineering field. He said he enjoyed his time with the city.

“It is a great place and great people to work with,” Voigt said. “I’m proud of what we’ve done. We have built the stormwater program from the ground up and it is running pretty smoothly.”

Voigt oversaw $15 million worth of projects since 1997, including several large ones in the areas around 22nd and Carolina streets, Third and Michigan streets and 13th and Oregon streets. The next engineer will be responsible for implementing the findings of a major stormwater study for the North Lawrence area. Those results are expected in January.

Wildgen said he hoped to have the position, which oversees a crew of about six people, filled by spring.

Marijuana issue still unresolved

The issue of whether the city should impose a minimum fine for the crime of first-time marijuana possession will smolder a little longer.

Commissioners on Tuesday could not reach agreement on a proposal that would charge a $300 minimum fine for people convicted in Municipal Court of first-time marijuana possession.

Instead, commissioners said they wanted to study an idea brought up by Kim Richter, researcher of substance abuse treatments at the Kansas University Medical Center. Richter urged commissioners to make each offender take a court-ordered evaluation to determine whether the offender has a dependency problem. Those found to have a dependency problem would be ordered to receive more treatment.

In Douglas County, the evaluation would cost about $100. Commissioners said they wanted to learn more about the evaluation program.

But it was still unclear whether a majority of commissioners would be able to reach an agreement on a minimum fine. City Commissioner Sue Hack said she would give the judge authority to deduct $100 from the $300 fine for people who completed the evaluation. But Mayor Boog Highberger said he believed there was “no justification” for a fine that high. All commissioners did express support for allowing the judge to deviate from the minimum fine if the judge found “substantial and compelling reasons.”

Currently all marijuana cases are prosecuted in Douglas County District Court.

Memorial planned for Liberty Hall manager

A plan is in the works to honor longtime Liberty Hall manager Tim Griffith – who died earlier this month – with a small memorial in front of the downtown theater.

City commissioners Tuesday night gave tentative approval to a plan that would allow friends and co-workers of Griffith to cast Griffith’s boot prints in bronze on the sidewalk in front of Liberty Hall, 642 Mass.

The bronze boot prints would be next to a parking meter that Griffith frequently leaned against when he took a smoke break. Aimee Polson, a friend who used to work with Griffith, said she hoped that the memorial would be in place by Dec. 7, when a public memorial service is planned for Griffith at Liberty Hall. That event is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

“It is good to remember that people like Tim existed, people who were very giving to the community and to people in need,” Polson said.

Haskell students recognized for bravery

City commissioners Tuesday night formally recognized four Haskell Indian Nations University students who risked their own safety to notify residents of the Boardwalk Apartments during the Oct. 7 fire.

Commissioners read proclamations recognizing the actions of Zachary Noline, Joseph Anderson, Adam Washington and Lumhe Sampson. The four Haskell students were in a nearby apartment about 1 a.m. on Oct. 7 when the fire at Boardwalk Apartments began.

“It just happened so fast,” Anderson said. “We ran and began pounding on doors and telling people ‘fire, fire.’ We just hoped people would hear us.”

Commissioners also observed a moment of silence in memory of the three Boardwalk residents who were killed in the fire.

School crosswalk safety addressed

Residents along 27th Street near Sunflower School were told by commissioners that either an adult crossing guard or a flashing beacon likely would be installed to help control traffic in the area.

Several neighbors had expressed concern that traffic in the area was not slowing for either children or adults trying to cross the street in the area. City commissioners directed staff members of the Public Works Department to prepare a report for next week’s meeting that would make a recommendation on whether a crossing guard, beacons or both should be installed.

East Lawrence trail raises some concerns

Commissioners gave their enthusiastic approval to a plan that would create a new hike/bike trail along the abandoned Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad line in eastern Lawrence.

Commissioners did hear some concerns, though, from residents of The Woods, a new housing subdivision west of the 19th Street and Haskell Avenue area. Matthew Tomc, president of the subdivision’s homeowners association, said residents had concerns about stormwater drainage, security issues and the possibility of a small parking lot being located in the area for trail users.

City commissioners promised to gather more information about each of those concerns and involve residents of the subdivision in future planning. But commissioners said they believed the trail would be a benefit to eastern Lawrence area.

Commissioners, though, did not begin the process to downzone several pieces of property in the neighborhood, which was called for by the plan. Commissioners said they wanted to have more conversations with each of the property owners. All of the rezonings would allow the current uses on the property to continue, but would prohibit the properties from being redeveloped into more intense industrial uses.