Douglas and Jefferson counties remain at an impasse over whether to close the Lecompton bridge or keep it open when repairs begin next year.

On Tuesday, Douglas County Commissioner Bob Johnson and Jefferson County Commissioner David Christy met privately to discuss the issue but found no resolution. The meeting was not open to the public because there was not a quorum of commissioners from either commission present.

A few weeks ago, Douglas County commissioners voted 2-1 to close the bridge while Jefferson County commissioners voted 2-1 to keep it open.

“I don’t see any change,” said Johnson, who voted along with Douglas County Commissioner Charles Jones to close the bridge. “I don’t see much likelihood of a movement on either position, but we’ll keep talking.”

Christy and Jefferson County Commissioner Lynn Luck voted to keep the bridge open, while Commissioner Francis Grollmes voted to close it. Jere McElhaney was the only Douglas County commissioner to vote to keep it open.

Johnson said the counties’ two public works directors would probably meet to see if there are other options. No more meetings have been scheduled between the two commissions nor between Johnson and Christy.

The Lecompton Fire Department responded to an auto shop fire in Perry on Tuesday. The quickest way to Perry is over the bridge. It was one of several area fire departments, along with those in Jefferson and Leavenworth counties, called to assist in fighting the blaze. The fire didn’t come up during the meeting with Christy, Johnson said.

“If the only source of fire protection in Lecompton was Perry, and if the only source of fire protection in Perry was Lecompton, then that would sure add weight to the decision, but that’s not the world as it is,” Johnson said.