The Federal Highway Administration was approved by the Douglas County Commission as a new partner to a four-year-old agreement to mitigate the effect to historic properties by completion of the South Lawrence Trafficway.

Commissioners Bob Johnson and Jere McElhaney voted for approval but Commissioner Charles Jones voted against it. Jones opposed the original agreement executed n 2003. Jones said he opposes the 32nd Street route in the SLT proposal.

The FHA needed to sign the agreement because federal funds are involved with the project that were not available at the time of the original agreement. In 2005 U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., secured $1.5 million for the project in a federal transportation bill approved by Congress.

In other business, commissioners also got a look at a revised plan for a 5,000 square-foot 4-H building to be called Dreher Hall. The building will be assembled between the Douglas County Extension Service office and exhibit building 21 at the 4-H Fairgrounds. Construction is being funded with $675,000 left to 4-H by the Helen Dreher estate.

The new plan differs from a plan presented a few months ago because it includes a basement. The basement, however, was added at the request of commissioners who wanted it for storage. The county will pay for the basement construction, estimated to be $148,000.