Douglas County commissioners Wednesday night cleared the way for the city of Lawrence to annex the land it needs for a new sewer treatment plant.

Commissioners adopted a resolution finding that annexation would not “hinder or prevent the proper growth and development of the area.” To be annexed is 536 acres at North 1175 and East 1660 roads southeast of Lawrence.

The Lawrence City Commission still has to take action to annex the land.

The only major concern county commissioners had about annexation and construction of the plant was the effect big trucks will have on roads leading to the plant site.

The city named U.S. Highway 59, Douglas County routes 458 and 1055 as the designated truck routes to the area. To access the construction site, trucks will follow North 1100 Road east to East 1600 Road and then north into the site.

East 1600 Road will be improved by the city to a higher construction standard to accommodate increased truck traffic, city project engineer Mike Lawless said.

County engineer Keith Browning said the county routes are designed for truck traffic but the Wakarusa Township roads are not and could be damaged.

Lawrence City Manager Dave Corliss and Mayor Sue Hack, who were among several city officials at the meeting, assured the county that the city would take care of road damage beyond normal wear and tear.

“We’re committed to leaving the county and township roads in as good a shape as they were before, and hopefully better,” Corliss said.

The city hopes to begin construction of the site in the fall. It is expected to be completed in 2011.

In other business, county commissioners:

¢ Approved the annexation of eight tracks of land with four owners into Rural Water District No. 4. The land is generally along East 2300 Road between North 500 and 300 roads in the southeastern corner of the county.

¢ Approved a zoning amendment incorporating the city of Eudora’s water protection zones.

¢ Approved solicitation of bids for deck resurfacing for bridges on Douglas County Route 442 at the western edge of Stull and on North 1100 Road just east of U.S. Highway 59.