The Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association and the Douglas County Commission are exploring a proposal to build a 12-bed, in-patient hospice center in southern Lawrence.

The VNA asked commissioners Monday to donate county-owned land on the eastern side of the Douglas County United Way building, 2518 Ridge Court, for a hospice center.

“We love the location. It’s very accessible,” VNA Chief Executive Judith Bellome said.

Commissioners said they supported the concept of a hospice center but stopped short of saying they would donate the vacant property, which covers about 5 acres. They said they needed more information about the proposal and the adequacy of the site for the center.

“It is premature to give the land away, but I support it,” Commissioner Bob Johnson said of the hospice center.

Commissioner Jere McElhaney said he had questions about whether the site would be adequate for a building, adding that there had been drainage issues in the past at the site. He said he wanted to talk to Bill Bell, the county’s buildings and grounds director, about the property and the condition of the old United Way building.

The VNA is reviewing the feasibility of taking on a hospice center, Bellome said. It also is studying construction costs and the community’s need for the center. At the same time it would also like to find a land donor, Bellome said.

“We want to be very stable financially before we do this,” she said.

VNA hopes to begin a campaign this year to raise funds for the hospice project, Bellome said.

Bellome also said VNA had consulted with United Way director Jo Bryant about the hospice center and that she is supportive.

The land once was to be the site of a nursing home, and a hospice center is consistent with that concept, County Administrator Craig Weinaug said.

The county still might need the site for a future building project, Commissioner Charles Jones said. A proposed program to help jail inmates re-enter society might need a facility in the future, and the site east of Ridge Court and west of Cedarwood Avenue could be it, he said.

Commissioners said they would discuss the issue again in 30 days after receiving more information about the project.

Among other business items, commissioners:

¢ Approved changes to a revised southern development plan, which outlines land uses in an area of southern Lawrence and to the northern side of the Wakarusa River. The city of Lawrence had already approved the plan.

¢ Delayed taking action on a request from John Solbach to extend East 350 Road south of North 1700 Road northeast of Stull. Solbach is interested in the extension to create a buildable lot to the southwest of where the road now ends. Last month commissioners established a six-month moratorium on acting on road extension requests so a policy can developed to guide the process.