The former Farmland Industries property north of Kansas Highway 10 is one step closer to entering the city limits.

County commissioners Monday unanimously signed off on the city’s plans to annex 448 acres of the former Farmland Industries east of Lawrence.

Farmland filed for bankruptcy in 2002, and city leaders are trying to negotiate a purchase of the property for future development. The environmentally blighted property also must be cleaned up.

Now that the county commission has acted, city commissioners still must vote on the annexation. If the property is annexed, city services could be extended to the land.

“It’s another step to an important project for our whole community. Anything we can do to move the redevelopment of Farmland along is a good move,” Douglas County Commissioner Nancy Thellman said.

Commissioners on Monday also approved their 2010 budget, and a public budget hearing is currently scheduled for Aug. 19.

The overall county 2010 budget keeps the property tax mill levy flat compared to 2009. County department heads were ordered to submit proposals that were 1 percent below the current year’s budget.