County hiring helicopter this weekend to survey roofs of buildings for signs of weakness

That low-flying helicopter you may see — or hear — hovering above public buildings Sunday in Lawrence won’t be searching for an escaped convict.

Try surveying roofs for leaks and other signs of weakness.

The helicopter, equipped with infrared scanning equipment, is scheduled to be in position above four flat-roofed buildings owned by Douglas County:

• Judicial & Law Enforcement Center, 111 E. 11th.

• Douglas County Jail, 3601 E. 25th.

• Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, Building 21, 2120 Harper.

• Douglas County Youth Services, 330 Industrial Lane.

Flights are set for 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, and between 8 p.m. Sunday and 2 a.m. Monday. The daytime flight will be about 1,200 feet above the buildings, while the nighttime/early-morning flight could go as low as 500 feet.

Weather conditions could force the surveying to be rescheduled, said Pam Weigand, assistant county administrator. The testing will be expected to cost about $6,000, similar to the bill from last year.