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

By Janet Reid

Helicopters will be flying through Douglas County looking for weaknesses in four county properties. The project costs about $6,000 each year.

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.

mr_right_wing 3 years, 6 months ago

So they aren't black helicopters sent by George W?

OK, seriously...good idea, those roofs bore a lot of weight from all the snow this past winter. I just hope we don't need to do a whole lot of replacement since we do not have the money!

KUinAussie 3 years, 6 months ago

i hope there are guarantees that this private company isnt taking video of indecent incidents. regardless of the original purpose, its events like this that lead to invasion of privacy issues.

now would be a good time for anyone doing anything illegal, to turn down the lights.

Flap Doodle 3 years, 6 months ago

Couldn't they just hire a heavy guy to walk onto the roof & jump up & down?

calvin 3 years, 6 months ago

No, didn't you see Mangino left for Florida?

and when the city ends up footing the bill because the force of the air created by the chopper blades collapse peoples roofs, i will assume they will do it differently next time.

hooligan01 3 years, 6 months ago

Does this need to be done every year? And that is a serious question, I'm not trying to argue I am quite curious. I'm from North Dakota where snow is a common thing for 7 months out of the year and never melting and they don't do things like this. I'm not trying to argue with it, I'm just wondering why it can't be every other year or something like that.

i wonder how the residents feel during a budget crisis, that the city finds the funds for this endeavor.

Scruggsy 3 years, 6 months ago

If you believe that is the reason, I've got a bridge to sell you... Ever heard of an inspector going up on a ladder?

Better shut off the grow lights... And POS meth cooks scurry like the cockroaches you are...

corduroypants 3 years, 6 months ago

If they see weakness, will they open fire?

bearded_gnome 3 years, 6 months ago

what I wanna know: will there be a Behavior Control Technician aboard???

sure, the public word is they'r looking at the tops of public buildings. riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!

this is all part of the guvment taking control of us, there is a hypnotic force unleashed from this helichopper.

I say, open fire when you see it! sooner the better! free the minds of Lawrence!

God bless us, everyone.

catfishturkeyhunter 3 years, 6 months ago

Must have run out of ladders at the hardware store. Sounds like an excuse to go on a helicopter ride to me.. Sounds fun to me, only Id rather go to the grand canyon than look at lawrence roof tops.

LadyJ 3 years, 6 months ago

"The testing will be expected to cost about $6,000, similar to the bill from last year."

Archive for Wednesday, May 20, 2009 Douglas County pays $5,000 for flyover to collect rooftop images

hipper_than_hip 3 years, 6 months ago

$6k this year, and $5k last year.

I suppose when it's someone else's money, 20% is close enough.

Newell_Post 3 years, 6 months ago

Something doesn't sound right. Aerial infrared photography works better in the winter time when it is cold outside and the heat is on inside the buildings. That makes wet spots in roof insulation show up better because they have lost their insulating value and conduct heat better than surrounding areas that are still intact....

But that is his busy time, the county gets a discount if they schedule it during his slow period.

Commenting has been disabled for this item.

Archive for Friday, May 21, 2010