This composite image from promotional materials shows a logo and rendering of Lawrence Venture Park.

Douglas County commissioners at their Wednesday meeting voted in favor of a $200,000 grant to Menard Inc.

The incentive is part of a package deal with the city of Lawrence. Menard Inc. has requested the city give the company a 10-year, 50 percent tax abatement, a grant of nearly $550,000 and use of a bulk warehouse — incentives totaling approximately $2.3 million — to open a manufacturing facility at Lawrence VenturePark.

The county has agreed to pay $20,000 per year for 10 years as its part of the agreement.

Scott Nuttelman, corporate counsel for Menard Inc., reviewed the company’s plans in a brief presentation for commissioners. Britt Crum-Cano, economic development coordinator for the city of Lawrence, also reviewed some of the project particulars.

Overall, Nuttelman said, Menard Inc. plans to invest a total of $24 million in the facility. He said it should also create at least 100 full-time jobs.

“For me, it’s clear as a bell,” Commissioner Jim Flory said prior to the commission’s unanimous vote in favor of the grant.

Commissioner Nancy Thellman said Menard Inc. is the first anchor tenant for Lawrence VenturePark the commission can “have great confidence in.”

“It’s a big day,” she said.

The Lawrence City Commission is holding a public hearing Jan. 5 on the issue, and its vote on the incentives Menard Inc. has requested will determine details for a joint contract between the company and both commissions.

In other action Wednesday, commissioners:

• Approved a joint project with the city of Lawrence to extend fiber optic networks to the Douglas County Jail east of Kansas Highway 10 and O’Connell Road, as well as to the Harper water tower and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical Station No. 2, located near 21st Street and Haskell Avenue.

The City Commission on Tuesday approved paying $22,468 for the project, and county commissioners approved the project at a cost of $77,420. Jim Lawson, the county’s IT director, said the initial cost would pay itself off in 17 months because the county would no longer have to rent fiber and would save $55,000 per year.

“This is brilliant and a huge savings,” Thellman said. “Thanks for putting it together.”

• Approved a policy for handling public records requests and establishing a records custodian. Flory asked to add language to clarify the policy is not expanding on what the Kansas Open Records Act requires but rather sets guidelines for the county to follow.

• Approved signing a letter of commitment to expand the Market Match program, which matches SNAP benefits spent at farmers markets dollar-for-dollar.

• Received an economic update from Lawrence chamber of commerce CEO Larry McElwain.

The Douglas County Commission will not meet next Wednesday, Dec. 16, but will resume its normal 4 p.m. meetings on Wednesday, Dec. 23. The commission typically meets at 4 p.m. each Wednesday at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St.