3rd District Douglas County Commission candidates, from left: Bassem Chahine (D), Jim Denney (R), Michelle Derusseau (R), Jim Weaver (D).

Below are the candidates’ written answers to a Journal-World questionnaire regarding a number of important topics in the county.

• Do you support the current commission’s position that any ballot question regarding the expansion of the Douglas County Jail should be linked with the idea of construction of a mental health crisis intervention center? Or, do you believe any future ballot question should treat those two projects separately?

Bassem Chahine

It is my belief that the ballot questions should be presented to the public separately. I am in full support of the mental health crisis intervention center and would like to see that brought to the ballot as soon as possible. However, myself and members of the public who I have interacted with are curious about potential other solutions to the jail problem beyond expansion.

This is not to say that I am opposed to the jail expansion and I fully recognize the problems of overcrowding that are present. The most democratic approach, however, would be to present these two distinct projects to the public separately.

Jim Denney

The responsible approach to public safety means we need both — and some others. The problem of an overcrowded jail cannot be denied. We are spending $1,000,000 per year to farm out the overflow. That there are people in jail who would be better handled by other means cannot be denied. Expansion of the jail facility and construction of a mental health crisis center are not two separate projects, but rather, are two aspects of the same problem that both the community and the Commission have a duty and an obligation to address. A new crisis intervention center will not by itself, solve the crisis especially for the female population.

The goal of The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council is to determine what other things can be done to reduce the jail population. Measures will likely include improvements to the jail itself as well as others, which will also have a cost.

Improved facilities and programs for those individuals who must be incarcerated and alternative services and facilities for those who can be diverted from incarceration is a single, inter-related goal in my opinion, and I support the position of the Commission in keeping them “linked.”

Michelle Derusseau

I attended the Jail and Mental Health Crisis Center Town Hall meetings and work sessions earlier this year and have attended all of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) meetings and know there is still a lot of information that I have not seen. The current County Commissioners have been studying this for three years and therefore are much more informed on the background information. So at this time, I am not in a position to question their decision. There is overlap with mental health and the jail. If our community wants to address the mental health incarceration issue, the jail should be part of the discussion because there is and will be a jail population with mental health issues, and there currently is not a safe and effective way to provide for their needs. I look forward to the continuing work of the CJCC and the recommendations they make.

Jim Weaver

I am in favor of combining the Douglas County Jail improvements with the establishment of a mental health crisis intervention center. The issues are closely related and this initiative will provide an integrated corrections system that will serve the community well into the future.

The jail was constructed 20 years ago, and the status of the criminal justice system and the manner in which persons with mental health issues are treated have both advanced considerably since that time. The jail population has increased significantly and along with that, the number of persons incarcerated with mental health issues has increased.

The long term goal of the corrections system should be to make the community safer by protecting the citizens, supporting law enforcement and providing facilities that operate humanely and developing alternatives to incarceration for offenders who may qualify for other treatment or supervision.

• The fairness and consistency of the Douglas County Zoning and Codes Department was called into question last year for its handling of a high-profile incident. The county has since accepted the recommendations from an outside consultant. Do you think the county is on the right track and/or done all that is necessary to re-establish the department’s credibility? If not, what other steps should be taken?

Bassem Chahine

It is essential to the fabric of our society that our government remains free of favoritism, nepotism, and frankly any other “isms” (however, feminism is one “ism” I do support). That being said, the county did an excellent job at correcting its course in the face of criticism. However, we must keep in mind that an outside consultant represents a burden on the taxpayers and is ultimately a short-term solution. The best solution is to put in the initial effort to improve the county’s internet based transparency and pursue other efforts to bring more inclusion and protect the credibility of the County. Another potential solution that has been discussed is rotating the location of where the county meets to include the wonderful township outside of the city of Lawrence that make up a large part of Douglas County.

Jim Denney

The county is definitely on the right track. The report is clear in its recommendations and the department is already instituting some of them. I believe the new director is well equipped to lead the effort to re-establish credibility but it will take time and continued effort. As a commissioner, I will be monitoring this closely.

Michelle Derusseau

Yes I think the county is on the right track. They not only accepted the recommendations from the Austin Peters Group study but they also hired a new director who has over 40 years of experience. From my meeting with him, I know he is bringing in fresh new ideas and training and he is reviewing the department. So yes, I think they are on the right track and we need to give it time followed up with a review next year.

Jim Weaver

Firm and fair enforcement of county codes is a focal point of my campaign. Codes should be clear and concise and based on a genuine public need for regulation, and there must be a fair remedy for disagreements.

The Austin Peters Study of the Zoning and Codes Department was an appropriate response to criticism of the department. The report should not be placed on a shelf and forgotten. The director should make monthly progress reports to the Commission and a final report should be produced when all of the appropriate recommendations have been implemented. The county should then host a public meeting to explain how the department intends to function moving forward.

Credibility is fragile and it requires constant attention. It can be lost easily and is difficult to regain. By implementing the ideas I have suggested.

• County residents, county commissioners and other local jurisdictions have access concerns related to a proposed project to reconfigure the Lecompton interchange on the Kansas Turnpike and South Lawrence Trafficway northwest of Lawrence. There were also many concerns raised about future access to the southwest part of the county during KDOT’s planning process for the K-10 /Kasold Drive intersection. What alignment do you support for the Lecompton interchange project? What steps can the County Commission take to ensure future access to the south Lawrence and the southwest section of the county?

Bassem Chahine

On this issue, I have two points. First, allowing the fastest and most hassle-free access to as much of Douglas County as possible is key to both the satisfaction of our residents and economic development. Second, KDOT holds over a century of combined experience in the development of infrastructure and the points of view that they reflect are geared towards creating a balance between financial feasibility, safety, and convenience. In my opinion, the role of the County Commission is that of a facilitator between the needs and concerns of Douglas County residents and those experienced individuals that are trusted to advise on matters of infrastructure. However, at the end of the day I am willing to add three minutes to my daily commute, rather than bear the burden for a lost life.

Jim Denney

I favor a Lecompton alignment that does not require people to get on the turnpike to go between Lecompton and Lawrence in order to drive on safe roadways. Alternative B allowing continued access to K-10 from the Farmer’s Turnpike (North 1800 Road) seems to be the only option presented so far which accomplishes this.

Douglas County has already begun talking about completing access to the southwest by extending Wakarusa to County Road 458 with a new interchange at K-10. Lawrence, the county and KDOT need to work together to ensure this happens before K-10 is made into four lanes.

Michelle Derusseau

My concern is if the Lecompton interchange is moved 2 miles west is that they do not close the current access to the Farmer’s Turnpike (North 1800 Road) until the new interchange is open. Closing this access would create financial hardship on the city of Lecompton as it would cut them off. It would also create safety issues as KDOT’s suggested alternate routes are East 1000, East 800 and East 600/US Highway 40. East 1000 and East 800 are township roads not built for high traffic or high speeds. Increased traffic on these two roads would also impact the Kanwaka and Wakarusa townships financially with increased maintenance costs from the increased traffic. U.S. 40 is already a dangerous road with blind curves and no shoulders. Increasing the truck and vehicle traffic on this road would be extremely unsafe.

As for access to the southwest section of the county, I think it is important that we continue the discussion regarding the Wakarusa Drive extension.

Jim Weaver

I support the proposed Lecompton toll plaza at East 600 Road. I cannot support either of the proposed options where the SLT intersects with Interstate 70. Option A eliminates access to North 1800 road, and Option B is very complicated and very expensive, but it does allow free access to North 1800 road, which is a priority for me. KDOT is currently considering other options.

I support the 27th and Wakarusa proposal to create an overpass or underpass there, with access to an extension of Wakarusa Drive, which would eventually be extended south to North 1200 Road. I also support the proposal to move the Wakarusa access interchange southeast and adding a connector road that will link that interchange to Wakarusa.

The county has revised its capital improvement budget to include the Wakarusa extension and should pursue conversations with the city of Lawrence and KDOT regarding their participation in these projects.

• What would be your top three spending priorities if elected?

Bassem Chahine

Mental health, job growth, and increasing efficiency of current services. Mental health is going to be a necessary expenditure if Douglas County wants to remain a leading county within Kansas, especially given recent cuts being passed by our broken Legislature. Just as no person should be left untreated for a disease of the body, no person should be left untreated for a disease of the mind.

Job growth is essential to retaining talented graduates within our community and ensuring that we continue being a community where opportunity continues to blossom. Finally, I promise to bring my business acumen to the process of reviewing the budget for the county in order to ensure that every dime of taxpayers’ money is giving the citizens of Douglas County the greatest benefit possible. We are a great community and a great community deserves great and fiscally responsible leadership.

Jim Denney

Public safety and public welfare items would be first priority. This would include roadway safety and health measures as well as more traditional public safety measures.

Second would be to adequately fund the Capital Improvement Plan and infrastructure so that, in the future we can pay for known and inevitable future needs. This would minimize the need to be reactive and resulting in more indebtedness or tax increases. Plan ahead.

Third would be to support those programs and services promoting economic growth and job opportunities in Douglas County. Various measures have already been started such as the Peaslee Center and the Bioscience and Technology Centers We need to support efforts such as these to create jobs.

Michelle Derusseau

The jail/mental health crisis center and the specialty court (a.k.a. mental health court). In addition to those two issues, it will be important for us to plan for security measures to ensure guns are not allowed in the Courthouse after the new concealed-carry law goes into effect on July 1, 2017. The Judicial and Law Enforcement Center which currently houses courtrooms already has security measures in place to prevent guns in the building. The Courthouse at Eleventh and Massachusetts streets does not. Since the Courthouse has many offices providing various services that are visited by our citizens on a daily basis, it is imperative that our citizens, employees and elected officials are safe while in this building

Jim Weaver

The jail improvement and crisis intervention center are the most important issues the county will face in the near future, and the most expensive. It will require considerable resources to bring the project to a comprehensive, fiscally and socially responsible plan to address the needs of the jail and the needs of our citizens suffering from mental illness.

My second priority would be natural resources conservation. Almost every stream in Douglas County is impaired in some manner. Even the Kansas River has impairment, and it is a major source of our drinking water. I would work to identify projects and outside funding that will ensure that our water quality is protected.

My third priority would be to ensure that the county is providing quality services at a reasonable cost. I would look at the budget with a fresh set of eyes, and no preconceived notions about any department or program.