photo by: Douglas County Commission agenda materials

This image from the Douglas County Commission meeting agenda for Jan. 16, 2019, shows planned phases of improvement for the Westwick Rugby Complex.

The Westwick Rugby Complex wants a permit to make some improvements to the site. However, it’s about 20 years overdue to meet the conditions of its first permit.

Douglas County commissioners first approved a permit for the site, which is northwest of North 1200 and East 1150 roads, in 1994. By 1998, the site was required to have a septic system installed.

Fast forward to 2019 and that still hasn’t happened.

During their 6 p.m. Wednesday meeting — a time slot the county reserves for public interest items — commissioners will consider a recommendation from planning staff to approve a new conditional use permit. However, staff recommends a firm deadline of one year from the date of resolution publication for Westwick to build the restroom facilities, or the permit would expire.

Westwick Rugby Complex

The permit would allow Westwick to construct a storage building and up to four portable restroom facilities in phase I. Phase II would add team changing rooms and additional storage; then Phase III would add locker rooms, restrooms and pavilions for viewing of the athletic fields, plus an additional parking lot and a “septic field or a lagoon,” according to plans filed with the county.

In other business at their 4 p.m. meeting, commissioners will:

• Consider an updated funding contract with the City of Lawrence for the remodel of Fire Station No. 1 and the Senior Resource Center, 746 Kentucky St. Interim County Administrator Sarah Plinsky wrote in a memo to the commission that design modifications and delays in the project call for several change orders, which will cost the county an extra $145,883 and bring the grand total for the county to $2.01 million. The added cost leaves the county with a balance of $1.39 million, to be paid in $100,000 installments for the next 14 years unless paid early.

• Hear a presentation from Plinsky and Undersheriff Gary Bunting about capital needs of the Douglas County Jail.

• Hold officer elections to determine the next chair and vice chair.

• Proclaim this month as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Card

The commission will meet at 4 and 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St. Complete agendas and materials are available at douglascountyks.org.

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Update:

• Cost estimate for pared-down Douglas County Jail expansion is $23M, Jan. 16, 2019