photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World File Photo

The Douglas County Courthouse at 1100 Massachusetts St., which houses the county government, is shown on Sept. 15, 2018.

County leaders will soon consider their list of legislative priorities, including issues related to state support for crisis services, psychiatric care and the expansion of the South Lawrence Trafficway.

As part of its meeting Wednesday, the Douglas County Commission will consider approving its 2022 Legislative Statement, which it will send to the state legislative delegation. The proposed statement comprises three legislative priorities and expresses support for 13 additional issues.

The three legislative priorities comprise positions related to state support for the county’s mental health crisis center; “competency restoration” for those declared incompetent to stand trial; and state funding for the expansion of the South Lawrence Trafficway. A summary of the county’s proposed priorities is as follows:

•Treatment & Recovery Center: The statement expresses support for state funding for crisis services, saying in part that state funding provides treatment and services for individuals who do not have insurance or are not eligible for any other funding. The county supports the implementation of the state’s Crisis Intervention Act to address additional needs of the county’s crisis center.

•Competency Restoration & Community Interventions: The statement expresses support for efforts to improve the competency restoration process, including additional support and allowances for community-based competency restoration, or consideration of funding to construct another psychiatric hospital in Northeast Kansas.

•Expansion of the South Lawrence Trafficway (SLT): The statement urges the Legislature to continue the commitments to fully fund the Eisenhower Transportation Plan, which includes the expansion of the SLT.

The 13 additional issues that the county expresses support for include public health, criminal justice reform, Medicaid expansion, elimination of the state sales tax on food, and state environment and sustainability efforts. The county also encourages the Legislature to establish additional clarity on issues of emergency powers, local control and county authority, specifically during states of emergency.

In other business, the commission will consider:

•Adopting an amended version of the county’s 2021 budget, which includes updated revenue and expense information.

•Adopting a revised version of the county’s finance policy, which includes clarifications and additions on various topics.

•Approving $211,675 for case management software for the District Attorney’s Office.

•Adding Juneteenth as a paid holiday for county staff, which will cost the county $40,000 to $50,000 in the form of overtime and shift differential.

The Douglas County Commission will convene at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the county courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St. Residents can participate in the meeting in person, virtually or via phone, and more information about those options is available at douglascountyks.org/commission/meetings.