photo by: Journal-World

The west side of the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St.

Douglas County leaders this week are set to hear from a number of partner agencies about their ongoing sustainability initiatives.

The Douglas County Commission will meet with leaders from agencies such as the Douglas County Historical Society, Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area, the Black Jack Battlefield Trust and more as part of a work session this Wednesday. They’re part of a group of seven heritage partners or historical societies that receive annual operating support from the county for a combined total of around $370,000, and they were tasked last year with developing a collective impact and sustainability model.

According to a presentation included with this week’s commission meeting agenda, heritage partner agencies will detail capital improvement projects that are either completed or slated to be finished this year, outline their collaborative efforts and highlight their future plans.

Part of that presentation is dedicated to the Heritage Conservation Council, and it will lay out goals and objectives for 2024, current challenges and future needs.

In other business, the commission will:

• Consider approving the county’s health care plan renewal. That will include changes such as adding orthodontic benefits, beginning LMH Health’s Healthy Living Now program and offering employees their choice of an extra day off or extra money into a health reimbursement arrangement account as a wellness incentive.

• Consider approving a supplemental budget request of $29,700 for Kansas Holistic Defenders. The agency plans to use the funds for immigration consultations, office space rental costs and a case management system.

• Consider a request to rezone roughly two acres at 1749 East 1500 Road, which is just off Interstate 70 north of Lawrence, to a “light industrial” district.

The property is currently within two zoning districts, one for “light industrial” and the other for “transitional agriculture.” The applicant wants consistent zoning on the property to build a warehouse and install an exterior storage area for a pool business.

• Consider a conditional use permit request for 1629 East 800 Road just west of Lawrence to use an existing barn on the applicant’s property to house events.

The barn has already been converted into a recreational structure that’s used by residents on the property, and the applicant, Adam Hazelwood, wants to turn it into an event space that friends and family can use to host several gatherings per year with a maximum of 60 individuals per event.

• Hear an update from a government relations firm about the Kansas legislative session.

Wednesday’s work session will begin at 4 p.m., followed by the business meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St. The meeting will also be available by Zoom. For meeting information, visit the county’s website: dgcoks.org/commissionmeetings.