photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

The Douglas County Commission met at the Douglas County Public Works building, 3755 E 25th St., at their meeting on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday approved the sheriff’s office’s request to purchase an incoming mail scanner, something the office says is urgently needed to stop illegal substances from getting into the jail.

The commission at its regular meeting waived a bidding process and approved the purchase of the MailSecur scanner for $103,914.93. The device screens incoming documents to determine whether they are contaminated with prohibited substances and “hold accountable people who send these illegal substances in the mail,” according to information provided by Major Gary Bunting in an email to the Journal-World.

According to the email, “the sheriff’s office has had incidents occur over time — and they do seem to be increasing in frequency — at the Douglas County Jail where people in custody are able to obtain illegal substances through incoming mail or documents that were laced with these substances.”

Bunting told commissioners at the meeting on Wednesday that the department evaluated a number of devices and found the MailSecur scanner had the capabilities that the office needed. He said the department didn’t want to go through a normal bidding process — the scanner was urgently needed to reduce the incidents occurring at the jail, he said, and the department worried about how long the process would take.

“This device is the only device at this time that really does what it does,” Bunting said. “We solicited the lowest possible bid that we could for that particular device.”

Commissioner Karen Willey said that in the future, the county may need to consider revisiting its bidding process to better handle situations like these.

In other business, commissioners:

• Listened to a presentation from the county’s Open Space Team, which highlighted the plans to use its funding for open space planning and goals. In 2022, commissioners designated $2.78 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to support these initiatives.

As the Journal-World reported, the Open Space Plan prioritizes three key areas: enhancing current parks, supporting private land conservation programs, and preserving the Wakarusa River Corridor. According to a staff memo, efforts are underway to advance improvements at county parks, with a primary focus on Lone Star Lake Park.

“I’d love to see this investment. Lone Star Lake is a gem,” Willey said. “I’ve used all of the facilities we’ve talked about there and value those but also recognize that there are possible additions that would be a real asset there.”

Updates and detailed plans regarding proposed expenditures from the American Rescue Plan Act for strategic land conservation and the Wakarusa River Corridor will be provided by the Open Space Team by early fall 2024.

• Heard a presentation from the Douglas County Food Policy Council, which provided an overview of the council’s recent work and future goals. The organization focuses on building connections between area producers and consumers to keep food dollars and food resources local, said Cody Haynes, co-chair of the Food Policy Council.

The council is currently working on a Kansas Indigenous Food Systems Study and Action Plan, which is in partnership with Haskell Indian Nations USDA Extension Office. The plan strives to foster an equitable food system in celebrating diversity within the county and the native population in Lawrence.

“Recognizing this diversity and our presence in the local food system is the step towards inclusion of indigenous voices and policy in Douglas County,” said food systems intern Star Her Many Horses. “We are currently in the development stages of the plan, and we are in communication with prospective candidates, data experts and cultural consultants to assist with the plan. This is a locally led project; however, we do have national support.”

• Approved a contract for engineering services from BG Consultants Inc. for a replacement bridge on Route 442 over Captain Creek in Eudora Township. The existing triple box culvert, built by the Kansas Department of Transportation in 1931 as part of the original K-10 Highway alignment, has raised some concerns. According to the 2024 bridge inspection report, critical concerns include concrete decay and the buildup of debris within the channel. In alignment with Douglas County’s Capital Improvement Plan, the Public Works department wants to replace this bridge by 2026.