photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Douglas County commissioners met for their regular business meeting on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday approved a site plan for improvements to a golf complex, which will include a new and bigger clubhouse with indoor tee boxes and a restaurant.

The site plan is for Twin Oaks Golf Complex, 1326 East 1900 Road, and the plans involve building a nearly 14,000-square-foot building on the site to replace the existing clubhouse, which will be demolished as part of the plans along with other outbuildings. Owner Brandon Yates told commissioners on Wednesday that the golf complex was trying to take a place that had several problems and turn it into something special.

In addition to the new clubhouse, an access drive will be extended from the parking area on the south side of the site. A new parking area is also planned along the west side of the property.

A few people attended the meeting to make comments against the proposed development, citing concerns about its proximity to the Wakarusa River. Melinda Ball with the group Save the Wakarusa River Valley said there were concerns about the floodplain, as well as about the chemicals that are often used on golf courses and possible effects on water quality.

Yates said that nothing about the golf course itself was changing, and that the project was mainly about the facilities and parking.

There were also people who spoke in support of the project, including Jeff Burey, a retired PGA head pro who previously gave lessons and ran operations at the Twin Oaks facility.

“You’re going to have a gem of a facility in the eastern part of Douglas County,” Burey said. “… Everything Brandon does, and the things I’ve seen him do, are high quality … He told me when he bought the place, ‘I’m going to make you proud,’ and he is.”

In other business, county commissioners:

• Approved an agreement from Kansas WorkforceONE to create a partnership between many Kansas counties and the City of Topeka to jointly manage job training and employment programs under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The agreement will set up a Chief Elected Officials Board to oversee funding and services, ensure compliance, choose service providers and handle any financial issues that may arise.

• Executed a mutual lease agreement with Great Plains Media, operator of KLWN Radio and KKSW Radio, for shared tower use. The county’s tower at 27th and Crossgate in Lawrence has supported local radio stations, while the county has used the tower at 249 North 2100 Road — currently leased through a third party by Great Plains Media — for its emergency management backup communications. This updated agreement outlines mutual use, access and maintenance responsibilities.

There were no regular agenda items or reports scheduled for Wednesday’s meeting, and all of the items approved were on the commission’s consent agenda, which was approved in one motion.