photo by: Journal-World

The west side of the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St., is pictured on Sept. 23, 2021.

Douglas County commissioners are being asked to spend money on what may be the first of several remodels at the Douglas County Courthouse.

The commission is set to consider authorizing county staff to enter into a contract for a proposed remodel of the first floor of the courthouse with B.A. Green Construction, at a tentative cost of $202,505.

With the county’s Elections Department having moved into a satellite office on 23rd Street in Lawrence, there’s now additional space to move accounts payable and payroll staff from the second floor of the courthouse into the existing Douglas County Clerk’s Office space on the first floor. According to the meeting’s agenda materials, this will likely be the first of many departmental regroupings that are called for in a master plan guiding the county’s space needs. The move is intended to improve space shortfalls and staff efficiency at the courthouse.

Commissioners will also consider whether to approve the site plan for a self-storage facility consisting of 15 mini-storage units and one open building for RV and boat storage; the property is located near the intersection of Highway 56 and Highway 59 in southern Douglas County.

Wednesday’s business meeting will begin 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.