photo by: Austin Hornbostel

Fans are set up in the Douglas County Commission's meeting chambers on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, after the Douglas County Courthouse sustained water damage during sprinkler repairs.

The Douglas County Courthouse sustained some water damage while a contractor was working on its sprinklers on Wednesday, and county staff is encouraging the public to view the County Commission’s meeting on Wednesday via Zoom instead of in person.

County spokesperson Karrey Britt told the Journal-World that the damage occurred Wednesday morning while a contractor was working on the sprinkler system at the southeast corner of the building. That led to water damage in not just the County Commission meeting room, but also in the Treasurer’s Office and the Appraiser’s Office.

Britt said the full extent of the damage was not yet known, but that it mainly affected the meeting room and Treasurer’s Office.

The County Commission will still be holding its work session at 4 p.m. and its regular business meeting at 5:30 p.m. A Zoom link for the work session and meeting is at dgcoks.org/commissionmeetings.

The Treasurer’s Office is closed for now, but its South Iowa satellite location at 2000 W. 31st St. is still open, and the $5 fee for using that location is being waived. Those who need to renew a motor vehicle tag can do so there, or via a few other options:

• Online at ikan.ks.gov.

• By mail at P.O. Box 884, Lawrence, KS 66044.

• By drop box at 2000 W. 31st St. or 1100 Massachusetts St.

photo by: Austin Hornbostel

Chairs sit in the hall at the Douglas County Courthouse on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, after the courthouse sustained water damage during sprinkler repairs.