Public Works FAQ

Maybe. If your property has been surveyed and the resulting plat of survey was recorded then it is probably on file in the office of the Engineering Division of the Public Works Department located at 3755 East 25th Street, Lawrence, KS. It is possible the survey may have been recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds.

Knowing that your property has been surveyed does not mean the plat has been recorded. While current survey regulations require survey plats be recorded it is possible a survey was done prior to such regulations being in place. It is also possible the survey simply was not recorded as required.

In addition, many people do not understand that a "mortgage survey", or a "mortgage title inspection", as it is called in Kansas, does not constitute a boundary survey. As such, "mortgage title inspections" are not recorded.

The federal government surveyed all of Douglas County in the 1850's. The survey consisted of surveying "townships" which were subdivided into 36 square miles, known as "sections". Each section was subdivided into "quarters", except for some of the sections bordering the Kansas River. Most surveys in Douglas County since the original government survey were performed by the county surveyor until the 1960's. Today there are many surveyors in private practice willing to perform retracement or subdivision surveys.

The best manner in which to determine if your property has been surveyed and to obtain a copy is to visit the Engineering Division office at the Public Works Department, 3755 East 25th Street, Lawrence, KS 66046. It would be very helpful if you could bring a copy of your property's legal description which can be found on your property tax statement. If you have any questions you may contact the Public Works Department by telephone at 785-832-5293.

If the existing pipe or tube is too small to handle normal rainfall amounts then you should contact the Public Works Department by telephone at 785-832-5293. We will study the location and make a determination as to the best manner to proceed.

Roads are vacated by a legislative act by the Board of County Commissioners. The process to vacate a road is authorized by K.S.A. 68-102 et seq and, additionally, by Douglas County Charter Resolution No. 94-2-1. A hearing before the board and pertinent township board is required prior to action. Various public notices of the hearing(s) are required.

While it is possible for the Board of County Commissioners to vacate a road on their own initiative they are typically reluctant to do so without a petition.

Petitions to vacate a road may be submitted to the Public Works Department, 3755 East 25th Street, Lawrence, KS 66046.

If you have any questions you may call the Public Works Department by telephone at 785-832-5293.

Applications for the installation of new entrances are available at the Engineering Division office at the Public Works Department, 3755 East 25th Street, Lawrence, KS 66046. It would be very helpful if you could bring a copy of your property's legal description which can be found on your property tax statement. There is a $75.00 fee required for submission of an application. If you have any questions you may call the Public Works Department by telephone at 785-832-5293.

The best way to subdivide property is to utilize the services of a professional land surveyor or multi-disciplined consulting firm. The local regulations can be complicated and, in addition, various state laws and regulations require certain activities be performed by licensed professionals. If you have specific questions regarding the process you may contact the Lawrence - Douglas County Planning office located in the Lawrence City Hall at 6th Street and Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, Kansas or you may telephone that office at 785-832-3150.

The City of Lawrence Household Hazardous Waste Facility is permitted by the State to facilitate hazardous waste disposal for businesses which qualify as Kansas Small Quantity Generators. Please call the Lawrence Waste Reduction & Recycling Division at 785-832-3032 for further information.

You can view a complete list of township officials for the County by visiting the Township Officials section of the Elected Officials and Reports page.

Roads and bridges are rarely closed to traffic except in cases of major construction. If you have a question about a specific road or bridge you may contact the Public Works Department by telephone at 785-832-5293, or by visiting the Road Closings page.

Chemical control is not the only method to treat noxious weeds. If you decide to spray your noxious weeds you can participate in the cost share program through the Douglas County Noxious Weed Department. Chemicals are sold for the treatment of noxious weeds only. Private landowners can purchase 2-4D, Tordon 22K, and Roundup at 75% of the County's purchase price. If you have any questions please call the Douglas County Noxious Weed Department at 785-331-1322. 

Each late-winter, with the approval of the Board of County Commissioners, the Public Works Department has an enrollment period for residents wishing to purchase a "dust control" treatment for the road fronting their property. This is a user-fee program, so the property owner pays up front for the estimated cost of applying the dust control material. In addition, the property owner pays approximately ½ the cost for the road to be prepared for dust control, and an administrative fee to cover our costs of brokering the program. The dust control material is typically applied in late spring

The most common dust control products are calcium chloride and magnesium chloride. Both products consist of a "brine solution" found naturally in various regions of the USA. The products have been found to control dust by attracting moisture from the atmosphere causing dust to "clump" together. This aids in dust control in two ways. First, the road surface tends to form a hard crust that does not have loose dust particles. And second, larger and heavier dust particles do not float about as much.

The county does not guarantee the results of the product. We simply provide an enrollment service to allow the collective purchase of the product in a large enough quantity to achieve an economical solution. Once the enrollment period has closed, then departmental staff reviews each location to determine if it has been marked properly. The quantity of dust control required to cover the locations is then calculated and a bid process is initiated.

Once the bid has been awarded then large tank trucks are used to apply the product to the locations throughout the county.

Please note that the road must be properly graded by the maintaining agency (county or township) prior to application of the control. In addition, occasional grading may be required should hazardous potholes develop within the treated segment of road. Degradation of the dust-controlling properties of the control may occur.

If you have any questions you may call the Public Works Department by telephone at 785-832-5293.

K.S.A. 2-1319 through 2-1332 provides information about Kansas noxious weed laws. The statutes name specific weeds that must be controlled by the landowner. The goal is to prevent the production and spread of viable seed. Fines are invoked at the rate of $100.00 day for each day of non-compliance with the law.

Various roads have different widths of right-of-way depending on several factors. Some have widths that were determined arbitrarily by statute based on the year they were created. Other roads have variable right-of-way widths depending on the terrain in which they are located. Roads built to modern standards generally fall into this category>.

Water skiing is only allowed at Lone Star Lake on dates approved by the Board of County Commissioners. The dates approved for this calendar year can be found on the Lone Star Lake Skiing Dates page.

Road maps are available at the Engineering Division office at the Public Works Department, 3755 East 25th Street, Lawrence, KS 66046.

All printed and standard maps are $5.00/each

Maps may also be ordered by telephone. If you have any questions you may call the Public Works Department by telephone at 785-832-5293.

If the immediate safety of traffic is at risk due to a missing traffic control sign, i.e. a STOP sign, then you should contact the appropriate law enforcement agency by dialing 911. Other rural sign problems concerning down or damaged signs should be reported by using this form.

If you are unable to use the above method, please contact the Public Works Department Operations Division at 3755 East 25th Street, Lawrence, KS, by telephone at 785-331-1330.

If you have questions concerning traffic safety issues and the possible need for additional signs or any other questions you may call the Public Works Department at 785-832-5293.