List of frequently asked questions (FAQ) for Public Works.
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.
The current Douglas County road condition report may be heard by calling 785-832-5155, or by visiting the Weather and Roads page.
A "minimum maintenance" road is a road that receives little or no routine maintenance and has been officially designated as such by the Board of County Commissioners. Kansas law (K.S.A. 68-5,102) allows for certain roads to be designated as "minimum maintenance" for various reasons. Generally, roads that have been so designated have very low traffic volumes and the local township with maintenance jurisdiction has determined other roads with higher traffic volumes deserve more attention and resources.
Designating a road as "minimum maintenance" reduces the tort liability associated with failure to maintain a roadway to normal standards.
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 palliative" 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 palliative material. In addition, the property owner pays approximately ½ the cost for the road to be prepared for dust palliative, and an administrative fee to cover our costs of brokering the program. The dust palliative material is typically applied in late spring
The most common dust palliative 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 palliative 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 palliative. 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 palliative may occur.
If you have any questions you may call the Public Works Department by telephone at 785-832-5293.
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>.
The park opens at 6:00 a.m. and closes at 10:00 p.m. The Wells Overlook park was donated in 1971 by William H. Wells in memory of William D. Wells and Charles W. Wells.
Alcoholic beverages or cereal malt beverages are not allowed in the Wells Overlook park.
For a complete list of rules & regulations for Lone Star Lake Park, please view the Lone Star Lake Park Rules and Regulations (PDF format).
You can view a complete list of township officials for the County by visiting the Township Officials section of the Elected Officials of Douglas County 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.
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.
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 to 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.
There are several agencies located within Douglas County with rural roadway maintenance responsibilities. State and Federal highways are maintained by the Kansas Department of Transportation. Other major rural routes are maintained by the Douglas County Public Works Department. Local rural roads are maintained by individual townships. Please see the Douglas County Road Map for your specific location, or visit the Roads page to identify which agency is responsible for your specific road(s).
If you have any questions you may call the Public Works Department by telephone at 785-832-5293.
Yes! Products dropped off at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility that are in good, usable condition are set on Product Reuse shelves for redistribution. Everything is free! Please call the Lawrence Waste Reduction and Recycling Staff at 785-832-3032 to schedule a time to "shop our shelves"!
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.
Douglas County does have a program that allows civic organizations the opportunity to Adopt-a-Highway. Requests are made 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.
If the width of your entrance is too narrow because you have changed the type or size of vehicle(s) you are using then you would be responsible for the upgrade (widening) of the entrance. Applications for the upgrade of entrances are identical to those required for the installation of new entrances and 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.
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.
Addresses are assigned to driveways or entrances to property not to parcels. All residential entrances and a significant number of field entrances in Douglas County have already had addresses assigned. If you intend to obtain a building permit then you will participate in a process that includes assigning an address to your future entrance. 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.
Permission to place a gate on a rural public road may only be granted by the Board of County Commissioners only in locations that are typically agricultural in nature and not subject to routine traffic. Requests are made 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.
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 Lawrence/Douglas County 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.
Entrances must be constructed to proper standards and specifications for reasons primarily related to traffic safety. The standards and specifications are contained within an Entrance Construction Application Form available at the Engineering Division office at the Public Works Department, 3755 East 25th Street, Lawrence, KS 66046. 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 Douglas County Noxious Weed Department rents 200 and 300 gallon trailer-mounted sprayers with hand wands for daily and weekend use. Easily transported with a pin hitch they can be rented for any type application in Douglas County, Kansas. Call the Douglas County Noxious Weed Department at 785-331-1331 for current reasonable rates.
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, Roundup Ultra, and Remedy at 75% of the County's purchase price. If you have any questions please call the Douglas County Noxious Weed Department at 785-331-1331.
The process to designate a road as "minimum maintenance" involves a hearing before the local township, the county planning commission, and the Board of County Commissioners. Requests to designate a road as "minimum maintenance" are made 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.
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.
The Kansas noxious weed law identifies 13 weeds as being noxious that must be controlled. Common infestations in Douglas County are Musk thistle, Johnson grass, Field bindweed, and Sericea lespedeza.
Bull thistle is currently under consideration to be added to the list.
Weed identification and/or treatment plans can be discussed or resolved with the Agricultural Agent at the Douglas County Extension Office.
The City of Lawrence/Douglas County Household Hazardous Waste program is open for Douglas County residents to drop-off household hazardous waste, or visit the product reuse area. The facility is located at 2201 Kresge Road in Lawrence, and is open Tuesday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm; and one Saturday a month by appointment only. For a Saturday appointment time, please call 832-3032. Winter hours (November – February) will be reduced to Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm. The facility will be closed on City observed holidays. Materials accepted include unwanted paint, pesticides, cleaners, old mercury thermometers, and batteries. There is no fee to Douglas County households. Also please visit our website at http://www.LawrenceRecycles.org for more information on hazardous waste.
Road maps are available at the Engineering Division office at the Public Works Department, 3755 East 25th Street, Lawrence, KS 66046. The various sizes available and their prices are as follows:
Shipping and handling charges - depends on amount ordered - minimum charge is $1.00.
Maps may be ordered by telephone or mail. Payment must be received prior to the mailing of the map(s). If you have any questions you may call the Public Works Department by telephone at 785-832-5293.
Ownership maps are available at the Engineering Division office at the Public Works Department, 3755 East 25th Street, Lawrence, KS 66046. The maps were prepared by a private mapping firm using the 1997 tax roll for the source of ownership and have been copyrighted. We do not know their process for updating the map. The sizes available and their prices are as follows:
Shipping and handling charges - depends on amount ordered - minimum charge is $1.00.
Maps may be ordered by telephone or mail. Payment must be received prior to the mailing of the map(s). If you have any questions you may call the Public Works Department by telephone at 785-832-5293.
The governing body of each township is responsible for the treatment of all Noxious weeds on right-of-ways and properties supervised by them.
Courthouse:
1100 Massachusetts Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Judicial and Law Enforcement Center:
111 East 11th Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
