Lawrence Journal-World 07-27-11v2

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WEDNESDAY • JULY 27 • 2011

Plan would allow homeless shelter to relocate By Joe Preiner jpreiner@ljworld.com

Douglas County leaders plan to acquire land that will house a consolidated Public Works complex and also allow the downtown homeless shelter to relocate.

Weinaug

The property included in the county’s plan covers 34 acres east of Douglas County Jail, 3601 E. 25th St. County Administrator Craig Weinaug has worked on the plan with the support of county commissioners. “One project allows another,

serendipitously, to move forward,” Commissioner Nancy Thellman said Tuesday.

Shelter relocation The other project is the relocation of the Lawrence Community Shelter. The acquisition of the property will make Douglas

County the majority land owner covered by the Declaration of Protective Covenants. That committee recently ruled that the convenants on the property prohibited a homeless shelter on the site. Legal efforts by the homeless shelter to have that decision reversed weren’t suc-

cessful, throwing the shelter’s relocation plans into disarray. With the county in control, the members of the Covenant’s Board of Trustees would be asked to resign. County commissioners would then appoint Please see SHELTER, page 2A

Mike Yoder/Journal-World Photo

ABOVE: The Dillons store on Massachusetts Street, photographed Tuesday in a stitched-together panorama, as it now appears, with Babcock Place to the left. BELOW: A rendering of the proposed new store from Massachusetts Street with Babcock Place at left. There currently is no timeline for razing and rebuilding the grocery store.

Mass. St. Dillons remodel approved by commission By Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

It was like it was Triple Coupon Day. There were smiles all around at Lawrence City Hall on Tuesday night as city commissioners unanimously gave final approval for Dillons to replace its existing grocery on south Massachusetts Street with a larger, more modern store. “Dillons really went out of its way to help put the neighborhood at ease and make a lot of accommodations,” said Mayor Aron Cromwell, who lives a couple of blocks from the store at 1740 Mass. “This is going to be a real signature building for

the whole neighborhood.” Tuesday’s approval clears the way for the project to receive a building permit, but Dillons officials weren’t yet ready to put a firm timeline on when construction would begin, which will require the existing store to be closed and razed. Company officials said it could be another two months before work is ready to begin at the site. “But I can tell you we have contractors looking at the project right now,” said Lynn Howitz, construction manager for the project. Company officials did confirm that work has Please see DILLONS, page 2A

County asks for reversal of SRS shutdown; agency says Topeka is an option for staff

The green and easy guide to moving By Christine Metz cmetz@ljworld.com

No one likes to move. But we shouldn’t make the earth suffer with us. On July 31, many Lawrence residents will be relocating. To help ease the pain on you and the environment, here are tips on keeping the move cheap, easy and green.

Think outside the new box Try to find a way around having to buy newly manufactured boxes. Kathy Richardson, the city’s waste reduction and recycling operations supervisor, recommends contacting grocery stores, retail outlets or businesses to see if they have spare boxes. If that doesn’t work, check out Craigslist.org, an online site that has posts from people looking to pass along boxes. Also, be on the lookout for neighbors, coworkers or friends who might be moving shortly before you. Ask to use their boxes when they are done.

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Regional director: Earlier memo had ‘misinformation’ By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

iStock Image

If no spare boxes can be found, consider buying ones made of recycled materials or boxes that are “reused.” Among the companies that offer such products is UsedCardboardBoxes.com. U-

Low: 78

Today’s forecast, page 8A

Please see MOVING, page 2A

INSIDE

Ouch! That’s hot

High: 100

Haul has a box drop location at all of its company stores and allows customers to trade, sell or buy reusable boxes and moving supplies. It’s not just cardboard boxes that can be reused. When packing, think about using towels, blankets, newspapers and pillows for cushioning breakable items. It saves you from having to use wasteful bubble wrap and

TOPEKA — Douglas County commissioners have asked Gov. Sam Brownback to reject the planned closure of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services office in Lawrence, saying shutting it down will cost county taxpayers more than the state will save and result in the loss of services to vulnerable people. And in another development related to the shutdown, SRS said Brownback Tuesday that employees at the Lawrence SRS office can apply to transfer to the Topeka office. That’s contrary to a memo the department had sent out earlier. On Monday, the Lawrence JournalWorld obtained an SRS memo by Jason Haney, interim director of programs for

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... it will cost the taxpayers of Douglas County more tax dollars than the state is saving. And even with best efforts, there will be critical losses in services that we cannot fill locally.”

— Letter from Douglas County commissioners to Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback the Kansas City Metro Region of SRS, that said Lawrence SRS office employees would not be able to transfer to the Topeka office. But Tuesday, SRS Kansas City Metro Regional Director Phyllis Gilmore said that earlier memo contained misinformation. “The Topeka office has always been and remains an option for Lawrence staff to transfer to. I apologize for the confusion.” Please see SRS, page 2A

COMING THURSDAY The Douglas County Commission will discuss new land use proposals.

Vol.153/No.208 30 pages

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