--- Notes to Constituents ---
Issues
and Info
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A Commissioner To Do? Helping the Schools
The New Douglas County Commission Districts
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NACEPT Emerging Issues Report
On September 11th, I happened to be
in a downtown Chicago hotel working -- as a member of EPA's NACEPT
committee -- on an emerging environmental issues report. The
National Advisory Committee on Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT)
brings environmental stakeholders together to review Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) actions and efforts.
As you might imagine, the
news of that day was a considerable distraction, but since all of us were from
out of town and hopelessly stranded in  Chicago we kept working as best we
could. Fear of additional attacks on notable landmarks -- such as
the looming Sears tower -- sent everyone scurrying from the downtown area.
I went out and walked at noon. The streets were eerily quiet. Like
so many people feeling helpless but wanting to help, I found my way to a blood
bank and went in to make a donation. It was just a few hours after
the initial attack, and the the place was already teeming with potential
donors. People of every age, race and economic class were milling about,
patiently waiting even though the wait promised to be at least three
hours. Sometimes when you go to give, you get much more in return....maybe
that's true all the time. In any event, that outpouring of humanity, the
caring way in which strangers regarded and comforted each other, the steely
resolve that no matter how bad things got we would pull through together was
very reassuring to me, a stunned Kansan walking alone on all but abandoned city
streets. So, thanks Chicago.
The world goes on, even after
September 11th. Between phone calls home, news breaks in our hotel rooms,
and food-gathering expeditions into abandoned banquet rooms we made good
progress on the report. The final report was presented to EPA
Administrator Whitman in late January, and is organized along six themes:
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world population and demographics
-
natural resources
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science and technology
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information management and access
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economics and commerce
-
politics and social evolution
Check out the full
report:
The
Environmental Future: Emerging Challenges and Opportunities for EPA
Do you agree with its findings?
Historic Sites in Douglas County
I'm very pleased to be a member of
the Douglas County Heritage Alliance Committee, which is most ably chaired by 10th
Federal Circuit Chief Judge Deanell Tacha. Other members include
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Judy Billings
-
 Dee
Ann Deroin
-
Bill Dulin
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David Dunfield
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Nancy Hiebert
-
Mike Hoeflich
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Charles Jones
-
Fred Six
-
Bill
Tuttle
-
Ranita Wilks
The question that gives us the most
trouble is one of scoping. An argument can be made that we ought to
commemorate events from the age of Native American sovereignty, through the
Louisiana purchase and westward migration, past the Bleeding Kansas and the
Civil War, up to Brown vs. Board of Education in
the mid-1950's. Many things have happened since then, but arguably it's too early
for more recent events to be viewed in their proper historical perspective.
The problem is that when scope become too large, the theme loses all
meaning. For example, "The Kansas Heritage Area"
is not very compelling in terms of defining our own community characteristics,
framing preservation goals, or attracting the attention of heritage tourists.
What are the themes we should make
central to our Heritage Alliance efforts?
The
Architecture and Sites Subcommittee, chaired jointly by Del Shankel and David
Dunfield recently asked its members to list their Top
Ten Douglas County Historic Sites. The little illustrations
on the side indicate multiple listing among the various subcommittee
members. Take a look at the subcommittee's initial list, then answer
the following questions in light of your answers to the central theme question
above.
-
Do
you agree with the selections?
-
What have we missed?
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How many of these sites could
you describe in terms of their historical significance?
-
How many have you personally
visited?
As
always, let me know what you think.
The 1st District
The three Douglas
County Commissioners serve 4-year staggered terms. My first
term runs from January '98 to January '02. Some key assignments and activities include:
-
Member, Douglas County Heritage Alliance
Committee
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Co-Chair, Lawrence/Douglas County Economic
Development Board
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Member, Lawrence/Douglas County Zoning Advisory
Committee
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Member, ECO2 Task Force
-
Overseeing Commissioner, Renovation of the
Justice/Law Enforcement Center and Courthouse
-
Member, National Advisory Committee on
Environmental Policy an Technology
Check the map to determine which Douglas
County Commission District you live in.
Orange = 1st
District
Green = 2nd District
Yellow = 3rd
District
County Commission Agenda
The Douglas County Commission usually meets at 9 on Monday mornings and 6:35
on Wednesday evenings at the Douglas County Courthouse. These meetings are
open and the public is welcome to attend.
Find out what's on the upcoming agenda by accessing Douglas
County. At the end of each meeting, time is reserved for public comments. This
is your time to speak up and be heard!
See It Live!
Kansas University's Memorial
Stadium Camera overlooks the football field! Kansas
University's Hoglund-Maupin
Stadium Camera let's you see what's happening out on the baseball
diamond. These are fabulous! You actually get to drive the thing.
Pan left and right, zoom in and out. Closed on game days and during some
practices.
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