Over several decades, Sedgwick County has studied flood issues and has developed a myriad of solutions to help mitigate stormwater damage. Unfortunately, most of those ideas have not been implemented mostly due to lack of commitment and funding. Now, with several large storm events this past year that have primarily impacted Mulvane, Derby, and Haysville, it highlights this broad issue as one to solve. It will never solve itself and the problems actually do become worse when ignored.  

This reminds me of the discussions that must have happened in Wichita back in the 1940’s.  There were some smart people that believed that a 33-mile long ditch (now known as the Wichita Valley Center Floodway) would protect the core of the city from flooding. This was an enormously expensive project that took years to engineer and a decade to construct.  In the end, the completed project has proven and paid for itself many times. Regardless, it seems unlikely that something of this magnitude would garner the political support today.

Recently, the Sedgwick County Stormwater Management Advisory Board highlighted Johnson County as the model for Sedgwick County on how to fund stormwater solutions. In 1987, the State allowed Counties to implement a 1/10 cent sales tax to fund stormwater improvements. The law that created the opportunity expired in 1990. Nevertheless, Johnson County chose to exercise this option and to this day, they continue to collect and fund many stormwater projects.  We can work to amend the law to allow Sedgwick County to do the same. This would provide about $10 million per year.  Even at this rate, it would take about 25 years to complete the projects already defined.  

As a fiscal conservative and as one that has rallied against government growth, I find myself at a crossroads. I believe in government doing the things that only government can do such as the development of the highway system.  I also believe in voter approval for any tax increases. The voters should decide whether a tax increase is necessary.  Only with voter approval would I head in this direction.   

If we think this is right for Sedgwick County, we would first need to pass legislation to recreate the opportunity. Secondly, we would want to amend the law to allow for a public vote. My question to you is, what should Sedgwick County do? What do you think? Let me know at jim.howell@sedgwick.gov. 

Sedgwick County Fire District 1’s rural address marking program is available to residents in the unincorporated area of Sedgwick County to ensure that their property can be clearly identified. This helps first responders such as law enforcement, fire, and EMS,  quickly locate a specific property in the event of an emergency. Click here to watch a video about this program. 

More information can be found here: http://www.sedgwickcounty.org/fire/ramp.asp