Vol. 2, Issue 7
July 2018
|
|
There have been many events and changes during the past month and even more exciting events coming up soon.
- YESS – Commissioner Unruh, Commissioner O’Donnell, and I had the opportunity to tour an outstanding program for developmentally disabled youth. The Youth Education Summer Socialization Program (YESS). It is a 10 week summer program serving students ages 5-21 with developmental disabilities. The program offers a half day of education in classroom settings; half day of recreation in the community Monday through Thursday; and Friday is a recreation day filled with community based socialization activities. The program is designed to help students retain what they have learned during the school year while developing improved communication and socialization skills.
- Opioids – I met with the Sheriff and a number of organizations directly involved in the opioid/drug issues we face in Sedgwick County. We reviewed the impact/cost on our community. If you want to learn more, the Wichita Crime Commission will be holding a Community Drug Summit on October 25, 2018 at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, 5015 E. 29th St. North. The Complex has been reserved for the entire day. We are inviting City and County elected officials and appropriate staff; school boards and their staff; law enforcement officials; social service providers; treatment specialists (both for profit and not for profit); leadership in the faith community; media; medical professionals; and concerned citizens. This community discussion will provide you with critical information about where we currently are and where we could be. Please consider your attendance at this Summit to be a priority as we address this current and evolving issue.
- Events – I recently attended a ceremony for WSU Tech, Goodwill’s new mobile computer training vehicle, and an open house for our Division of Corrections. I am pleased with the recent announcement of the NCAA women’s basketball games here in at INTRUST Bank Arena in 2022. I also was able to take a tour of the Plumbers/Pipefitters training facility.
- Greyhound Park – One of the major decisions recently completed was the auction of the Greyhound Park properties. I plan to request our County Commission earmark the proceeds for the proposed administrative facility for Sedgwick County. In addition, the Greyhound Park property is now back on the tax rolls.
- Zoobilee – I also want to remind everyone that Zoobilee will be held on Saturday, September 8 at the Sedgwick County Zoo. Tickets are now available at a discounted price of $135.00 until September 1, when the price will be $150.00. Contact any Zoo Board member for tickets.
- USS Wichita – Finally, I am a member of the USS Wichita Commissioning Committee. The ship will be commissioned later this year. Learn more about the ship at www.usswichita.org.
As always, it is an honor to serve District 3 on the Sedgwick County Commission. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. You are always welcome to attend my Citizens Advisory Board meetings at 7:00 p.m. the first Monday of each month at the Goddard School District Conference Center. The August 6 meeting will focus on the County’s 2019 Recommended Budget.
Regards,
David Dennis
|
|
Bulky Waste Coupon Begins Aug. 1
|
On August 1 Sedgwick County residents will be eligible to use a bulky waste coupon to dispose up to 1,000 pounds of bulky waste for free. Bulky waste may include furniture, rugs or carpet, toilets, showers and bathtubs, swing sets, tree limbs, and large appliances. The deadline to use the coupon is October 24. To apply for the coupon
you can call 316-660-7200 or fill out
an application on the Sedgwick County website under Environmental Resources.
|
|
Sheriff’s Office Receives AAA Community Traffic Safety Award
|
The Sheriff’s Office has been given the AAA Community Traffic Safety Award for the fifth year. AAA Community Traffic Safety Awards honors police and sheriff departments around the state for their commitment to traffic safety practices and programs. The program is conducted in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Transportation, Law Enforcement Liaisons, The Kansas State Sheriff’s Association and the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police.
|
|
|
Sedgwick County Fire Receives Donations
|
Fire District 1 received an unsolicited anonymous donation of $5,216.08. They also received an unsolicited donation of $100 from Joan Graf-Tibbals. Denise and Phil Kline-Neubauer have had their house saved by firefighters three different times, to show their gratitude for the work firefighters do they provided lunch, music, and 600 pillows for SCFD1 firefighters, which were donated from My Pillow.
|
|
Crews continue to work on the Kellogg/ I-235 interchange rebuild. This first phase is scheduled to be completed in 2019.
|
|
Update on Kellogg/ 235 interchange
|
- Westbound US 54 is back to three lane traffic as the right lane is now open.
|
|
|
Bridge construction
on 295
th
W. between 45
th
N. and 53
rd
N.
- Construction began on April 30
- Expected to reopen in August
Painted Pavement Markings
on all paved county roads north of Kellogg
- Project began in May
- Roads open to traffic but expect delays
Crack sealing
select county roads
- Roads open to traffic but expect significant delays
NovaChip Asphalt Overlays
on select county roads
- Construction to begin in mid-August
- Roads open to traffic but expect delays
|
|
Asphalt Surface Recycling and Repaving on Garden Plain Main Street
- Expected completion in early August
Hot in Place Asphalt Recycling
on 21
st
between 247
th
W. and 407
th
W.
- Construction to begin in mid-August
- Roads open to traffic but expect delays
Road construction
on Central between 183
rd
W. and 199
th
W.
- Construction to begin in early August
- Road closed to thru traffic during construction
High Dense Seal
on Cheney Main Street
- Construction in mid-August for approximately one week
- Main Street will remain open, but parking and turning movements will be limited
High Dense Seal
on 295
th
between Garden Plain and US-54
- Construction in mid-August for approximately one week
- Detour routes to Kellogg will be necessary for a limited time
Sedgwick County Park
Bike Paths and Parking Lots
- Sealing to occur throughout August in phases
|
|
The 2019 Recommended Budget, which includes $419,042,893 for Sedgwick County and $20,487,
728 for Sedgwick County Fire District 1 for a total of $439,530,621 will be adopted on August 16. There
will be in-person public hearings at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25 and at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 9. There will also be a social media town hall at noon on Thursday, Aug. 2. An online forum is available at
www.sedgwickcounty.org
or via the Sedgwick County mobile app.
|
|
|
County sells Greyhound Park at Auction
|
Lange Realty presented two tracts of land owned by Sedgwick County at auction on July 17. These two tracts make up what is known as the Wichita Greyhound Park.
Tract 1 is 82 acres of commercial land with leased properties through 2039. This is what the Wichita Greyhound Park buildings and parking lot sit on. The winning bid of Tract 1 went to Mr. Phil Ruffin for $1.6 million.
Tract 2 is 34.86 acres of commercial land off of I-135. Mr. Johnny Stevens won the bid for Tract 2 for $150,000.
Sedgwick County Commission Chairman David Dennis commended the process stating he was, “thrilled with the sale of these two properties. I look forward to seeing this area develop in the future under the ownership of Mr. Ruffin and Mr. Stevens.”
These two entities will assume ownership of their respective properties upon closing, on or before August 17, 2018. Sedgwick County has owned these two tracts for decades.
|
|
|
|
New License Plate Process Announced
|
The State of Kansas announced it will implement changes to the new license plate delivery process beginning August 15, 2018. Residents who wish to tag a newly purchased vehicle can register it at one of the Sedgwick County tag offices then the official metal plate will be mailed to the individual from the State within 10 business days.
If a resident does not receive their tag in 10 days, they should contact the Kansas Department of Revenue at 785-296-3621. The attached poster will be given to all Sedgwick County residents who register a newly purchased vehicle.
|
|
|
COMCARE and USD 259 Selected for Mental Health Intervention Pilot Program
|
Recently, Commissioners approved a funding agreement with USD 259 and COMCARE in the amount of $1,029,000 for mental health services provided to children and their families. This is part of a mental health intervention pilot program funded by the 2018 State Legislature. The program will be in six school districts and community mental health centers in Kansas including USD 259 and COMCARE.
The goal of the program is to improve the social-emotional wellness and outcomes for students by increasing schools’ access to mental health treatment providers. This one year pilot program will have a team of a school liaison employed by the school district, master level clinicians/therapists, and bachelor level case managers employed by COMCARE.
“This is a great opportunity provided by our Legislature,” said Commission Chairman David Dennis. “I am glad that this program will help bring mental health treatment to students and families in Wichita schools.”
In Wichita, COMCARE will embed teams within 22 of the USD 259 district schools and will be staffed by 34 clinicians/therapists along with 45 case managers. Their projected goal is to serve 800 students within the first year. Funding from the State General Fund will be used to serve those without insurance or are underinsured. COMCARE will bill for services through Medicaid or commercial insurance when available.
COMCARE will begin hiring additional staff members in July and the program will begin in August.
|
|
Fight the Bite this Summer
|
Fight the bite this summer and protect yourself against mosquitos. Sedgwick County Division of Health suggests following the three Ds to avoid mosquito bites this summer.
Drain standing water; the insects breed in standing water. Use mosquito dunks or mosquito-eating fish in ponds and stagnant water. Use insect repellent that contains
DEET; this offers the best protection against mosquito bites.
Dress appropriately: wear loose-fitting clothing when outdoors, especially at dawn or dusk when the insects are most active.
Mosquitos can cause serious health problems and spread diseases like West Nile Virus to humans and animals. For more information about West Nile Virus and mosquito bite prevention, contact the Division of Health at (316) 660-7300 or visit
www.sedgwickcounty.org.
|
|
|
|
Chairman throws out First Pitch
|
Chairman David Dennis threw out the first pitch at the NBC World Series game on Monday, July 30.
First responders were recognized and thanked for their service to the community.
The World Series continues through August 11, at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.
|
|
|
County Fire on Social Media
|
|
|
Evening Reporting Center Now Open
|
On July 13, the Division of Corrections held an open house on their newly remodeled Evening Reporting Center from on July 13. The Juvenile Residential Facility is a place for youth to live while waiting for court, home-based supervision and/or placement. The facility can house up to 24 you between the ages of 10 to 18. Here the clients can wear their own clothes, have families come and visit, and earn fun prizes such as X-Boxes and gift cards for good behavior!
|
|
|
Primary Election - Aug. 7
|
Primary Election Day is just around the corner! Polling sites will be open on August 7 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. To find out where your polling location is
click here.
|
|
NCAA Basketball returning in 2022
|
Commissioners and County leaders attended a press conference announcing INTRUST Bank Arena will host the Women’s NCAA Basketball Regional Rounds in 2022!
|
|
|
 |
As the top outdoor family attraction in the State, the mission of the
Sedgwick County Zoo is to inspire discovery, appreciation, and respect for animals and nature. It is home to 3,000 animals and nearly 400 species. The Reed Family Elephants of the Zambezi River Valley exhibit is the third largest elephant habitat in the United States.
|
|
|
|
Exploration Place, Kansas’ premier science center, inspires a deeper interest in science through creative and fun experiences for people of all ages. Through its permanent and travelling exhibits, education programs, Digital Dome Theater films and special events, visitors can enjoy learning about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. For example, the all-new, 5,100 square foot Design Build Fly exhibit celebrates our community’s aviation industry. Visitors encounter dozens of hands-on activities that focus on manufacturing and engineering to reveal what happens behind-the-scenes in our aircraft plants.
|
|
|
|
|
The
Kansas African American Museum endeavors to make the Kansas African American experience resonant with EVERY Kansan. Located in the venerable Calvary Baptist Church, visitors may expand their knowledge and understanding of the Kansas African American story.
|
|
|
|
Residents and visitors can gain an understanding of our community and cultural heritage at the
Wichita – Sedgwick County Historical Museum. By collecting, preserving, and interpreting materials which reflect the area’s heritage visitors can experience different facets that shaped the community we live in today.
|
|
|
|
316-660-9300
525 N. Main, Ste 320, Wichita, KS 67203
Contact Interim Strategic Communications Director:
Tania Cole, 316-660-9370
525 N. Main, Ste 343, Wichita, KS 67203
Contact Public Information Officer:
Kate Flavin, 316-660-9370
525 N. Main, Ste 343, Wichita, KS 67203
|
|
Connect with Sedgwick County
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
