Vol. 2, Issue 11
November 2018
|
|
Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday filled with family, friends and food! Things have been busy here in Sedgwick County: we had the largest ever turnout for a midterm election in our county’s history. A big thank you to Election Commissioner Tabitha Lehman and her dedicated staff and poll workers who made sure we had a flawless election. Congratulations to Commissioners-Elect Ms. Lacey Cruse and Mr. Pete Meitzner, I look forward to working with these two impressive individuals.
I’m excited to announce the approved funding for a new pedestrian bridge that will serve the students of Campus High School along with the entire Haysville Community. This bridge will ensure the enhanced safety of students who walk or bike to school and promotes the collaboration to improve walk and bike trails. It will connect trails between Haysville and Wichita for cyclists and pedestrians.
There is nothing more important than the safety of our citizens in Sedgwick County and that’s why we’ve remained committed to this quality of life and public safety project. I made a promise to the citizens of Haysville that I would work to make our community as safe as possible and this project is a great addition to the 55th and Meridian expansion. This project was in the works for many years, thanks to Commissioner Norton and Mayor Armstrong, but funding wasn’t available.
The $3.4 million project is an example of government collaboration. The local cost to tax payers is $685,000. Sedgwick County’s portion is $548,000 and the City of Haysville is spending $137,000. The federal government’s portion is $2.7 million.
These public safety and quality of life projects are best done with partners who are committed to the safety and wellbeing of our residents. I want to thank my fellow Board of County Commissioners, the Haysville City Council, including Mayor Bruce Armstrong, and City Administrator Will Black and former Commissioner Tim Norton and the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. And thank you to the professional administrators who have helped guide this project and bring it to fruition.
Local company, King Construction, has been awarded the project. Construction for the pedestrian bridge is scheduled to start in early 2019, with a projected completion date in the fall of 2019, just in time for the next school year. I look forward to seeing students and pedestrians safely use this bridge and to more partnerships in the future.
Things will be a little slower in December as we prepare for the new commissioners and Christmas, however, please reach out to me anytime if I can be of service to you. I pray you have a tremendous holiday season.
As always, it’s an honor to represent you! Remember that you may find me at the Haysville City Hall on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
For Sedgwick County,
Michael O’Donnell
|
|
Two Receive Lifesaving Award from 911
|
|
They are the people you hear but never see. Our 911 call takers and dispatchers work tirelessly to keep our community safe and secure 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. SaraBeth and Carly, both Call Takers with Sedgwick County Emergency Communications, are recipients of the Lifesaving Award for their recent actions.
Less than 30 seconds after answering the phone, SaraBeth dispatched first responders to the patient. She learned that the patient was unconscious and instructed the caller on how to perform CPR until first responders arrived. Her great care, communication, and life-saving instructions were vital to saving her patient’s life.
Carly took a similar call to SaraBeth, and had first responders on their way to the patient less than one minute after answering the phone. She quickly, confidently, and calmly instructed the caller on how to perform CPR, providing needed guidance until first responders arrived.
The Lifesaving Award is given to individuals who demonstrate outstanding actions, performance of instructions, or performance of duty that directly result in the preservation of life in situations where, if not for their involvement, the patient might have perished.
|
|
|
Sedgwick County Fire Welcomes Nine Graduates
|
On Friday, November 16, nine recruits graduated from the Sedgwick County Fire District 1 Academy. Recruits spend 12 weeks in training where they learn teamwork, how to stay committed to service, and to never give up. These firefighters are ready to serve with honor, respond with compassion, and are dedicated to keeping our community safe and secure.
|
|
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
|
- All ramps are open but temporary lane closures are possible for re-striping.
|
|
|
Sedgwick County Recognizes Family Caregiver Month
|
November is National Family Caregiver Month. Today nearly 90 million people in the U.S. provide care for chronically ill, disabled, or older family members or friends. Caregivers can be neighbors, family, or friends and it's important they have support.
It’s essential to take care of yourself when you’re a caregiver. Ensuring that you get proper nutrition will help maintain strength, energy, stamina, and a positive attitude. Find time for yourself such as working out at the gym, reading at night, or taking a walk with the dog. Take time to rest and recharge because caregiving affects the whole family.
The Central Plains Area Agency on Aging is one local resource to help caregivers and aging residents. Contact CPAAA at 1-855-200-2372 or visit
www.cpaaa.org for information.
|
|
|
Sedgwick County Parks Donates to Thanksgiving Food Drive
|
Around Thanksgiving for the past four years, Sedgwick County Parks takes the aluminum cans collected throughout the year and sells them. The proceeds from the cans go to help a charity or to purchase turkeys and deliver them to a program that provides holiday meals to families or those who need assistance. This year, they were able to donate 26 turkeys to the 28th Annual B98 Turkey Drive. That’s almost 300 pounds of turkey!
|
|
2018 General Election Results Finalized
|
The Board of Canvassers certified the results from the 2018 General Election on Monday morning, November 19. Results for the election and previous races can be found on the Election Office’s website:
www.sedgwickcounty.org/elections.
|
|
Celebrate the Holidays with Sedgwick County
|
|
Christmas Tree Recycling Offered
|
Once you are finished enjoying your real Christmas tree turn it into mulch! From Friday, December 21 through Wednesday, January 23 residents can convert their trees to mulch or pick up the free mulch. Follow Sedgwick County on social media for all the participating locations.
|
|
|
 |
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 Strategic Communications Director:
Van Williams, 316-660-9370
525 N. Main, Ste 315, Wichita, KS 67203
Contact Public Information Officer:
Kate Flavin, 316-660-9370
525 N. Main, Ste 315, Wichita, KS 67203
|
|
Connect with Sedgwick County
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
