When we were a young couple, my wife and I loved reading Calvin and Hobbes comics because the author Bill Watterson could skillfully illustrate amusing situations that we were actually experiencing. I think we eventually collected every Calvin and Hobbes book ever published and our kids enjoyed them at bedtime for many years.
I thought it was especially comical when Calvin and his imaginary friend Hobbes would play some sport one-on-one. They’d change the rules constantly by mingling a football with a tennis racket or a golf club with a frisbee. I’m not sure if Calvin knew better, was just having fun or if he was just playing “Calvinball” with whatever things they could find. Making up rules as we go can be termed as playing Calvinball. As a kid, I remember making up games, but I was never as clever as Calvin.
Like Calvinball, governments keep tweaking the rules. They have a habit of expanding their role by doing more things for more people with more tax dollars taken from constituents. Apparently, there is no limit to what government might do. Government needs to clarify its responsibility and define limits to reduce “mission creep.”
As a county commissioner, I must ask: what is the exact purpose of county government? Surprisingly, this is not well defined. We have a tiny mission statement at the front of our strategic plan that also lists some principles and goals. But this document is not an effective guardrail for limited government. When ideas are presented, shouldn’t we filter them through the core mission principles of the county government?
Limited Government is a nice phrase that carries little meaning in 2021. Most people will spend a lot more time observing federal government than the county commission, but the problem of “mission creep” can be seen at every level of government. Record-setting growth in government is almost expected now.
I remember the sadness I felt in 1980 when the National Debt crossed the $1 Trillion threshold for the first time. Today, it’s approaching $30 Trillion. As Reagan stated, we (obviously) have a spending problem. The demands for more and more spending without any commitment to pay for whatever is being provided or granted is absolute insanity.
Rather than make up new ways to spend your precious tax dollars, we as Americans need to grow up. Let’s not look to the government to do the things we should take care of on our own. Leaders across the country and within our county need to re-embrace the principle of limited government. Our future freedom depends on it.
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COVID-19 Report for August 27, 2021 |
Comparing case counts from Monday to today:
- The United States of America case count increased from 37,780,968 to 38,442,604 (+ 1.75 percent).
- The State of Kansas case count increased from 358,843 to 365,773 (+ 1.93 percent).
- In Sedgwick County, case counts increased from 53,900 to 55,070 (+ 2.17 percent).
The Sedgwick County Health Department offers no-cost testing at Sunflower Shelter at Sedgwick County Park, 6501 W. 21st Street. Hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please enter off 13th Street.
Text "SC COVID TEST" to 316-215-8313 to get in line for a COVID-19 test through the Sedgwick County Health Department. You will receive a message notifying you of a wait time or to come inside immediately. If the Q-line is full you will receive a message stating "The testing line is full for the rest of the day." There are additional no-cost testing sites in Wichita for residents to utilize. Find more information here.
The Health Department takes a nasal, oral, or saliva sample to send to a lab for COVID-19 PCR testing. Results are generally available by the afternoon of the next weekday. The results of the virus test show whether a person has a current infection. This is not an antibody test.
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COVID-19 Vaccination Update |
Sedgwick County Health Department offers the Comirnaty (Pfizer) and Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine at multiple locations across Sedgwick County. The Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine is available to people age 12 and older; the J&J vaccine is available to people age 18 or older.
The Health Department offers the following no-cost, walk-in vaccine clinic options:
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Main Vaccine Clinic at the former Wichita Public Library | 223 S. Main, Wichita, KS 67202
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Mobile Clinics are offered by SCHD staff
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Partner Clinics are offered by community partners and assisted by SCHD staff. Appointments preferred but walk-ins are welcome
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Event Clinics are where SCHD offers vaccine during an event. Businesses planning events can contact SCHD by email at SCHDCovidVaccine@sedgwick.gov
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Sedgwick County Offering COVID-19 Third Dose |
Sedgwick County Health Department is providing a no-cost third dose of Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine to people who self-attest to having a moderately or severely weakened immune system and who have previously received two doses of vaccine.
Documentation of a qualifying condition is not a requirement. People who can receive a third dose should bring documentation of their first and second doses to the vaccine site.
People who can receive the third dose have one or more of the following conditions or treatments:
- People who have cancer or are taking cancer treating drugs
- People who have had organ transplants who are taking immunosuppressive drugs
- People who have diseases of the immune system, most of these are genetic conditions
- People who are taking drugs to treat serious inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease
- People who have advanced or untreated HIV
Third dose guidance only applies to Comirnaty (Pfizer) and Moderna vaccines. There is not enough data to determine if an additional dose of Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine will improve the immune response in people with weakened immune systems.
If a person received the first and second dose of the Moderna vaccine, it is recommended they return to the location that they received Moderna. They may also check https://www.vaccines.gov and search for providers administering the Moderna vaccine near their location. The Sedgwick County Health Department only has the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine available for a third dose. |
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Sedgwick County Health Department Launches Ambassador Program |
The Sedgwick County Health Department is launching the COVID-19 Ambassador Program with the purpose to further build vaccine confidence and knowledge, and combat misinformation and widespread myths in our community. The Ambassador Program is made up of community volunteers with a passion to ensure residents are informed and vaccinated. The program further promotes the importance of COVID-19 testing in our community.
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Local Health Officer Makes COVID-19 Health Recommendations |
After insightful discussions during the Board of County Commission staff meeting on Tuesday, August 3, regarding the latest local information on COVID-19 Dr. Minns is making a strong recommendation to Sedgwick County for the following:
- Vaccinations for anyone eligible including those aged 12 and older as soon as possible.
- Follow the CDC recommendation regarding the wearing of masks or face coverings which includes anyone not fully vaccinated and aged 2 or older, wear a mask in indoor public spaces. Additionally, in areas of substantial or high transmission (including Sedgwick County) consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings or for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.
- For individuals that are fully vaccinated, to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wearing a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission (including Sedgwick County).
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Commissioners Adopt 2022 Budget |
The Board of County approved the 2022 budget for Sedgwick County and Fire District 1. The budget focuses on appropriate compensation for employees throughout the organization as well as adding resources for increases in the cost of doing business and continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes some additions:
- 1 full-time equivalent Logistics Central Supply Manager in Emergency Management;
- 1 full-time equivalent Grant Administrator position in the Division of Finance;
- 1 full-time equivalent Zookeeper position for the Sedgwick County Zoo;
- Funding for additional safety components including telematics for Public Works fleet vehicle and 1 full-time equivalent Safety Coordinator position;
- Funding for two Senior Centers of $24,249; and
- Earmarking $500,000 of funding in the Operating Reserve to support senior programming.
The 2022 Adopted Budget totals $462,548,518 for Sedgwick County Government and $21,095,559 for Sedgwick County Fire District 1. Together, the full Budget totals $483,644,077.
Commissioners also adopted the 2022 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) which totals $44,851,064. The CIP includes funding for:
- Northwest Bypass right-of-way acquisition and Flood Control System Major Maintenance and Repair;
- Community Crisis Center expansion as well as COMCARE Peer Housing;
- Replacements and new installation of outdoor warning devices; and
- Replacements of roofs and parking lots on County-owned properties.
The budget was approved after two in-person public hearings and an online forum. The 2022 budget will take effect January 1, 2022 for the calendar year.
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Excellence in Public Service Award Recipients Recognized |
Congratulations to Judy Dotson, Sedgwick County Zoo Bookkeeper and Narciso Narvais, Sedgwick County Sheriff Deputy, who are the recipients of the 2021 Excellence in Public Service Awards. Due to the cancellation of last year’s awards, the DeVore Foundation is honoring six winners (two per organization) from the City of Wichita, Sedgwick County, and Wichita Public Schools.
The Excellence in Public Service Award honors public employees who go beyond the call of duty and exhibit the highest standard of service.
Congratulations, Judy and Narciso!
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School is Back in Session |
Help keep our students safe by following these tips:
- Be on the lookout for children and school zones.
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Always follow the school zone speed limits.
- Always stop for school busses that are loading and unloading children.
- Never pass a stopped school bus.
- Watch out for school crossing guards and follow their signals.
- Be aware of and watch out for children near schools, bus stops, sidewalks, in the streets, and in school parking lots.
- Avoid using a cell phone while in a school zone.
- Exercise patience while driving, dropping kids off and picking kids up from schools.
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Do you have questions about Medicare? Do you have limited income and savings? Call Central Plains Area Agency on Aging about information on Medicare benefits or how to apply for Extra Help with Medicare costs. For more information, please call 855-200-2372. |
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Tag Office No Longer Processing Registration Transfers to Kansas from Out of State |
As of Thursday, August 12, 2021, Sedgwick County Motor Vehicle Tag Offices no longer processes courtesy registrations for vehicle transfers from other states to Kansas. This operational change is a result of the Kansas Department of Revenue’s implementation of the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) which went live on August 16, 2021. More information on NMVTIS can be found by visiting https://www.aamva.org/NMVTIS-Information.
Sedgwick County residents who are transferring vehicle registrations and titles to Kansas must bring the original title and registration from the prior state to either of our Tag Offices. Sedgwick County Motor Vehicle no longer request titles on behalf of customers, and copies of titles are no longer be accepted.
For questions, please contact the Sedgwick County Call Center at (316) 660-9000.
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Voting in the General Election? |
The General Election is quickly approaching – are you registered to vote? To check your current voter registration, click here or here.
If you would like to register to vote or update your voter registration, use this link to download a voter registration application.
If you would like to vote-by-mail in this election, click here to download an advance ballot application. Please note a separate application is required for each person and for each election. Clear photos of applications may be submitted via email to voterinformation@sedgwick.gov.
If you have already sent in General Election vote-by-mail application, please wait to check the status of it until October 15, 2021 to allow staff time to process requests.
Want to know if your vote-by-mail application has been processed? Click here to check on the status of you vote-by-mail application or ballot.
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Public Works Projects in District 5 |
Bridge Replacements on 71st between Old Spring Road and Greenwich
- Closed to traffic during construction
- Work began November 30, 2020
- Project includes the replacement of two bridges
- Expected to reopen the week of September 6, 2021.
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316-660-9300
525 N. Main, Ste 320, Wichita, KS 67203
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Connect with Sedgwick County |
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