June 2022
Note from Chairman Dennis
As you read this newsletter, the county administrative functions are being relocated to 100 N. Broadway. The Register of Deeds and County Treasurer will be located on the first floor later in July. The County Clerk, County Manager, County Counselor, Communications, Finance and County Commission will be on the sixth floor. All moves should be completed by mid-July. Eventually, we will be holding our Board of County Commissioners meetings in the lower level of the building. There is a short delay before that can occur due to the backorder of audio/visual equipment that will be needed to broadcast our meetings.

This is a detailed list of offices and dates:
  • Sedgwick County Treasurer: Suite 100
  • Sedgwick County Register of Deeds: Suite 105
  • Division of Finance: Suite 610
  • Sedgwick County Clerk: Suite 620
  • County Manager’s Office: Suite 630
  • Strategic Communications: Suite 640
  • County Counselor’s Office: Suite 650
  • Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners: Suite 660
 
Offices will be available for business at their new locations starting:
  • Division of Finance: June 13, 2022
  • Sedgwick County Clerk: June 20, 2022
  • County Counselor’s Office: June 27, 2022
  • County Manager’s Office: July 5, 2022
  • Strategic Communications: July 5, 2022
  • Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners: July 11, 2022
  • Sedgwick County Treasurer: July 18, 2022
  • Sedgwick County Register of Deeds: July 25, 2022

Commissioners have been busy during June. We have made important decisions on compensation and more decisions on that subject will be made with the adoption of the 2023 budget. We attended the signing of the Aviation Tax Credit legislation, attended the presentation by Deloitte on the new Smart Factory, and saw the future of aviation with a preview of a new all-electric aircraft.

The manager will present his budget to the Commission in July. There will be two meetings for public comment and the budget will be adopted in August. The manager will also present the proposed budget to my Citizen’s Advisory Board on July 25th.

There are more great things happening at the Sedgwick County Zoo. Watch for the announcement of the new trains that will be dedicated in July.

As always, it is an honor to serve the citizens of District 3.
Projects in District 3
Bridge repairs on 151st West between 85th and 93rd Streets North.
  • Closed to traffic during construction
  • Work expected to begin early July
  • Expected to re-open to traffic in September/October
Sunflower Summer
Sunflower Summer is a program of the Kansas State Department of Education and is designed to provide a wide variety of ways for families to get out, explore something new and enjoy time together. Kansas families can visit museums, zoos, historic landmarks and more for free!

Each Kansas child pre-K-18 years of age, as well as students in 18-21-year-old programs, and up to two accompanying adults may access a ticket voucher to each of the participating attractions in the Sunflower Summer app. The app is available for both iPhone and Android users. An adult will need to register their family members and include their county and school district.
Fentanyl Awareness - One Pill Can Kill
Overdose deaths have skyrocketed in recent years, largely due to the influx of fentanyl – a synthetic opioid – being mixed into illicit drugs.

In the 12-month period ending October 2021, more than 105,000 Americans died from drug overdoses. Nearly 69,000 of those deaths involved fentanyl. In the 12-month period ending April 2021, fentanyl was the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.

The Drug Enforcement Administration estimates that nearly 40% of illicit pills contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. The number of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl seized by the DEA has increased more than 500% since 2019, up to 9.5 million counterfeit pills in 2021.

Sedgwick County is also seeing an increase in overdose deaths due to fentanyl. We need YOUR help to spread awareness and educate others.
Out & About with Commissioners
Sedgwick Commissioners attended the ceremonial signing of the Kansas Aviation Tax Credit at the National Center for Aviation Training NIAR Facility.
Commissioners were involved throughout many events during Riverfest. It was great to have such a large community turn out for the 50th year of Riverfest!
Financial Assistance Options for Pandemic Recovery
While the number of COVID-19 cases remains low in Sedgwick County, many residents still struggle to recover financially from the pandemic. Since April 2020, the Board of County Commissioners has distributed millions of dollars in federal assistance from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act (CARES) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Many more funding options for individuals, businesses and nonprofits are still available:

  • Recovery Connect - www.Recovery-Connect.org
  • A Sedgwick County economic recovery program that connects individuals, businesses, and nonprofits with resources to help them recover from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • State SPARK funding programs - https://covid.ks.gov/available_funding/
  • The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee will oversee the distribution process of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding, assisted by four advisory panels with additional members. The advisory panels are focused on four main topics: Health and Education, Economic Revitalization, Connectivity, and Efficiency and Modernization.
  • TASK grants (Tourism Attraction Sub-Grants) - https://www.travelks.com/travel-industry/programs-and-resources/grants/task-grant/
  • The Tourism Attraction Sub-grants for Kansas (TASK) program is a one-time opportunity for the enhancement of Kansas attraction assets. The TASK program is a 50/50 reimbursable grant.
  • BASE grants (Building a Stronger Economy) - https://www.kansascommerce.gov/basegrant/
  • BASE is designed to support infrastructure development to address economic development opportunities statewide with the goal of expanding the state’s base of businesses and residents.
  • Build Back Better Regional Challenge - https://eda.gov/arpa/build-back-better/
  • The Challenge provides transformational investments to develop and strengthen regional industry clusters across the country, all while embracing equitable economic growth, creating good-paying jobs, and enhancing U.S. global competitiveness. 
  • Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance program - https://kshousingcorp.org/emergency-rental-assistance/
  • The Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program is funded through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. 
  • Kansas Homeowner Assistance Fund - https://kshousingcorp.org/kansas-homeowner-assistance-fund/
  • The Kansas Homeowners Assistance Fund (KHAF) program launched with $56,648,216 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. KHAF will help eligible Kansas households financially impacted by the pandemic to get current on their mortgages and avoid foreclosure. 
  • Hero Relief Fund - https://ksherorelief.com/
  • Eligibility is limited to families who have countable income at or below 250% of federal poverty guidelines, or a monthly income of up to $5,458 for a family of four.
  • Funeral Assistance Program - https://www.fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many. EMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020.
Recovery Connect: Connect with Resources Today
Recovery Connect is a Sedgwick County economic recovery program that connects individuals, businesses, and nonprofits with resources to help them recover from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recovery Connect is for every citizen in Sedgwick County; the COVID pandemic has certainly changed everyone’s life. Unfortunately, it’s proven the impact is worse for some. This program connects with all areas of the community, with special efforts marketing to certain populations, to provide equitable access for all. Recovery Connect uses a hub-and-spoke model (with the Public Policy & Management Center at Wichita State University serving as the hub) designed to address disparities through an additional focus on underrepresented populations to meet the needs resulting from the impacts of the pandemic. 

Program features include:
  • Monthly Reports to Sedgwick County
  • Phone, In-Person and Virtual Support
  • Radio & Mail Advertising
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Resource Audit & Needs Survey
  • Constant Feedback & Agile Approach
  • Grant Workshops
  • Job Training & Application Assistance
  • Connection to Community-Based Resources
  • Comprehensive Final Report

Find COVID-19 Resources below for:
COVID-19 Update
Showing case information from June 13 - 27, 2022 with 14-day change:
  • The USA case count increased from 85,532,244 to 86,967,842 (+1.68%)
  • The Kansas case count increased from 793,833 to 801,946 (+1.02%)
  • The Sedgwick County case count increased from 113,789 to 114,844 (+0.93%)

Recent Highlights
  • 6/18: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved COVID-19 “tender age” vaccines for children 6 months through 5 years old. Families should contact their own medical provider or clinic to get the Pfizer or Moderna shot. Children who are uninsured or in Medicaid/KanCare or CHIP program can receive a no-cost Pfizer vaccination by appointment at SCHD’s Main Clinic at 2716 W. Central. Call 316-660-7361 to schedule.
  • 6/12: The CDC will no longer require air passengers traveling from a foreign country to the United States to show a negative COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board their flight.
 
COVID-19 Testing Update:
 
COVID-19 Vaccine Update:
Sedgwick County provides Pfizer vaccine (for people ages 5 and older) or one-dose Johnson & Johnson (for people 18 and older) at walk-in, mobile clinics across the County. To find a mobile clinic located near you, visit https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/vaccine/clinic-locations/.

The “tender age” vaccines for children 5 and under are not offered at mobile clinics. SCHD will offer a special vaccination clinic for children 6 months through 4 years old on Saturday, July 16, from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Pfizer vaccine will be provided to any eligible child in this age group, unless not recommended by their medical provider. Appointments will be available to schedule, beginning Friday, July 1, by calling 316-660-7300.

SCHD provides the following COVID-19 vaccine booster doses:
  • For people 5 and older, a Pfizer booster 5 months or more after a second Pfizer dose.
  • For people 18 and older, a Pfizer booster 5 months or more after the second dose of Moderna vaccine or 2 months or more after receiving J & J vaccine.
  • Three groups can receive a second booster dose 4 months after their first booster:
  • o  People over age 50
  • o  People ages 12-49 with weakened immune systems
  • o  People ages 18-49 who received a Johnson & Johnson booster dose
 
For additional COVID-19 vaccine locations, visit www.vaccines.gov.
Stop Suicide
Educating yourself and others on the warning signs can play a crucial role in saving someone else's life. You are not alone. Please call the Community Crisis Center (CCC) today at (316) 660-7500.
Tag Renewals & New Plates
The Sedgwick County Tag Offices is devoting the last three days of each month to handling renewals, refunds, 60-day permits and permanent disabled placards/plates.
Title work will be processed on a limited basis during these three days.
By Prioritizing these services, staff hopes to expedite service and shorten wait times for customers.

As a reminder, the Treasurer's Office also offers online, drop box and mail payment services.

The receipt given to you by the Treasurer's Office acts as your proof of renewal. You can start the renewal process 45 days prior to the due date. Drivers renewing online have a 10-day grace period from the day their tags expire to the day they receive the new decal in the mail.

For more information visit: https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/treasurer/
Contact Commissioner David Dennis
316-660-9300
525 N. Main, Ste 320, Wichita, KS 67203