Note from Chairman Dennis
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Much of this month has been devoted to the 2023 budget. We have heard from every division in the County and the main issue discussed across the board was compensation. There are a significant number of unfilled positions in every division due to low pay. Every division is behind the market rate for similar services. This drives up over time, contributes to burn-out and impacts the services that we provide to the citizens. Inflation is making this issue even more dire for our workforce as it is throughout the nation. Every one of us is facing challenges in our personal budgets and the County is facing similar challenges. We are experiencing long lead times for goods and services and then having to pay much more even if we can find a provider. This is placing stress across the board within every division. The Consumer Price Index increased 8.5 percent for the year ended March 2022, following a rise of 7.9 percent from February 2021 to February 2022. The 8.5-percent increase in March was the largest 12-month advance since December 1981. This impacts both our planning for the 2023 budget and has a significant impact on the 2022 budget that we passed last August. To retain our workforce and recruit new employees, we will need to increase pay now and again in the 2023 budget. That will be the priority.
Sedgwick County administrative functions are moving to the Ruffin Building (100 N. Broadway St., 67202) starting the first week of June and continuing through July. Commissioners will be relocating to the sixth floor in early July. We will still have email; however, contacting a Commissioner by phone may have some limits for about a week; however, our office staff will be working remotely and will make sure that if you need a Commissioner, we will be notified.
I have an opening for a high school senior who will graduate in 2023 on my Citizen’s Advisory Board (CAB). Please let me know if you would like to serve or know someone who is interested in learning more about County Government and who wishes to have a voice in the process. We meet one night a month, usually on the first Monday at the Goddard School District Conference Center in Goddard. Although we have moved the July meeting to Monday, July 25, due to July 4th and to allow the members of the CAB to learn about the budget before it passes on August 24. We will then cancel the August CAB. To apply, please call our office staff at 316-660-9300 and they will help you through the process.
As always, it is an honor to serve District 3 citizens. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
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Bridge repairs on 151st West between 85th and 93rd Streets North.
- Closed to traffic during construction
- Work expected to begin on July 5th
- Expected to re-open to traffic in September/October
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Fentanyl Awareness - One Pill Can Kill
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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.
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Emergency Management Adopt A Siren Program
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Do you live near an outdoor warning siren? If so, you can help your community by "adopting" it and serving as a siren observer! It's critical for public safety that our outdoor warning system function as we expect it to during times of emergency. Even with all the technology and two-way communication, we still rely on human observation to ensure each outdoor warning siren is functioning properly. Sedgwick County has 152 outdoor warning sirens and they are tested every Monday at noon barring holidays, and inclement weather. We encourage everyone living within eye-shot of a siren to sign up!
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HHW Remote Collection Event - June 4
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Out & About with Commissioners
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Commissioners had the opportunity to meet Wichita‘s own Rosie the Riveter, Connie Palacioz, at the unveiling of the Women in Aviation exhibit at Doc’s B-29 hangar.
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Commissioners attended the South Kansas Coalition Conversation with Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo, U.S. Economic Development Administration.
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Commissioners Meitzner, Lopez & Chairman Dennis attended the 2022 Wichita Prayer Breakfast, hosted by Lead Wichita, for a morning of prayer, encouragement and fellowship.
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Sedgwick County Government Move
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In order to make room in the Sedgwick County Courthouse for additional courtrooms and District 18 court needs, some Sedgwick County departments are moving. Beginning in June 2022, the new address will be:
100 N. Broadway St.
Wichita, KS 67202
- 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
These departments will complete their move by the end of July 2022.
NOTE: Board of County Commissioner Meetings will continue to take place on the third floor of the main courthouse, 525 N. Main. Meetings will continue to broadcast live on the Sedgwick County YouTube and Facebook pages.
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Financial Assistance Options for Pandemic Recovery
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Recovery Connect: Connect with Resources Today
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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:
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Showing case information from May 9 - 23, 2022 with 14-day change:
- The USA case count increased from 81,911,016 to 83,297,110 (+1.69%)
- The Kansas case count increased from 778,045 to 782,802 (+0.61%)
- The Sedgwick County case count increased from 112,261 to 112,726 (+0.41%)
Recent Highlights
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5/20: COVID-19 boosters of Pfizer vaccine were approved for children ages 5-11. Kids are eligible to receive a booster five months or more after their second Pfizer shot. [read more]
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5/17: The White House announced that U.S. households are now eligible to receive eight additional at-home COVID-19 test kits. Visit www.covidtests.gov to order. [read more]
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5/5: The FDA limited use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to people who cannot receive or choose not to receive one of the approved mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna). [read more]
COVID-19 Testing Update:
COVID-19 Vaccine Update:
SCHD provides the following COVID-19 vaccine booster doses:
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For people 5 and older, a Pfizer booster 5 months or more after a second Pfizer dose.
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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.
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Three groups can receive a second booster dose 4 months after their first booster:
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o People over age 50
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o People ages 12-49 with weakened immune systems
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o People ages 18-49 who received a Johnson & Johnson booster dose
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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.
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Tag Renewals & New Plates
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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.
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Contact Commissioner David Dennis
316-660-9300
525 N. Main, Ste 320, Wichita, KS 67203
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Connect with Sedgwick County
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