Follow these tips from the Sedgwick County Health Department to properly wash your hands to prevent disease:

The joint City/County Integrated Care Team (ICT -1) has responded to more than 250 calls in the Wichita area since its launch in late 2019. A pilot program, ICT-1 is a collaboration between COMCARE, Sedgwick County EMS, Wichita Police Department, and Wichita Fire Department that operates from 2 p.m. until midnight, Tuesdays through Friday.

 

After reviewing the current data, the team was able to treat 51 percent of calls where there was a client at the scene; additional agencies were called in to care for the client about 18 percent of the time; and clients were transported to various community resources including area hospitals nearly 31 percent of the time.

 

ICT-1 is designed to improve operational efficiencies and officials estimate that more than 375 public safety units were available to respond to other calls for service.

 

Leadership will continue finding ways to document care on one central platform and rotate members in three teams to ensure that participating employees stay current in their respective fields outside of ICT-1. 

At a recent Board of County Commissioners meeting, County Appraiser Mark Clark shared the 2020 Annual Real Estate Mass Appraisal Report. From 2019 to 2020 there were 1,835 new parcels appraised, covering residential parcels, commercial parcels and agricultural parcels. When compared to years past, the Appraiser’s data showed some challenges for the housing market in Sedgwick County.

Building permit applications are down compared to previous years due to tight labor markets and the need for more workers in the construction industry. Despite that, there were 1,177 new homes built in in Sedgwick County in 2019, including duplexes and triplexes. The median home sale price was $169,900 and most homes were on the market less than one month before selling. Clark said this indicates a strong imbalance between the supply and demand of residences.

Residential property represented about 57 percent of the total assessed value in Sedgwick County in 2019. While the Appraiser’s Office takes a conservative approach to the valuation of properties, the Appraiser said 81 percent of residential property owners saw a slight to moderate increase in property values over the last year.

Commercial and agricultural property valuations also increased in 2019. Fifty-three percent of commercial properties’ rose in value, while one-third of all agriculture properties increased by 29 percent. When calculating appraisals for ag properties, the Appraiser’s Office uses land valuations established by the Kansas Department of Revenue, which sets the value of ag land for the whole state. As of 2019, less than one percent of the total assessed land in Sedgwick County was devoted to agriculture. 

Property appraisal information will be available March 1 both online and at the Appraiser’s Office. Value notices will only be mailed to property owners who experience a change in appraised value or classification in 2019. Property owners who wish to appeal their valuations have 30 days from the date listed on the front of the notice to submit their intent to appeal.