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It has been a very busy summer, and it looks like this fall will be just as busy for the County. One issue I have been working on with Public Works for a number of months is a way to make the intersection at 21st St. and 167th St. safer. The accidents are caused by human error with traffic on 167th not stopping or yielding to traffic on 21st St. Public Works has designed an Intersection Conflict Warning System (ICWS) that the Commission recently voted to approve. It will add a yellow flashing light on 21st St. that will only flash, when a vehicle is either approaching or at the stop sign on 167thSt. That will warn drivers on 21st St. there may be a vehicle that could enter the intersection and cause an accident. There will be a red flashing light facing the traffic on 167thSt. that will flash all the time. This is a pilot program, and if it proves successful, it may be installed at other high accident intersections.
On August 7, Sedgwick County will officially be named a Purple Heart County during a special meeting at 1:30 p.m. in the Commission meeting room on the lower level of the Ruffin Building at Broadway and Douglas. This designation is special recognition for service members who were wounded or died in combat. There will be a ceremony with a reception following, and everyone is welcome to attend.
At our most recent meeting, the Commission recognized the tremendous economic impact and quality of life that Exploration Place has on our community. The Commission voted to provide $2.5 million for the latest updates to the attractions Exploration Place offers to the community. We are looking forward to the completion of the project and the impact it will have on Sedgwick County.
I just returned from Colorado Springs for the 2023 City to City Leadership Visit with members of the Chamber of Commerce. We learned how Colorado Springs is trying to address homelessness, mental health issues and drug abuse. We also had a chance to visit the Air Force Academy and learn more about its program for Leaders of Character. We toured the National Cybersecurity Center and learned more about the impact of the military bases surrounding their city. Half of us had the opportunity to fly to Colorado aboard a KC-46 from McConnell AFB. The other half flew back to Wichita on the KC-46. During that flight to Colorado, the tanker refueled three F-16s. Overall, it was the most informative and valuable City to City trip I've had the opportunity to take.
The County will adopt the 2024 Budget during our regular meeting on August 23. The proposed budget is on the County website now for your review at 2024 Recommended Budget | Sedgwick County, Kansas. Citizens are encouraged to voice their opinions during a public hearing August 2 at 6 p.m. in the Ruffin Building Auditorium or during a second public hearing prior to budget adoption at 9 a.m. on August 23. I believe it may be possible to reduce the mill levy by 0.25. We did discuss that at the last meeting; however, I do not believe it is prudent to vote on a mill levy reduction until we have heard from the public during the two budget hearings.
As always, it is an honor to serve the citizens in District 3 and to support all the residents of Sedgwick County.
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