Board of Sedgwick County Commissioners
Documenter name: Sharon Ailslieger
Agency: Board of Sedgwick County Commissioners
Date: July 24, 2024
See more about this meeting at Documenters.org
Notes
The weekly meeting of the Sedgwick County Commission began with Stephanie Bergman, SC Community Relations Specialist spotlighting the following:
Kansas Aging & Disability Resource Center
Sedgwick County Transportation
She read thank you notes from the public and explained the services of each organization.
- Sedgwick County Election Office has added 28 new polling places.
Citizens will receive a card informing them of their new location for voting.
They can also visit voterview online.
- There will be two more 2025 County Budget hearings. Those dates are July 31, 6:00 pm and August 21 at 9:00 am in the Ruffin Building.
- The Veteran’s Awareness Expo-2024 will be held August 3, 2024 at WSU Complex.
- Sedgwick County Zoo has some new residents. Scott Newland, Zoo CEO showed a video and reported on the addition of two new baby bears. They were orphaned and came from Oregon. Sedgwick County (SC) Zoo was able to provide a place because one of its bears had died of old age. Due to cooperation with the SC Sheriff’s Department and National Fish & Wildlife, SC was able transport the bears via plane–saving time and money. Check the zoo website for the scheduled public viewings. Also the five pregnant elephants are doing well.
The meeting was called to order.
Roll Call was taken. All were present but Commission Pete Meitzner.
Minutes were approved.
Commission Chair, Ryan Baty read the following Proclamations:
- Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center 50th Anniversary– Declared July 2024 as Sexual Assault month. There will be a Gala on September 26, 2024.
Mary Stoltz, Director spoke on what the Center does and how far it has come.
The Commission asked about access to the center. The answer included that all
services are free, they help navigate all legal issues, they also have a 24 hour phone line.
- Veterans Awareness Expo–Declared August 3, 2024 10:00-3:00pm as VA Awareness Expo Day. The event will take place on August 3, at the WSU Hughes Complex.
Appointments:
Randy B. Rainer was appointed to the Emergency Communications Advisory Board.
The following Resolutions were presented:
- Authorizing and providing for the acquisition, construction, renovation, and improvement of a Sedgwick County administration building and providing for the issues of General Obligation bonds to pay the costs. Discussion followed on what has been done and what they are hoping to do. It was noted that the Ruffin Building was leased because the Courts needed more room. The lease, currently, goes until 2028. This resolution is needed so the search for a new building can be pursued. The bond sale, which will be later in the year, will provide the cash needed to begin. Commission Chair Ryan Baty noted that Sedgwick County has one of the best bond ratings in the country. It was also noted that several bond debts are being paid off, which enables the County to add debt without affecting the mill levy.
Resolution passed.
- Authorizing a commercial lease agreement with COMCARE Children’s Services.
ComCare must vacate their current building, for these services, by August 31, 2024. They started with a list of fourteen sites, narrowed it down to three and eventually chose Brittany Center, 1938 N. Woodlawn. Discussion followed, with concerns raised that this was really last minute and the Commission will have no choice, but to vote yes on it. Another item of concern was the lease for Adult Services, 1919 N. Amidon, will soon be up for renewal. There is a CIP plan to build a COMCARE complex that would have all the services together and be a
Permanent place for COMCARE. It seems that COMCARE services have had to move, several times, over the years and that costs taxpayer money. The lease on the new building will be for five years and covers utilities, janitorial services, parking, etc. Commissioner Howell expressed misgivings on the length of the lease, but noted there is no time to renegotiate the lease.
Resolution passed.
Bids & Contracts:
Needed approval for the following:
- Contract with Four Star Lawn Care
- Changes in a contract for accounting
Passed
Consent Items:
Item N was pulled out for discussion. All others were approved.
Item O had to do with the Airport Authority and Commissioner Dennis just wanted to make a few remarks as to how flights in and out of Wichita have improved. In cooperation with American Airlines, Wichita now has a direct flight to Washington, D.C..
Next, they tried to get a direct flight to New York City, but none of the airlines were interested. Finally, with a grant from the State of Kansas, American Airlines has agreed to a direct flight to Charlotte, North Carolina.
Item N was Consideration of a Grant Application, in the amount of $1,090,0577 from HUD for Shelter Plus Care (SPC) Housing Program, through 2025 . It was explained that this is for the COMCARE housing program and would offer expansion of the program.
Item N passed
Committee Reports–Commissioners
- Commissioner Dennis– Reminded everyone
- Zoobilee is September 7, 2024.
- On Father’s Day the Zoo had a car show with over 200 cars and all fathers got in free.
- The Zoo has started up its travel program and in July, 2025, they will offer a trip to Africa to see animals in their natural habitat The dates are July 4-18 and the cost is $21,000 per person, plus airfare.
- Commissioner Howell spoke on property tax, sales tax and the budget. He emphasized that he does not advocate raising taxes. He is suggesting that the costs for some quality of life items be paid for through a sales tax rather than property tax. Property tax could then be lowered. All the County Commissioners agree.
- Commissioner Dennis responded that part of the problem is that the State Legislature has not returned certain monies to the counties. The legislature wants a Constitutional Amendment that puts a cap of 4% increase on local property taxes. This would not be good for local government and Constitutional Amendments are very difficult to change. Also, local taxes pay for some State functions- examples are the Tag Office and the Election Office. Policy decisions by the State affect local property taxes.
- Chairman Baty reported on a monthly meeting that he and Commissioner Lopez have with Wichita Mayor and Vice Mayor and they are hoping to form a Blue Ribbon Committee which would encourage more cooperation between City and County.
Commissioners went into Executive Session for 30 minutes.
Meeting adjourned
Follow-Up Questions
What are you left wondering? Ask up to 3 of your own follow-up questions...
- .How can local and State government come together on taxing issues...
- Sales tax is considered a regressive tax, but property taxes are getting too high....
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@citybureau.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.