The views expressed by Commissioner Ryan Baty in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the governing body of the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners or Sedgwick County Government. | |
April burn ban restricts open burning in Sedgwick County
Every year during the month of April, when many farmers and ranchers conduct controlled burns to eliminate weeds and overgrowth on their land, Sedgwick County prohibits other kinds of fires to protect our air quality. Residents can still use their barbecue grills, smokers and backyard fire pits, but trash fires, brush piles and lagoon burns are not allowed. Watch the video below to learn more, or visit April Burn Ban | Sedgwick County, Kansas.
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Deadline to apply for Homestead Refunds is April 15
If you are a senior, veteran, low-income or disabled homeowner, you might qualify for a significant property tax refund through the Kansas Department of Revenue's Homestead Refund program. Contact the Sedgwick County Clerk's Office for free help determining if you are eligible and filing the forms. For more information, watch the video below and visit Homestead Refunds | Sedgwick County, Kansas.
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Sedgwick County participates in National Drug Takeback Day
In a few weeks, residents can safely dispose of unwanted or expired medications by dropping them off at a local collection site, including the Sedgwick County Zoo, Oaklawn Activity Center, 4904 S. Clifton, and the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 801 S. Stillwell. Sedgwick County also has Safe Medication Disposal Kiosks available year-round at five area police stations:
- Mulvane
- Cheney
- Valley Center
- Clearwater
- Bel Aire
To find another collection site near you, visit Take Back Day (dea.gov).
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Bond elections scheduled in May
Two school districts that include Sedgwick County's District 4 will hold special elections in May.
USD 262 Valley Center is asking for $58.9 million in bonds to build a new elementary school and to renovate the middle school, intermediate school and high school. Residents have three options to vote:
- Advance mail ballot, with applications available at Vote by Mail.
- Early voting at the Sedgwick County Election Office, 510 N. Main St. in Wichita, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. from April 29 - May 3, and 8 a.m. - noon on May 6.
- On Election Day, May 7, at assigned polling places from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Visit Kansas Secretary of State | VoterView (voteks.org) to check your polling site and view a sample ballot.
USD 440 Halstead - Bentley is asking for $28.5 million in bonds to make improvements to Bentley Primary School and Halstead Middle School. Harvey County is conducting the election with two options to vote:
- Advance mail ballot, with applications available through the County Clerk of Harvey County, 800 N. Main, P.O. Box 687, Newton, KS 67114.
- On Election Day, May 14, with all precincts in Sedgwick County voting at the Halstead High School Gym, 520 W. 6th St., from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
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Sedgwick County honors Women's History Month
Since 1987, the month of March has been designated as National Women's History Month to recognize the accomplishments of women throughout history. In observance, Sedgwick County honored several women, past and present, who have served Kansas in different fields, everything from medicine to construction to elected office. Watch the video above to meet some of the valuable employees now in our diverse workforce.
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9-1-1 dispatchers awarded for their lifesaving work
Sedgwick County Fire District 1 (SCFD) presented three Emergency Communication Dispatchers with a Certificate of Merit for their actions on the morning of Jan. 29, 2024. Lyle Skeen, Maylin Bustos-Ibarra and Rebeka Martling saved Teresa Ballard’s life after she awoke to find her house full of dense smoke.
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Celebrating healthy accomplishments in Sedgwick County
The Sedgwick County Health Department and its community partners are working together to improve the lives of local residents. On March 6, commissioners proclaimed 2024 as the 20th anniversary of the Health & Wellness Coalition, which provides leadership and funding for community projects. One of Sedgwick County's epidemiologists, Sonalli Kurlekar, was also named this year's Health Care Hero by the Wichita Business Journal (WBJ). Watch the video below, presented at the WBJ awards dinner, to learn more about her work and how it impacts our community.
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Exploration Place breaks ground on new riverfront amphitheater
With golden shovels in hand, commissioners and other local officials ceremoniously kicked off construction of the new Wichita Foundation Amphitheater, expected to open this fall. It's part of a $22 million project to develop Exploration Place's riverfront property.
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Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Sedgwick County Commissioners declared March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month - an opportunity to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life and to improve understanding of the barriers they sometimes face. Sedgwick County is proud to partner with Project Search, a program that prepares people with disabilities to enter the workforce.
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Recycling revelations uncovered during recent field trip! | |
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Several Sedgwick County staff and community members toured Waste Connections' Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Hutchinson recently and discovered how easy recycling can be! Contrary to popular belief, greasy pizza boxes CAN be recycled, and there is no need to wash out cans and plastic food containers before dropping them into a recycling bin. Lids, even metal ones, don't need to be removed from bottles or glass jars. It's also a myth that one piece of garbage will taint an entire bin of recyclables and force it to be thrown into the landfill. High-tech robotics, using artificial intelligence, can now sort out contaminants.
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Since Waste Connections handles most of Sedgwick County's recycling, the following guidelines apply to most residents with curbside recycling:
Allowed:
- glass
- aluminum
- cardboard, including pizza boxes
- plastic
- paper and newspaper
- junk mail, including slick advertisements
- shredded documents
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Not allowed:
- Styrofoam, including takeout containers, coffee cups or packing peanuts
- single-use plastic bags
- pet food bags
- potato chip bags
- latex or mylar balloons
- wood
- tires
- batteries
- electronics
- organic material
If you have more questions about what can and cannot be recycled or whether your curbside recycling is processed at the Hutchinson MRF, contact Waste Connections' Customer Service at 316-838-4920 or WasteConnections.com.
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Out and About with Commissioners | |
City, county and business leaders welcomed the Kinaway Chamber of Commerce from Australia to Wichita
State's Innovation Campus. | |
The Paddy Day Parade packed the streets of Delano. Commissioners, the Sheriff's Office, EMS and Fire District 1 joined the festivities. | |
The Annual Township Officials Meeting is a great way for Sedgwick County to connect with our community and address the questions and concerns of township residents. | |
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Contact Commissioner Ryan Baty
316-660-9300
Ryan.Baty@sedgwick.gov
100 N. Broadway, Ste. 660, Wichita, KS 67202
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Connect with Sedgwick County | | | | |
