Note from Commissioner Blubaugh:
When Property Rights and Neighborhood Concerns Collide | |
In my 15 years of local government service, this was the hardest vote I have ever made.
The August 5th Board of County Commissioners meeting showcased the intense, emotional balancing act of local governance, headlined by a day-long clash over private land rights. We heard two major commercial solar proposals—the 1,490-acre Galena project and the Branch Line installation. On one hand, multi-generational farm owners passionately argued that long-term solar leases provide essential economic survival and that land-use autonomy is a fundamental property right. On the other hand, adjacent homeowners submitted extensive protest petitions, raising deep concerns over potential property value loss, visual encroachment, and frozen residential growth.
Trapped between protecting a landowner's right to earn and a neighbor's right to safeguard their life's investment, there was no easy answer. Ultimately, pointing to neighborhood character impacts and overwhelming community opposition, the board voted 4–1 to deny the applications. Decisions like these weigh heavily on all of us, but finding the right balance for our county's future will always remain my highest priority.
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Last week, Commissioners voted to adopt a budget for 2027 that reflects a continued commitment to responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. By reducing the mill levy, the County is working to ease the property-tax burden on residents while maintaining the core services that support safe, healthy, and thriving communities. As a Board, we've approved tens of millions of dollars in projects to ensure safe communities through a replaced 911 radio dispatch system, enhancements to EMS' ambulance fleet and staffing, compensation stability for the Sheriff's Office and Fire District 1, a joint hanger project between the Sheriff and Kansas Highway Patrol and a new Emergency Preparedness Center This approach recognizes the financial pressures facing households and businesses and reinforces the Board’s focus on making government as efficient and accountable as possible.
At the same time, the 2027 budget invests in additional personnel for the Sedgwick County Appraiser’s Office. These positions will strengthen the office’s capacity to review property data, respond to questions and improve the accuracy of valuations produced through the County’s mass appraisal system. Accurate, consistent property valuations are essential to a fair tax process, and this investment is intended to give residents greater confidence that assessments are based on the best available information. We hear the concerns of many residents and the rise of their property values at unprecedented rates, and we're giving our County Appraiser and her team all the tools necessary to do the job fairly and accurately.
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Speaking of investment into public safety, our Emergency Communications team continues to do everything possible to fit the needs of our communities. Last month, Emergency Communications celebrated the graduation of its newest group of calltakers.
These passionate individuals underwent 8 weeks of intensive training and will move to on-site preparation to make sure they're ready when you call during a potential emergency. They are our community's initial first responders and are here to provide guidance, clarity and hope when every second counts. We're appreciative of them answering the call!
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I was happy to be on hard to see the completion of a project I started working on in 2013 to serve the growing Maize and Pawnee area. Wichita Fire Department's Fire Station 32 is the city's first new station in more than a decade - and all of the trucks at the groundbreaking were deployed for an actual call in the neighborhood!
A special thank you to Mayor Lily Wu, Vice Mayor Dalton Glasscock and my colleague former council member Bryan Frye for seeing this project through and making it a priority.
Fire Station 23 represents an important investment in public safety and will help improve emergency response in southwest Wichita as our community continues to grow. We’re excited to see this long-awaited project officially underway.
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I'm thankful for an inspiring visit last month from Laciauna King! Laciauna stopped by the County Commission office to interview me about homelessness initiatives as part of her Eagle Scout project. As a junior at Northwest High School, her initiative, dedication and leadership on such a critical issue in our community are truly commendable.
Please join me in applauding Laciauna for taking action, asking the big questions, and serving as a role model for young leaders everywhere. We are lucky to have bright minds like hers stepping up.
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And lastly, congrats to Enegren Technology on a milestone 37 years in the making. Enegren cut the ribbon at its first company-owned headquarters in early August. This permanent home reflects decades of growth, trusted service and continued investment in Wichita. We are proud to celebrate this exciting new chapter with the Enegren team and look forward to seeing them thrive at their new home.
| | I recently sat down with Andrew Nave, Chief Economic Development Officer of the Greater Wichita Partnership, after a trip together to the Farnborough Air Show in England. We discuss the role GWP plays in bringing businesses to Wichita and Sedgwick County and the efforts to leverage Sedgwick County's large skilled workforce and affordable cost of living to world-wide companies looking to expand their businesses. | | The views expressed by Commissioner Jeff Blubaugh in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the governing body of the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners or Sedgwick County Government. | | Never miss a City, County or School District meeting again! | | |
It's now easier than EVER to stay connected in your community and engage with local leaders. We have created a place that provides access to all available meetings for municipalities and school districts in Sedgwick County. It includes the meeting frequency, days and times, and links to the site if the meeting is streamed. Click Sedgwick County meetings to check it out!
| | 911 and 988 are here for you in times of crisis. While both provide critical support, they offer different services. Check out this graphic to see when you should call 988, and when you should call 911. | | Making new friends during a new school year | Happy back to school season! During the school year, your child will make important friendships and connections that will last a lifetime. These relationships are important to their happiness and development. Watch this video to find out what tips Sedgwick County COMCARE has to encourage your child to reach out to a new friend. | Thank you, election workers | |
Thank you to our amazing election workers! We truly wouldn't be able to pull off the elections as efficiently and smoothly without you. These are just some of the amazing faces who helped work the 2026 Primary Election yesterday.
P.S. we're already looking for people to work the 2026 General Election in November! This is a chance to make a difference in your community, see how the democratic process works up close and make some money, too. Apply today by visiting the Sedgwick County Election Office website..
| | Sheriff's Office honors Employees of the Year | | |
Sedgwick County Commissioners and Sheriff Jeff Easter recognized this year's honorees at the Aug. 19 Board of County Commissioners meeting, thanking them for their commitment to keeping our community safe. The recipients are:
• Sergeant Jarred Bliss: Commissioned Deputy of the Year
• Deputy Nicholas Hume: Detention Deputy of the Year
• Legal Advisor Laura Oblinger: Civilian Employee of the Year
| | Take a tour with Emergency Management | | Many residents joined Sedgwick County Emergency Management at its open house. Staff had a great time teaching residents about preparedness, showing them the planning that goes on behind the scenes in the event of emergencies and meeting so many friendly faces. Remember to sign up for CivicReady to stay informed of emergencies in your area: | Emergency Preparedness Safety Expo | The Sedgwick County Local Emergency Planning Committee, in partnership with Sedgwick County Emergency Management, will be holding its second annual Emergency Preparedness Safety Expo on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Century II Expo Hall. The event will feature live demonstrations, hand-on activities and dozens of stations - all sharing information you need to know to protect yourself, your community and your property from harm. | | Have you been negatively impacted by the ongoing drought? If so, you may be eligible for a Drought Disaster Loan from the Small Business Administration. This is a working capital loan designed to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. Applications are open now and available until March 10, 2027. Apply today at https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/emergency-management/drought-disaster-loans/. | | Sedgwick County is seeking applicants to fill an open position for the Salem Township Trustee. This appointment will fill an unexpired term ending Jan. 14, 2029. This is a great opportunity for someone who lives in Salem Township and wants to be involved in local government and community service. Applications are now being accepted through September 15, 2026. Apply here: https://boards.sedgwickcounty.org/apply/. | | Connect with Sedgwick County | | | | |
