Notes from Commissioner Blubaugh: | |
I am honored to serve as Chairman of the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners this year. I’m grateful for the trust placed in me and look forward to working on behalf of our community. My focus remains on responsible leadership, transparency, and putting residents first. Improving property tax valuations and the appeals process continues to be a top priority, along with ensuring fairness and strong customer service. We are also addressing major zoning and development issues, including solar projects and data centers, with an emphasis on balancing growth and community impact. With strong leadership and dedicated county staff, we are well-positioned for a productive year ahead. I appreciate your continued engagement and look forward to serving you.
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My past service on the Wichita City Council continues to be valuable as I collaborate with our partners at the City of Wichita. Recently, Vice Mayor Dalton Glasscock arranged a coffee meeting with Wichita's new City Manager Dennis Marstall, following a tour of south and southwest Wichita. We discussed the need for improvements on south Maize Road and how we can work together to get them done.
Every January I also attend the Sedgwick County Farm Bureau Legislative Luncheon (lower right) to hear directly from our agricultural community about their priorities for the year ahead. I was proud to see my daughter and other members of the Clearwater FFA participate - setting the stage for the next generation of leadership!
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Of course, my best resource for finding out what's happening in District 2 is YOU, my constituents! I enjoy meeting with local residents like Karl May, owner of May Chiropractic in Clearwater. Over lunch, we discussed organizing a community roundtable where families could share concerns, ask questions and be part of the conversation. Stay tuned for more details on that upcoming event!
Behind the scenes, one of the people who keeps my meetings and events running smoothly is Sedgwick County’s Executive Assistant, Lynda Baker. She’s the friendly voice you’ll hear when you call and the welcoming face you’ll see when you visit my office. I sat down with Lynda this month to learn how she keeps five commissioners organized, prepared, and on track every single day. Watch the video to discover her secrets to success.
| | 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. | | Second Light earns 2025 Chairman's Award | | Commissioner Ryan Baty presented the 2025 Chairman’s Award to the nonprofit Second Light Shelter + Services, a community-driven initiative designed to provide services and support for individuals experiencing homelessness or those who are at risk of becoming homeless. More than a dozen partners will provide services, such as mental and physical health, substance use resources and housing navigation. Located at 1025 N. Main, Second Light is scheduled to open in spring 2026 and is currently available during the winter months to provide emergency shelter options. Second Light works toward the goal of reaching functional zero homelessness - when the number of people entering homelessness is never more than the community’s ability to house them quickly. | | New County Appraiser is chosen | | |
Sedgwick County Commissioners enthusiastically appointed Deanna Aspedon as the new County Appraiser because of her focus on customer service. Aspedon has been employed by the Appraiser’s Office for 27 years, most recently serving as Residential Project Leader. She succeeds Mark Clark, who served as County Appraiser from Feb. 2020 to June 2025. Deputy Chief Financial Officer Brent Shelton served as Interim County Appraiser during a national search for Clark’s replacement.
Aspedon is a Kansas Registered Mass Appraiser and holds an Assessment Administration Specialist designation from the International Association of Assessing Officers.
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Firefighters win Battle of the Badges | For the seventh year in a row, local firefighters took home the trophy in the American Red Cross Battle of the Badges. It was a close competition! From Dec. 8-31, Wichita and Sedgwick County firefighters won 257 votes from blood donors. EMS earned 250 votes, and 198 favored law enforcement. Of course, our community is the REAL winner, benefitting from these lifesaving donations! | | Warning signs of hypothermia | Spending time outdoors in the extreme cold can lead to hypothermia if you don't take precautions. Watch this video as Sedgwick County EMS demonstrates the warning signs of hypothermia and how to respond. | | Sedgwick County is answering YOUR questions about the Tag Offices. On Facebook, Gerald asked - How much do the state and county each contribute in tag office funding? Watch the video to find out! | | Sedgwick County welcomes Flag Sojourn 250 | | Sheriff Jeff Easter hosted the Kansas stop of the National Flag Foundation’s Flag Sojourn 250 at the flagpole of the Sedgwick County Historic Courthouse. Honor Guard members raised the flag while attendees recited the Pledge of Allegiance and observed a moment of silence. The flag was then lowered and sent on to the next location. | | Flag Sojourn 250 is part of a nationwide celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. With support from the National Sheriffs’ Association, participants are carrying the flag to every U.S. state, territory and military cemetery. The journey will end in Washington, D.C., in July 2026, where organizers will raise the flag in a national tribute to unity and the American spirit. Learn more about Flag Sojourn 250 at National Flag Foundation. | | COMCARE's Mobile Response/ICT units are ready to help | | When someone in Sedgwick County needs help with a mental crisis, COMCARE is ready to respond 24/7. Watch this video to find out how the Mobile Response and Integrated Care Teams (ICT) work. If you're in distress, call COMCARE at 316-660-7500 or the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. | | Deputy CFO Brent Shelton wins WBJ award | | The Wichita Business Journal recently honored Sedgwick County Deputy CFO Brent Shelton with its 2026 CFO Award. It is well-deserved because not only does Shelton oversee the county's budget team, he also manages investments and liquidity, leads economic development initiatives and just finished his term as Interim County Appraiser. Congratulations! | | One month remains for 2026 Election Sticker Contests | | Would you like to see your child's artwork worn by thousands of people? Then they should submit a design for the next “I Voted” sticker contest, open to all Sedgwick County students grades 6-12. Another contest this year lets kids in grades K-5 create a “Future Voter” sticker. Visit 2026 "Future Voter" and "I Voted" Sticker Design Contest | Sedgwick County, Kansas for contest rules and entry forms. Submit design entries by Feb. 27, 2026! | | Please don't feed animals at the park | | |
Even though the squirrels, ducks and geese at Lake Afton and the Sedgwick County Park are very cute, please don't share your snacks with them! Parks Superintendent John Myers says giving human food to a wild animal can:
- Lead to malnutrition or death because of an unhealthy diet.
- Make them dependent on people for food.
- Cause them to become aggressive because they no longer fear humans.
| | Out and About with Commissioners | | The Intrust Bank Arena Founding Partner’s Lunch showcased the strategies used to welcome performers to our community and produce the best audience experience. | | Connect with Sedgwick County | | | | |
