Notes from Commissioner Blubaugh: | |
I hope you and your families are doing well and enjoying our spring weather. It's hard to believe how quickly the year is moving and that summer is just around the corner.
As always, I’m committed to keeping you informed on the issues that matter most to you and making sure your voice is part of the conversation.
A special Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) meeting for the Mission Clean Energy solar farm application will be held Wednesday, April 29, at 9 a.m. in the Ronald Reagan Building, third floor conference room. The Mission Clean Energy (Galena Project) is generally located between South Hoover Road to South 119th Street West and West 47th Street South to West 63rd Street South. Learn more at Active Solar Farm Applications. I encourage you to attend the MAPC meeting, ask questions, and share your concerns. The Sedgwick County Commission is expected to hear this application at our June 10 meeting, so your input now is important.
| | It’s been a busy and rewarding month across the district. Just yesterday, I joined federal, state, and local leaders for the grand opening of Bell Textron’s Wichita Assembly Center, where the fuselage of the U.S. Army’s MV-75 Cheyenne is being manufactured. Wichita is once again leading the way into the future of flight, thanks to our incredible workforce. | | |
I also attended the ribbon cutting for RealClean Aircraft Detailing, a new mobile service bringing aircraft cleaning and restoration directly to hangars for private owners, corporate fleets, and MROs—another great addition to our aviation community.
We celebrated a fantastic milestone at the 75th anniversary of Wichita Area Builders Association (WABA) at the Doc B-29 Superfortress Hangar. It was a great evening honoring the Wess Galyon Cornerstone Award recipient and hearing from National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) leaders Carl Harris and Buddy Hughes.
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Closer to home, it was great seeing my daughter and so many other young people show their animals at the Sedgwick County Spring Show. Events like this really highlight the hard work and dedication of our youth.
I also had the honor of attending the Clearwater FFA banquet. Congratulations to all the award recipients and new officers—especially my daughter Avery, who is serving as the new Clearwater FFA President. It was a full circle moment sharing the evening with my high school FFA teacher, Robert Dills, who dedicated more than 35 years to agricultural education.
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One of my favorite annual events is the Haysville Chamber of Commerce luncheon! This year, we heard from Ken Bell, Director of the Haysville Community Library, and enjoyed a great meal prepared by the Friends of the Library.
As part of my monthly interview series, I also sat down with Anna Meyerhoff-Cole, our new Division Director of Human Services. She oversees COMCARE, Aging and Disabilities, and the Health Department. I encourage you to learn more about her background and the work her team is doing in our community.
Thank you for staying engaged and involved in Sedgwick County. If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
| | 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. | | 2027 Budget Simulator invites YOUR input | | |
Sedgwick County has launched its 2027 Budget Simulator that gives citizens a chance to explore and influence how property tax-supported funds are allocated. This interactive, hands-on simulation, powered by Polco’s Balancing Act platform, is part of the County’s commitment to building public trust, continued transparency and implementing innovative solutions.
Citizens can access the Budget Simulator online to try their hand at balancing the County’s budget. They will be given options that allow for an increase, decrease or continuation of normal funding for every County-supported operation, along with real-life write-ups for how those decisions will affect the department or program. As users make trade-offs, they gain insights into the challenges of governing with limited resources and competing priorities in public safety, health, infrastructure and more. Public feedback will be considered when shaping the 2027 budget.
| | Plan ahead for possible traffic delays in May | | |
Sedgwick County drivers will need to keep an eye out for three road construction projects happening in May:
- At Rock Road and 47th Street South, work is already underway to remove and replace a crossroad drainage structure. Construction is expected to last until June. During this time, traffic on Rock Road will be reduced to one lane in each direction with NO lefts turns.
- On 63rd Street South from Rock Road to 127th Street East, crews will construct pavement preservation improvements. The work is expected to last from May 11 through mid-June and will limit traffic to one lane in each direction.
- On 47th Street South between Hydraulic Street and Clifton Avenue, crews will repair sidewalks and the decking on the bridge over the Arkansas River. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction from May 18 through the end of August.
Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead by taking an alternate route in these areas or budgeting extra time for expected traffic delays. Public Works appreciates your patience!
| | Environmental Resources collects tons of Electronic Waste | | |
What a turnout! More than 2,100 vehicles lined up over three days to drop off electronic waste at a free collection event hosted by Sedgwick County Environmental Resources. All the old cell phones, computers, televisions and other devices added up to 200,146 pounds, or 100 tons of e-waste! Disposing of them safely and responsibly helps keep hazardous materials out of our water and soil and protects our environment.
If you missed this e-waste collection event, don't worry! Environmental Resources is hosting another:
- April 30-May 2
- 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Sedgwick County West Yard, 4701 S. West St.
- (West Street South is closed, so drivers need to take Meridian to 47th Street.)
Please keep old cell phones and tablets separate from other e-waste items, since they will be collected in a different box.
| | Children's Mental Health Awareness celebration | | |
In celebration of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, Sedgwick County COMCARE is inviting all area children and their families to A Candyland of Feelings. This interactive event is designed to help children and families connect with valuable mental health resources in a welcoming environment.
Event details:
- Saturday, May 2, 2026
- 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- COMCARE Children’s Services, 1938 N. Woodlawn Blvd.
Families can enjoy games, crafts, face painting, food and resource booths, along with free books from the Wichita Public Library Book Bus. COMCARE staff will also be on-site to answer questions and provide information about available services.
In Kansas, one in five children suffer at least one major depressive episode during their adolescence, highlighting the importance of early support and access to care. To learn more about therapy and other mental health services available at COMCARE, visit Youth Mental Health | Sedgwick County, Kansas.
| | Sedgwick County's Excellence in Public Service Award Winner | | |
Bryan Ellis thought he was going to a tabletop exercise for Emergency Management Monday; instead, he walked into a room of thunderous applause and cheering! Coworkers, commissioners, friends and family surprised Ellis, who was chosen as Sedgwick County's 2026 Excellence in Public Service Award winner!
Ellis joined Sedgwick County Emergency Management (SCEM) in the spring of 2024 and has hit the ground running ever since. While much of his work happens behind the scenes, his impact is huge, ensuring every responding agency knows what to do during an emergency.
Before joining SCEM, Ellis was a member of Sedgwick County Fire District 1, where he worked for 34 years before retiring as a division chief. He then spent six years working within Harvey County Emergency Management before coming back to Sedgwick County.
Ellis' dedication to service extends beyond Sedgwick County. He is an active member of the state's Incident Support Program and has participated in statewide training and exercises. Ellis also volunteers with the American Red Cross, teaching duty officer and supervisor classes, along with disaster action and planning. He has earned several honors the past year, including Outstanding Emergency Management Professional of the Year and the American Red Cross Lifetime Hero Award - true testaments to his dedication to serve his community.
| | Finance Division earns top rating | | |
Congratulations to the Sedgwick County Division of Finance for once again receiving a AAA rating from S&P Global! This is the HIGHEST grade an agency can earn and is a testament to the elevated standards, best practices and superior performance our Finance employees hold themselves to every day. Sedgwick County is one of two counties in Kansas to receive a AAA rating and just one of 110 counties nationwide with a AAA rating and a stable outlook. Learn more at Sedgwick County Division of Finance Earns AAA Rating.
| | City, County & USD 259 discuss ways to work together | | A Tri-Governmental Town Hall on April 20 drew a crowd of about 30 citizens, as elected officials from the Sedgwick County Commission, Wichita City Council and USD 259 Board of Education identified programs and projects where they might collaborate to better serve our community. If you missed the meeting, you can watch a recording at youtube.com/wichitapublicschools. | | Fleet Management keeps Sedgwick County moving | | Ever wonder who keeps Sedgwick County's 830+ vehicles rolling? Fleet Management is the team that makes sure all our vehicles are ready to go when needed. As part of National Car Care Month in April, we highlighted their important work in this video that goes behind the scenes to show you a typical day on the job. | | Sedgwick County crews help with emergency simulations | | |
Sedgwick County played important roles in two different simulations in April, teaching area students about disaster prevention and response. Led by Haysville teens in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) club at Campus High School, members of the Sheriff’s Office, EMS, Fire District 1 and the Regional Forensic Science Center staged a drunk driving accident after prom to demonstrate the devastating consequences it can have on families and the entire community.
Sedgwick County firefighters and paramedics also worked alongside students at WSU Tech's Field Operations Simulation Day. Students responded to a variety of "calls" and received hands-on training from first responders in an emergency setting.
| | EMS crew recognized for saving cardiac arrest patient | | Ascension Via Christi recently honored Sedgwick County EMS Major Brad Crowe, Captain Rachael Johnson and Paramedic Tyler Pollard with certificates and challenge coins for their exceptional care of a cardiac arrest patient. Thanks to the crew's quick and effective work, the patient was able to recover and return home. | | Register of Deeds preserves important and unusual documents | | In honor of Records and Information Management Month in April, the video below highlights the important job of the Sedgwick County Register of Deeds and some of the unique documents preserved by that office since the 1800's. | | Out and About with Commissioners | | Realtors of South Central Kansas thanked Commissioners for their work in promoting fair housing within our community. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 ensures no one is denied housing or treated differently due to their race, religion, sex, familial status or disability. These realtors help make sure that is reflected in our neighborhoods. | | Commissioners attended the 2026 Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce Honors Night to celebrate this year’s honorees. We’re proud to support our partners in the Wichita Regional Chamber and recognize the individuals, businesses and organizations making a lasting impact in our community. | | A direct and compelling headline | | Connect with Sedgwick County | | | | |
