November 2025

Note from Commissioner Blubaugh:

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I am reminded of all the blessings my family and I have to be grateful for, including the many freedoms made possible by our veterans. On Nov. 11, I was proud to take part in the Veterans Day ceremony hosted by VFW Post 6957 in Haysville. My daughter and I also celebrated at the Clearwater Senior Center, where local students in Future Farmers of America (FFA) cooked a delicious breakfast for vets and active military. I'm happy the next generation is learning the importance of community service and showing appreciation to those who sacrificed so much!

I'm also proud of the students in the Haysville Mayor's Youth Leadership Council. Mayor Russ Kessler brought the group to my office and a Sedgwick County Commission meeting recently to teach them more about local government. Under his leadership, high schoolers are getting hands-on experience in community programs and events. No doubt, these kids will be our future leaders!

Speaking of leadership, Goodwill Industries of Kansas just cut the ribbon on the first Work-Focused Opportunity Center in Kansas! The facility at Seneca and 47th Street helps people retrain, rebuild and reimagine their futures. It's proof that when local businesses, nonprofits and community leaders join forces, we can do powerful things!

Another important issue is solar energy. Mission Clean Energy, a California-based company, recently held an open house and informational meeting at Klausmeyer Farms to discuss how a proposed solar farm between Haysville and Clearwater might impact area residents. If approved, construction would begin in late 2027 or early 2028. But I want to be clear - the Sedgwick County Commission has made no decisions about this project yet! In fact, the plans must go before the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission first before we commissioners consider them and take a vote. I will keep you up to date on any new developments.

Property appraisals and taxes are also a priority for me - ensuring that valuations are accurate and fair so the tax burden is distributed equitably. Sedgwick County addresses this issue on our 2026 Legislative Platform, and Commissioner Jim Howell recently sat down with me to discuss it further. Watch the video below and feel free to share your thoughts with me as we work toward a solution.

Safet travels if you are leaving town for Thanksgiving - I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday!

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.

Make your voice heard in a Community Engagement Survey!

Sedgwick County has launched an online community engagement survey to gather feedback from residents on county-provided public services and public priorities.

More than 100,000 randomly selected residents received a personalized link to the survey by mail, text or email. If you did not receive the survey link but would like to participate, simply click Community Engagement Survey. The survey is hosted by Qualtrics, an online platform assisting Sedgwick County with this project. Additionally, the public will be able to share their feedback through the Sedgwick County website and social media platforms later in November. The survey is estimated to take 10-15 minutes to complete and is intended for residents 18 or older. All responses are confidential.

Sedgwick County leaders are conducting this survey to engage residents on service delivery and community priorities. As part of the County’s strategic plan and commitment to transparency and accessibility, feedback gathered will help shape budget and workforce priorities that directly impact services to the community.

The survey will conclude December 1, with survey results presented to the Board of Commissioners later that month and released in a public report in early 2026.

New timeline for Clearwater intersection under construction

Sedgwick County Tag Office adds another satellite location

The Sedgwick County Treasurer’s Office is adding an additional satellite location for residents to complete renewals, title work and other vehicle services in West Wichita.

Sedgwick County residents can now schedule appointments for all services at Mel Hambelton Ford, 11771 West Kellogg Dr. The partnership between the Treasurer’s Office and the dealership comes at no cost to the County.

In addition to the Douglas Tag Office at 2525 West Douglas Ave., Sedgwick County residents can complete their tag business at six additional satellite locations:

·    Haysville City Hall – 200 W. Grand Ave.

·    Kansas Driver Licensing in Derby – 620 N. Rock Rd., Ste. 300.

·    Park City City Hall – 1941 E. 61st St. N.

·    Rusty Eck Ford in Wichita – 7310 E. Kellogg Dr.

·    Sedgwick County Treasurer’s Office at the Ruffin Building – 100 N. Broadway, Ste. 100 ·    Wichita West Kansas Driver Licensing – 610 S. Tyler Rd.

Sedgwick County residents can complete their transactions in person, online, by mail or by using the drop box at the Douglas Tag Office. A full list of required documents and instructions about how to make an appointment are available online at www.sedgwickcounty.org/tag-office/.

Riverside Drainage District looking for a board member

Many people are surprised to learn there is a drainage district within the city limits of Wichita. The Riverside Drainage District is currently looking for at least one person who lives within the boundaries shown below to serve on its board of directors.

The Riverside Drainage District is governed by a 3-person board of directors that oversees the maintenance and mowing of the drainage district. Property owners within the boundaries of this drainage district pay a separate line item on their property tax bill that goes directly to the Riverside Drainage District.

The board lets out a contract on an annual basis for mowing and maintenance of the drainage ditch, which runs from near 55th St. S. & Hydraulic, through the 47th & I-135 corridor, and northwest over to I-235 & Seneca. The ditch ends just south of I-235 about halfway between Seneca and Meridian.

The board meets on the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Meetings usually last less than an hour, and there is pay involved in attending monthly meetings and for performing any oversight that might be required during the normal upkeep of the ditch.

If you are interested in serving on this board, please contact me Jared Cerullo at 316-249-2941 right away.

Sedgwick County celebrates 25 Drug Court graduates

The Sedgwick County Drug Court Program awarded certificates and coins to 25 graduates this month, signifying their successful completion of an intensive substance abuse program designed to help them overcome addiction and live crime-free. Drug Court is a collaboration between Sedgwick County Department of Corrections, the 18th Judicial District Court, the Office of the District Attorney, Sedgwick County COMCARE and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.

K9 Latitude makes public debut

Sedgwick County Fire District 1 (SCFD1) introduced its newest member of the Fire Investigation Unit by holding a live demonstration of his accelerant detection skills. K9 Latitude is a highly trained 18-month-old Black Labrador Retriever that recently graduated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Training Center in Virginia. He and his handler, SCFD Captain Maroun Faissal, underwent an intensive six-week course together where they trained in different scenarios, learning to identify and detect ignitable liquids. They will assist fire investigators in Sedgwick County and across Kansas.

Sedgwick County recommends fire pit precautions

With cold weather moving in, Sedgwick County Fire District 1 encourages Sedgwick County residents to take safety precautions when enjoying an outdoor fire pit. Watch the video to see how you can prevent your cozy campfire from becoming dangerous.

EMS Bike Team rolls into action, no matter the weather

Sedgwick County's EMS Bike Team braves all kinds of weather - hot or cold, windy or rainy - to take care of participants at public events, like the Turkey Trot on Nov. 22. This team has covered 15 major events in 2025, specializing in large-scale community gatherings where a bike can navigate through a big crowd faster than an ambulance. The bike team's mobility and rapid response allow paramedics to start patient care quickly when seconds matter. We’re proud of their year-round dedication!

Emergency Communications welcomes new call takers

Congratulations to Sedgwick County Emergency Communications' newest call takers! On Nov. 21, Sedgwick County celebrated these new employees for completing the six-week call taker academy class where they learned how to respond to 9-1-1 calls and get residents the help they need.

Sedgwick County COMCARE Food Drive ends Dec. 12

COMCARE is collecting non-perishable food items through Dec. 12 for Sedgwick County residents who are facing tough times. All donations are welcome and will be distributed directly to COMCARE patients.

Drop your donations off in clearly marked containers at:

• COMCARE Admin | 271 W. Third St. N. Suite 600
• Adult Medical Services | 1919 N. Amidon, Suite 130
• Center City | 402 E 2nd St N
• Children’s Services | 1938 N Woodlawn Blvd #400
• Community Crisis Center | 635 N Main
• Harry St. Location | 4035 E Harry St,
• Offender Assessment Program | 1720 E Morris, Suite 101
• Ronald Reagan Building | 271 W. 3rd St.
• Strategic Communications | 100 N. Broadway, Suite 640

For five weeks, the Sedgwick County Department of Aging and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) collected socks for veterans at the VA Hospital Clothes Closet. With donations from many County departments and community members, the sock drive delivered 1,235 pairs to the VA Hospital on Nov. 12! 

Sedgwick County honors veterans

Sedgwick County participated in the annual Veterans Day Parade through downtown Wichita on Nov. 8, saluting our military - both active and retired. Commissioners, EMS, Fire District 1, Emergency Management, Sheriff's Office and the Register of Deeds joined in the celebration to pay tribute to those who serve our country.

Sheriff's Deputy highlighted for military service

As part of National Veterans and Military Families Month in November, Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputy Panya Phommarath shared his incredible story of escaping his violent homeland of Laos as a child to settle in the U.S. and later serve in the Navy. Watch the video to find out how he uses his military experience and cultural background to serve the people of Sedgwick County through law enforcement. 

This is the 36th year for the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office Holiday Food Box Program, when first responders deliver hundreds of meals to local families in need in December. If you would like to help, you can donate money by scanning the QR code below.

Out and About with Commissioners

City leaders from municipalities across Sedgwick County gathered Nov. 15 at Goddard’s Blast Off Bay waterpark for a meeting of the Sedgwick County Association of Cities (SCAC), where Commissioners heard and presented updates on County happenings.

Commissioners and other local officials recently toured four modular homes brought to Wichita to expand affordable housing options. There are 20 more houses like these planned between now and early 2026!

Textron Aviation announced that Wichita could be the future home of Beechcraft M-346N production, if the company is awarded the U.S. Navy Undergraduate Jet Training System contract.

Contact Commissioner Jeff Blubaugh

316-660-9300

Jeff.Blubaugh@sedgwick.gov

100 N. Broadway, Ste. 660, Wichita, KS 67202