Notes from Commissioner Blubaugh: | |
March Madness took on a whole different meaning this year with all the events, meetings and hot topics popping up around Sedgwick County! One issue everyone seems to be talking about is data centers, and that conversation isn’t slowing down— our town hall on March 12 was PACKED, and there’s another public meeting on Tuesday, March 31. More information on that is below, so I encourage you to stay involved and learn more about what’s being discussed.
| | |
Another major topic right now is property valuations. If you have questions or concerns about your valuation, remember that the deadline to file an appeal is March 31. Fill out the back of your valuation notice and return it to the Appraiser’s Office, 271 W. 3rd St. North, Suite 501, by that date. An informal meeting to discuss your valuation, either in person or over the phone, will be scheduled. Another way to appeal is to Pay Under Protest (PUP) when taxes are due Dec. 20, 2026, or May 10, 2027. Fill out the PUP form and turn it in with your tax payment. For the needed form and more information, visit Appeals | Sedgwick County, Kansas.
| | |
During March I also had the opportunity to attend the Goddard Public Schools' State of the District meeting. It was great to see so many familiar faces and to witness the continued growth and progress in the district. It’s especially meaningful for me, since serving on the Goddard School Board is where I got my political start 15 years ago. Seeing how far the community has come since then is truly rewarding, and I’m excited about what lies ahead.
| | |
Thanks to everyone who attended the annual Sedgwick County Township meeting to collaborate and share important updates.. Township leaders play such an important role in keeping our neighborhoods safe, well-maintained and connected—and it doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s always good to hear directly from folks doing the work on the ground, and I’m thankful for the chance to listen and learn from your experiences.
| | Speaking of experience, this month I had the chance to sit down one-on-one with Assistant County Manager Rusty Leeds. We discussed how his experience in law enforcement helped prepare him to lead Sedgwick County’s Public Safety Division. He also shared some great stories about his family and hobbies, so be sure to check out the video! | | I’m proud to serve the people of District 2 and always welcome your questions or feedback on the issues that matter most to you. I look forward to hearing from you! | | 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. | | Sedgwick County is answering YOUR questions about the Appraiser's Office. On Facebook, Corey asked - Are properties actually visually assessed in most areas or just have a blanket value applied to them? Watch the video to find out! | | Data Center Public Meeting on March 31 | | |
The Metropolitan Area Planning Department (MAPD) will host a public meeting on data centers Tuesday, March 31, at the K-State Research and Extension–Sedgwick County. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. for citizens to view informational displays, and a presentation on zoning protocols will begin at 6 p.m.
Sedgwick County Commissioners previously held a Data Center Listening Town Hall on March 12 and a Data Center Roundtable on March 25. They also passed an interim development control resolution to pause any potential applications on data centers until June 11, 2026, to allow for the review and creation of zoning regulations.
| | Ban on open burning begins April 1 | | |
Sedgwick County Fire District 1 (SCFD1) is reminding residents that a burn ban imposed by the State of Kansas will be in effect for Sedgwick County during the month of April. While burns are useful for preventing the risk of wildfires and eliminating weeds, the burn ban is in place to lessen the strain on the air for infants, older adults and high-risk individuals.
New open burn permits will not be issued during the month of April, and no current permit holders will be allowed to conduct open burns after March 31, 2026. Open burns can resume May 1 weather permitting.
The ban includes all open burning of any waste, including vegetation and wood waste, structures or other material on any premises. Exceptions to the open burn ban include pasture, crop, range and wildlife or watershed management. The allowed burning operations will require a valid permit from SCFD1. Burn permits may be requested online at http://www.sedgwickcounty.org/fire or by calling the Sedgwick County Fire Marshall at 316-660-3473.
The April burn ban does not restrict the use of barbecue grills, smokers or backyard fire pits in Sedgwick County. Residents are encouraged to check with their local municipalities about possible stricter burn regulations.
For more information, visit April Burn Ban | Sedgwick County, Kansas.
| | Hearing set for proposed solar farm near Clearwater | | |
The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) is holding a special meeting Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 9 a.m. to consider a solar application from Mission Clean Energy (Galena Project). The proposed location for the solar farm is between South Hoover Road to South 119th St. West and West 47th St. South to West 63rd St. South.
With public comment, the special meeting is expected to last several hours. It will be held on the third floor of the Ronald Reagan Building at 271 W. 3rd St. North. Citizens wanting to speak do NOT need to sign up in advance. For more information, visit planning@wichita.gov or contact Brad Eatherly at 316-352-4864.
| | Sale of Haysville pool passes begins April 6 | | The weather is warming up, and the Haysville Swimming Pool is getting ready for summer fun! Season passes, swim lessons and pool rentals go on sale April 6, with the pool opening to the public May 23-Aug. 9, 2026. Contact the Haysville Activity Center at 316-629-5922 for more information. | | Help available to apply for Homestead Refund | | |
Before filing your tax return this year, find out if you qualify for a Homestead Refund designed for veterans, older adults, low-income and disabled residents. Stop by the Sedgwick County Clerk's Office to get free help determining your eligibility and filling out the needed form by April 15.
The Homestead Refund is a rebate program for the property taxes billed to homeowners prior to Jan. 1, 2025. The refund is based on a portion of the property tax paid on a Kansas resident's homestead. If you own your home, the refund is a percentage of your general property tax. Visit Homestead Refunds | Sedgwick County, Kansas to learn more.
| | Register of Deeds opens new satellite office | | |
The Sedgwick County Register of Deeds will begin offering services, including passport appointments, at a new Haysville satellite location.
Beginning Monday, March 16, Sedgwick County citizens can visit Haysville City Hall, 200 W. Grand Ave., to complete all services offered by the Register of Deeds. Passport services will be available five days a week by appointment only. The office will operate with existing Register of Deeds personnel at no additional cost to Sedgwick County or taxpayers.
The Register of Deeds satellite location will be open during the following hours:
- Office hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
- Passport appointments: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
For more information of services offered, visit Sedgwick County | Register of Deeds.
| | Sedgwick County names new Director of Human Services | | |
Congratulations to Anna Meyerhoff-Cole (pictured above on the far left and far right), who was named director of Sedgwick County's Human Services Division, supervising COMCARE, the Health Department and Department of Aging and Disabilities. She replaces Tim Kaufman, who retired at the end of 2025.
Anna has served Sedgwick County since 2011 in a variety of leadership and operational roles, including:
- Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer
- Director of Central Services
- Forensic Administrator for the Regional Forensic Science Center
- Health Department’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness team
- Budget Analyst for the Division of Finance
- Election Office support during the 2020 Presidential Election
Sedgwick County is lucky to have such a versatile and knowledgeable employee.
| | Sheriff welcomes 16 new detention deputies | | |
On March 19, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office celebrated the graduation of 16 new detention deputies, pictured below with their mentor on the far left. They successfully completed 10 weeks of intensive training that included interpersonal communication, policies and procedures, legal issues, computer systems, and defensive tactics. The newly sworn deputies will now move into field training, working alongside experienced staff in the detention facility.
Congratulations to these dedicated individuals on this important milestone and their commitment to public service!
| | SCFD awards Firefighter of the Year and more! | | |
Fire District 1 held an awards ceremony March 7 to recognize several employees for superior work in 2025. Division Chief Clint Reed took top honors as 2025 Firefighter of the Year. Congratulations to him and others honored for their bravery and dedication to the job:
Unit Citations:
- Capt. Boone and Firefighter Kornfeld - Saved a house fire victim
- Lt. Kepley and Firefighter Ensz - Saved a house fire victim
Commendations:
- Lt. Brenneman, Firefighter Best, Firefighter Kornfeld, Captain Duerksen and Firefighter Maus - Located a missing adult in serious condition
- Lt. Nance and Firefighter Flessner - Fire Training program improvements
- Capt. Faissal - Fire Prevention programs
Certificates of Appreciation:
- Lt. Rusty Vollentine - Fire Investigations
- Robin Fertner of Strategic Communications - Graphic design/videos for public education
SCFD Retirees:
- Lt. Bob Ratzlaff, Capt. Kelby Harrison and Firefighter James Tiffany
| | Sedgwick County firefighters are also excited to introduce their new mascot - Blaze the Bulldog! Blaze will help teach kids about fire safety and what to do in case of an emergency. Watch the video to see his public debut! | | COMCARE Community Crisis earns accreditation | | The Sedgwick County Community Crisis Center is now an officially accredited Crisis Helpline and Chat/Text Program. This required months of planning, implementation of 888 chat and texting, added staff and expansion of suicide intervention training. The accreditation comes from the International Council for Helplines and celebrates the Sedgwick County COMCARE 988 line as an important service for residents who are experiencing mental health issues. | | 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.
| | Haysville students invited to join Youth Leadership Council | | |
USD 260 high schoolers, or students who will soon be in high school, are encouraged to apply for the 2026-27 session of the Mayor's Youth Leadership Council. The City of Haysville created the council to raise awareness and involvement of Haysville youth in city government and to help them develop leadership skills. Members receive hands-on experience in local government by meeting with Haysville Mayor Russ Kessler and working with city staff and local leaders. Students will help develop, implement and participate in a variety of youth-identified community programs, projects, and events.
Applications are due Monday, May 11.
| | Haysville 75th Anniversary T-Shirt Design Contest | | To celebrate the City of Haysville's 75th Anniversary, Mayor Russ Kessler is inviting residents to help design a t-shirt that reflects the spirit of this milestone event! Submit original designs to Haysville City Hall, 200 W. Grand Ave., or at city@haysvilleks.gov by April 15, 2026. The winner will receive $100 plus a HAC Summer Pool Pass for four! | | Vendor Registration opens for Haysville Hometown Market | | |
Haysville Hometown Market is now accepting applications from vendors who would like to participate in the 2026 season. The market will open every Saturday in June, July and August from 8 a.m.-noon at 100 S. Main St. in Haysville.
Applications are available online at Haysvilleks.gov/hometown-market or at Haysville City Hall, 200 W. Grand. Turn the completed form in, along with payment, by.
| | Aging and Disabilities Information and Assistance Line | | |
The Sedgwick County Department of Aging and Disabilities (SCDOAD) helps individuals navigate the complex system of services available to older adults, family caregivers and individuals with disabilities. SCDOAD’s friendly staff is available to explain options and connect individuals with available community resources and programs. SCDOAD has a variety of programs and supportive services that support older adults, including in-home services, case management and minor home repair. The Department also works with partner organizations that offer other services, such as home delivered and congregate meals, legal services and much more. These programs and services, among others are available to residents of Sedgwick County.
For more information, contact the Information and Assistance Resource Line at 1-800-367-7298 or 316-660-5120.
| | Out and About with Commissioners | | Sedgwick County's first Data Center Listening Town Hall on March 12 drew a large crowd - about 550 citizens, with nearly 60 of them voicing their questions and concerns to commisioners. | | Sedgwick County Commissioners and EMS staff enjoyed the luck of the Irish with beautiful weather and a big crowd at this year's Delano Paddy Day Parade - one day before bitter cold weather set in. | | Connect with Sedgwick County | | | | |
