September 2025

The views expressed by Commissioner Ryan Baty in this newsletter do no necessarily represent the governing body of the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners or Sedgwick County Government.

Tag Office consolidation considered, amid budget constraints

The Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) will consider a proposal next week to consolidate Tag Office resources. 

According to Sedgwick County Treasurer Brandi Baily, the proposal comes at a time of limited resources and inadequate state funding for local tag offices. “By consolidating the Kellogg Tag Office to the Douglas location, I will be able to save the County $360,000 a year,” Baily said. “This is not an easy decision, but our hands are tied due to the lack of operational funding from the State of Kansas not covering our expenses.”

If approved, the Kellogg Tag Office's last full day of operation will be on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. All services will transfer to the Douglas Tag Office at 2525 W. Douglas Ave. On Monday, Oct. 13, County offices will already be closed for Inservice Day, and the Douglas location will reopen with full staffing on Tuesday, Oct. 14. The transition will allow for expanded appointment availability and efficiencies. “Including online activity, Sedgwick County Tag Offices are processing up to 3,100 transactions a day, with about 650 completed in person,” Baily said. “Consolidating operations will help us better manage this demand.”

Alternative Tag Service Locations

In addition to the Douglas Tag Office, Sedgwick County residents can complete their tag business at satellite locations:

• Kansas Driver Licensing in Derby – 620 N. Rock Rd., Ste. 300, Derby, KS 67037
• Wichita West Kansas Driver Licensing – 610 S. Tyler Rd., Wichita, KS 67209
• Park City City Hall – 1941 E. 61st Street N., Park City, KS 67219

Three new satellite locations are also scheduled to open in September and October throughout Sedgwick County. These partnerships come at no cost to the County.

Growing Demand and System Challenges

Sedgwick County Tag Offices are experiencing unprecedented demand this year, driven by:

• A five-year personalized plate renewal cycle requiring in-person visits
• Expanded personalization options for all plate types
• Strong demand for blackout plates
• Increased vehicle sales, potentially tied to tariff concerns

Additionally, frequent system downtimes in the state continue to disrupt service throughout the month. Outages can last anywhere from minutes to three hours at a time, and offices often receive delayed notification from the state. “We fully understand the frustration this causes for our constituents. I share in that frustration,” said Baily. “Our staff has shown great resilience under this pressure, staying focused on efficiency and accuracy to make sure citizens are served correctly the first time.”

How to Complete Tag Business

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 is available online at https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/tag-office/.

County firefighters join Wichita 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

On Sunday, 26 firefighters from Sedgwick County Fire District 1 joined other fire crews from around Kansas for the Wichita 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at the Epic Center. Firefighters in full gear climbed the equivalent of 110 floors - the height of the former World Trade Center Twin Towers that were attacked on Sept. 11, 2001. Each participant carried a badge with the picture and name of a first responder killed on 9/11.

Sheriff's Office warns of warrant scam

The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) is warning of a local scam where con artists claim to work for SCSO and threaten to arrest people unless they pay immediately to settle a warrant. Watch the video above to learn what to watch out for and how to stay safe.

Environmental Resources adds MedSafe in Garden Plain

Sedgwick County Environmental Resources opened a new MedSafe disposal kiosk this month in Garden Plain City Hall at 509 N. Main. The kiosk is open every second and fourth Friday of each month from 1-3 p.m. If this time doesn’t work for you, you can also call Garden Plain City Hall at 316-531-2321 to schedule a drop-off.



MedSafe kiosks allow residents to safely dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medications. This includes prescription, controlled substances and over-the-counter medicine. There is no charge, no ID check and no questions asked. For more information, visit MedSafe.

Go behind the scenes with a 911 call taker!

Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a Sedgwick County 911 call taker is like? Watch this video for a behind-the-scenes look at the hard work, dedication, training, communication and collaboration it takes to get you the help you need during an emergency.

Volunteers pitch in for the parks on National CleanUp Day

When you're at Sedgwick County Park, you'll notice the addition of new exercise equipment (below), near the Boundless Playground. All are welcome to use the equipment, but it's specifically designed to help adults 60 years and older maintain mobility, muscle mass and stability while they socialize with others. Grant funding from the Older Americans Act covered the costs of the equipment, shade structure and installation, thanks to a partnership between the Sedgwick County Department of Aging and Disabilities, the Central Plains Area Agency on Aging (CPAAA) and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS). Stay tuned for more information on the ribbon-cutting and grand opening in October!

Hometown Heroes honored at Wind Surge games

Linda Sifford (right) has worked as a medical investigator at the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science center for 30 years. She gathers information at homicide scenes to determine the causes of death and helps the grieving families.

Both Hometown Heroes attended a Wind Surge baseball game where they were given personalized jerseys and honored on the big screen with a video about their contributions. To watch their stories, visit www.kake.com/HometownHeroes.

County collaborates for Emergency Safety Preparedness Expo

As part of National Preparedness Month, Sedgwick County Emergency Management’s held its first-ever Emergency Preparedness Safety Expo on Sept. 13, 2025. Staff from several departments demonstrated different ways to be proactive and take care of your loved ones, in case of a disaster.

• Sedgwick County EMS showed attendees how to do CPR.
• The Sedgwick County Health Department provided people with resources to prevent the use of narcotics.
• The Sedgwick County Department of Aging explained its services that can help older adults.
• Sedgwick County Fire District 1(SCFD 1) talked about fire safety.
• The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office discussed how to keep your personal documents and identify safe.
• Sedgwick County Emergency Management shared why it’s important to prepare for an emergency.

Sedgwick County recognizes Forensic Science Week

In honor of Forensic Science Week (Sept. 14-20), the Regional Forensic Science Center (RFSC) celebrated with food and fun activities all week long. From the criminalistics, toxicology and biology teams to medical investigations, pathology and administration, RFSC is handling an increasing volume and complexity of cases, with excellent results! They play a key role in our community's public safety and health. To keep pace with their caseload and changing technology, Commissioners recently approved plans in the 2026 budget to modernize and expand RFSC, built back in 1995. To learn more about the construction ahead, watch the video below the photos.

911 Dispatch welcomes new call taker graduates

Congratulations to Sedgwick County Emergency Communication’s eight newest call takers! On Sept. 19, Sedgwick County celebrated these individuals for completing the six-week call taker academy class where they gathered the skills they need to respond to emergency calls and get residents the help they need.

Debunking common myths about mental healthcare

September was National Suicide Prevention Month - a time to remember those affected by suicide, to raise awareness and to spark meaningful action around one of the most urgent mental health issues of our time. With that in mind, Sedgwick County COMCARE is continuing its series of videos that dispel common misconceptions about mental healthcare, like the belief that people in emotion distress can just "snap out of it!" Watch the video above to learn the truth.

Out and About with Commissioners

Sedgwick County Commissioners and staff met with representatives from Johnson, Shawnee and Douglas Counties to discuss ongoing issues and possible solutions to bring to the 2026 Kansas Legislature.

The Quad-County Coordinating Committee brought together representatives from Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey and Reno Counties to discuss their latest initiatives and how they might help each other and work together.

Contact Commissioner Ryan Baty

316-660-9300

Ryan.Baty@sedgwick.gov

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