Memorial Day is when we intentionally honor military veterans that gave the ultimate sacrifice. Some people say we should ‘Celebrate’ this day but knowing what it means causes me to reflect on the truth that the freedom we usually take for granted was not free. This Monday, I will be attending services to honor those that served us and paid for our freedom with their blood. Let me encourage you to find ways this weekend to encourage our many Gold Star families.
As we gather at Memorial Day ceremonies or just gather with family and friends, I hope you have a wonderful time making up for the countless opportunities we lost mitigating the COVID-19 virus these last 14 months. Since I am now vaccinated and immune, I look forward to safely socializing with my family, church, and military friends. I am ready to safely exchange a hug and a hearty handshake. For those of you that are not immune, please continue to be COVID conscious. With freedom comes responsibility so I trust you to be COVID educated and make informed decisions for yourself. But if you intend to get vaccinated but just have not yet, I hope you will do that soon. We have plenty of walk-in and scheduled vaccine appointment opportunities at the former Wichita Main City Library (223 S. Main St, Wichita). To get a free vaccine. Here is a link to learn more: https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/vaccine/schedule/
There is a lot going on here in the County. For one, the 2022 budget is rounding third base. We have to adopt the ’22 budget in mid-August. If you have ideas, concerns, problems or questions, please give me a call or send me a note. Jim.Howell@sedgwick.gov 316-660-9300.
|
|
Transparency and Accountability are Pillars of Good Governance
Since 2012, I’ve pushed several transparency laws to make local elected officials like me more accountable to taxpayers like you. Like climbing three flights of stairs, these laws have brought transparency up three levels since 2013.
The first of these laws was called Truth in Taxation. This law defined a ‘tax increase’ as an increase in the tax revenue, not just the mill levy rate. If the budget depended on more property tax revenue, then the officials would have to vote and then publish it in the newspaper. I was not surprised when most local elected officials were passionately opposed to this new law.
In 2015, the legislature replaced the T&T law with a Tax Lid. This law limited growth in property tax revenues unless a majority of their voters approved the increase on a ballot measure. Not surprisingly, many local elected officials were overwhelmingly opposed to the Tax Lid and lobbied hard to repeal it each year.
This year’s legislature achieved an even greater level of transparency when they passed SB13. This repealed the Tax Lid but now requires local government (except schools) to notify each property taxpayer before budget adoption if the proposed budget relies on more property tax revenue.
I testified twice in favor of this law. Most elected officials seemed supportive of the repeal of the Tax Lid but opposed the notification requirement.
In 2016, I helped pass a county resolution to target 29.359 mills for each budget cycle, equivalent to what it was in 2011.
Most governing bodies use the previous year’s mill levy (after technical adjustments) as the starting point for the next budget. Without resetting, the mill levy creeps up a little each year even though no elected official voted to raise taxes. This resolution also set up a 0.601 mill levy reduction in 2023 due to a lower debt burden
In light of SB13, some commissioners reasoned that a target is unnecessary and the preplanned tax reduction frustrating. I disagree. I contend establishing and maintaining a lowered target mill levy is healthy.
Under SB13, you will be notified when more tax revenue is ‘needed’ and you will have a chance to publicly address the commission before the budget is adopted. However, this is not really a barrier to bigger government. With no target, no lid, and no public vote, the governing body is really free to do whatever it wants as long as you know about it.
Now you will be informed but it’s up to you to keep us accountable.
|
|
COVID-19 Report for May 28, 2021 |
Comparing case counts from Monday to today:
-
The United States of America case count increased from 33,132,176 to 33,221,556 (+ 0.27 percent).
-
The State of Kansas case count increased from 313,274 to 313,997 (+ 0.23 percent).
-
In Sedgwick County, case counts increased from 48,140 to 48,252 (+ 0.23 percent).
The Sedgwick County Health Department offers no-cost sampling at Sunflower Shelter at Sedgwick County Park, 6501 W. 21st Street. Walk-ins are welcome from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Monday through Friday. Please enter off 13th Street.
The Health Department takes a nasal, oral, or saliva sample to send to a lab for COVID-19 PCR testing. Results are generally available within 18 to 36 hours. The results of the virus test show whether a person has a current infection. This is not an antibody test.
|
|
Main Vaccine Clinic and Walk-in Sampling Closed for Memorial Day |
The Sedgwick County Health Departments main vaccine clinic, 223 S. Main and no cost COVID-19 walk-in sampling at the Extension Office will be closed Monday, May 31 for Memorial Day. Normal hours of operation will resume Tuesday, June 1. |
|
Appointments Open for People Aged 12 to 15 Years and Older |
- Parent/guardian permission is required to receive the vaccine for those under the age of 18.
- If a child has no proof of age through ID or birth certificate, at the clinic, a parent/guardian must sign attesting to the child’s age.
- For people who do not speak English or are not comfortable speaking English, free interpreting services are available at the vaccine clinics to help you receive a vaccine.
- The Pfizer vaccine for children is not modified from the vaccine used for adults. Those aged 12 and older are advised to receive two shots, administered three weeks apart.
|
|
Commissioner Howell Trains with Sedgwick County Fire District 1 |
On May 26, I spent the day with crews from Station 34 in Haysville. We started the morning at the Wichita Regional Fire Training Center (RTC) learning and observing Vent, Enter, Isolate, and Search (VEIS) training and moved to the station for the afternoon. I was able to ride along with crews to a house fire.
|
|
|
Six Firefighters Join Sedgwick County Fire District 1 |
Class 2101 Recruits graduated from the Fire Academy where they spent the last several weeks training hard, remaining committed, and never giving up to get to this moment. They are ready to serve with honor, respond with compassion, and are dedicated to keeping our community safe and secure.
Please join us in congratulating the six newest firefighters on our team!
|
|
Dedicated, compassionate, and caring - these are just a few words that describes our EMS crews. Every day they work hard and devote themselves to providing a safe and secure community for the residents of Sedgwick County. The 2021 National EMS Week theme is "This Is EMS: Caring for Our Communities."
2020 was an unprecedented year for many - but response to emergency situations never stopped. Our crews worked on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic to make sure out community received the care they needed. As we celebrate our crews during National EMS Week, take time to thank them for their service, and let them know how much you appreciate the work they do to keep our community safe.
|
|
The week of May 10-16 we recognized our many Public Works employees, and say said thank you for all that they do to keep our community safe, and improve our quality of life! The 2021 National Public Works theme -- "Stronger Together"-- challenges our members and their citizens to think about the role public works plays in creating a great place to live.
The Public Works Department plays a vital role in drainage improvements, environmental services, household hazardous waste, and noxious weed control throughout Sedgwick County. They also work to provide a safe and efficient transportation system for our residents and visitors by maintaining 600 miles of roads and 600 bridges every year.
We depend on the efforts and skill of public officials to provide equality and effective services, as well as the planning, design, and construction of projects.
Thank you for all you do to make Sedgwick County a great place to live, work, and play!
|
|
Are you a family member or friend caring for an older adult? Caregiver often find themselves in this role unexpectedly and do not always feel comfortable or confident providing a care to their loved one(s). Central Plains Area Agency on Aging (CPAAA) can help you build skills, expand your knowledge and increase your confidence using a new web based caregiver training through Trualta.
The topics offered vary and you can tailor your training based on your personal situation:
- Find short article and videos (most are 5 minuets or less)
- Better understand dementia behaviors and how to address them
- Find training on daily tasks such as providing oral care, bathing, shaving, and more
- Learn about the importance of caring for yourself
This self-guided caregiver training is available to you. To sign up for training, please call 855-200-2372 to be connected to CPAAA's Caregiver Coordinator and receive your invitation.
|
|
Public Works Projects in District 5 |
Bridge Replacements on 71st between Old Spring Road and Greenwich
- Closed to traffic during construction
- Work began November 30, 2020
- Project includes the replacement of two bridges.
- Expected to reopen in late summer 2021
Pathway Construction from Cumberland Way to MacArthur
- Lane closures on Clifton and Englewood during construction
- Work began February 2, 2021
- Expected to be complete in June 2021
|
|
|
316-660-9300
525 N. Main, Ste 320, Wichita, KS 67203
|
|
Connect with Sedgwick County |
|
|
|
|
|
|
