Sedgwick County

The county wants to balance its budget without laying people off. County Manager William Buchanan proposed making changes to the budget that includes eliminating positions through attrition and offering hundreds retirement packages. Buchanan proposed eliminating six positions that were empty to save more than two million dollars. He also proposed reducing the number of prisoners in the county jail by moving them over to the state jail. The proposal also offers retirement packages to 385 employees but leaves their positions empty.

A new program in Sedgwick County hopes to make dental care more affordable. The county launched a new dental discount card. It's a program through the National Association of Counties. People who sign up for the card pay a small monthly or yearly fee, and can receive as much as 50% off of procedures like cleanings and crowns from participating dentists. At least 25 dentists will currently take part in the program. County officials say they have seen a need for a program like this for a long time.

Sedgwick County received an oversized check from the INTRUST Bank Arena Wednesday. The arena manager presented a $1.1 million check to the county commission. The check represents the revenue the county earned during the arena's first year of operation. The county has a contract with SMG to manage the arena.  The contract allows SMG to keep the first $450,000 in profit. Sedgwick County gets the next $450,000. Once revenues reaches that point, profits are split with 60% going to the county and 40% going to SMG. If there is not a profit, SMG is required to cover the losses.

A count of the homeless finds fewer people living on the streets in Sedgwick County than the same day one year before. The 2012 point-in-time homeless count happened on January 25, 2012. The count found 550 people experiencing "literal homelessness". Of those 550, 475 were sheltered, meaning they stayed in an emergency shelter or some sort of transitional housing; 75 were considered unsheltered, which includes people staying on the streets, under a bridge or in a car. The survey represents just one picture of home many are homeless in just one given night.

Sedgwick County is considering saving land near the Kansas Coliseum to build another jail.  County commissioners discussed the future of the coliseum property during a staff meeting Tuesday.  The property consists of 208 acres.  Right now only 66 acres, the Pavilions are used for regular events.  The county spends $3,000 a month on the property, including moth balling Brit Brown Arena.  The money goes towards mowing and electricity. County staff want to hire a real estate broker to assess the land and determine the best possible use for it.  County commissioners are interested in selling the land to get it back on the tax rolls.  However, a majority of commissioners want to keep the Pavilions open and reserve 40 acres for a potential minimum security jail.

Two governments provide two different services, often to the same group of people. That's why the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County will pursue a merger. On Thursday, they announced work is underway to combine economic development and code enforcement departments. "We have two staffs that keep duplicate records and do some monitoring of the same businesses. They then give the same recommendations to two different governmental bodies," said Wichita City Manager Bob Layton.

A wanted Sedgwick County felon has been arrested in Oregon. Authorities arrested Kevin Davis Wednesday during a large drug bust in rural home outside Boring. Investigators found an elaborate video surveillance system protecting an illegal marijuana growing operation. Officers seized 84 marijuana plants, two stolen guns and cash during a search warrant. Street value of the drug was estimated at $250,000. A tip to the Clackamas County task force led to the investigation. The 37-year-old was wanted by the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office for aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Sedgwick County commissioners will hear about next year's budget today.  The plan could call for cutting jobs. The county's communications director, Kristi Zukovich, confirms that the county manager will present a plan that eliminates $9.3 million from next year's budget. Bill Buchanan's plan would add up to cutting 113 positions.  79 of those positions are currently filled which would mean some county employees would face layoffs. County commissioners will hear about the plan during Wednesday's meeting.  They will vote on the 2013 budget on August 15th.

Sedgwick County is considering charging transaction fees for using credit cards when paying for some services. "What that means is you use your credit card to pay a county tax and then we charge you whatever the fee would be from the credit card so we don't have to pay that directly," explains County Manager Bill Buchanan. Every year the county pays nearly $1 million in fees to credit card companies, half of that coming from motor vehicle registration. Passing those fees onto people paying with credit cards would save Sedgwick County a lot of money, but could create some problems.

The Sedgwick County detention deputy charged with sex crimes against inmates will not make his first appearance in court today. 21-year-old David Kendall was formally charged at 5:15 Friday evening.  The specific charges have not been released by the District Attorney.  It's not clear when he will appear in court. Kendall was arrested again Friday and booked into jail on 12 charges.  They include two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, three counts of sexual battery, one count of making false information and six counts of unlawful sexual relations.