Sedgwick County

Talk about rolling up your sleeve for a good cause... A Sedgwick County worker had his arm and leg hair waxed as part of the organization's United Way campaign. Organizers tell us, last year - a female worker agreed to shave her head if they raised $2,000. They met the goal...and she shaved her head. This year, they got one of the male employees involved. After asking for volunteers, workers voted...and Kelly Looney with the Division of Information and Operations was the lucky winner.

Residents owe Sedgwick County more than $24 million in delinquent taxes for the last three years.  That's about double what the county deficit is projected to be.  So you may wonder, why doesn't the county just collect and balance the budget?  The county treasurer says it's not that easy. If you haven't paid taxes on your personal property like a boat or camper, you'll be getting a not so friendly reminder next week.  "It's something new, thought it might help get people's attention," said Sedgwick County Treasurer Linda Kizzire.  For the first time, she's using bold red lettering to say you're delinquent.  "I want people to know they do owe those taxes and its imperative they do get those paid, so we can continue to provide those services of sheriff, fire and Comcare.  Services the residents of Sedgwick County have come to expect," she said.

Early retirements, layoffs and furloughs are all on the table to help Sedgwick County balance its budget.  The county needs to reduce its budget by $9 million in 2012 and $8 million in 2013. Sedgwick County Manager Bill Buchanan told commissioners during a staff meeting Tuesday that he'll bring recommendations to them in the next couple of weeks.  He says they are working out the details for early retirement packages.  He says he also thinks layoffs make more sense when compared to furloughs.  Buchanan says furloughs will only offer short term savings.  He says when crunching the numbers, even if revenues start to increase the county will not be able to catch up and balance the budget.  He says significant changes need to be made and commissioners need to decide how county government will operate from here on out. Buchanan says Wichita State will also conduct some focus groups with employees to also see how they feel about pay cuts and layoffs.  Commissioner Tim Norton says it may sound harsh, but this is a time when employees who excel and work hard will benefit and the ones who don't will likely be let go.  Commissioners Karl Peterjohn and Richard Ranzau says they understand where the manager is coming from, but they want everything calculated including the cost savings of furloughs.

Sedgwick County residents...are you trying to get rid of some bulky trash and waste?  The county is offering coupons to help offset the cost. Residents can request a coupon, which is good for up to $28 or 1,000 pounds, at the county's website ( www.sedgwickcounty.org ), or by calling 660-9110. The program is only open to Sedgwick County residents and you must be prepared to haul the trash. That trash cannot include things like tires or things with freon or other hazardous materials...and businesses are not eligible.

The City of Derby wants Sedgwick County to take over its 911 services. Derby did a study and found by letting the county handle dispatching emergency calls, the city would save thousands of dollars. During a staff meeting Tuesday, county commissioners said they would support taking over Derby's 911. The county already provides the service for almost every other community in the county. The only towns that use their own dispatch systems are Derby, Haysville, Valley Center and Sedgwick.  County Chairman Karl Peterjohn says if they are going to take over for Derby, they should ask the other communities if they want to change as well.

Frontier Airlines will continue receiving assistance from Sedgwick County. County Commissioners approved $333,750 for the airline to continue providing service from Wichita to Denver. The money is a part of the affordable airfare program. Commissioner Richard Ranzau voted against the funding. He says it's not the job of government to fix prices and help particular businesses. He says while the county is facing major budget cuts and potential lay offs, it cannot afford to subsidize the airlines.

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.

Sedgwick County Commissioners passed a measure allowing people with concealed carry permits to bring their weapons into some county-owned buildings. Commissioner Richard Ranzau said the law was to help protect the rights of gun owners, "if you can't carry it into a building, then you need to leave it in your vehicle. And there's always a risk when you do that. " Concealed carry licensees will be allowed to bring their weapons into 48 county owned buildings. The buildings that are exempt from the resolution are: Sedgwick Co. Courthouse Juvenile Detention Facility Adult Detention Facilty Work Release INTRUST Bank Arena Adult Field Services Facility Adult Residential Sedgwick Co. Youth Program Judge Radells Boy's Ranch Juvenile Residential Facilty Juvenile Intake & Assessment Center Forensic Science Center Park Valley Lodge Clinical Service facilities Centralized Intake & Assessment Facility Addiction Treatment Building Crisis Intervention Services Sedgwick Co. Offender Assessment Program Outpatient Services Community Support Services Center City Homeless Program Transitional Housing Program Office Juvenie Field Services Pre-trial Services Comcare Administrative Offices Healthy Babies Facilities The vote was four to one Wednesday.

It's everything you wanted to know about the health and well-being of people in Sedgwick County. The Health Department has released its 2012 Data Book. Click Here to Read the Data Book The 44-page book includes information on population, employment, pregnancy rates and more.    

Emergency crews were called to the scenes of two crashes this morning, one in Sedgwick County - the other in Butler County. The first crash happened around 7:50 this morning at Satchel Creek Road and Highway 54 just east of El Dorado in Butler County. One person was transported with potentially critical injuries.  Several others suffered minor injuries. Photos from I-235 Crash Scene Crews were also called to the scene of a crash at I-235 just south of Central in Wichita.