[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6600732,"mediaKeyId","3022565-454ed7f7d6c7033f975793af9940f74b","parentId",3022565,"title","County approves vacation of part of platted Edith Drive after public hearing; neighbors raised access concerns","audioSeconds",3645,"startMs",3600000,"endMs",7245000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3022565-454ed7f7d6c7033f975793af9940f74b&start=3600&end=7245","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3022565-454ed7f7d6c7033f975793af9940f74b/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6600732/Sedgwick-County/Kansas/County-approves-vacation-of-part-of-platted-Edith-Drive-after-public-hearing-neighbors-raised-access-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600732-341a803813c98cc5df1741b67d9394f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135526&Signature=irqzselQMVo9Ne02HTz-tFinwmcTc024k-g5dMJ6ngSpqZHMUVu2qeeItPkB-H4TsDwdZMCGHtNxjm10jq~9-WMLRN3xpikq5LFMWaf5PilxpavZ-OerBU8xunMPJDhe-gg8Wdz-B7lidjkb8rgsAF4J74wypscWi08M0yO7SoJo7y5mjTZ8p8eI9X20qKBy2kUfx8yrEU6HO1mD-3i-3aGcq6rEU8ZRYqQR1Z5CpzPhSlyxtuE~kKfY1tiHgZCv3DwvnswC98EpIyjZmv8Mofe1a9kzY0L1iS3NOBUNzbyJsR2r2O87PIybZC~eR17KGIE476cLZ8ZV7TJiYRB5VQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sedgwick County, KS","date","2025-04-16T16:36:22.39Z","article","The Sedgwick County Commission voted April 16 to approve a petition (VAC‑2024‑00060) to vacate a portion of platted Edith Drive south of East 40th Street South, a move applicants said is necessary to allow privately constructed driveway access for new homes. The Planning Department and Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) recommended approval subject to conditions.

Scott Whittle of the county Planning Department described the site as an unimproved, 50‑foot‑wide right of way that was platted in 1957 and is largely unmaintained; public utilities (overhead power) cross the area and would be protected by easements if the vacation is approved. Public Works and Fire staff said a private service drive may be used provided it serves no more than three properties and meets the county’s service drive standard (20 feet minimum), and addressing would be provided from Mission Road. Whittle said no written objections were filed and MAPC recommended approval by a 10‑0 vote after the Subdivision and Utility Advisory Committee’s 4‑0 recommendation.

Kirk Miller, the applicant’s agent, said building to county road standards would be far more expensive and that the applicants intend to share maintenance costs rather than impose future special assessments on the township. Applicants David Counts and Brian Ellerman told commissioners they plan to construct homes on the lots and seek a private driveway standard for cost reasons. Counts said the project has been in process for months and he wants to proceed to construction.

Neighbors on the north segment of Edith Drive spoke to commissioners and told staff they have used the center right‑of‑way informally for decades to walk around a pond and help maintain the open space. Commissioner Howell pressed whether a full 50‑foot vacation would leave a narrow pinch point near the pond that could prevent a full walking loop and asked commissioners to consider a partial vacation or an easement preserving pedestrian access. County staff and the applicants said practical constraints and design standards make a partial vacation less useful to applicants and would delay the process; the applicants and their agent said changing the legal description would require additional notarized signatures from multiple owners, which could take time.

Assistant County Counselor Samantha C. Yang and County Counselor Justin Wagner advised the board that state law requires the commission to consider two primary legal findings: whether the vacation would cause public loss or inconvenience, and whether private rights would be injured. Staff recommended approval, noting public works and fire‑safety conditions had been met and that no written objections were on file. The board adopted the MAPC findings and approved the vacation with the MAPC conditions attached to the order.

The vote carried on a simple majority; commissioners also asked that the conditions listed by MAPC (including dedicated easements for utilities and access controls to limit the private drive to three properties) be included in the final order. Applicants were instructed to deliver required legal descriptions and signed exhibits to complete the recording process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sedgwick County Board of Commissioners Meeting -4/16/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Sedgwick County Commission voted April 16 to approve VAC‑2024‑00060, vacating a 50‑foot segment of platted Edith Drive south of East 40th Street South, after a public hearing in which neighbors raised concerns about pedestrian access around a pond and applicants said a private driveway standard reduces upfront cost.","taxTitle","Sedgwick County, Kansas","taxId",2883,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6600737,"Sedgwick County OKs bond resolutions for roads, bridges and county facilities amid questions on road costs",1855,1574000,3429000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3022565-454ed7f7d6c7033f975793af9940f74b&start=1574&end=3429","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3022565-454ed7f7d6c7033f975793af9940f74b/thumbnail_1574000.jpg","/articles/6600737/Sedgwick-County/Kansas/Sedgwick-County-OKs-bond-resolutions-for-roads-bridges-and-county-facilities-amid-questions-on-road-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600737-ecd749a94a1b9ca08cd50c0bd37e24fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135526&Signature=iZ3pHC0aPiACNPA-mXVH~ldbF04cVr4Msbl2cqxgG6NFfi03W6FEgLBfxxTg5RK9bn1sA~gzXPDKwvoFUlj-WY2H~jQLgFypgkg5jyPeQtPZ41tTlEQyt44FE5GQ226lwhexIBEiNVpizHZ2dpJYo9BPocDY9RTUJ9jAAyu6D4boBExlk5kGOp7q8z9cIrar6kYBurogcW4ZPHZBpMU7Lt8YeQVrW0Lnz4ADOoRAeorUBo6Ux-iqtXGPYJRTGk4G8eRy-6-~62d4EMFXNqsNZ2nUD5UxqK-SI7pddEF6ug-FVGtBSZK2vZ8dzyPYvbfTb4XgQEGkq3h8EA7bOm86Dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sedgwick County Board of Commissioners voted April 16 to adopt three separate resolutions that authorize the county to proceed with specified road, bridge and public‑building improvements and to reimburse project costs with future general obligation bonds if a 90‑day protest period and other steps do not prevent issuance.

Lindsay Powrousseau, the county chief financial officer, said the agenda items are the second step in a multi‑step process that allows the county to begin work and later reimburse itself from bond proceeds. She told commissioners the projects fall within the county’s debt and fund‑balance policy thresholds, citing available fund balance near 40% of general fund expenditures and net direct debt at roughly 30% of revenues on the most recently completed audit.

Garth Herman, bond counsel with Gilmore & Bell, described the legal steps for each resolution. For roads (Resolution D) the county will publish the resolution once a week for two consecutive weeks to start a 90‑day protest period; bridges (Resolution E) do not require publication; facilities (Resolution F) follow the established reimbursement process before a final bond sale.

Roads: Resolution D authorizes two road projects (identified as R‑348 and R‑354) with total project costs estimated at $3.75 million and anticipated bond funding of $1.5 million; the remainder would be paid from available sales tax funds. Public Works Director Lynn Packer told the commission one project includes converting a gravel half‑mile section on 130th/50th Street near the Maize industrial park to a paved, heavier‑duty industrial standard pavement with turn lanes and wider radii to handle semis. The staff estimate for that half‑mile segment was questioned repeatedly by Commissioner Howell, who said the $1.35 million construction estimate for a half‑mile seemed “extraordinarily high” given the segment’s long history as a gravel road. Howell said he preferred cash funding for non‑urgent projects and was not prepared to support the bonds for the road item; he ultimately cast the lone “no” vote on the roads resolution.

Bridges: Resolution E would fund three bridge projects with total costs estimated at $3.1 million and about $2.5 million expected to be financed by bonds. Lynn Packer said two of the three bridges are already weight‑limited and described the projects as higher priority because of condition ratings; commissioners accepted the presentation and voted to approve the resolution.

Facilities: Resolution F bundles projects at county facilities, including work related to the juvenile services/corrections campus, a salt storage building for the Public Works east yard and kitchen work at the adult detention facility; the total package was listed at just over $24 million in the meeting materials. Powrousseau told the commission the resolution preserves authority to begin design and bidding and later reimburse actual costs with bond proceeds after bids are awarded.

Votes at a glance
- Resolution D (roads, R‑348 and R‑354): motion carried; vote 4–1 (Yes: Commissioner Bubaugh; Commissioner Wise; Commissioner Meitzner; Chairman Beatty. No: Commissioner Howell).
- Resolution E (bridges): motion carried unanimously.
- Resolution F (facilities): motion carried unanimously.

Powrousseau and Herman both emphasized the county remains within policy debt ratios and liquidity measures used in credit‑rating methodologies. Commissioners asked for continued transparency about whether projects are truly urgent and for further cost detail on the half‑mile industrial connector. No final construction contracts were awarded during the meeting; staff said individual bid awards and contract approvals will return to the commission for action after the design and bidding steps are complete.","The county commission adopted three resolutions authorizing work and future bond financing for 2025 road, bridge and facility projects. Commissioners were briefed on the county’s debt ratios and several voiced concern about borrowing for non‑urgent road work and a costly half‑mile industrial connector.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6600741,"Sedgwick County sheriff highlights gun‑safety locks and launches 'Citizen Connect' crime dashboard",206,192000,398000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3022565-454ed7f7d6c7033f975793af9940f74b&start=192&end=398","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3022565-454ed7f7d6c7033f975793af9940f74b/thumbnail_192000.jpg","/articles/6600741/Sedgwick-County/Kansas/Sedgwick-County-sheriff-highlights-gunsafety-locks-and-launches-Citizen-Connect-crime-dashboard","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600741-d8ce33c777422b78c9e3f08d7aef22a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135526&Signature=M-x9y1Fd0oWXoij6Fa54OtoNkn8lPUbBKWdpIcSCj1aSGB7rvtOHXYUfXci7MVP~6y9gAnDGrhxPwcyxmftVB1WpB7ZAKQ882loC3jb~QeChotYgw-TRB7rmJwjvqJ-bsOnuBQZa4s2dRicmVxStB8JEjwK3txj3IrQVwbJurmQAMTq3Hrr9VYjduJfWIXEgbDhoiLb7E4PFoVICEX3KATAatuqYM1YWb2QN112tsysUDenz2Gq7GmaWNaWaMJVd7OczCSlJ7BunY33sJ-znPcJ5FZFzKO11fH7SxcctURYm-Q1J~LADWVPsjgUGhakWNk~ZVQTOhKOOEligFRsEAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brandon Stitt, public information officer for the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, told the Board of County Commissioners on April 16 that the office is distributing free gun‑safety locks and has launched a public online dashboard called Citizen Connect.

Stitt said the locks were provided by Wesley Children’s Hospital and a VA facility, and that deputies also carry them and can hand them out in neighborhoods. “These are absolutely heartbreaking incidents and they happened in the city of Wichita,” Stitt said, describing recent shootings involving children. “These tragedies are 100% preventable. We are doing our part at the sheriff’s office and Wichita Police Department in cooperation with Wesley Children’s Hospital.”

The Sheriff’s Office began distributing an initial supply of locks that Wesley Children’s Hospital provided, Stitt said, and the VA donated additional locks after a supply ran out in the jail lobby. He said employees at the county administration building have asked for locks and been provided them.

Stitt emphasized that locks are only one step in safe firearm storage and that responsible gun owners should take multiple precautions. Commissioner Howell, who identified himself as a member of the board of the Kansas State Rifle Association during the meeting, pressed for details about usage and whether locks apply only to handguns. Stitt replied that the specific devices are designed for handguns but could be used with other firearms depending on the weapon and that, in general, a firearm should be unloaded and magazines removed before applying a lock.

Stitt also outlined Citizen Connect, a new public dashboard drawing data from the sheriff’s Tyler RMS records management system and a new computer-aided dispatch system used by emergency communications. “It allows you to explore crime trends, search active cases and view crash data in real time,” he said, and added that several municipal agencies within Sedgwick County participate by sharing their data when they choose to. Participating jurisdictions include Bel Aire, Derby, Haysville, Kechi, Maize, Park City, Valley Center and Eastborough (the latter shares crash data). Stitt said Wichita uses a different vendor (LexisNexis) and does not feed data directly into Citizen Connect.

Commissioners asked about technical access and compatibility; Stitt said an Apple‑specific error can be worked around by following the posted link at sedgwickcounty.org/sheriff/citizenconnect. He said a tutorial PowerPoint is available for the public and the tool includes trend mapping and zoom functions. The sheriff’s office plans outreach so residents know they can request a lock from a deputy or pick one up at the jail lobby while supplies last.

The commission did not take a formal vote on the announcements, which were provided as part of staff communications at the start of the meeting.","The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office announced free gun locks distributed via local hospitals, deputies and the jail lobby and unveiled a new public incident dashboard, Citizen Connect, to share law‑enforcement data in near real time.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6600727,"County staff brief commissioners on federal grant‑risk review; ARPA reporting glitch flagged",239,7755000,7994000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3022565-454ed7f7d6c7033f975793af9940f74b&start=7755&end=7994","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3022565-454ed7f7d6c7033f975793af9940f74b/thumbnail_7755000.jpg","/articles/6600727/Sedgwick-County/Kansas/County-staff-brief-commissioners-on-federal-grantrisk-review-ARPA-reporting-glitch-flagged","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600727-c7135da4c45896e9bc626019b8eb17a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135526&Signature=TC4m5VAQXzSyY6uV5rTOchja7dd3H8uBK~ll9aiAmGIO8yFl6BQH1bD~1EJBK25KLXSiZyqs04C-Ye1DypDSOcuLcInzrsqrKHzHHqtasLyq4hPkl-MeznqJXYNoT9nkSQJFsMoygUDgDJg5pR-~gdBF9iPW-Tx5MKl2Rs2hDW2PLNMgjrIjkCsQ-uQ8sw-R-jLUF5l6iQr2Etobf~o2J9MhsJyd9c13XmH5kJaPTLvrKBuwHXnngmK30O-MIP426JM8x2USUGOaWlLwSIZ~1JvgvtBjNmZ1JGg3gCzfEbIK71CMM6xsVSWXXBEJD5yEDhZzRLifEgKqZC0m4RVCdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Financial Officer Lindsay Powrousseau told the commission April 16 that Sedgwick County is convening a standing interdepartmental group to track federal grant risks and to coordinate response planning for possible early terminations of federal awards.

Powrousseau said the county typically receives $10–12 million in federal grant funds annually for operations and programs, with about $8 million of that flowing through the health department. She described the meeting group — which includes grants compliance staff, department leads and budget staff — as a way to spot risks early, prioritize grants for monitoring, and prepare contingency messaging and workforce steps.

She said the county has already experienced sudden federal changes in recent weeks and cited a U.S. Treasury webinar noting an unintended contract cancellation that supports ARPA technical reporting. Treasury announced the contract was reinstated at a lower rate, Powrousseau said, but staff warned that the interruption could cause technical problems when counties attempt to file required quarterly ARPA reports. “If we run into any technical issues ... it could take significant time for that to be corrected,” she said, and noted Treasury indicated strict compliance expectations despite the technical problems.

Powrousseau described the county’s standard reactive and proactive approaches: where a federal award is terminated unexpectedly, county practice has been to continue operations for a temporary period (60 days) while working to reassign or place affected employees, to provide a short reduction‑in‑force package if layoffs are required, and to stand up a community resource page to help affected clients access workforce and social services. On the proactive side, she said the county maintains a risk assessment of each federal grant (high/medium/low) and will brief commissioners earlier on grants judged to be at higher risk.

Commissioners asked for more detail on the dollar value of federal grants and on timing for the community‑resources page; Powrousseau said the county will provide periodic updates and that the page is being re‑established using a COVID‑era template.","County finance staff told the commission they are convening weekly to monitor federal grant risks after recent abrupt federal terminations and warned of a technical glitch at the U.S. Treasury that could complicate ARPA reporting deadlines.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County approves vacation of part of platted Edith Drive after public hearing; neighbors raised access concerns

Sedgwick County OKs bond resolutions for roads, bridges and county facilities amid questions on road costs

Sedgwick County sheriff highlights gun‑safety locks and launches 'Citizen Connect' crime dashboard

County staff brief commissioners on federal grant‑risk review; ARPA reporting glitch flagged