Sedgwick County commissioners discussed whether to allow a resident to keep a secure parcel mailbox in place during an ongoing neighborhood road and ditch project in the 4 Oaks subdivision, and directed staff to draft a countywide mailbox policy with possible short-term variances.

The dispute centers on a single property where the mailbox owner, John Rolfe, has not removed a decorative, parcel‑capable mailbox while his neighbors complied and removed theirs as part of a neighborhood‑initiated construction project. Lynn, a Sedgwick County public-works staff member, told commissioners that all seven of Rolfe’s neighbors have removed similar mailboxes and that the county’s safety standard is that roadside fixtures be breakaway. “All 7 of his neighbors have had their mailboxes removed,” Lynn said. “The crux of everything comes down to the fact that he's on a cul de sac.”

Public-works staff argued the mailbox must be removed because it constitutes a rigid roadside obstacle that could increase injury or damage if struck. Lynn noted that, by state statute, the speed limit on the 4 Oaks cul‑de‑sac currently reads as 55 mph and said that even on slower local streets fixtures must be breakaway. “If you got a mailbox, it's out the edge of the road … it still needs to be breakaway,” Lynn said.

County Manager Tom and other staff said the contractor paused work so the county could seek a resolution, but further delays could trigger remobilization charges. Staff told commissioners the paving work itself can proceed without removing the mailbox, but ditch and culvert work adjacent to the parcel would require redesign and would incur extra cost if the mailbox remains in place. Staff also said the neighborhood is paying 100% of design and construction costs for the improvements.

Several commissioners said they support creating a mailbox policy to clarify when locations or designs may qualify for variances, and to avoid ad hoc decisions in future projects. Commissioners discussed the possibility of bifurcating a policy — approving a quick, narrow variance process for immediate construction conflicts while developing broader standards over months. One commissioner urged an allowance for “reasonable exceptions,” such as unique parcel mailboxes at the end or throat of a cul de sac where vehicle speeds and site context differ from through arterials.

Because Rolfe waited until construction began to request an exemption, staff said the county faces a tight timeline: the contractor has already adjusted sequencing once and further delays could produce extra costs. Staff said an interim administrative exception or variance could be drafted quickly to resolve this single property while the full policy is developed.

Commissioners asked staff to return with recommended language and with options that limit fiscal exposure to the county, including who would pay for any redesign and remobilization if a variance is granted. The commission did not adopt a final policy at the meeting and no formal vote on the mailbox itself was recorded.

The discussion will continue at a future staff meeting; staff were directed to prepare policy options and a narrowly scoped emergency variance to resolve the present construction timeline if possible.