Sedgwick County facilities director outlines mental-health hospital, crisis and juvenile projects and maintenance scope

Andrew Delts, facilities director for Sedgwick County, said the county is working with KDADS, the state of Kansas, to build a mental health hospital and expects a separate community crisis building "in about a year and a half," while a juvenile services building is currently in design.

Delts gave a brief operational update describing the department’s workload and staffing. "We have 43 facilities that counties are responsible for county owned facilities, and then we have 8 leases that we do, limited maintenance on," he said, adding that the department’s work ranges from entry-level positions to licensed trade roles handling heating, air, plumbing and electrical systems.

Why it matters: County facilities and new behavioral-health projects affect where services are provided and what maintenance capacity the county must sustain. Delts’ remarks outlined planned capital projects and the ongoing responsibilities that support them, including around-the-clock response for urgent repairs.

Delts said the facilities department manages tasks from preventive maintenance—such as changing filters—to emergency repairs, and that crews respond at night, on weekends and holidays. "Every day is challenging. You never know what you're gonna get into until you clock in and start the day," he said. He described a collaborative role with the state on the mental-health hospital and expressed enthusiasm about expanding juvenile program infrastructure.

The update did not include funding amounts, construction schedules beyond the rough 18-month timeline for the crisis building, or formal approvals; no motions or votes were recorded in the portion of the meeting containing this presentation. The juvenile building remains "currently in design," and additional details on procurement, budget or timelines were not specified.