Sedgwick County agrees to administer state funds for testing tied to 29th and Grove TCE plume

Sedgwick County commissioners voted 5-0 on Jan. 22 to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to receive state funds for medical testing and related services tied to the trichloroethylene (TCE) plume near 29th Street and Grove.

The MOA would unlock $1.5 million in state funding immediately and make a second $1.0 million available on a dollar‑for‑dollar local match basis; the state funding must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026, with any unspent funds returned by Feb. 28, 2027. The agreement directs Sedgwick County to administer the state dollars and to set up procedures for disbursing them to qualified local providers.

County Manager Tom Stoltz told commissioners that the money is intended to expand testing and build local capacity so Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and other providers can perform screening and follow‑up for residents affected by the plume. Justin Wagner, county counselor, said the MOA does not itself commit the county to provide a local match but would require the county to manage the state funds and ensure subrecipients comply with the MOA terms.

Dr. Elizabeth Avila, University of Kansas School of Medicine–Wichita, described the public‑health rationale at the meeting. She noted the scope of contamination in Sedgwick County includes multiple active sites and said testing for volatile organic compounds and related follow‑up is complicated and currently fragmented. She told the commission that a coordinated program would allow community health providers to build the capacity to offer testing, diagnostic follow‑up and longer‑term monitoring.

Commissioners and staff said the MOA responds to a legislative proviso in which the state set aside the funds; they stressed the money is one‑time funding and does not substitute for longer‑term solutions. Commissioner Jim Howell, who has led local discussions about contamination and services, said he wants the county to use the funds to prioritize residents in the 29th and Grove study area while allowing use for other contamination sites countywide once the priority area is served.

The board approved the staff recommendation to enter the MOA and authorized the county manager to sign. The vote was recorded as Aye from Commissioners Bluebaugh, Wise, Howell, Meitzner and Chairman Ryan K. Beatty.

Local officials said next steps include identifying an entity to receive and manage the funds (county staff discussed the Kansas Health Foundation and other local organizations), creating a request‑for‑proposals or grant process, and coordinating with KDHE and local FQHCs on distribution and reporting requirements. County staff and providers emphasized the objective is to expand testing access and to help build sustainable local capacity, recognizing the funding window is limited.

Because the funding is time‑limited, county leaders said they will continue pushing for system‑level changes and additional resources to address contamination and long‑term care needs across Sedgwick County.