Library board asks for $1.4M to maintain hours; resident urges fireworks curfew

Several members of the public used the council’s public comment period to press the council on local services and quality‑of‑life rules.

Lauren Hirsch, speaking as a representative of the Wichita Public Library Board of Directors, stressed that library staffing has not kept pace with service demand and asked the council to empower the city manager to allocate $1,400,000 in the coming year to maintain current branch hours. Hirsch said a $4 million proposal would be the scale of investment needed to hire and fully staff service plans the board had requested, but she asked specifically that $1.4 million be considered now to avoid a 25% staffing deficit and reduced hours.

“We’re at that point now,” Hirsch said. “I’m asking that the city council empower the city manager to make a $1,400,000 increased investment in our library so that we can properly staff the beautiful buildings that we have.”

Separately, Marsha Brown, a resident of District 6, urged the council to consider narrowing the nightly times allowed for consumer fireworks — she suggested changing current extended sale/use windows to a 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. curfew across the multi‑day period or otherwise limiting late‑night use around July 4 to reduce sleep disruption for seniors, veterans, families and animals. Councilmember Ho Heisel thanked Brown and said the issue will be discussed at the next fireworks committee meeting.

Council did not take immediate action on either public ask but acknowledged the concerns and flagged both subjects for follow up in committee and the budget process.