This Week in Sedgwick County - Feb. 4, 2026
Board of County Commissioners
- Sedgwick County Commissioners appointed Kirsten Robinson to the Sedgwick County Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board.
- BoCC adopted a resolution declaring it necessary to make road improvements to 151st West from 53rd St. North to K-96 under the authority of K.SA. 68-5, 103, and provide for the issuance of general obligation bonds.
- Commissioners approved a statement of final costs and proposed assessment roll, as well as established a public hearing for March 4, 2026, regarding proposed special assessments for certain road improvement projects in the County.
- BoCC adopted a resolution declaring it necessary to build or repair existing bridges in the County under the authority of K.S.A. 68-1103 and provide for the issuance of general obligation bonds.
- Sedgwick County Commissioners denied CON2025-00141: a conditional use request to allow a recreational vehicle campground on property zoned RR Rural Residential District generally located on the west side of South 159th East north of East 63rd St. South.
- Commissioners sent ZON2025-00057: a zone change request from RR Rural Residential to SF-20 single-family residential generally located south of West 21st North and west of North 263rd St. West back to the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.
- Sedgwick County Commissioners unanimously approved the addition of an off-agenda item for an executive session. No binding action was taken during the executive session.
- BoCC voted to reopen the application process for an at-large appointment to the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.
- Commissioners received and filed a presentation of the quarterly financial report for the period ending Dec. 2025.
- Commissioners approved the recommendations of the Board of Bids and Contracts’ regular meeting on Jan. 29, 2026.
- BoCC deferred consent agenda Item M: a resolution adopting new policies and procedures to the Feb. 11, 2026, meeting.
- Assistant County Manager Tania Cole provided a legislative update:
- This is the fourth week of the legislative session.
- The last day for non-exempt bills to be passed in their house of origin is Feb. 19.
- Two bills are expected to be introduced soon: A bill for protection to the public from dangerous animals, and a publications bill.
- SB 436: The bill would increase the cost threshold for when a county shall use the public bidding process in awarding a construction contract.
- HB 2331: The cremains bill was passed out of Senate Federal and State Affairs. There were technical amendments and an add-on to the bill from mortuary arts for continuing education requirements for funeral directors.
- SB 404: The bill would stagger registration of personalized plates and allows county treasurers to add service fees to alleviate county’s burden of property tax dollars. Draft testimony is being finalized with Shawnee, Wyandotte, Johnson and Douglas Counties ahead of a Thursday hearing. Commissioner Ryan Baty will testify, as will the State Treasurer’s Association, including member Sedgwick County Treasurer Brandi Baily.
- There are several bills that Sedgwick County leaders are following:
- HB 2385: The bill would authorize cities and counties to propose an earnings tax for ballot question and to levy such tax if approved by the electors of a city or county, requiring resubmission of the question, if approved, to the electors every 10 years, allowing certain credits and exemptions against the tax, providing for deductions by public and private employers of the tax from employee earnings and providing that revenue from any such tax be pledged for certain purposes.
- SB400: The bill would require data centers to use closed-loop cooling systems to mitigate water consumption.
- SB401: The bill would require county appraisers to conduct a physical inspection before increasing the valuation of residential real property by more than 15%.
- SB414: The bill would authorize the Secretary of Corrections to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to provide money from the evidence-based programs account to residential facilities with behavioral health crisis intervention services for juveniles.
- HB2571: The bill would require cost-sharing agreements between municipalities for the maintenance of shared roads.
- HB 2588: The bill would provide statewide electrician licensing by the Board of Technical Professions.
- HB 2406: The County has written testimony for a bill that would provide tax exemption eligibility for commercial and industrial machinery and equipment that is currently ineligible for tax exemption.
- SB418: The bill would enact the by-right housing development act to provide a streamlined permit approval process for by-right housing developments, allowing third-party review of new residential construction development documents and inspection of improvements, requiring political subdivisions to allow certain building provisions for single-family residences of a certain size, excluding owner initiated rezoning to a single-family residential district from protest petition provisions and providing for all land within the corporate limits of a city to be considered zoned for single-family residential use.
- No binding action was taken during an executive session.
Governing Body of Fire District 1
- BoCC approved minutes from the regular meeting on Jan. 7, 2026.
- Commissioners approved the establishment of budget authority in the Fire District Special Equipment Fund.
- BoCC deferred consent agenda Item C: a resolution adopting new policies and procedures to the Feb. 11, 2026, meeting.
Upcoming Events
- The Great Plains Nature Center is hosting a Kansas Day Celebration with a fun, family friendly event. The community is invited to experience interactive crafts, games and learning for all ages, at the free event Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Great Plains Nature Center
- Sedgwick County, the City of Wichita and Wichita Public Schools are accepting nominations for the 2026 Excellence in Public Service Awards. Nominations must be submitted by Feb. 9. Excellence in Public Service Awards
- The voter registration deadline for the March 3 Wichita Special Election is Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Early in-person voting will begin Tuesday, Feb. 17. Sedgwick County Election Office
- Sedgwick County offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in honor of President’s Day. Emergency services are available by dialing or texting 9-1-1.
- Sedgwick County students in grades 6-12 are encouraged to submit a design for the “I Voted” sticker that will be given out during the 2026 elections. Additionally, students in grades K-5 may submit a design for a “Future Voter” sticker. The contest runs through Feb. 27, 2026, and winners will be chosen in March by a panel of judges from the community. Artwork must be original and non-partisan. For contest rules and forms, visit "I Voted" Sticker Design Contest | Sedgwick County, Kansas.
Watch the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEd7NzSZ08M.