Local Leadership
I am grateful to serve our community.
We are in a pivotal season for Sedgwick County. We need leadership to help improve our position economically while working to bridge the divide relationally. This community is our home. I want to do all that I can to make sure we are improving and fostering the best quality of life for everyone in Sedgwick County.
Common Sense Podcast
Today, most people know Joy Eakins as the businesswoman behind Cornerstone Data, the successful and fast-growing consulting firm based in Wichita. Her business acumen even landed her as the Wichita Chamber Chair in 2023, where she both challenged and encouraged our small business community.
That’s the Joy most people see, the business leader, but I’ve come to know a different side of Joy Eakins – a principled fighter – and her story is worth sharing.
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Change for the Better
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Issues
Staffing Stability for Sedgwick County Government
With nearly 3,000 employees across 46 departments, the work being done by our employees is vital to the quality of life we experience in the community. Upon my arrival on the Commission, we were experiencing significant staffing shortages – particularly in public safety and public health. Aggressive and strategic adjustments in compensation plans returned increased employee morale and staffing stability. Today, we have staffing levels above 90% and our performance goals are all being accomplished. Strategic workforce investments have provided more effective and efficient services to the 525k people of Sedgwick County.
Homelessness, Foster Care and Behavioral Health
Every policy decision must find a connecting link to healthier families. Our community has made significant progress in several large scale community challenges. In homelessness, we continue to develop a long-term community plan with a focus on shelter, services, and affordable housing. We have worked collaboratively to reduce the negative impacts of a foster care system that is failing our most vulnerable kids. We have also invested into a new COMCARE CRISIS center that will increase services such as mobile mental health, 988 suicide line, medical detox beds as well as other strategic initiatives to help meet the growing needs of our community.
Development of the Northwest Expressway
Connecting K-96 to Kellogg through west Sedgwick County has been a discussion for 30+ years. This would spur incredible economic development, but the conversation had stalled as had cooperation amongst key stakeholders. I have worked to re-engage the project with KDOT, Maize, Goddard and the City of Wichita as well as helping to reestablish the NW Expressway Coalition. We now have more momentum in the project than what has been seen in over a decade.
Property Tax Reform
Increasing property taxes has become a painful challenge for many families and businesses. With nearly 50% of our county revenues being generated through property taxes, we aim to reduce the county’s dependency on this revenue source and provide relief to our community. In each of my budgets, we have found ways to reduce the property tax mill levy while also stabilizing core county services. As my #1 priority in 2025 and 2026, we will continue to reduce property tax burden through a series of strategic reforms and initiatives.
Modernizing Local Government
The cost of government continues to increase, and reform is needed to counteract the increasing costs. As we look across the county and our 20 city partners, I will advance plans to eliminate redundancies via more shared services, strategic partnerships, and functional department consolidations. It is time to modernize the local government model and in doing so we will find reduced costs and improved efficiencies. I will continue leading the conversation and building collaborative relationships.
“The government closest to the people, serves its people best”
– Thomas Jefferson
Success is Local
Success requires leadership that listens to the pulse of the community. Local government needs to be shaped by civility and collaboration in order to maximize the potential of our people.
As a business owner & pastor, I am excited to communicate our vision for Sedgwick County and demonstrate a plan that enhances quality of life in our community. These conversations will be focused on our economy, quality of life investment and the appropriate function of our local government.
Work in the Community
Here are a few ways we give back to our community with links for you to join in!
Love Schools
The heart of this organization is to pair local businesses with local schools in order to meet strategic needs and supply resources.
Foster Care Advocate
I have worked with selective organizations to help raise awareness of the foster care crisis in our community.
Firm Foundation Ministries
This organization provides transitional housing and reintegration skills training for individuals leaving correctional facilities.
The Mattress hub
We have strategically partnered with local schools and organizations to donate beds to children in need.
Apparently I slept through a lot of wind and thunder overnight?!
1” at our place. Had 1” the night before too.
The mosquitos are a bit much, but the horses are loving the green grass.
Have a GREAT weekend! … See MoreSee Less
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I was grateful for the opportunity to join City of Wichita Mayor Lily Wu and USD 259 Board President Diane Albert at a joint Town Hall this week.
A few thoughts and takeaways ⬇️
▪️We need more communication, not less, and our constituents want opportunities to have real dialogue with their elected representatives at all levels of government.
▪️The kids are our future. In my view, every policy and every strategic effort should ask the question… how does this impact the future of our kids and families? That’s why 259 needs to be in these discussions and we need to have synergy and awareness of our joint community goals.
There was considerable feedback provided and we will work through the themes, then bring them to our respective elected bodies for discussion before we circle back to the public for round two.
Question — is this useful to engage YOU or should I consider a different approach? … See MoreSee Less
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Tonight I spoke at the first annual gala for Adult & Teen Challenge of Kansas. The testimonies of lives changed was a powerful reminder of why the restorative work being done in mental health and substance use matters. 🙏
There has been A LOT of evening events and opportunities the last few months. I enjoy getting into the community and supporting our wonderful organizations, but I rarely get to see the little kids before bed.
Not tonight! Baby Bryer waited up to see his Dad.
Make Faithful Investments. The next generation needs us to continue building a stronger, healthier community. They are worth it. ❤️ … See MoreSee Less
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Did you know? 💡
Sedgwick County and City of Wichita partner on a flood control program that inspects and maintains the Mitch Mitchell Floodway aka “The Big Ditch.”
The County provides around $2.3M annually. The City provides a $$ match + maintenance.
This project includes 40.9 miles of channels, 97 miles of levees, and a total of 5,613 acres.
What happens if this floodway isn’t maintained to standard and fails a US Army Corps of Engineers inspection?? We estimate nearly 25% of the county would be forced to purchase flood insurance!
More to come on stormwater management…. … See MoreSee Less
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This week, I was able to help welcome a new organization into our community — FosterAdopt Connect.
The work being done in child and family welfare is complex and heavy. Each year, thousands of kids enter this system and the trajectory of outcomes we often see remains unacceptable. Kids in foster care are seeing more touchpoints with the criminal justice system, more mental health issues, more homelessness and less graduation rates.
We have to do better. Every policy and strategic initiative needs to find a connecting link back to the promotion of healthy families.
I’m grateful for any and all organizations stepping up to do this important work!
Learn more ⬇️
www.fosteradopt.org … See MoreSee Less
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This afternoon, on behalf of the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners, I signed a declaration of Local Disaster Emergency regarding the flooding in our county. This proclamation allows Sedgwick County to access state emergency resources, if needed.
We will be hosting a press conference at 7pm to provide more details. You can view it live at Sedgwick County Government. … See MoreSee Less
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🚨 There is significant flooding across the county, but particularly in District 4 — north Wichita, Park City, Valley Center, Maize and numerous unincorporated roads are heavily impacted.
Sedgwick County Emergency Operations Center has been opened and activated.
Please be safe. Do NOT try to cross flooded roads! … See MoreSee Less
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I know everyone wakes up curious how much rain we got at our house…. 😉
A little over 1.5” overnight.
If I had to do it all over again, I would forego baseball, business, ministry and politics. My call was meteorology — and I missed it. Ha!
Have a GREAT Tuesday! … See MoreSee Less
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In March, City of Wichita Mayor Lily Wu reached out and asked about having a joint Town Hall type meeting with USD 259 Board President Diane Albert. We had recently reviewed some data on youth in our community and we all believed that the City, County and School District had an opportunity to work closer together.
I jumped at the opportunity.
More communication, not less, is needed to overcome challenges and find new opportunities. I’m excited to get in the room and hear community feedback — so please consider joining us!
📅 Wednesday, June 4th
⏰ 5-7pm
🏢 Wichita City Hall – 455 N Main St … See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook