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
On this episode of “Common Sense” host Ryan Baty sits down with youth advocate, mentor, and community leader Adan Grimaldo for an eye-opening discussion on the realities facing vulnerable youth in Sedgwick County. Drawing from Adan Grimaldo’s personal journey from gang involvement and behavioral health struggles to powerful transformation, the conversation dives deep into the root causes of youth violence, the foster care crisis, and the community’s role in reversing dangerous trends among local kids.
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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.
We had a wonderful time celebrating the Grand Opening of the NEW Park City Senior Center!
Sedgwick County Aging Department supports 18 different senior centers with funding to perform vital services for our aging adults. An excerpt from my comments during the ribbon cutting event ⬇️
“The service work is certainly critical, but it’s also deeply personal for many of us here today. We must acknowledge that our seniors have spent decades building our communities – raising their families, starting businesses, teaching, volunteering, and leading. They have invested their lives into shaping what we all enjoy today, so it’s only right and only just that we now work to honor their investments and that we continue to develop opportunities that best support our aging population.”
Grateful for Park City’s investment into senior services and an impressive new facility! … See MoreSee Less
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Always one of my favorite events of the year! … See MoreSee Less
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Data Centers 🚨
Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi and I have a very good working relationship and have talked multiple times over the last few months regarding the prospect of data centers in Sedgwick County. He is aware of the research we are doing as a county and our aim to establish an appropriate policy that will govern land use and zoning regulations.
The County has always signaled that we are open to extending our interim development control beyond the initial 90-days if we feel it’s needed. We have our Planning Department and contracted consultant gathering information to report back to the County on April 17th. At that time we will be able to make appropriate determinations on next steps. Personally, I have no issues with an extension and feel it is likely going to be needed, but I also value the need to provide a timely response to the public so that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of what we will and won’t allow in Sedgwick County.
As a reminder, I have significant concerns surrounding water use, utility rate impact, and environmental disruptions. I will not bend on a vote that permits this type of use — now or in 3 years — until I’m fully confident and satisfied that these risks can be contractually mitigated.
We plan to promote town halls in March to allow more community engagement and education in the process — and I’m still eager for that to occur. I think there are a lot of questions surrounding data centers and we all need more clarity.
Citizens deserve that opportunity. … See MoreSee Less
‘No transparency’: Kansas senator pushes pause on rural data centers
www.ksn.com
Sen. Chase Blasi is raising concerns about companies seeking to build data centers in rural Kansas communities.10 CommentsComment on Facebook
Melody was incredibly smart and kind. She previously sat in my seat on the County Commission and was a fierce advocate for the people and issues she cared about.
A significant loss for this community — Praying for God’s peace and strength over her family and friends. … See MoreSee Less
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USA GOLD! 🇺🇸🥇
Jack Hughes after scoring the game winning goal ➡️ “This is all about our country. I love the USA. I love my teammates. I'm so proud to be an American today!” … See MoreSee Less
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Last week we celebrated another graduating class for 911 Emergency Communications.
As call volume increases each year, we made a determination in 2023 that we had to modernize the 911 system in order to effectively meet future demands. This phased in approach includes:
➡️ Expanded facilities and technologies
➡️ Embedded Comcare staff for mental health calls
➡️ Compensation and Staffing Table increases for retention
➡️ Separating Call Taking and Dispatching functions
➡️ Creating Specialized Dispatcher roles for Fire, Police and EMS
➡️ Develop a 3rd level of dispatching for enhanced training and support
➡️ Appoint a citizens advisory board for more public input and engagement
….. and more!
In just 3-years we have gone from 62% staffing and subpar results to 100% staffing and hitting all performance targets.
Meeting current and future needs requires a bold vision to pivot from old models. I’m really proud of all the work and staff at 911 Emergency Communications! … See MoreSee Less
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I’m going to say something that might upset some of my elected peers across cities and school districts… but it needs to be said.
There is no reason why a taxing jurisdiction needs to take all of the projected 9.3% assessed property value growth available. Keeping a mill levy rate the same means they are capturing ALL the available growth and that is a significant property tax increase being passed through.
If any of these taxing authorities need MORE property tax revenue than their last budget, then every elected on that board should be able to make a case for WHY?!
Some of these reasons are justified.
Others are a result of lazy budgeting.
Taxpayers should demand these types of answers from the people elected to build these budgets every August. … See MoreSee Less
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Excited to celebrate Rainbows United, Inc. Ribbon Cutting of a new facility with expanded services!
Rainbows provides vital services for children with special needs and their families. As a proud partner with Sedgwick County’s Developmental Disability Organization, Rainbows is on the leading edge of implementing the latest, most effective therapies for children with developmental delays.
This group loves our community and our kids — and they willingly serve family’s regardless of their ability to pay for services and programming.
Learn more ➡️ rainbowsunited.org … See MoreSee Less
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Happy Birthday to Sedgwick County Chief Financial Officer Lindsay Poe Rousseau!
We jokingly call her Lindsay “NO” Rousseau because she runs a tight ship with our county — and her team delivers meaningful results for our citizens.
➡️ One of just 106 counties nationwide to carry a AAA bond rating
➡️ 5 consecutive perfect audits
➡️ Debt level at only 11% of state authorized limit
She is super talented and cares deeply about being a good steward over taxpayer resources.
Enjoy your day LPR! Grateful for your leadership. … See MoreSee Less
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