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.
Yesterday we celebrated ONE YEAR of the Careforeveryfamily network! This organization collaborates local churches in better meeting the needs of families with the goal of reducing foster care in Sedgwick County.
I believe local communities can lead and show our nation a better way to address complex challenges — and I’m honored to support the important work being done by MANY organizations serving our vulnerable youth.
Learn more ⬇️
careforeveryfamily.com
Want more data on other community issues? ⬇️
wichita.stateofourcity.com/en … See MoreSee Less
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Friendly reminder so you don’t forget…
Run out to your sprinkler boxes NOW and turn them off. You won’t need to turn them back on for awhile and we all curse under our breath when we see you watering your lawns after this kind of rainfall.
You’re welcome! 😉 … See MoreSee Less
15 CommentsComment on Facebook
That storm packed a punch!
The lightning and wind were intense. Some tree and fence damage at our home and it looks like there are some big trees down all across the county. Rain was sideways most of the storm, so who knows how much we truly got overnight?
I think my kid’s trampoline is somewhere in Emporia. 🤷🏻♂️
Stay safe today! … See MoreSee Less
8 CommentsComment on Facebook
On being nominated for Firefighter of the year ⬇️
"What's neat about it is that I was nominated by my peers," he said. "And the peers saw the work that has been put into this and they thought it was appropriate and I'm excited that I was able to meet their expectations."
We ALL see the work you are putting in Captain Nance and this honor is very well deserved. Appreciate you and all the great people at Sedgwick County Fire! … See MoreSee Less
Hometown Hero: Captain Matthew Nance
www.kake.com
Sedgwick County Fire Department Captain Matthew Nance is this week’s Hometown Hero.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Mosquitoes intense after the rainy Spring? ⬇️
Sedgwick County Health Department serves a particular purpose with vector control (mosquitoes). We have a contract with Kansas Department of Health and Environment to pick up mosquito specimens from traps that KDHE has placed at several non-published locations around the county. This begins in June and can run through October.
Does the County do mass spraying? ⬇️
KDHE is looking for a particular species of mosquitoes (Culex) as this species can pass along West Nile Virus. We receive a weekly report from KDHE that shows the percentage of Culex mosquitoes out of the specimens collected. If the percentage of Culex mosquitoes is over a particular threshold, we will treat the body of water with mosquito dunks — but we can only treat public areas. Private areas are the responsibility of the property owner.
The more you know! 💡 … See MoreSee Less
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Happy Father’s Day!
The most important role I have in my life is a Dad. God blessed me with four wonderful kids — I’m grateful and full of appreciation today! ❤️ … See MoreSee Less
14 CommentsComment on Facebook
Honoring our flag today! 🇺🇸
Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the American Flag on June 14, 1777. The Flag Resolution stated "that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
Part of what this flag represents are the freedom’s we enjoy — speech and assembly being at the top of the list. Protest is very much part of our American story, but so is law and order. If you choose to attend a protest today, do so with respect for safety, property and law enforcement. … See MoreSee Less
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Homelessness is a growing challenge in our community. The needs are outpacing the resources and the population of “hardest to serve” — those refusing services — is growing.
Here is some data from May for all the people that utilized homeless shelter services at the MAC, now called Second Light.
➡️ 480 unduplicated clients served — daily bed services ranged from 158 at the low up to 236 on May 27th.
➡️ 344 of the 480 were men. 150 of the 480 were aged 55+.
➡️ 93 people reported a mental health disorder while 100 reported a physical disability.
➡️ 277 of the 480 people had zero source of health insurance.
Lots of thoughts…. … See MoreSee Less
23 CommentsComment on Facebook
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
7 CommentsComment on Facebook