Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

17:43 – 18:11•JBJeff Blubaugh

Well, good morning, everybody. Welcome to the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners meeting. Welcome to those joining on Facebook, YouTube, and everyone joining us in person. We're glad you're here today. When you walk in, we always encourage you to grab a meeting packet agenda that allows you to follow along with all the items we'll be discussing at the county commission meeting. If you're ever curious about supporting documents, you have access to those at www.sedgwickcounty.org. Let's get to work. Call this meeting to order for October 14, 2026. Madam Clerk, first item, please.

20:37•JBJeff Blubaugh

Commissioners, any questions? Congrats. Thank you so much.

23:07•JBJeff Blubaugh

No, that's great, Chief. All right. Thanks for the update, Chief.

24:20•JBJeff Blubaugh

Okay. Any other questions? All right. Thank you, Nicole.

24:33 – 25:55•RBRyan Baty

Okay. And Commissioner Beatty will be reading a proclamation. Yeah. Thank you, Chairman. I'm reading a proclamation of Sedgwick County, Kansas. Whereas recognition of the contributions of people with disabilities is an effective way to overcome negative stereotypes and eliminate physical and social barriers to full participation in all aspects of community life, including education, recreation, and employment. And whereas people with disabilities are an important, vital part of our community, as valued workers, civic leaders, business owners, veterans, family members, and friends, and they are

25:55•JBJeff Blubaugh

We have a motion and a second. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

26:03•RBRyan Baty

Aye. Motion passes 5-0. And here to accept this proclamation is Vicki Reusen. She's a Project SEARCH teacher.

28:18•JBJeff Blubaugh

Thank you very much for being here and thanks for what you guys do in the community. Certainly appreciate it.

28:22•RBRyan Baty

Commissioner Beatty? Yeah, Vicki, how long have you been doing this with Project Search?

28:41 – 29:27•RBRyan Baty

That's incredible. Well, thank you for your services, community, your service with Project Search and all that you do. I want to... congratulations all those students that are here today thank you so much for working and all that you're doing and contributing I also want to thank the staff at Sedgwick County obviously I see Steven Cheyenne and Jeanette and the gang but everyone that is cooperating with project search I think it's a wonderful wonderful program I love seeing those those participants in the program as they're walking around here at Sedgwick County we see them with the mail we see

29:31 – 29:43•JHJim Howell

Commissioner House, go ahead. Thank you. And Vicki, I just wanted to say, you have a group behind you. I don't know if you would be willing to introduce them or have them introduce themselves. Yes. For the students especially, though, I'd like to know what school they go to and what grade they're in.

29:52•JHJim Howell

If they're willing, they'd be great. Okay.

30:42 – 31:37•JHJim Howell

Well, Vicki, thank you for your leadership. And I was going to say from the best district out of the five, but now I have to share that with the chairman. I am proud of you all. Thank you for what you do. To have a job is a wonderful experience. To be able to work amongst another team of other people and to have that experience is wonderful. search has always done a great job i think they've been here every year every year i've been a commissioner we've celebrated the accomplishments of that program so countless students have come through that program and had experiences relevant experiences g

31:40 – 31:52•JBJeff Blubaugh

We'd like to take a short recess. We'd like to grab a picture with you and recognize the proclamation. And Michelle, we'd also like to take a picture with you and your group and your picture. So we'll be back in about five minutes.

36:47 – 36:58•JBJeff Blubaugh

And we have two folks signed up on the public agenda. If you would please state your name and address when I call you to the podium. Greg Thomas, you're the first speaker.

43:47 – 43:58•JHJim Howell

Thank you. Commissioner Howell. Thank you. Thank you, Greg. Just for the record, I did not tell you to show up and say any of what you just said today. Is that correct? Because I might be accused of that later on.

44:11 – 44:37•JHJim Howell

A couple questions for you. I guess I don't quite understand the business relationship, but you and Steve are partners in the ownership and management of this airfield. Is that correct? Yes. Okay. There have been some concerns by some people who are claiming that they need to leave Cook. was they were worried about the longevity of the airfield being continued to operate as an airfield, that somehow that might change in the future. What would you say to that concern?

45:25 – 45:43•JHJim Howell

Can you talk about the security around their existing hangar? Because there were some concerns about security. I've been by there. I've seen the building. I'm wondering about their concern about it's not, you know, the public can just wander onto their... Their operational space, what would you say about that?

46:32•JHJim Howell

In terms of access to takeoff and their airspace being controlled or whatever, is there any differences in how they would operate out of Jabara versus operate out of Cook?

47:27 – 47:52•JHJim Howell

I wish I had time for more questions. I think we'll stop there, but thank you for coming today. I have a concern about what we did last week, and I just let my colleagues know I was going to bring this up during OTHER, and I probably will still do that today. I've got a question for our counselor. I'll ask him some questions regarding the MOU when we get to OTHER today. So if you want to hang out for that long, I do plan to have that conversation with the counselor today. Thank you so much.

47:53 – 49:19•RBRyan Baty

Commissioner Beatty? Mr. Thomas, I just want to, a couple things real quick. Hey, thank you for your service to our nation. I also want to thank you and Cook for housing the KHB fleet as long as you have. We've enjoyed them. Yeah, what's motivated this decision for me from the jump is a few factors. The first is, you know, Originally, as you know, that the state and the governor's office wanted to purchase a new hangar. They wanted to purchase it. The legislature, through processes that have been detailed here, went back and forth. They wanted to lease it. They appropriated the dollars. The go

49:26 – 50:36•RBRyan Baty

And we saw the colonel who makes these decisions standing before us a couple weeks ago and say that they are leaving Cook Airfield. That's their decision, not this commission's decision. They are leaving. So my motivation has to turn is how do we protect this fleet here? How do we keep this fleet here? Augusta was rumored. Salina is being rumored. And those are serious conversations that they're having. This community needs to have this fleet here because of public safety, officer safety, first responder safety. That's what's motivating my decision. I'm grateful that Cook has kept them here as

50:51 – 51:13•RBRyan Baty

I think that's a conversation that the colonel of the Kansas Highway Patrol and legislators that I've talked to might have a difference of opinion. It... Again, that's a state-appropriated dollar amount, but my motivation is to keep this fleet here. We have to keep it here. My motivation is for my property taxes. And we're doing the best we can there.

51:17 – 52:22•JHJim Howell

Yeah, sure, absolutely. I appreciate the previous comments. It just makes me wonder, again, when they first came in, they said three to five years. And I understand that was their plan all along. But that was before some things have changed. And I'm just wondering, operationally, I'm still thinking about the comment that was made last week by the colonel about we're leaving Cook no matter what. And I just come back and I wonder, what would be the... the rationale for that concrete, hard decision, then no matter what, they are not going to stay, because it is arguably an efficient solution to t

52:35 – 53:13•JHJim Howell

I'm struggling with that one. I don't understand the thought behind it. There has to be some logical reason why he would say that. I don't know what that is. One more thing is I know that when they first came to Cook, and I think we talked about this, there was some resistance by the people who flew the planes. They thought this isn't a good place to operate out of. But their opinion has changed somewhat, and I think that they actually kind of like being there, and they really think it's a great location. I don't think, and I'm not going to try to cause division on Wilmer's Highway Patrol. I d

54:55•JHJim Howell

Let me rephrase the question. The people who operate the airplanes out there, they're not the ones against urging this change. They operate well.

55:06 – 55:31•JHJim Howell

I'll just state for the record that I did try to come out and actually walk through the buildings, and I was shut out and told I was not welcome. They closed the doors and told me I was not allowed to be on the property and to do anything in their area. So I want the record to be shown. They're not letting people like me see what's going on. They want me not to be there and not to talk to the pilots and not see the airplanes and not be on their property. And I find that to be very, very concerning.

55:41•JBJeff Blubaugh

Thank you. Thank you very much. Next speaker, Steve Loge.

1:00:54 – 1:01:22•JHJim Howell

All right. Thank you very much. Thank you. Chairman. Oh, Commissioner Howell. Steve, I just wanted to say thank you for your service as well. 30 years is amazing. And I'm also very patriotic. I would love to have them participate in showing honor to our country. And I'm sorry they don't do that. I would like to see them do that. I don't know if we can use our money in any way to encourage them to make a different decision. I think that's what you're asking us to do is to leverage our money to make sure that they don't do something that is received as disrespectful to our country.

1:01:27•JBJeff Blubaugh

I'd like to make a motion to receive and file public comment.

1:01:40•JBJeff Blubaugh

Aye. Motion passes 5-0. Next item, please.

1:01:51•JBJeff Blubaugh

Okay. Does anyone have any questions about items B through F? If not, I'd like to make a motion to approve items B through F. Second. So, motion to second. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

1:02:07•JBJeff Blubaugh

Aye. Motion passes 5-0. Next item, please.

1:03:20•JBJeff Blubaugh

Commissioners, do you have any questions? If not, I'd like to make a motion to approve the recommendation to the Board of Bids and Contracts. I have a motion and a second. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

1:03:35•JBJeff Blubaugh

Aye. Motion passes 5-0. Next item, please.

1:08:27 – 1:08:56•JBJeff Blubaugh

Thank you very much. Before we open the public hearing, commissioners, do you have any questions? Okay. All right. If not, I'll go ahead and open the public hearing. If anyone would like to come and comment, you'll have five minutes. Just please state your name and address. Okay, if we don't have anyone come forward, I will close the public hearing. Commissioners, do you have any additional questions or comments? Commissioner Beatty?

1:08:56 – 1:09:17•RBRyan Baty

No, no real questions. I know this is a grant that we've done for many, many years here at Setua County, and this gets put to good use. Different topic, I just want to, Nicole, you did a really good job. Berlinda's back there too. She's our management intern wave. So you guys do a really good job. This is the first time you've been able to give a presentation here and present an item, so I just want to tell you, you guys do really good work for the management office, and we appreciate it. Good job.

1:09:17 – 1:09:31•JBJeff Blubaugh

Thank you. Thank you very much. So at this time, I would like to move that we take the recommended action, incorporating all of the text noted within the agenda item. We have a motion and a second. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

1:09:38•JBJeff Blubaugh

Aye. Motion passes 5-0. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next item, please.

1:13:43 – 1:13:55•JBJeff Blubaugh

Okay. Commissioners, do you have any questions? Okay. Thank you, Tom. Appreciate the action. Go ahead and make a motion to adopt the resolution. I have a motion and a second. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

1:14:02 – 1:14:15•JBJeff Blubaugh

Aye. Motion passes 5-0. At this time, I'd like to recess the Board of County Commission's meeting, and I'd like to go into the Fire District No. 1 meeting. Madam Clerk, if you would please call the roll.

1:14:27•JBJeff Blubaugh

We do not have anyone signed up on the public agenda. Next item, please.

1:14:40•JBJeff Blubaugh

Commissioners, do you have any questions about consent item A? If not, I'd like to make a motion to approve consent item A on the agenda. I have a motion and a second. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

1:14:56•JBJeff Blubaugh

Aye. Motion passes 5-0. Next item, please. Have anything on other? I do. Okay. Next item.

1:15:02 – 1:15:27•RBRyan Baty

Oh, go ahead. We just did a CIP amendment for a training center that we've been working on. I just want to acknowledge Captain Nance is here today. Appreciate you sharing the work. He leads our training office for Sedgwick County, one of two training offices we have in Sedgwick County, but he takes the lead on a lot of these things. Very impressive, the work he does, the training he does. So, I saw you out there today, just wanted to acknowledge your presence and obviously Chief Williams is here too, but Captain Nance, we appreciate you, sir. Absolutely appreciate the comments.

1:15:27•JBJeff Blubaugh

Thank you for what you do. Next item, please.

1:15:33 – 1:15:46•JBJeff Blubaugh

We do not have an executive session. We will now adjourn the Fire District number one meeting and go back to the Board of County Commission meeting. Next item on the Board of County Commission meeting. Do we have anything on other? Commissioner Howell.

1:15:46 – 1:23:54•JHJim Howell

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have spent... considerable time thinking about last week's meeting, and I have some questions, I guess, for staff and really for public to think through. I think Colonel Smith may have misspoke when he talked about Section A on the same section, Section 187A. He talked about the right to lease a facility is what that's about. That's actually in Section 188. It's the next section. And the difference is section 187, paragraph H, is the authority to construct a hangar with a third party. Section 188, paragraph A, is the authority to enter into a lease agreement for that

1:24:35 – 1:24:50•JHJim Howell

Chief researchers, which is, they work in the Kansas legislative research department, KLRD. Yep. Great organization. Yep. And they need to settle scores. I think even the Department of Administration gets counsel from KLRD. They give legal guidance to the entire operation of the state of Kansas.

1:25:54•JHJim Howell

May I ask, do you think a motion is necessary here or just consensus from the commission here?

1:26:23•JBJeff Blubaugh

Okay. Commissioners, any questions or comments? Okay. All right. Next item, please.

1:26:33•JBJeff Blubaugh

And we do not have an executive session. Meeting adjourned. 10-09.