Sedgwick County Commission

Sedgwick County is leaving the next COVID-19 recovery steps up to businesses and residents.

County commissioners decided Wednesday not to impose any additional restrictions on how and when the local economy continues to reopen.

Instead, the county is recommending — but not requiring — that the guidelines outlined in the state’s phased reopening plan continue.

Sedgwick County leaders say the COVID-19 crisis could impact the county’s budget through 2022.

The projection comes as county staff begin the process of establishing next year’s budget, fiscal year 2021, while still navigating the current challenging situation. Sedgwick County’s costs and responsibilities have grown each week since the beginning of March as the coronavirus spread throughout the community.

Sedgwick County has issued a 30-day stay-at-home order to restrict public activity as the coronavirus continues to spread in the community.

Sedgwick County announced tighter restrictions on the size of public gatherings Monday to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

Until further notice, indoor and outdoor events that bring together 50 or more people are not allowed. The county on Friday had prohibited gatherings of 250 people or more.

Kansas lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow Sedgwick County to get around a state-imposed hold on using open polling for the 2020 election cycle.

Sedgwick County stepped up to help the Wichita Family Crisis Center deal with an unexpected budget crisis.

The Kansas Aviation Museum in Wichita is asking Sedgwick County for more financial support.

Museum executive director Tim Norton requested $50,000 from the county to help stabilize the nonprofit museum and take it to the next level.

“Right now it’s a one-time ask to give me a little breathing room to do the things that I think need to be done,” Norton said.

Norton, a former Sedgwick County commissioner, made his case during a county staff meeting on Tuesday.