The Wichita City Council condemned their actions in a formal censure, although they stopped short of calling for Clendenin to step down. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org. Special Board of Sedgwick County Commissioners MTG - YouTube restaurants that sell alcohol must close at midnight, Sedgwick County Closes Bars, Limits Gathering Size In Response To COVID-19 Surge, Billed Wrongly For A Covid-19 Test? In his latest address to the Sedgwick County Commission, health officer Dr. Gerald Minns sounded downright apologetic. Money for the political smear was funneled through a Capps-operated nonprofit sports charity and the ad itself was launched from behind the shield of an anonymous New Mexico shell company called “Protect Wichita’s Girls, LLC.”. But it was quickly explained when … During a special meeting on Wednesday, the Sedgwick County Commission addressed the ongoing civil lawsuit involving sitting commissioner Michael O’Donnell. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – While the race is still close for the Sedgwick County Commission District 2 seat, possible candidates for the Republican Party are emerging as incumbent Michael O’… He’s a father of twins, director of lay servant ministries in the United Methodist Church and plays second base for the Old Cowtown vintage baseball team. “I am proud and humbled by how much we have accomplished, even in unprecedented times, for this region, county, and my district. Bennett said he’ll have more next week on two other politicians linked to the video attack, state Rep. Michael Capps and Wichita City Council member James Clendenin. On Monday afternoon, the Sedgwick County Commission released a statement related to the lawsuit, saying: “The Board of County Commissioners is aware of the recording related to a … Ouster proceedings and numerous calls for O’Donnell’s resignation came after a secretly made audio recording was released by Colborn’s lawyer 11 days before the election. Sedgwick County makes every effort to produce and publish the most current and accurate information possible. Whipple won the mayoral race and filed a lawsuit to find out who was behind the attack video ad, which falsely alleged he’d sexually harassed college-age interns at the Capitol. Sedgwick County commissioners will hold a special meeting at 4 p.m. Monday to discuss whether to institute a stay-at-home order or take other actions in response to coronavirus. O’Donnell, Capps and Clendenin are currently defendants in a civil defamation lawsuit brought by Whipple, primarily to uncover who had attacked him in the ad. The Sedgwick County Commission, Sedgwick County Republican Party and U.S. O’Donnell didn’t return a phone call from The Eagle. Tom Shine is the director of news and public affairs. “We are trying to take care the best we can of our area, based on our hospitals, our economy, based on the data that is available today,” he said. Sedgwick County’s health officer Dr. Garold Minns issued the restrictions Wednesday in response to a surge of coronavirus infections. In that same order, Minns ordered all bars and nightclubs closed through Aug. 21, which affects 74 businesses. “As long as we have three people, we can govern,” he said. O’Donnell had already announced that he would not serve a second term if re-elected. Stay Connected to Your County Commissioners. Commissioner Lacey Cruse, who frequently sparred with O’Donnell at the commission bench, said replacing him for a couple of months will be “yet another distraction that is taking away from the attention we should be giving to reducing the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”. Former Sedgwick County Republican Party Chairman Dalton Glasscock will serve on the county commission for the remainder of the current term. “The Office of the District Attorney received confirmation that the Commissioner tendered his resignation before 5:00 p.m. (Friday).”. I look forward to this next journey in my life.”. Minns has linked a rise in COVID-19 cases, especially among younger people, to activity at bars and nightclubs. The meeting will be streamed live online via YouTube Live and Sedgwick County Government’s Facebook page. The county has seen a significant increase in cases over the past few weeks, with the number of active cases now topping 2,000. About Commission Meetings. That includes many of the bars in the Old Town entertainment district. Dion hails from Los Angeles, where he worked for the LA Daily News, the Pasadena Star-News and other papers. Regular meeting agendas are prepared by the County Manager’s Office. General COVID-19 Vaccine Information with Assistant County Manager, Tim … Follow him on Twitter @thomaspshine. Sedgwick County commissioners formally asked their colleague Michael O’Donnell to resign immediately due to his actions involving a negative campaign video last year. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The Kansas Insurance Department Wants To Know, 89.1 Wichita Public Radio | 121 N. Mead, Ste. If he wins, the seat will be filled until the next general election by someone selected by about two dozen Republican precinct committee men and women in his 2nd Commission District. This information is furnished as a public service. The resignation was handled quietly, in an e-mail to commissioners, just minutes before District Attorney Marc Bennett announced the findings of his investigation. Watch commission meetings and other recent videos. Meitzner said reinstating the order is about taking care of the community. The Monarch in Delano is one of the more than 350 restaurants that also sell alcohol that will be affected under the new public health order. While the Sedgwick County Commission does have the authority to get involved on township road maintenance at present under K.S.A. By ZEKE MILLER YouTube; Pinterest; 33 ° Mostly Cloudy ... During a special meeting last week, the Sedgwick County Commission addressed the rising COVID-19 numbers in terms of hospitalizations, infection rates and more – and how enhanced emergency health orders could potentially help. The people in … Commissioner David Dennis said they’ll get by. Senior Journalist Dion Lefler has been providing award-winning coverage of local government, politics and business in Wichita for 20 years. The accusations were lifted from a Kansas City Star/Wichita Eagle story about harassment allegations against Republican members of the state Senate, not Whipple, who was a Democratic member of the House of Representatives. Cases on the rise. You may contact him at 316-269-6752 and cswaim@wichitaeagle.com. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Watch the Sedgwick County Commission meeting online for Sept. 2, 2020. He said many restaurants serve food earlier in the day and become essentially nightclubs later in the evening. He was quoted in the written statement issued by the county, but did not address the reasons for his abrupt departure from office, “It has been an honor and privilege to serve in the greatest community and work for the wonderful people of Sedgwick County these last four years,” O’Donnell said in the county statement. The audio recording captured O’Donnell plotting with Capps and Clendenin to cover up their role in the false attack ad and instead frame Dalton Glasscock, then the chairman of the Sedgwick County Republican Party. Public Safety and County Administration Space Needs. Congressman Ron Estes called for all three officials involved in the video to resign. 200 | Wichita, KS 67202 | (316) 978-6789. (Sedgwick County, Kan.) – The Board of Sedgwick County Commissioners will hold a special meeting related to the WSU Lab Contract at 8:30 a.m., Friday, October 16. “I got a note from staff that said he is resigning as of 5 o’clock this afternoon,” Howell said minutes before 5. The video that was O’Donnell’s downfall featured paid actresses, shown in dark silhouette, reading from a script of accusations that the video producer, Matthew Colborn, has said were provided by O’Donnell. A county commissioner should be vigorously dedicated to the democratic ideals of honesty, openness, and accountability in all public matters involving county government. At a special meeting on Friday, commissioners put back in place a requirement that restaurants that sell alcohol must close at midnight. The Sedgwick County Health Department has actively vaccinated health care associated workers since December 23. Commissioner Jim Howell said the resignation came as a surprise to him. We’ll be praying for him.”. 36,628 talking about this. Commission Chairman Pete Meitzner could not be reached for comment. He is trailing Democrat Sarah Lopez by a narrow margin of 125 votes in his re-election bid, with the final outcome to be announced Monday. Commissioners Pete Meitzner, Lacy Cruse and David Dennis supported the move, which takes effect Saturday. Sedgwick County commissioners said the abrupt resignation of Commissioner Michael O’Donnell Friday came as a surprise to them. The meeting will be live-streamed on Sedgwick County Government’s YouTube Live and Facebook Live platforms. A new public health order in Sedgwick County shuts down bars and nightclubs, and further limits the size of gatherings. The emergency public health order he signed replaces the one issued on July 9. "This vote today is going to put a lot of people in our community out of work.". A special newsletter from our D.C. Bureau focused on transition to the Biden administration. In his first hours as president, Joe Biden on Wednesday will aim to strike at the heart of President Donald Trump’s policy legacy. “ In response to this communication, Commissioner O’Donnell, through counsel, indicated his intent to resign from his position prior to 5:00 p.m. (Friday), effectively terminating the need for official ouster proceedings. "My heart does break for these people because so many are good actors, and we’re punishing the good actors," O’Donnell said. Like Us on Facebook; Follow Us on Twitter; View Open Meetings; Watch Us on YouTube; Read News Releases; Subscribe to Commission Meeting Agendas; Pay. Although the entire commission had requested O’Donnell’s resignation, Dennis said “I wish Michael well. Sedgwick County Commission Code of Ethics Sedgwick County Commission Code of Ethics Principle 1. The SedgwickCountyKS channel is the official channel of Sedgwick County government. Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O’Donnell resigned from his seat on the Sedgwick County Commission Friday at 5 p.m. The campaign ad at the heart of the controversy, a video promoted on Facebook and YouTube, was designed to benefit then-Mayor Jeff Longwell by smearing his opponent, then-state Rep. Brandon Whipple. Jim Howell and Michael O'Donnell voted no, saying the order punishes businesses that are following the rules. Clendenin’s own district advisory board later admonished him with a vote of “no confidence.”. Starting tomorrow, the drive-through sampling site will close and no cost COVID-19 walk-in sampling will be available at the Sedgwick County Extension Office, 7001 W. 21st St., Wichita, 67205. Mayor Brandon Whipple had criticized the county’s move, saying on Twitter it made the order "almost useless." 68-124, County Counselor Mike Pepoon stated that is a “nuclear option.” Pepoon did say, though, that having a policy in place makes the county’s position more defensible from a legal standpoint. Sedgwick County Republican Party announces Dalton Glasscock as O’Donnell’s replacement On Nov. 16, Sarah Lopez was declared the winner of the Sedgwick County Commission … Sedgwick County offers citizens the opportunity to subscribe to receive Board of County Commission Meeting reminders and agendas via e-mail. He was selected to replace former Commission … On Day One, Biden to undo Trump policies on climate, virus, Law firm to move headquarters within Wichita and open western Kansas office, Kansas universities need to save money. Associated Press. These are the majors that could be eliminated, Man lived in O’Hare airport for months because he was afraid to go home, officials say, Kansas coronavirus trends continue to improve as Sedgwick County’s worsen, data show, ‘He’s got to fix it’: Biden must deliver swift results or risk backlash, allies say, Music stars slam UK’s ‘shameful’ failure on EU touring rules, China labels Pompeo ‘doomsday clown’ over genocide claims, NC, local gov’t offices in Raleigh closed on US inauguration, 5 charged after authorities seize 151 pounds of meth, Vice President Harris: A new chapter opens in US politics. He is trailing Democratic opponent Sarah Lopez in a race for reelection. Residents may be sampled (saliva PCR, NP PCR, and oral PCR) Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 4 p.m. No appointment is required to be sampled for COVID-19. The Sedgwick County Commission has reinstated part of an emergency public health order, two days after removing it. Before the county’s move Friday, Whipple said he was exploring a city ordinance that would set a curfew for liquor sales. Regular meeting minutes are prepared by the Clerk’s Office. Sedgwick County commissioners will hold a special meeting at 4 p.m. Monday to discuss whether to institute a stay-at-home order or take other actions in response to coronavirus. Minns says the mandatory mask policy is working, but now it’s time to pull back on community activity. But most of the bars in Wichita, more than 350, don’t fall into that category because they generate 30 percent of their revenue selling food. It seems the County Commission gut Dr. Minns #Covid19 public health order by limiting it to bars earning "less than 30%" of income from food, making it almost useless, The majority of bars, especially in old town, who we received most our violation complaints remain open as usual pic.twitter.com/1tXQ4572a6, — Dr. Brandon Whipple (@BWhippleKS) July 22, 2020. The Sedgwick County Commission has reinstated part of an emergency public health order, two days after removing it. Chance Swaim, a George Polk Award winning investigative reporter, has been with The Eagle since 2018. That was part of the original order issued earlier this week by county health officer Dr. Garold Minns, but commissioners removed the restriction at their meeting Wednesday. Sedgwick County Zoo; Sedgwick County Park Shelter Reservations; Contact. Embattled Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O’Donnell resigned Friday evening, after the district attorney decided there was sufficient evidence to pursue his removal for his role in a scandal over a false 2019 campaign ad attacking Wichita’s mayor. Capps lost his seat in the Republican primary in August and will not serve in next year’s legislative session. Thank you to my parents and family, friends, colleagues, and supporters for your love, guidance, and support. Principle 2. Clendenin is the only official set to remain in office in 2021. Regarding recent reports from local hospitals, County Manager Tom Stolz said COVID-19 … Sedgwick County’s YouTube channel holds archived meetings since January 2015. Voters elected Democrat Sarah Lopez to a four-year term on the Sedgwick County Commission. Late Friday, Bennett announced he had found sufficient grounds to pursue ouster against O’Donnell. They plan to continue vaccinating members of this community as more vaccine doses are received and we are given the directive to move on to the next phase. “The District Attorney notified legal counsel for Commissioner O’Donnell that the District Attorney intended to initiate a legal proceeding for forfeiture of public office through ouster proceedings the week of Monday, November 16, 2020,” Bennett said in a statement. A recording will be added to the County’s website following the meeting. The lawsuit claims O’Donnell, along with Wichita City Council Member James Clendenin and Representative for Kansas District 85 Michael Capps, attempted to defame Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple by creating a false attack ad … Commissioners; County Directory; County Manager; District Attorney; District Court; Webmaster; Connect. Results from the Nov. 3 general election for Sedgwick County Commission 2 show challenger Sarah Lopez with a slight lead (125 votes) as the county … Sedgwick County YouTube. 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