Minns has linked a rise in COVID-19 cases, especially among younger people, to activity at bars and nightclubs. A recording will be added to the County’s website following the meeting. Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O’Donnell resigned from his seat on the Sedgwick County Commission Friday at 5 p.m. A county commissioner should be vigorously dedicated to the democratic ideals of honesty, openness, and accountability in all public matters involving county government. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O’Donnell has admitted that it is his voice on a secretly recorded audio file that was made public last week. Welcome to the official Sedgwick County Government Facebook page. 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. 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. 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.”. Commissioners Pete Meitzner, Lacy Cruse and David Dennis supported the move, which takes effect Saturday. 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.”. Follow him on Twitter @thomaspshine. 200 | Wichita, KS 67202 | (316) 978-6789. O’Donnell didn’t return a phone call from The Eagle. Sedgwick County’s YouTube channel holds archived meetings since January 2015. Mayor Brandon Whipple had criticized the county’s move, saying on Twitter it made the order "almost useless." He is trailing Democratic opponent Sarah Lopez in a race for reelection. Former Sedgwick County Republican Party Chairman Dalton Glasscock will serve on the county commission for the remainder of the current term. 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. Like Us on Facebook; Follow Us on Twitter; View Open Meetings; Watch Us on YouTube; Read News Releases; Subscribe to Commission Meeting Agendas; Pay. At a special meeting on Friday, commissioners put back in place a requirement that restaurants that sell alcohol must close at midnight. During a special meeting on Wednesday, the Sedgwick County Commission addressed the ongoing civil lawsuit involving sitting commissioner Michael O’Donnell. Commissioner David Dennis said they’ll get by. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. 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 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. 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. 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. Congressman Ron Estes called for all three officials involved in the video to resign. 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 … He was selected to replace former Commission … Sedgwick County commissioners formally asked their colleague Michael O’Donnell to resign immediately due to his actions involving a negative campaign video last year. Sedgwick County Commission Code of Ethics Sedgwick County Commission Code of Ethics Principle 1. Sedgwick County YouTube. The Wichita City Council condemned their actions in a formal censure, although they stopped short of calling for Clendenin to step down. By ZEKE MILLER Sedgwick County’s health officer Dr. Garold Minns issued the restrictions Wednesday in response to a surge of coronavirus infections. 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. Jim Howell and Michael O'Donnell voted no, saying the order punishes businesses that are following the rules. The people in … Dion hails from Los Angeles, where he worked for the LA Daily News, the Pasadena Star-News and other papers. Stay Connected to Your County Commissioners. I look forward to this next journey in my life.”. 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. Capps lost his seat in the Republican primary in August and will not serve in next year’s legislative session. O’Donnell had already announced that he would not serve a second term if re-elected. Associated Press. 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. Sedgwick County makes every effort to produce and publish the most current and accurate information possible. The emergency public health order he signed replaces the one issued on July 9. The SedgwickCountyKS channel is the official channel of Sedgwick County government. We’ll be praying for him.”. 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. Regular meeting agendas are prepared by the County Manager’s Office. To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org. Public Safety and County Administration Space Needs. 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. The resignation was handled quietly, in an e-mail to commissioners, just minutes before District Attorney Marc Bennett announced the findings of his investigation. Principle 2. 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. 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. Senior Journalist Dion Lefler has been providing award-winning coverage of local government, politics and business in Wichita for 20 years. 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 … Regardless, the Republicans will have to name a replacement for O’Donnell for at least the approximately 2 ½ months remaining in his current term, a county news release said. Clendenin is the only official set to remain in office in 2021. Tom Shine is the director of news and public affairs. General COVID-19 Vaccine Information with Assistant County Manager, Tim … “As long as we have three people, we can govern,” he said. 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. 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. 36,628 talking about this. 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. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Watch the Sedgwick County Commission meeting online for Sept. 2, 2020. 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. This information is furnished as a public service. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 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 … Voters elected Democrat Sarah Lopez to a four-year term on the Sedgwick County Commission. 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. “ 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. Although the entire commission had requested O’Donnell’s resignation, Dennis said “I wish Michael well. 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’… Meitzner said reinstating the order is about taking care of the community. The meeting will be live-streamed on Sedgwick County Government’s YouTube Live and Facebook Live platforms. Chance Swaim, a George Polk Award winning investigative reporter, has been with The Eagle since 2018. “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. That includes many of the bars in the Old Town entertainment district. Commission Chairman Pete Meitzner could not be reached for comment. 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. Late Friday, Bennett announced he had found sufficient grounds to pursue ouster against O’Donnell. Before the county’s move Friday, Whipple said he was exploring a city ordinance that would set a curfew for liquor sales. In his latest address to the Sedgwick County Commission, health officer Dr. Gerald Minns sounded downright apologetic. "This vote today is going to put a lot of people in our community out of work.". "My heart does break for these people because so many are good actors, and we’re punishing the good actors," O’Donnell said. 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. “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. The meeting will be streamed live online via YouTube Live and Sedgwick County Government’s Facebook page. Thank you to my parents and family, friends, colleagues, and supporters for your love, guidance, and support. Sedgwick County offers citizens the opportunity to subscribe to receive Board of County Commission Meeting reminders and agendas via e-mail. (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. 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. Minns says the mandatory mask policy is working, but now it’s time to pull back on community activity. Sedgwick County commissioners said the abrupt resignation of Commissioner Michael O’Donnell Friday came as a surprise to them. 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 … He said many restaurants serve food earlier in the day and become essentially nightclubs later in the evening. Cases on the rise. 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