Ground-breaking Wednesday at noon for the new regional mental health hospital at Meridian and MacArthur in southwest Wichita. Sedgwick County Commission Chair Ryan Baty tells KNSS News local and state officials will attend the ceremony. Baty calls it "a seismic generational deal for our community". It's a $110 million project, a state-run hospital, 104 beds, desperately needed "not just for our region but for out state".
Baty says 50% of the beds will go for people with acute needs, meaning they may be a danger to themselves or others, and the other beds will be for those needing psychiatric evaluation before they can stand trial. Baty says some people have been sitting in jail for a year and a half, waiting for an evaluation.
Baty commented during his weekly chat with Steve and Ted in the Morning on K-N-S-S.