A Wichita Fire station will be the site of the city's first Safe Haven baby box and the fourth in the state.
The baby box will be installed at Fire Station #9, at 350 S. Edgemoor, near Kellogg. The specialized box allows a mother to legally surrender an infant without fear of being prosecuted and an alarm sounds when a baby is placed inside.
Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses explained the process the city would follow should a baby be surrendered. After an initial exam in the hospital, the baby would be placed in protective custody, triggering additional procedures, like contacting the Department of Children and Families, even the Wichita Children’s Home, to place the baby in a safe environment.
The Via Christi Foundation will cover all expenses of installation and construction, around $16 thousand initially, along with a $600 annual fee.
Wichita Public Libraries will soon upgrade their digital presence. The city council approved a contract to provide digital upgrades to the library's integrated library system, which manages materials, customer data, the online catalog and their notification system.
The company, called Innovative, will be paid a one-time fee of $39,500. The annual subscription will cost the city nearly $125 thousand per year.
Wichita Public Library says over 50 percent of their books are in digital form.
The council has also approved an ordinance to authorize the issuance of STAR bonds for the sports and entertainment district at the southeast corner of K-96 and Greenwich in northeast Wichita.
The $191 million project will include the Wichita State tennis facility, a multi-sport athletic complex and a resort hotel. Initially, the project will receive $53.1M in STAR bonds but additional funds could be issued later this year.
Initial infrastructure work at the 60-acre site is expected to start soon. The Wichita State tennis facility construction is expected to start later this year. The entire project should be completed in 6 to 7 years.
The city will become a co-partner in a wellness facility designed for city and county first responders.
The Pinnacle Wellness Facility should open next year at 3rd and Broadway. It will provide therapy, rehab, fitness, training and other health services. The annual operating budget of $188 thousand will be split evenly between the city and county, or $94 thousand each. The agreement has an option to convey the property to the county after year 5.
