Sedgwick County Commissioners defer vote on renewable energy code update

The Sedgwick County Commission has deferred a vote on code changes to commercial renewable energy systems.

Commissioners originally deferred this item in April. The county hired an outside consulting firm, the Berkley Group, to look over the county's code and offer recommendations on best practices.

The county says a draft document should be ready in late June or early July, with full completion by August.

Commissioner Jim Howell says it's important to get the work done right the first time.

The commission deferred a vote on the motion until August 7.

Commissioners also approved an updated ARPA spending plan. The county will use $7 million in ARPA funding for revenue replacement. That will in turn allow the county to purchase land and construct a new building for EMS Post 1. The new post will replace the previous location at the former Riverside Hospital in the 2600 block of W. Central. That location recently became uninhabitable due to a lack of water service.

The cost for the land and new structure will total nearly $1.84 million, paid with a portion of the aforementioned revenue replacement funds and from the county's rainy-day reserve.