Kelly Humphries Papers

Collection Summary

Title: Kelly Humphries Papers
Call Number: MS 95-13
Size: 0.5 linear feet
Acquisition: Donated by Kelly Humphries
Processed by: JEO, 1-23-1995; JEF, 12-4-1998; Staff, 11-2012
Restrictions: None

Literary Rights

Literary rights were not granted to Wichita State University. When permission is granted to examine the manuscripts, it is not an authorization to publish them. Manuscripts cannot be used for publication without regard for common law literary rights, copyright laws and the laws of libel. It is the responsibility of the researcher and his/her publisher to obtain permission to publish. Scholars and students who eventually plan to have their work published are urged to make inquiry regarding overall restrictions on publication before initial research.

Content Note

The Kelly Humphries Papers contains notes, reports, meeting minutes, correspondence, and other materials from the 1984 study regarding the establishment of a consolidated metropolitan government in Sedgwick County, Kansas. This collection provides insight into the attention given to consolidated government which has worked in other cities including Nashville, Tennessee; Miami, Florida; Indianapolis, Indiana, among other cities.

Historical Note

A committee was established to study the possibility of a consolidated metropolitan government for Sedgwick County, Kansas, and utilized the services of Wichita State University in response to legislation proposed in the 1984 Kansas legislature. The legislation introduced would have required a public election by the citizens of the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County in April 1985 to approve or disapprove the plan to abolish all city boundary lines within the county and establish one consolidated metropolitan governmental unit. The Wichita City Commission passed a resolution on March 20, 1984 to establish a 15 member board comprised of city and county residents to study the issue. The committee found the idea was unfavorable among city and county residents, and the legislation did not pass. Kelly Humphries was a member of the staff of the Metropolitan Committee.

Detailed Description: Box and Folder Listing

Box 1 FF 1 Metropolitan Governance. This file contains reports and resolutions involving early ideas regarding metropolitan government. Included are a copy of a June 1980 report, “Metropolitan Governance: A Handbook For Local Government Study Commissions”; a draft of a March 20, 1981 resolution, “City of Wichita Crating the Committee to Study Metropolitan Government”; and a copy of “One Wichita: Toward an Aggressive Annexation Policy, 1959-1962,” a report by a Wichita State University Urban Affairs Class, December 1982. Besides this paper are several other papers from WSU Urban Affairs classes. Lastly, this file includes a photocopy of an October 11, 1981 Wichita Eagle-Beacon article entitled “Government Council: A Classic Maneuver.”
Box 1 FF 2 Government Consolidation Considerations, 1981. This file includes Attorney General Opinion No. 81-246 regarding possible consolidation of Sedgwick County and the City of Wichita’s resources, a statement (by Commissioner Kerk a position paper) entitled “City and County Cooperation: Some Problems and Some Solutions,” and an alphabetical list of books, reports, and papers regarding Kansas county histories.
Box 1 FF 3 Report: “Consolidation of City of Wichita and Sedgwick County Emergency Communications,” 1976. This report includes recommendations regarding the consolidation of emergency services. Included is a management report by the Budget and Management Division of the Department of Administration.
Box 1 FF 4 Metro Committee: Minutes and Notes, May-August 1984. This file includes agendas, schedules, minutes and notes taken during meetings of the Citizen Involvement/ Information Task Group of the Committee to Study Metropolitan Government. These materials consider the status of the proposal for metropolitan government. Included are final reports of the committee which outline the progress and status of the effort towards establishing a metropolitan government.
Box 1 FF 5 Metro Meeting Notes, May-August 1984. Handwritten notes of the meeting of the Metro Committee in FF4.
Box 1 FF 6 Metro Committee Group (Task Statements), 1984. Included in this file are task statements and summarized guidelines for the Metro Committee.
Box 1 FF 7 Metro Committee and Assorted Statistics, 1984. Includes a copy of population statistics for Sedgwick County from the 1980 population census for Sedgwick County communities and a breakdown of elected officials per Sedgwick County Communities.
Box 1 FF 8 Metro Committee Survey Drafts. This file includes blank copies of a telephone survey regarding metropolitan government and a handwritten list of addresses and phone numbers of various newspapers--some from communities which have voted on metropolitan government before Wichita.
Box 1 FF 9 Metro Correspondence, July-August 1984. This file includes correspondence to various people in the Wichita area confirming the taping of a video presentation of the Metro Committee to study metropolitan government in Sedgwick County by the Hugo Wall Center for Urban Studies, Wichita State University.
Box 1 FF 10 Metro Video Scripts (Drafts). This file contains draft and final scripts for a video interview with Wes Sowers and Marcelyn Harris, President and Vice President of the Metro Committee.
Box 1 FF 11 Metro Task Group and Press Release Drafts, May-July 1984. This file includes press releases and announcements of meetings of the Metro Committee.
Box 1 FF 12 Metro-Lists, 1984. This file contains a mailing list of public officials in Sedgwick County, and a copy of the executive summary of the metro committee.
Box 1 FF 13 Preliminary Report Task Group II, August 1984. This file includes the report regarding the efficiency and ineffectiveness involved in a metropolitan government including cost and management.
Box 1 FF 14 Hearing Testimony--Task Group III (Originals), June 1984. This file includes brief recommendations by the Wichita and Sedgwick County residents in favor of shared metropolitan government. The testimonies also include the participants’ occupations and addresses.
Box 1 FF 15 Group Summaries of Task Groups I, II, III regarding consolidation. This file includes the summary of findings of the task groups studying metropolitan government in Sedgwick County. Also included is a summary of investigation and a list of recommendations.
Box 1 FF 16 City Commission Meeting, September 4, 1984. This file contains a transcription of the Board of City Commissioners’ meeting regarding the report of the Metro Committee with recommendations.
Box 1 FF 17 Metro History--Outline. This file includes copies of handwritten notes regarding the careers of Wichita and Sedgwick County officials involved in the metropolitan government movement. Also included is a proposed outline for the Metro History Project, compiling information for a report.
Box 1 FF 18 Metro Committee Bibliography. This file contains handwritten rough draft listing source material used by the Metro Committee.
Box 1 FF 19 Jail Consolidation, September 11, 1985. This file contains correspondence and memos regarding the possible consolidation of county and city jails and use of unoccupied rooms in the Central Data Processing area in the courthouse for a Firearms Section for the Wichita Police Department.