By Lucky Kidd
BARTON COUNTY, Kan. — With less than ten days now left before the first half of 2024 property taxes are due, Barton County property owners are still waiting on their tax statements. This came up during Tuesday’s County Commission meeting, and Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson said there is one reason they haven’t gone out, due to the Barton County Treasurer still awaiting official levy information from one taxing entity.
This involves taxing entities that cover more than one county such as school districts. In this case, Barton County has not yet received final data from Stafford County involving a library levy that does include a portion of Barton County. This was due to an extended illness of a person in Stafford County who handles this. In the meantime, taxpayers can contact the County Treasurer’s office for information on what their bills will be.
Commissioners set a 30 mile an hour speed limit for all public roads in the Barton Hills subdivision, near US 281 and Northwest 60th Street between Great Bend and Hoisington. Sheriff Brian Bellindir asked for the speed limit to be put in place, and County Engineer Barry McMannaman reviewed the request and also discussed this with officials of South Homestead Township as part of his recommendation to approve the request.
The Commission approved a resolution adopting the bylaws and interlocal agreements for KCAMP, the self-insurance pool associated with the Kansas Association of Counties that many counties in the state now procure property and liability insurance through. The Commission last month agreed to move their insurance coverage to KCAMP.
Approval was given to extension of a sub-award agreement with The Learning Tree Institute at Greenbush for the 20th Judicial District Juvenile Services. Director Marissa Woodmansee said in 2021 they entered into a contract for grant data analysis, evaluation and reporting services for a Drug Free Communities Support Program Grant from CDC. The contract extension would be through September, 2025 and there is funding within the grant to cover the up to $12,500 fee, to be paid based on services provided.
A payment for work done on the inside of the cab of the Courthouse elevator during the HVAC project was approved. At the time of that project upgrades and modifications were made to the mechanics for the elevator, and Brentwood Services was brought in to remodel the inside of the elevator cab. This work is being funded through Capital Improvement funds.
Commissioners approved appointment of special deputy coroners as requested by 20th Judicial District Coroner Dr. Patrick Stiles. Deputy coroners were designated for Barton, Ellsworth, Russell and Stafford counties, no deputy coroners were designated for the other county in the district, Rice County.
Four students from Great Bend High School’s Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas program were part of the Barton County Commission meeting, including their leading of a discussion related to use of personal cell phones by employees during work hours. Students taking part included Kenton Grauerholz, Trista Riley, McKayla Smith and Trason Stevens.
In that discussion, various department heads addressed them on their thoughts regarding the policy and how it would impact some departments more than others. As an example, Sheriff Brian Bellindir said all of his deputies are required to have cell phones in order to communicate information they do not want on their radio system. On the other hand, staff working in the jail aren’t allowed to have cell phones with them while on duty.
Bellindir and County Counselor Patrick Hoffman also explained to the student commissioners any policy the Commission would set regarding cell phone use would not apply to the departments overseen by elected officials, such as the County Clerk, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, County Attorney and Sheriff, based on a Kansas Supreme Court case involving the Lincoln County Sheriff and County Commissioners over personnel matters. It was the students’ view that a cell phone policy should be considered.
