By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Barton County Communications provides an invaluable service to those in need of help. The 911 service does come with some costs. Tuesday morning, the county commission approved a third-party lease to continue renting space at 1300 Stone in Great Bend. County Administrator Matt Patzner said 911 services have been located in the same building since 1989.
"The lease originally with Southwestern Bell Telephone is now with AT&T, and the office area has expanded to allow for a director's office," he said. "Rental costs are built into the budget for 911 each year."
The new lease takes effect on Nov. 1, 2024, with a monthly rental fee of $1,494.53, then increases three percent for each of the next two years, maxing out at $1,585.54 a month beginning in Nov. 2026. The cost will remain flat for the final two years of the lease. Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson was in favor of continuing to use the space.
"I've been in that 911 or AT&T building," he said. "That is a hardened infrastructure. It would be difficult to find anywhere else to go like that. I don't see any reason to ever move, and I think they're treating us right on the rent."
The total annual cost for the first year of the new lease is $17,934.36, and it will increase to $19,026.48 for the final three years.