The Commission meeting will be live-streamed through Microsoft Teams. Citizens may view the meeting through their own sign in or by signing in “anonymously”. Please follow this link: https://bit.ly/3TovToa. If you wish to participate in the discussion of any item, please call (620) 793-1800 for instructions.
BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Agenda Meeting
May 7, 2024
9 a.m. until close
I. OPENING BUSINESS:
A. Call Meeting to Order.
B. Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. Consider Approval of the Agenda.
D. Consider the minutes of the April 30, 2024, Regular Meeting.
E. Any citizen wishing to make statements during the discussion of any item must first be recognized by the Commission Chair. After being recognized, that person should state their name and the name of any organization represented. Statements should be limited to five minutes.
F. Please silence all phones and electronic devices. Recording the meeting is allowed and the Commission requests that anyone using special recording equipment be seated in the back row to avoid creating a distraction during the meeting.
II. APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS:
-Bev Schmeidler, County Clerk, will present details. An Accounts Payable Register will be submitted to the Commission for the period of April 23, 2024, and ending May 7, 2024.
III. OLD BUSINESS - Items tabled, or scheduled, from previous Commission Meetings, will be heard at this time.
-There is no Old Business at this time.
IV. NEW BUSINESS - All new business to be considered by the Commission will be heard at this time.
A. COMMISSIONERS: Kansas Association of Counties – Requesting a Veto Regarding CCR for HB 2096:
-Matt Patzner, County Administrator, will provide details. The Kansas Association of Counties and its members are respectfully requesting that Governor Laura Kelly veto the Conference Committee Report on House Bill 2096, which is essentially a “government competition bill”. HB 2096 would require that if a local government entity provides services substantially similar to those of restaurants, health clubs, or childcare, any private entity located either in the same city of within five miles of that government entity would, under this bill, be eligible for a property tax rebate. Property tax is the primary source of funding for local government in Kansas.
B. PROCLAMATION 2024-10: National Bike Month, May, 2024:
-Dale Hogg, Be Well Barton County committee member, will present details. The bicycle is an economical and environmentally sound form of transportation and an excellent tool for health, recreation and enjoyment of Barton County’s scenic beauty. Throughout the month of May, citizens are urged to be mindful of bicyclists in an effort to reduce collisions, injuries and fatalities and improve health and safety for everyone on the road.
C. HEALTH DEPARTMENT: 2024 Child Passenger Safety Station of the Year:
-Karen Winkelman, Public Health Director, will provide details. The Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office announced its selections for the 2024 Child Passenger Safety Station of the Year awards. This distinction is given for continuing efforts to check car seat installations for caregivers in their communities. Christina Delgadillo, RN, Car Seat Technician, and Sarahi Prieto, WIC Clerk/Breastfeeding Peer Counselor/Car Seat Technician, checked 65 seats in 2023, resulting in the Barton County Health Department being honored. The Health Department is one of two agencies to be named in 2024.
D. PROCLAMATION 2024-11: Honoring the Work of the Central Kansas Debriefing and Peer Support Team:
-Ms. Winkelman; Kelley Johnson, LCPC-S, LCAC, Coordinator; and Detective John Reynolds, Peer Support, Great Bend Police Department, will provide details. Central Kansas Debriefing has supported Central Kansas First Responders and Safety Personnel since the 1980’s. The team has changed, the tools modernized, but the heart remains the same. Team assembly is dependent upon requesting entity, but generally consists of mental health, chaplain and first responders / safety personnel / medically trained members.
E. PROCLAMATION 2024-12: Mental Health Awareness Month, May, 2024:
-Holly Bowyer, Accounting Specialist, and Rick Bealer, Board Member for The Center, will present details. The Center for Counselling & Consultation has submitted this year’s proclamation dealing with Mental Health Awareness Month, May, 2024. The Proclamation details the prevalence of mental health conditions in our community and recognizes the need for intervention, awareness and inclusivity.
F. PROCLAMATION 2024-13: National Prevention Week:
-Vicki Richardson, Central Kansas Partnership Chair, will be joined by Central Kansas Partnership task force members and area teens to present this Proclamation. The focus of National Prevention Week is to change the prevention landscape by providing evidence-based and accessible resources to facilitate collective action and story-sharing. By showcasing the work of our partners in prevention, we can confront the societal challenges surrounding substance misuse together while celebrating stories of prevention.
G. SOLID WASTE: RFP - HVAC System Replacement for the Barton County Landfill:
-Jennifer Hamby, Solid Waste Director, will present details. The Barton County Landfill currently has a building on-site that is used for scale operations, office space and employee training. The HVAC system for this building is estimated to be 40 years old and is no longer efficient. After soliciting proposals, it is suggested that the Comfort Pro, Inc. bid of $7,600.00 be accepted.
H. COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE: Request for Approval – Added / Abated / Escaped / Refunded Taxes:
-Bev Schmeidler, County Clerk, will present a listing of Added / Abated / Escaped / Refunded Taxes. Orders for these actions are kept on file in the County Clerk’s Office. These are used to correct assessments and are requested by the County Appraiser’s Office or the County Clerk’s Office.
I. COUNTY COUNSELOR: Warranty Deed with Knop Sand:
-Patrick Hoffman, County Counselor, will provide details. On November 2, 2022, the Commission approved the Agreement for Purchase or Sale of Real Estate between the Board of County Commissioners of Barton County, Kansas, and Knop Sand Company, Inc. This agreement essentially authorized the trade of the northwest 20 acres of the sandpit area, located in the W/2, Sec. 5, T20S, R11W for industrial water rights. With the Permit to Appropriate Water for Beneficial Use approved by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources, it is appropriate to approve the deed.
J. EXECUTIVE SESSION:
-Chairman Barb Esfeld will present. Any Commissioner may make a motion for the board to recess to executive session at this time as allowed by K.S.A. 75-4319. Any motion must contain the justification for the executive session, the subject matter to be discussed, any individuals in addition to the board who will attend the executive session and the time at which the regular session shall resume.
V. ENDING BUSINESS – After new items are heard by the Commission, the following items, including announcements, will be heard.
A. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-Following the close of the Agenda Meeting, the Commission will consider the authorization of personnel changes for classified positions, sign any documentation approved during the agenda meeting or sign any other documentation required for regular County business. Similar action may take place throughout the day.
-County officials, individually or in groups, may visit the Courthouse or those buildings being used for displaced Courthouse offices during the HVAC improvement project. With the Courthouse located at 1400 Main, other buildings being used for housing are 1520 Main and 1709 Main, Great Bend, Kansas.
B. APPOINTMENTS:
-Although subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled:
10:00 a.m. or following the close of the Agenda Meeting – Program Update – Brenda Kaiser, Human Resource Director.
10:30 a.m. – Program Review – City on a Hill – Erica Ortega, Executive Assistant
10:45 a.m. – Program Update – Brooke Haulmark, CKCC Director.
11:30 a.m. – Regular Business Discussion – Matt Patzner, County Administrator.
THE COUNTY EDITION, KVGB-AM – Thursdays at 11:05 a.m. Levi Morris, County Attorney, is scheduled for May 9, 2024.
VI. OTHER BUSINESS:
A. Discussion Items.
B. Citizens or organizations may present requests or proposals for initial consideration.
C. The Commissioners are available to the public on Tuesdays during regular business hours.
D. One or more Commissioners may be present in the Commission Chambers conducting county business throughout the day on Tuesdays.
E. The Commissioners may, individually, schedule personal appointments related to County business at their discretion.
F. The next Regular Meeting will be at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
VII. ADJOURN