Oct. 13—No commission meeting next week

The Barton County Commission will not meet on Wednesday, Oct. 19, as three of the commissioners will attend the Kansas Association of Counties Annual Conference from Monday through Wednesday in Overland Park.

In addition to determining legislative policy, individual associations will meet to discuss county needs. The annual meeting is headquartered at the Sheraton Overland Park Convention Center, 6100 College Boulevard, Overland Park.

The next meeting of the Commission will be Wednesday Oct. 26.

There are a lot of important issues on the Kansas Legislature's agenda come the convening of the 2023 session in January, many of which could impact Barton County. That is why the County Commission Wednesday morning reviewed and signed off on the Kansas Association of Counties Legislative Policy Statement.

On Oct. 17 — 19 in Overland Park, county officials will meet at the Kansas Association of Counties Annual Conference. An important item that will be discussed is the KAC Legislative Policy Statement, Operations Director Matt Patzner said. Member counties are called to review the issues and determine the platform's final form.

"This will then be utilized during the upcoming legislative session to promote issues related to county government," he said. Each year, Barton County reviews and considers the KAC platform and other initiatives that may have local interest.

Commissioners asked about plan specifics regarding, and Patzner referred to "County Governance" portion of the statement.

Among other things, this outlines home rule, local control and state restrictions.

"KAC opposes any legislation that increases county costs or decreases a county's capacity to self-govern, manage financial resources, or participate in the legislative process," he said, quoting the document.

"The platform is pretty good," said District 2 Commissioner Barb Esfeld.

It was noted that many of the state elected officials associations are once again a part of the KAC. They had split away some years ago after disagreements.

"It was a sad time because it made the KAC pretty weak politically," Esfeld said. "It was a bad time."

On Sept. 21, the commission named Commissioner Esfeld as the KAC voting delegate, and commissioners Shawn Hutchinson and Kirby Krier as first and second alternates respectively.

Barton County Commission meeting at a glance

Here is a quick look at what the Barton County Commission meeting did Wednesday morning:

—Approved a resolution regarding the Barton County Health Department Advisory Committee and rescinding a resolution adopted Jan. 27, 2020.

Health Director Karen Winkelman said the department operates in concert with the committee. This resolution was last revised in 2020.

The revisions included updated term limits to reflect current practices. The terms are for two full calendar years, and members may be appointed to two consecutive terms.

—Approved the annual voice products service maintenance agreement for the Communications Department and County Attorney's Office.

In 2018, Communications partnered with the County Attorney's Office to purchase a voice logger. The logger creates audio recordings from telephones, radios, microphones and other sources that improve emergency services and aid in criminal prosecution.

It also improves access for Kansas Open Records Act public requests.

As the maintenance contract ends Nov. 30, and this action extends that for another year with the two departments sharing the expense, said Dena Popp, 911 director, and Casey Hubbard, investigator/office manager for County Attorney's Office.

The total cost for the renewal is $9,552.95. Of that, 911 will pay $7,821.70 (since it utilizes the system the most) and the Attorney's Office will pay $1,731.25 (this covers the function allowing files to be organized by case).

—Approved the purchase of one used consolette and two new consolettes for the Communications Office.

This included the purchase of two new APX 800Mhz Consolettes from Motorola at a cost of $15,648.40 and one used APX 800Mhz Consolette at a cost of $3,315.00 from Mobile Radio of Great Bend for a total cost of $18,963.40. This is an allowable use of 911 tax funds.

—Approved additional repairs to the asphalt plant as part of the overhaul project for the Road and Bridge Department.

County Works Director Darren Williams established an asphalt plant repair project that included the drum assembly replacement and plant overhaul. On July 20, the commission approved the project along with crane rental and electrical costs.

After an on-sight inspection by engineers from Huntertown, Ind.-based Asphalt Drum Mixers Inc., additional issues were identified, Williams said. Road and Bridge received a $12,501 quote to repair the burner plate and roller assembly, which was OKed by the commission.

Asphalt Drum Mixers Inc. provided a quote of $55,120 for the initial drum assembly.

—Discussed the Kansas Association of Counties Legislative Policy Statement.

On Oct. 17 — 19 in Overland Park, county officials will meet at the Kansas Association of Counties Annual Conference. An important item that will be discussed is the KAC Legislative Policy Statement.