The Barton County Appraiser’s Office has started its final review process, County Appraiser Barb Esfeld said. This is a process where appraisals for the Jan. 1, 2018, values are taken to the field and each property is reviewed.
Kansas statute 79-503a requires the county appraiser to establish fair market value for both residential and commercial properties in the county. “Fair market value” means the amount in terms of money that a well informed buyer is justified in paying and a well informed seller is justified in accepting for a property in an open and competitive market, assuming that the parties are acting without undue compulsion.
Esfeld said her staff will be driving by all properties and reviewing these appraisals for accuracy. As always, Barton County appraisal staff will be in marked vehicles and wearing name tags.
This process will last up to March 1, 2018.
In addition, appraisal personnel will be measuring new construction.
As for last year’s values, office staff will be available to answer questions regarding 2017 values as 2017 tax bills have been mailed, she said. If a taxpayers wish to appeal their 2017 values through a payment under protest, staff are available to help fill out protest forms.
Call 620-793-1821 for more information.
The appraisal information was part of the regular county departmental update presented to the county commission Monday morning by Operations Director Phil Hathcock. Other highlights included:
County Treasurer Jim Jordan
• All taxes have been mailed out the week of Nov. 30.
• Bank records have been reconciled.
• Four staff members attended training the week of Nov. 30.
County Engineer Barry McManaman
• Met with a representative from the Kansas Department of Agriculture to discuss county sand pit operations and permits
• Participated in a conference call with Kansas Department of Transportation officials and the consultant for the Local Roads Safety Plan project
• L&M Contractors finished patching and placed the concrete overlay on the southbound lane of the Arkansas River bridge on SW 50 Avenue. Traffic will be shifted to that lane soon. The county technician continues to do daily inspection work.
• Placed traffic counters on West Barton County Road and on Airport Road
• The Cartographer assisted the County Clerk’s Office with the November elections.
County Works Director Darren Williams
Road and Bridge Department
• Installed fencing around the 911 tower by Susank.
• Annual Snow Training was held on Nov. 1 and 2. Went through all the equipment and made sure everything is working properly. The Health Department personnel were on-site and gave a total of 74 shots to employees (tetanus, flu, etc).
• Continued patching potholes and mowing.
• Placed cold mix on the approaches for the Radium Road Bridge.
Interim Noxious Weed Director Kay Thompson
• The Noxious Weed Department is finishing roadside spraying around bridges and guardrails, some late spray jobs for musk thistle and pretreating for cheat grass. Staff has removed spray equipment from the ATVs and installed the salt spreaders and snow blades.
• Office personnel are reviewing the budget to determine what chemicals can be purchased at this time.
Emergency Risk Manager Amy Miller
• The Barton County Emergency Management Office held its annual Training and Exercise Planning Workshop on Nov. 14 for emergency response partners in Barton County. Coordination and communication is a driving force for the meeting.
Facilities and agencies are often required by grants or regulatory authorities to participate in an emergency exercise. This provides a forum for planning an exercise calendar that can accommodate these requirements.
Practicing emergency events allows rehearsal of response actions and evaluation of policies and procedures before an actual event. Scenarios meet the need of participants and allow participants to communicate and train together.
During the planning session an exercise calendar for 2018 was developed and a tentative list of exercises for 2019 and 2020 was established. In addition, a list of suggested training classes was developed.
Health Director Shelly Schneider
• Meningitis in the county – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has confirmed a death in the county due to bacterial meningitis caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. This is a reportable disease that is rare in nature. Pneumococcal vaccines are vaccines against the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae. Their use can prevent some cases of pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. Ask your health-care provider for more information on these vaccines. The Health Department stocks all of the pneumococcal vaccines and accepts walk-in appointments.
• Programs – The Human Trafficking Task Force offered a free viewing of the Film 8 Days. Over 200 people attended the screening. The department is looking at hosting more viewings of this movie that depicts human trafficking. Anyone who is interested in hosting a viewing may contact the Health Department, Community Corrections or the Juvenile Justice Authority. Viewings will be free.
Schneider strongly encourages all age groups over 10 years old to attend a screening.
Marissa Woodmansee, Juvenile Services Director
• Juvenile Intake and Assessment numbers are still higher than usual and staff has completed 58 intakes since Oct. 26.
• Juvenile Intensive Supervised Probation and Case Management are currently supervising 36 youth from the 20th Judicial District.
• Project Stay is the Case Management program for youth who have truancy issues and currently provides case management for 21 youth in the Judicial District.
• Immediate Intervention has 30 youth currently participating in the program.
• Staff continues to provide support for the elementary schools in Great Bend for the All-Stars classes. The class is being provided for 205 sixth graders by family support workers from the schools.
