In other business Monday morning, the Barton County Commission filled vacancies on several advisory groups. Commissioners appointed:
• Wilmer Wegele to an uncompensated position on the Barton County Planning Commission ending March 31, 2020. The County has sought applicants for the commission. The focus of the Planning Commission is to plan for the proper growth and development of Barton County through the enactment of planning and zoning laws for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare. Although all applicants must reside in Barton County, the majority of members must be from the unincorporated area, Operations Director Phil Hathcock said.
This position had been open since April 1, and this appointment fills the commission.
• Melissa Nech to a four-year, uncompensated term on the Central Kansas Library System Board. The Kansas Legislature this year approved a measure moving the appointment of these board members from the governor to county commissions.
The CKLS supports library services in 17 counties including Barton, Cloud, Ellis, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa Pawnee, Phillips, Republic, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Saline and Smith.
The board meets twice a year to conduct the business, approve the budget, any resolutions and the system plan
It also elects members to the Executive Committee. The Executive committee meets monthly.
The county appointee must be a resident of the regional library system taxing district within Barton County but outside the district of any local public library, Hathcock said.
• Dale Phillips to an uncompensated position the Memorial Parks Advisory Committee. The committee is charged with advising and assisting the commission regarding the care and maintenance of the Barton County-owned and operated memorial parks and cemetery. With not less than five, nor more than seven members, there was one position open, terming in July, 2020.
Phillips retired recently as the director of the Road and Bridge Department which over saw these facilities.
In an effort to upgrade the security at the Barton County 911 Office, the County Commission Monday morning approved the purchase of replacement security camera and intercom system.
Dena Popp, 911 Director, solicited quotes to replace the camera and intercom system outside the Communications Office door. The bid best meeting the needs of the department was provided by Nex-Tech.
For the quoted price of $2,331.94, Nex-Tech will install both a security camera and intercom system.
When the county upgraded to the NextGen 911 system, the existing intercom was incompatible with the new technology, Popp said. As for the camera, “it was basically non-functional” with burned spots making it difficult to see who was at the door.
There are other advantages, county Information Technology Director John Debes said. It will be integrated in the county’s current security system including the courthouse and court services offices.
“It will be incorporated as one network,” Debes said. This means the 911 Office camera can be monitored from the courthouse if necessary.
The cost doesn’t include a maintenance plan, but Debes said the existing county security network has been very reliable. Most problems have handled inhouse, but Nex-Tech has worked well with the county to make other repairs when needed.
