The Barton County Appraiser’s Office is in the process of collecting new construction data and reviewing properties that have sold, County Appraiser Barb Esfeld said. For each property that has sold, personnel will verify the data on record and taking a picture of the property. These properties assist in setting values on properties that have not sold. The department will set the Jan. 1, 2019, values next, she said. Work consists of reviewing properties that have sold, checking replacement cost amounts and performing other market analysis.
As always, departmental vehicles are marked and staff is wearing picture name tags.
Available on the Barton County website under the Appraiser’s Office is the “Who are Appraisers and why is My Property Tax So High?” video. This video assists in understanding appraised values and taxes.
Also available on the website is a Property Search/Open Records for Kansas Appraisers (ORKA) link with information about properties and the appraised values.
This was one of several reports from department heads at Monday’s Barton County Commission meeting. A summary of other reports follows.
County Works Director Darren Williams
• Finished sealing on Sept. 11. This year, the Road and Bridge Department sealed 95 miles.
• County crews broomed off the excess cover material and the striping crew is now at work.
• The mowing crew has been in the north and northwest part of the county working its way south. In anticipation of the Great Bend Airfest, the crew mowed out the ditches near the Great Bend Municipal Airport.
• Williams met with Great Bend Township and homeowners at Bissell’s Point. On Sept. 10, the County Commission approved helping the Great Bend Township to repair drainage issues at Bissell’s Point.
Township officials requested assistance with drainage issues. Estimates of the cost for equipment, labor and material is $30,263 with the township reimbursing the county.
• Williams met with the Kirkham Michael engineer on the Airport Road and the Pawnee Rock low water crossings.
• Personnel at the Weed Department have been spraying bind weed for the townships, City of Great Bend and the Kansas Department of Transportation.
County Engineer Barry McManaman
• Working on the new County Floodplain Resolution to be presented to the Commission in a few weeks.
• Looked at several drainage issues in the county after heavy rainfall early in the month.
• Cartographer Bj Wooding participated in a phone conference for the Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic Byway signing.
County Appraiser’s Office
Esfeld attended an International Association of Assessing Officers conference Sept. 23-26 in Minneapolis, Minn. The conference consisted of classes each day on technology, leadership, emerging issues, real and personal property appraisal, and a women’s inaugural luncheon.
The conference provided an opportunity to network with other appraisers internationally that deal with the same day to day issues. The Kansas County Appraiser’s Association sponsored Esfeld’s attendance.
County Treasurer Jim Jordan
Title work – 137
Issued disabled placards – 51
Issued Park permits – 79
Vehicle registration/renewal – 3,706
• All banking is current.
• 2017 Delinquent Personal Property listing will be published three times in the Great Bend Tribune in the month of October
• Jordan and clerk Paige Volkel will speak at the Kansas Highway Patrol District Meeting on antiques and vehicle identification number (VIN) inspections.
• Barton County hosted the South Central Treasurers Association meeting at the Barton County Courthouse. Seventeen counties were represented.
Juvenile Services Director Marissa Woodmansee
• Juvenile Intake and Assessment has completed 66 intakes from Aug. 26 to Sept. 24, which is higher than usual. Several of these intakes have been repeat kids from the local girls home and boys home.
• Juvenile Intensive Supervised Probation and Case Management is currently supervising 43 youth post adjudication with an additional six on pre-adjudication supervision.
• Project Stay is the Case Management program for youth who have truancy issues and currently provides case management for 16 youth in the 20th Judicial District.
• Immediate Intervention (diversion supervision) has 24 youth currently participating.
