The Barton County Commission will depart from its usual Tuesday meeting next week and will instead meet at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at the courthouse. State statute requires an organizational meeting on the second Monday of the new year. The meeting in Suite 106 of the courthouse will also be live-streamed through Microsoft Teams at https://bit.ly/4iQgO9K. Meetings are later uploaded to the Barton County YouTube channel.

County Clerk Bev Schmeidler will present the accounts payable register for the period ending Dec. 31, 2025, which is considered the “13th month” for 2025 expenditures, as well as January appropriations to date.

The board will then elect its 2026 chairman and chairman pro tem. The Board of County Commissioners consists of Commissioners Barb Esfeld, Shawn Hutchinson, Duane Reif, Tricia Schlessiger and Donna Zimmerman.

Organizational duties include the designation of the Great Bend Tribune as the official county newspaper and the annual waiver of a state requirement relating to the preparation of financial statements and reports. The reason for the waiver is that statements prepared in conformity with this statute are of no significant value to Barton County nor to the general public.

A board appointment to the Center for Counseling and Consultation is on the agenda, along with bulk mailing of valuation notices; software for the health department; and a request to authorize a septic system variance at the Rugan 3 Farms.

Appointments

Although subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled:

9:45 a.m. or following the close of the agenda meeting - Planning session with Media Consultant Elle Hutchinson.

10 a.m. - Regular business discussion with County Administrator Matt Patzner

10:30 a.m. - Results of public hearing for a cell tower conditional land use application, with Environmental Manager Judy Goreham

11:30 a.m. - Zoom Call with Enterprise.

11:45 a.m. - Purchase of replacement patrol vehicles with Sheriff Brian Bellendir 

1 p.m. - Program update with Josh Beckman, from engineering firm Kirkman Michael

The County Edition is broadcast at 11:05 a.m. Thursdays on KVGB-AM. This week will feature Casey Hubbard, assistant administrator and Human Resources director.