Barton County Commission meeting at a glance
Here is quick look at what the Barton County Commission did Wednesday morning:
• Adopted a proclamation marking Wednesday as Great Bend Bat Cats Day.
The Great Bend Bat Cats began playing in June, 2017, at Al Burns Memorial Field in Great Bend. Managed by President Roger Ward and coach Jonathan Mariani, the Bat Cats play from May until August, with 24 home and 24 away games. The proclamation recognizes the players, staff and sponsors for their dedication to the game and their commitment to health, leadership and community.
• Heard a report from Tyler Lehmkuhl, Central Kansas Community Corrections, and Charity Muth, Stepping Stones to Recovery on the Council of State Governments Justice Center SCA Substance Use Disorder Symposium held in early June in Washington, D.C.
A component of receiving the Bureau of Justice Assistance Second Chance Act Improving Reentry for Adults with Substance Use Disorders grant was attendance at their grantee symposium. This event included partnerships for responsive reentry programming, building community support, equity with trauma-informed care, and treatment of stigma.
The Second Chance Act grant covered all training expenses.
• Ratified programming expenditures for the Health Department’s Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bureau of Family Health, Universal Home Visitation Expansion Project, Supplemental Funding Grant.
The department was notified of a $60,956.87 award from the KDHE in 2022, Health Director Karen Winkelman said. As the grant ends June 30, personnel allocations remain unspent as hiring was not possible, so the KDHE has reallocated funding from personnel to media.
As the programming has been purchased, the $40,620 expenditure to Eagle Radio for advertising was ratified. Commission Chairman Shawn Hutchinson said the next time funds like this need to be spent, he would like to the advertising dollars spread around to other media outlets, such as the Great Bend Tribune.
• Following the close of the agenda meeting, the commission moved chamber items to the temporary location at 1500 Kansas. The commission then returned to the conference room in the Courthouse for the study session.
Scheduled were:
• 1:30 p.m. – HVAC system update with Orazem & Scalora Engineering of Wichita.
• 2:30 p.m. – program presentation with patrons of USD 112.
• 3:00 p.m. – review bids for an off-system bridge replacement project with Barry McManaman, county engineer.
• 3:30 p.m. – regular business discussion with Matt Patzner, county administrator.
In a break from the HVAC project move and budget talks, the Barton County Commission Wednesday morning took time to recognize the Great Bend Bat Cats baseball team for its success and efforts in the community by adopting a proclamation marking Wednesday as Great Bend Bat Cats Day.
“Once in a while, we get to do fun stuff,” said District 2 Commissioner Barb Esfeld who presented the proclamation. “We get to recognize people for their hard work, dedication and leadership, and I couldn’t think of a better group of people than the Bat Cats to do that with and make the proclamation today.”
Esfeld is an avid support of the team. In fact three of the players, who she calls her “summer sons,” live with her during the team’s season.
“I’m honored to provide the details of the Bat Cats recognizing these fine individuals for all they have done for Barton County,” she said.
The Great Bend Bat Cats began playing in June, 2017, at Al Burns Memorial Field in Great Bend. They are managed by President Roger Ward, and coached by head coach Jonathan Mariani and his coaching staff.
They play from May until August, with 24 home and 24 away games.
The Bat Cats have attended the National Baseball Congress World Series in 2017, 2019 and 2021, finishing ninth, eighth and fifth respectively. Esfeld said the team, which sits at 11-2 and in first place, could take the title this year.
Team members are provided room and board through area host families, with players providing for their own personal items and outside expenses. The players remain in the Barton County area from May until August.
“If you haven’t gone to any of their games, you need to, you’re missing a whole lot of fun,” Esfeld said. “We’ve had players come to our community from 22 different states and five countries, two from Australia this year.”
Three players graduated from Great Bend High School, over 40 players played at Barton Community College, and there have been four NBC World Series all Americans, three of whom went to BCC. Eight former bat cats have signed professional contracts.
And the team reached the 150 win milestone last year, the same year Great Bend celebrated its 150th anniversary, Esfeld said.
As to the character of the players, Esfeld related a recent incident. After the team waited out a severe storm in their bus under an overpass, they stopped and helped a woman whose care had skidded into the ditch by lifting it and putting it back onto the road.
“They could have went on down the road. They didn’t have to get soaking wet help them that lady,” she said. “But that’s not the quality of these fine young men that we’re recognizing today.”
“This is a special day,” Ward said. “I guess we’re doing something right.”
Having grown up in Great Bend, Ward said he has always wanted to bring a team like this to town. What has evolved is exactly what he had envisioned.
“Right now, their chasing a dream,” he said of the players. But, “baseball ends for everyone at some point.”
That is where caring about them as people becomes important, he said. “I want to give them credit for being good citizens in the community for the months they’re hear.”
“The commission recognizes the players, staff and sponsors for their dedication to the game and their commitment to health, leadership and community,” the proclamation reads. “The commission encourages our citizens to support the Great Bend Bat Cats by attending the free at home games and following away games on line.”
It also thanked the families and businesses that offer assistance to the Bat Cats through player hosting, facility improvements and community support.
