Earlier this month, 120 county appraisers from across Kansas and oil and gas professionals from Kansas and surrounding states converged on Great Bend. They came to attend the Kansas Department of Revenue, Property Valuation Division meetings.

Topics for the Sept. 1 and 2 gatherings included the  current oil and gas and the personal property guides, as well as current industry issues, Barton County Appraiser Barb Esfeld told the Barton County Commission Monday morning. This marked the first time Great Bend has hosted the statewide conference.

In light of recent declines in oil and gas revenue faced by Barton and other counties, this issue was of particular interest, Esfeld said. “The oil and gas industry is very important to everyone.”

That’s why it was nice to have appraisers and industry representatives in the same room with state officials. “It was nice to have input from both sides,” she said.

In the past, she said, gatherings of county and oil reps got heated with conflicting interests. But, they have been able to find common ground.

Also discussed was personal property, which includes most vehicles, mobile homes, boats, Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment.

Esfeld said the meetings were just to introduce statutory changes and gather information, not actually establish market values. The Revenue Department will do that at a later date.

As a side note, Esfeld said the attendees like Great Bend and like meeting here due to its central location. The meetings may be held here in the future as well.