The Barton County Commission Monday morning approved an amended 2106 operating budget for the three county funds – road and bridge, special bridge, and noxious weed. The action followed a budget hearing where Finance Officer Matt Patzner presented details of the changes.

“Despite the efforts of elected officials and department heads, budget estimates must be adjusted so that funds fall within budgetary laws,” Patzner said. These funds fall outside of the general operating budget. 

During the hearing, Patnzer said the amendments include:

• Road and bridge – This allows for unanticipated revenue from state, federal and other sources to be used for departmental expenses.

• Special bridge – This allows funds to be encumbered for the Arkansas River bridge project. 

• Noxious weed – This allows insurance proceeds and unanticipated revenue from chemical sprays to be used for departmental expenses. 

Approval of the changes came after the hearing and during the agenda meeting.

In other business Monday morning, the Barton County Commission:

• Approved cereal-malt-beverage licenses for businesses located in the unincorporated portion of the county for 2017. This included seven licenses for six businesses. Approvals happen annually as the old licenses expire on Dec. 31.

• Approved the purchase of a new Cannon black-and-white copier at a cost of $1,295 from Office Products Incorporated in Great Bend for the Environmental Management Office. The office has been using a copier that was purchased 18 years ago and it is now in need of replacement, Environmental Manager Judy Goreham said. The cost includes a trade. There is also a $300 service agreement.

• Approved encumbering $77,800 for the bridge replacement project on East Barton County Road. It is anticipated that the Kansas Department of Transportation will open bids for the project in January, 2017. The County’s share of the project is approximately $157,000. In 2014, the County encumbered $79,200, leaving an anticipated balance of $77,800, County Engineer Barry McManaman said.

• Approved encumbering funds for the deck repair on the Arkansas River Bridge on SW 50 Avenue. Kirkham Michael Consulting of Ellsworth will design the bridge deck repairs on the bridge, commonly referred to as the Radium blacktop. Repair work is to include light milling of the deck, concrete patching, renovation of outside deck edge and a concrete overlay. It is anticipated that the cost, which will eventually be a part of a bid package, will exceed $115,000. As such, the ending 2016 balance of the Special Bridge Fund be unencumbered and be used for this project, McManaman said. 

• Ratified the payment for repairs to a truck for the Road and Bridge Department. In August, Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips discussed improvements needed for a 1999 Peterbilt. Although it was initially believed that sandblasting and paint would be enough, it was later determined that the damage was more extensive. Road and Bridge purchased and installed a Bibeau bed and Certified Power Central hydraulic system. The equipment was purchased from Truck Parts and Equipment for $38,650.80.

Keeping this truck going will save $100,000 over the next five years, Phillips said. The equipment can also be transferred to a new truck when the time comes.

• Approved the purchase of rock and the services to haul it for the Road and Bridge Department. The department has consistently purchased rock and hauling services for materials that will be used to make asphalt and seal roads in the county. In order to avoid potential shortages and assure that ample materials are on hand, the department has arranged for rock and hauling from several vendors, Phillips said. The vendors were Knight Land LLC, Knight Trucking Freight, APAC, Hannibaum Trucking Hauling and Stone Sand Hauling for a total tonnage of 20,240 at a cost of $241,099.

This is only a small portion of what the county uses each year, Phillips said. Most of the rock comes from eastern Kansas with some coming from Lincoln County.