In other business Monday morning, the Barton County Commission:
• Authorized certain tracts of real estate be sold for back taxes during the 2016 tax sale, set for Oct. 10. This money is then distributed to the various taxing entities in the county. The resolution also authorized abstract work to be performed in preparation for the sale.
County Treasurer Kevin Wondra said there are 185 properties that are on the auction list now (meaning there are back taxes owed from 2012 through 2015), but letters have gone out to the owners and that number may decrease. The owners have until Feb. 5 to pay at least the 2012 taxes which would remove the property from the 2016 tax sale.
In a related matter, the County Administrator Richard Boeckman said there are no other abstract companies in Barton County so he took the liberty of contacting First American Title Company to provide the needed services. First American Title Company will provide the work for $70 per parcel remaining on the list after the Feb. 5 deadline.
• Approved a matching funds request from the Southwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging. The agency is requesting matching funds from Barton County in the amount of $1,500 which would be used as “seed dollars” that are an equivalent match to the $339,016 in services received by older residents and low income families from Barton County.
The County has traditionally provided this funding, Boeckman said.
• Approved renewing the county membership in the Kansas Legislative Policy Group. The KLPG is a bi-partisan coalition of western Kansas counties with the common interest in the preservation of the counties tax base and retention of local control, particularly on oil and gas issues. It serves as a policy and decision making body establishing legislative priorities at its annual meeting and providing speakers to address KLPG members about the important topics of the day. The dues are $4,358.70.
It was a time to thank Barton County employees for their dedication as the County Commission honored several staff members for their longevity.
The county employees were recognized for continuous service for five, 10, 15 and 20 years, said Wendy Birzer, county Employee Relations Committee president.
As their names were called, they came forward, and shook hands with County Administrator Richard Boeckman, Birzer and the commissioners.
Collectively, the 21 employees represented over 300 years of service to the county. Recognized were:
• Five years of service
Tim McQuad – Communications/911
Steven Miller – Road and Bridge
Linda Francis – Sheriff
Amy Mellor – County Attorney
Sue Pfeifer – Administrator/Facilities
• 10 years of service
Jennifer Schartz – Commissioner
Stanley Behrends – Road and Bridge
Renee Mater – Treasurer
Ryan Gardner – Juvenile Services
Guy Disney – Sheriff
Donna Willliams – Communications/911
Jerald Loesch – Road and Bridge
• 15 years of service
Kurtis Schaub – Juvenile Services
Michael Daniel – Juvenile Services
• 20 years of service
Douglas Matthews County Attorney
Dena Popp – Communications/911
Connie Miller – Health
• 25 years of service
Bettejane Wooding – Administrator/Mapping
Kathryn Thompson – Noxious Weed
Sharon Wondra – Sheriff’s Office
Bev Schmeidler – County Clerk
• 30 years of service
Brad Patzner – Sheriff
