Barton County Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips joked with county commissioners Monday morning about the mild winter. He had predicted 100 inches of snow, a prediction that was fortunately off target.
However, this is Kansas in the spring and anything can happen. Some joked back that he might have jinxed the county.
None the less, Phillips reported that snow plows were removed in anticipation for spring and summer work. The plow equipment was also removed from sprayer units.
This was part of County Administrator Richard Boeckman’s bi-weekly departmental update. Other highlights included:
County Engineer Barry McManaman
• Participated in a phone conference with the Kansas Department of Transportation to discuss final plans for High Risk Rural Roads Sign Project.
• Discussed final plans for bridge on East Barton County Road with designer.
• Technician met with utility company on site to discuss utility work near Olmitz.
• Processed a utility permit for new fiber optic line near Ellinwood.
• Reviewed consultant pricing for Local Road Safety Plan and provided input to KDOT.
Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips
Road and Bridge
• Three culverts were installed northwest of Hoisington for oil exploration access.
• Tree work and right of way cleanup along with drainage work was performed southwest of Hoisington on NW100 Road.
• Sign work continued daily throughout the County.
• Staff received reimbursed expenses from the Kansas Department of Transportation related to last year’s flooding damages.
• Sand hauling and sand pumping continues.
• This has been a mild winter and has enabled workers to perform needed road maintenance over the past couple months.
Noxious Weed
• Staff continues spraying for musk thistle and continues with right of way spraying as the weather permits.
Memorial Parks
• Staff performed labor at the memorial parks, repairing sunken graves and headstones.
Solid Waste Director Phil Hathcock
In the past two weeks, The Barton County Landfill has taken in:
• 763 tons of municipal solid waste
• 200 tons of construction/demolition waste
• 19 tons of special waste
• 519 loads of waste received for disposal
• $36,779.09 of revenue generated through disposal fees
For information regarding recycling, household hazardous waste or regular household waste, call the Landfill at 620-793-1898.
Emergency Management Director Amy Miller
• March 1 was the deadline for Tier II reports to be submitted to the Barton County Local Emergency Planning Committee.
An owner or operator of a facility must maintain a Material Safety Data Sheet for any hazardous chemical as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Hazard Communication Standard. If the quantity is equal to or above the applicable threshold specified by OSHA,
then the owner or operator of the facility must comply with the reporting requirements.
The reports of the chemical inventory, commonly called Tier II reports, must be reported to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Barton County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and the fire department with jurisdiction over the facility. The reports are filed by owner/operator name and kept in the Barton County Emergency Management office which maintains the reports for the LEPC.
• The Emergency Management Department worked with the Great Bend Farm and Ranch Expo for safety and severe weather safety information and plans.
• Storm Fury on the Plains, the annual severe weather safety presentation by the National Weather Service Office in Wichita, had approximately 169 individuals attend the training on March 8.
County Treasurer Kevin Wondra
• The Treasurer’s Office processed a total of 1,364 motor vehicle transactions between March 10–23. Of those, 868 were renewals for vehicles and 243 were new titles. In the past two weeks, personnel have renewed or registered 34 commercial vehicles.
• Abstracts have been completed on all the parcels for the tax sale. At this time, we still have 104 properties on the tax sale. Notification of the sale, to include summons and the petition, are being mailed.
• The bookkeepers are in the process of reconciling the bank accounts. All daily work is current.
