Public invited to dedication of second memorial stone
The County Commission and the Memorial Parks Advisory Committee are inviting the public to attend the dedication of the second memorial stone at the Golden Belt Veterans Memorial Stone. The event will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day. The Golden Belt Memorial Park is located at 59 NW 50 Road, Great Bend, Kansas. The public is encouraged to bring their own seating, said Memorial Parks Advisory Committee President Mick Lang.
Also on Friday, the Barton County Office Buildings will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. The Health Department and the Records Division of the Sheriff’s Office will also be closed that day. The Landfill will be open until 11 a.m. Emergency services will be in normal operation.
It was a proud moment for Don and Beth Paden at the Barton County Commission meeting Monday morning.
The Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of the Plains Chapter, honored their son Barton County Sheriff’s Office Detective David Paden with its Heroism Award during the County Commission meeting Monday morning at the courthouse.
Stan Jantz, Sons of the American Revolution chapter president, was on hand to present a plaque. But, it was his mom who pinned the medal on his chest.
“I am also proud of your service,” commission Don Davis said. He added that he is honored to serve a county that has employees like David and the rest of the Sheriff’s Office personnel.
“It’s a comfort knowing he’s on the force,” County Clerk Donna Zimmerman said.
In August of 2015, Paden was involved in a hostage negotiation that ended well. After shooting his wife, an armed Woodward, Okla., man engaged in a four-hour standoff with authorities while his two young children were in his car parked between Perkins Restaurant and the Best Western Angus Inn.
“He talked him out and it ended peacefully,” Jantz said.
In other business Monday morning, the Barton County Commission:
• Approved the designation of Matt Patzner, Finance Officer, as KPERS agent. The Kansas Public Employees Retirement (KPERS) Act of 1961 provides for the designation of an agent for each participating employer through whom system transactions and communications are directed. In addition, this agent acts as a local contact for employees for retirement system information, transactions, forms and publications. The county clerk is an additional signer.
• Approved the continuation of the agreement for physical capacity profile testing with WorkFit through Barton Community College. Workfit provides the testing for pre-employment purposes. The testing determines the abilities of the potential employee to perform a job’s essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodation. This reduces the possibility of placing an individual in a position where there is a substantial risk of injury, thereby reducing work-related injuries and potential workers compensation claims. The service rate is $105 per testing Finance Officer Matt Patzner said.
• Approved the High Risk Rural Roads Fiscal Year 2019 Program application. The Kansas Department of Transportation has requested applications for the Federal Fiscal Year 2019 HRRR program. Barton County will now apply for a sign replacement project that will allow for the replacement of some signage, generally in the northern half of the county. The application will request that all preliminary engineering (design), construction and construction engineering (inspection) costs be funded with federal money. If the project is approved by KDOT, it is anticipated that there will be no cost to the county, County Engineer Barry McManaman said.
