The Barton County Environmental Management Office has been busy over the past year, County Commission Chairman Don Davis said. He was referring to a report submitted by Environmental Manager Judy Goreham which recapped the department’s 2016 activity.
It noted the following:
• Total Permits issued during this period – 120
• Septic system permits – 46
• Water well permits – 36
• Building permits – 30
• Wastewater pumper licenses – 3
• Wastewater installer licenses – 1
• Fireworks stand licenses – 4
• Total field inspections conducted during this period – 437
• Septic system final inspections – 70
• Septic tank pump-out inspections – 46
• Septic system partial inspections – 8
• Site location for new septic system – 04
• Environmental code violation inspections (water well) – 1
• In-house water tests conducted – 99
• Lender evaluations – 44
• Lender evaluation re-visit – 8
• Certified laboratory water test collected – 40
• Nuisance code violation inspections – 47
• Zoning code violation inspections – 3
• Site location for new building – 3
• Floodplain compliance meetings/inspections – 2
• Rural foster care inspections – 2
• Rural daycare inspections – 1
• Licensed wastewater pump-truck inspections – 1
• Site location for new water well – 13
• Water well final inspections – 21
• Fireworks stands inspections – 4
Goreham also reported that the next regular meeting of the Barton County Planning Commission is scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at the Barton County Courthouse, first floor County Commission chambers. The public is invited to attend.
The Environmental Management Office information was part the bi-weekly county departmental update presented by Davis. Other highlights included:
County Engineer Barry McManaman
• Reece Construction continues to work on the new concrete box culvert three miles north of Beaver. The contractor placed concrete for the walls and top on Dec. 16.
• Submitted a cost estimate to the Kansas Department of Transportation for the inspection services on the bridge replacement project on East Barton County Road. KDOT will reimburse the County for 80 percent of the inspection costs.
• Issued a floodplain development permit to the City of Ellinwood for drainage channel work.
• Had contacts with KDOT and PBA Architects for the shop drawings on the Scenic Overlook Tower project.
Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips
Road and Bridge
• Road and Bridge staff completed backfilling two box bridges north of Redwing.
• Staff prepared for backfilling and asphalt overlay on the new bridge constructed north of Beaver.
• Sand spreader trucks were dispatched out twice during the reporting period to treat light ice conditions.
• Mowing continued in the Claflin area. Ditches are being mowed out to the right of way.
• A traffic road sign related to the High Risk Rural Roads grant was completed before Dec. 31.
Noxious Weed
• Noxious Weed staff continued with equipment repairs, winter maintenance and winter weather work assignments as need. Ice Melt treatments occurred twice at County office buildings.
Memorial Parks
• Storm damaged trees were cleaned up after the Christmas wind storm.
• Debris was cleaned up before Dec. 31.
Solid Waste Director Phil Hathcock
In the last reporting period, the Barton County Landfill took in:
• 830 tons of municipal solid waste
• 283 tons of construction/demolition waste
• 514 tons of special waste
• 463 loads of waste received for disposal
• $56,747.59 of revenue generated through disposal fees
County Treasurer Kevin Wondra
The Treasurer’s Office processed a total of 468 motor vehicle transactions between Dec. 15 and 28. Of those, 178 were vehicle renewals and 151 were new titles. In the past two weeks, no Commercial Motor Vehicle transactions were made. Commercial Motor Vehicles begin renewing Jan. 3.
Personnel are currently processing 2016 taxes. Staff has been staying late to try to keep on top of incoming mail. The department was closed to the public Dec. 30 so all payments received are entered before the end of the year.
