The Barton County Commission is expected to adopt a resolution to expand Fire District No. 2 when it meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, at the courthouse. The meeting will be live-streamed through Microsoft Teams at https://bit.ly/3KSUeAJ.
The expansion will include Fairview, Grant and Wheatland townships and the city of Galatia.
Created in 2018, Fire District No. 2 consists of Albion, Eureka, North Homestead, South Homestead and Union townships and the cities of Hoisington, Olmitz and Susank.
Should the resolution to expand be adopted, the Barton County Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 24, at the Barton County Courthouse, 1400 Main, Suite 106, Great Bend, regarding the expansion. It is anticipated that the fire district’s Board of Trustees, as appointed by the County Commission, would expand to a minimum of four and a maximum of 12 members.
An appointment to the current board of trustees is on the Tuesday agenda. Per resolution 2018-10, which created Fire District No. 2, the members of the board shall consist of not more than one appointee from each participating township and not more than one from each participating city.
There is one unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2026, open for North Homestead Township. Curtis Peterson has applied to represent the City of Olmitz. That term expires Dec. 31, 2027.
Other business
Other items on the agenda for Tuesday are nominations for the Local Emergency Planning Committee and a report from County Attorney J. Colin Reynolds on 2025 action that includes case filings, convictions and other relative statistics.
County officials have been invited to attend the Barton County Conservation District annual meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Immaculate Conception Parish Hall in Claflin and the Barton County Historical Society Annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at the Best Western Courtyard in Great Bend.
Members of the 20th Judicial District Juvenile Services are scheduled to join the broadcast of The County Edition on KVGB-AM at 11:05 a.m. Thursday.
Appointments
Although subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled:
- 9:45 a.m. or following the close of the agenda meeting, planning session with media consultant.
- 10 a.m., regular business discussion and financial update with County Administrator Matt Patzner.
- 11 a.m. – Equipment needs discussion with Solid Waste Director Jennifer Hamby.
- 11:15 a.m. – Program update with the Employee Engagement Committee.
- 1 p.m. – Legislative Workshop with Commissioner Barb Esfeld.
