On the large flat-screen monitor where the green patchwork quilt aerial images of Barton County. With a few mouse clicks and key strokes, John Remmert of the Barton County Road and Bridge Department could zoom in on individual parcels of land, houses or rural intersections. 

Every call Remmert receives about a problem with a county structure becomes a tag on this map. Each tag becomes a file that includes GPS data, photos, time, elevation and other digital information.

Remmert demonstrated this system to Barton County Commissioners Monday morning following their agenda meeting as part of a tour of assorted road, bridge and other infrastructure work. The tour was a chance for commissioners to see what they are getting for the money spent in the department that accounts for the largest share of the county’s budget.

“What this boils down to is that we get a better bang for our buck,” Road and Bridge Shop Foreman Gary Demel said. The digital system provides in-depth accurate information, saves crews time and helps track expenses.

It pulls together data entered by Remmert and the data embedded into the photos taken with the department’s GPS cameras. It can also be used to track deer accidents, snow removal problems and mowing operations.

Recently, Demel said Kansas Department of Transportation and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials met with county personnel in the shop and used the aerial view to “visit” damage caused by the flooding last spring. This saved them from having to travel to the far-flung locations.

“We are very picture oriented,” Demel said, adding the document every project before, during and after. “A picture is worth a thousand words,” especially when it contains more than just an image.

Joined by Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips and Count Engineer Clark Rusco, commissioners visited numerous projects scattered through the 900-square-mile Barton County. Their first stop was the Road and Bridge Department shop in Great Bend, and from there, they ventured out to see other sites.

They also went to FEMA project sites, memorial parks and the Barton County Veterans Memorial, sand pits, drainage work and visited road sealing operations.

The County maintains nearly 400 miles of paved roads, 369 bridges and culverts over 54 inches, and 8,000 road signs. The majority of planning for improvements and repairs falls to Phillips and Rusco.

Prior to leaving on their tour, the commissioners handled regular business Monday morning. During the meeting, they:

• Heard an update on the Memorial Parks Advisory Committee from Chairman Mick Lang. The committee is charged with advising and assisting the commission regarding the care and maintenance of the Barton County Memorial Parks and Cemetery.  With not less than five, nor more than seven members, all serve without compensation. One of the on-going projects is the Golden Belt Veterans Memorial.  

• Authorized the Road and Bridge Department to take part in a buy-back program with a Bobcat loader. Last year, Road and Bridge purchased a 2014 T650 T4 Bobcat rack loader, with pallet forks, auger, grapple bucket and snow bucket for a combined bid price of $53,719 from Bobcat of Salina. Under the offer made at time of purchase, the county can exercise the $3,000 “buy-back” option and receive a new 2015 Model T650 Bobcat Compact Track Loader with full warranty, Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips said. 

• Heard a report from County Appraiser Barb Esfeld on the Kansas Department of Revenue, Property Valuation Division meetings in Great Bend on Sept. 1 and 2 at the Great Bend Events Center for representatives of County Appraiser’s Offices and for the industry representatives. Topics included the  current Oil and Gas  and the Personal Property guides as well as current industry issues.