Before offering Barton County Finance/Human Resource Manager Matt Patzner the contract as county operations director, the County Commission took time to honor Barry McManaman who stepped into the breach and took the position as interim county administrator until a permanent county lead administrator was found.

“On Aug. 30, of 2021, we appointed Barry McManaman as our interim county administrator,” commission Chairman Jim Daily said, District 4, said as he presented a plaque to McManaman. “During that time he has been faced with a tremendous amount of business that he was not accustomed to, some of it good, some of it not so good. But he has done an outstanding job representing the county in that capacity.”

For that reason, the commission felt it was important to recognize him for those efforts. The presentation was followed by a round of applause.

“I’ve enjoyed my time (in the post),” McManaman said. “It’s been a real learning experience and I appreciate everybody’s help and getting us all through this. Thank you very much.”

“I would like to offer Mr. McManaman a tremendous amount of appreciation and gratitude,” District 3 Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson said. 

Next, commissioners voted to remove McManaman as interim administrator, effective Jan. 1, 2022.

The removal was not on the original commission agenda. But, it was amended to include the matter.