Barton County Commission meeting at a glance
Here is a quick look at what the Barton County Commission did Monday morning:
• Held a 20-minute executive session to discuss matters of non-elected personnel and evaluate the performance of one or more county employees as the potential interim county administrator.
• Offered the interim county administrator to County Engineer Barry McManaman.
• Approved a proclamation supporting the 2022 United Way of Central Kansas Campaign.
• Approved a resolution establishing a certificate of Authority for the U.S. Department of the Treasury American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Barton County received its first disbursement of funding in the amount of $2,503,634.50, from ARPA on May 20. The funds are to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, as units of government have endured immense public health and economic needs created by the crisis.
The Interim Report is due Aug. 31, which identifies obligated and paid expenditures. The resolution delegates authority to manage the administration of the funds, per the commission’s direction, Grant Coordinator Sue Cooper said.
Authorized to sign such agreements were Cooper, commission Chairman Jim Daily, District 4, and Finance Director Matt Patzner.
Barton County Engineer Barry McManaman can now add interim county administrator to his job title after action by the County Commission Monday morning.
According to the employment agreement, the appointment went into effect Monday and McManaman will continue as engineer. It calls for compensation of $1,000 per month in addition to his current pay and notes the position is only temporary.
The announcement came following a 20-minute executive session and the vote to approve the contract was unanimous. Included in the session along with commissioners were McManaman, County Clerk Donna Zimmerman and County Counselor Patrick Hoffman.
It was also noted Monday morning that Zimmerman will continue in the assistant administrator role.
McManaman became county engineer at the end of 2015, coming to the county from the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Great Bend office. He replaced a retiring Clark Rusco.
Background
The appointment of McManaman was needed following Phil Hathcock’s stepping down as county administrator a week ago Monday. The commission approved Hathcock’s departure following an extended meeting that involved several executive sessions covering non-elected personnel evaluations.
Hathcock will continue as the solid waste director overseeing the landfill and take on the title of facilities director. Although he has never held that title, he’s always handled those duties.
Explaining the change last Monday, commissioners said the landfill takes up a lot of time and all parties thought it best for Hathcock to focus on that.
The administrator was making around $100,000 or a little more. Between his two jobs, Hathcock will now make $100,000 ($85,000 for the landfill and $15,000 for facilities).
Commissioners said the change was amicable and not a demotion. They called Hathcock a “very, very dedicated man.”
The vote was 3-2 for the change with District 1 Commissioner Kirby Krier, District 3 Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson and District 2 Commissioner Barb Esfeld voting for it. Commission Chairman Jim Daily, District 4, and District 5 Commissioner Jennifer Schartz were opposed.
It was noted last Monday that without an interim administrator, the duties would fall to the assistant administrator, in this case Zimmerman. She had considered resigning the post.
So, should the opening have remained unfilled and Zimmerman resigned, the commission would’ve taken care of the administrative duties, officials said. Last Monday, the commission stressed filling the vacancy would be a priority.
Hathcock took the job after the county operated for about two years without an administrator. Richard Boeckman resigned from the post in October 2016 and Hathcock was named operations director in May 2017 and promoted to administrator in April 2018.
