Commission lifts burn ban
Due to the rains that have fallen on the area over the past couple days, the Barton County Commission Monday morning lifted the on-going countywide burn ban.
“We are extremely thankful for the rain,” said Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano. He and 911 Director Doug Hubbard had called fire chiefs around the county asking their opinion on the ban.
Napolitano said every chief they visited with was fine with lifting it for now.
There have numerous requests to burn piles of limbs and other debris that have been accumulating. “They can get this done while things are wet,” Napolitano said.
The home page of the new Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway website says the byway “will forever reshape your image of the ‘Sunflower State.’”
A team lead by Barton County Cartographer Bj Wooding and Environmental Manager Judy Goreham were given the task of reshaping that web presence. The two gave a review of the site during the Barton County Commission meeting Monday morning.
“There is a lot of information on these pages,” Wooding said. In addition to being easier for her and Goreham to maintain, the revamped site is very interactive so those wanting to visit the area can plan their trips.
After the success experienced with the county’s website and working with Lincoln, Neb-based Simplified Online Communication System, Barton County decided to again partner with SOCS for a new byway web presence. SOCS is a non-profit entity that focuses on connecting schools, hospitals, cities and counties nationwide.
“The new website is better than the old one,” Wooding said. Now, it is much easier to update, something that is done at least weekly.
The new byway site has a similar feel to the old one in that much of the information was copied over, but includes much more. It is also similar in places to the county site.
There are trip-planning guides, route and community maps, links to cities on the byways, links to state and national byway organizations, a downloadable audio tour guide, lists of attractions, a calendar and a list of upcoming events. Many of these are interactive or hot links to more detailed information.
In addition, there is access to bird lists, brochures and information on dining and lodging. The photo galleries feature the beauty of the byway are also extensive.
And, as before, there is mobile application as well. Furthermore, Wooding said it is set up so that it encourages the public to submit photos and other information.
“This is the way people go on vacation anymore,” said Commissioner Jennifer Schartz. On-line research is the first step for many people, and the new site makes a professional, quality first impression.
County Administrator Richard Boeckman said Wooding and Goreham worked closely with Cris Collier and the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau during the process. This cooperation continues.
The 77-mile byway connects two of the world’s most significant natural wetlands — Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, an area named one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas. More than 60,000 acres of wetlands host millions of migrating birds each year, including waterfowl, shorebirds and whooping cranes.
“The Byway offers far more than beautiful wetlands and birds,” the home page reads. “Along your trek, you’ll see native stone buildings, underground tunnels, metal street art, WPA art and bridges, an operating flour mill, a stretch of the Santa Fe Trail, and more.
“Plan a journey on the Wetlands & Wildlife National Scenic Byway and discover our extraordinary corner of the planet.”
The website is kansaswetlandsandwildlifescenicbyway.com.
In other business Monday morning, the Barton County Commission:
• Approved the application for the Kansas Division of Emergency Management the FY 2014 Emergency Management Performance Grant Program. The EMPG Program provides funding to assist states and local governments in developing and carrying out emergency management programs, said Emergency Management Director Amy Miller. This is federal money that flows through the state to counties.
Last year, the grant was for $24,000 and Miller said she’s been told the amount will be the same this year.
• Accepted a bid from L&M Contractors Inc. of $99,725.50 for the rigid-frame box bridge construction project. The bid specified the construction of two double 8 x 4 x 30-foot rigid-frame box bridges and one single 8 x 8 x 30-foot bridge. L&M had the low bid. The other bidder was Klaver Construction. County Engineer Clark Rusco said these are old limestone bridges that are being replaced near Beaver.
These structures were once listed as historic, but have been de-listed. Many of the stones from these bridges will be used to repair other stone bridges. The keystones with the dates and historic information will be preserved.
• Heard an update from Boeckman on the activities of county departments.
