Annual county business this week got things rolling on another year for Barton County officials.
The Barton County Commission kicked things off Monday by reorganizing for the year.
The commission chose Commissioner Homer Kruckenberg as the new chairman of the commission and elected Commissioner Don Cates as the chairman pro-tem, in line to serve as the chairman if Kruckenberg is unable to attend a meeting.
Kruckenberg replaces Commissioner Jennifer Schartz, who had served as the 2011 chairwoman.
Also on Monday, the commissioners approved a resolution that allows for a waiver of state accounting requirements.
Financial Officer Janet Crane explained the waiver is approved each year, because the county does record keeping in an approved manner, but one that does not follow a state standard for the preparation of financial statements.
This is a move the county makes each year.
According to information from the county, “the basis is that statements prepared in conformity with this statute are of no significant value to Barton County nor to the general public.”
Also this week, the commissioners approved the annual designation of the Tribune as the official county newspaper, stipulating that it will publish the legal documents the county is required to put into print.
One of the first of those will involve the properties that are still in line to be part of the annual tax sale, if they are not redeemed.
And the commissioners approved a resolution that sets that annual effort in motion, too.