County staffers will continue to receive longevity pay as they have in the past, the Barton County Commissioners decided this week, after discussing other possible options.
Commission Chairman Kirby Krier moved that the longevity pay remain at the level it has been in the past and that was approved with all of the commissioners, but one, approving. Commissioner John Edmonds was opposed.
It was reported the current system provides a full-time qualifying employee with the maximum of $720 as a one-time payment.
It was suggested that continuing longevity pay helps, since the commissioners did not include raises in the next budget.
Also, the commissioners learned that the county will provide half-price tipping fees for Hoisington during its city clean up this week, and that arrangements had been made to recycle a great deal of the material collected.
The commissioners gave Solid Waste Manger Mark Witt the authority earlier to work with county communities on such clean up projects. Several continue to hold such events. Great Bend discontinued its clean up week several years ago.
And the commissioners approved designating Wilson State Bank as an official depository for county funds, in case the bank wants to bid for funds.
Banks that participate must meet the 100 percent pledged security requirement if they are going to hold county funds.
Wilson State Bank purchased Hoisington National Bank, it was explained, though no county funds are deposited there at this time.
Commissioner Edmonds questioned utilizing a facility with ownership outside the county.
He and Commissioner Homer Kruckenberg voted in opposition. Commissioners Krier, Jennifer Schartz and Kenny Schremmer voted in favor of the designation.
In an unrelated issue, it was reported recently that appraisal work continues in the county.
According to a report from County Appraiser Barbara Konrade-Stierlen, the Barton County Appraiser’s Office is in the process of collecting data on new construction and reviewing properties that have sold. “For each property that has sold, the department must verify the data on record, to include creating a digital image of the property. These sales assist in setting values on properties that have not sold,” Konrade-Stierlen reported.
“The department is gearing up to set the January 1, 2011, values. Work will include a review of properties that have sold, checking replacement costs and performing other market analysis. 
“As always, county vehicles are marked and staff wears picture name tags,” she explained.