Barton County highway crews will work in Claflin again this summer as they continue the sealing operations around the county.
This week the Barton County Commission gave its approval for the Road and Bridge Department to seal 10 blocks of streets in Claflin while it is working in that area, with the community paying for the work and materials, up to a maximum of $5,000.
The commissioners were assured that all of the county’s costs are recovered by the payment.
Also this week, the commissioners approved a resolution that waives the requirements involving the review of plat surveys.
Register of Deeds Marcia Johnson explained that the county deals with professional surveyors and waiving the review requirements will save the county money.
She added it’s a popular choice around the state. “All of the surrounding counties are opting out.”
The surveyors that the department deals with are professionals. “They don’t need to be rechecked,” she added.
In case of any mistakes, the plats can be corrected, she added.
And the commissioners also approved changes to plans for the water well construction at the county’s cemeteries, which will save money.
Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips explained that it was determined that there is not sufficient groundwater at Hillcrest Memorial Park to make it worth installing a well there, in addition to the water well that was drilled in Golden Belt Memorial Park — located across the road.
Therefore, instead of the expense of putting in a second well, it was decided to bore under the roadway so the one well can service both memorial parks.
He explained there were added expenses of installing the additional pipe and boring under the road, but that did not meet what the cost of a second well would have been.
The commissioners also approved plans for the Solid Waste Department to continue working with the Rice County electronic waste program, even though a grant for that project has expired.
Landfill Manager Mark Witt explained that the costs will be funded from tipping fees and that it continues to be important to recycled the electronic equipment and to keep it out of the county’s landfill.