Schneider introduced as new health director
For the second time in two weeks, the Barton County Commission welcomed a new department head. Shelly Schneider was introduced Monday morning as the new public health director. She officially begins her duties today.
“Thank you for allowing me to serve Barton County,” Schneider said. “Hopefully we can take Barton County onward.”
County Administrator Richard Boeckman said Schneider has spent the past 15 years working as nurse with the Great Bend Children’s Clinic and has worked with the Health Department quite often. Her experience definitely qualifies her for the job, he added.
Schneider replaces Lily Akings who is retiring. Akings has served as the Barton County Health Department administrator since Jan. 2, 1979.
Akings will work with Schneider for a week as a consultant.
Last week, Rural Ellinwood resident Phillip Hathcock was introduced at the Barton County Commission meeting as the county’s new solid waste manager. Hathcock officially started last Tuesday and is training with current manager Mark Witt for one more week before Witt leaves the post.
After months of controversy, delays and additional expenses, the Barton County Commission Monday morning approved the 2013 county audit report, a reported labled by the auditors as “unqualified” and “clean.”
This is the highest opinion auditors can have, said Vickie Dreiling of Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball. The report covered the financial condition of Barton County from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2013.
However, the report was not without caveats. The auditing firm did find two material weaknesses and two significant deficiencies with the county’s fiscal condition last year.
Many, but not all, of the shortcomings stemmed from the problems that plagued the County Treasurer’s Office and the county’s conversion last spring to a new county-wide bookkeeping system.
In other business Monday morning, the commission:
• Approved setting the Booking Fee at the Barton County Detention Facility at $45, and rescinding a resolution adopted by the commissioners in January 1999 to establish a fee, which is collected as a court cost. The money helps offset the costs of booking or processing of persons convicted, diverted or adjudicated of certain Kansas statutes.
In 1999, the county began collecting a booking fee pursuant to Kansas statutes. The fee of $15 was recently reviewed and an increase was suggested since this was the lowest fee being charged in the state. The proposed Resolution increases the fee to the maximum allowed. Additionally, the monies from the District Court and each City Court in the county must be remitted to the County Treasurer’s Office at least monthly, with the funds deposited in the general fund.
• Approved a bid of $25,420.80 from Wilborn Sales of Salina for culverts. The Road and Bridge Department accepted bids for various sized culverts July 29. Specifications called for round culvert pipe, meeting Kansas Department of Transportation standards, in various sizes and end sections, said Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips. These help replenish the county’s inventory.
• Accepted the resignation of David Keil as the Fairview Township clerk, who resigned as of April 1. The commission also appointed Deric Funk as Keil’s replacement. Funk had been recommended by the township board, County Clerk Donna Zimmerman said.
It took a while to find a replacement because the township board had a difficult time finding someone to serve in the postion.
