In an attempt to be better prepared for the future, the Barton County Commission Monday morning approved funding the county’s capital improvement and equipment replacement plans.
By approving the 2014 operating budget when it met Monday, the commission included cash transfers to the five-year plans to be set aside for major expenses. Both are tweaked every year during the budgeting season.
“They are becoming a better planning tool,” County Administrator Richard Boeckman said. “They aren’t just a wish list anymore” and include feasible, realistic projects.
Capital improvement involves projected maintenance and remodeling of county buildings, and major modifications to roads and bridges, Boeckman said. Many of the facilities used by the county are old and require extensive care.
This plan is funded at $2.4 million for the next five years. However, there are major repairs expected for the Sheriff’s Office and expensive projects in the works for the courthouse.
As for the equipment plan, it is funded at $4,264,000. On the horizon is the mandates purchase of new voting machines which will be expensive, Boeckman said.
Boeckman said the annual transfers to the plans keep the county from being caught off guard and help avoid borrowing money for projects.
In other business Monday morning, the Barton County Commission:
• Approved the county’s contract with Southwest Developmental Services Inc. as the Community Developmental Disability Organization for the county. Under the 2014 service agreement, SDSI will provide all services required by Kansas statutes for a CDDO for a total of $80,000.
Southwest contracts with the State of Kansas as a CDDO for an 18-county area in southwest and central Kansas. It has offices in Garden City and Great Bend.
SDSI does not provide services directly to individuals. It contracts with affiliated community providers and helps coordinate services.
It has a total budget of $10 million. Last year, Barton County’s contract was for $100,000.
• Approved supporting an application to the Kansas Division of Emergency Management for the 2013 Emergency Management Performance Grant. The EMPG Program provides funding to assist states and local governments in developing and carrying out emergency management programs, said Amy Miller, emergency management director.
The money comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and is funneled through KDEM to the counties. However, Miller said, the amount of the grants for this year remains unknown due to delays at FEMA. Last year, the grant was for $24,000.
• Approved a rezoning amendment request made by Joshua L. Gisick, doing business as  Gisick Construction, for land owned in Odin. Gisick, who has been in business since 1995, wants to build a 30x50-foot shed on his property. He also requested and received a waiver from set-back regulations so he could locate the new structure closer to his property lines so it would interfere with the views of nearby homeowners.
The Barton County Planning Commission unanimously recommended that the commission approve his requests, said Judy Goreham, environmental manager. She said no one attended public hearings on the changes and there were no comments opposing them.
• Approved the Central Kansas Community Corrections Fiscal Year 2013 revised budget narrative and summary. Amy Boxberger, CKCC director, said the total new total was $414,187.
• Approved the 2014 authorized positions listing is presented for adoption. The listing includes all county positions, including Central Kansas Community Corrections and 20th Judicial District Juvenile Services, since both fall under the umbrella of county operations.