In other business, the commission:
• Approved rejoining the Kansas County Commissioners Association for $607.50. Tied closely to the Kansas Association of Counties, this organization is comprised of commissioners serving the 105 counties in Kansas. Education, training, partnering and seeking strategic alliances that benefit the interests of county government and its citizens are its core goals.
Although Barton County did not belong to the KCCA this last year, it has in years past, Commissioner Kenny Schremmer said. “I thought it was a very, very worthwhile organization.”
• Postponed acting on the purchase of a grouting machine by the Road and Bridge Department. The machine would be used to repair the historic stone bridges in the county and would have cost $27,635. Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips and commission members said they needed more time to research and discuss the issue.
• Heard a report form Boeckman outlining the recent activities of various county departments.
In January, the Barton County Commission approved holding the annual tax sale in October. At the time, there were 405 properties on the auction block.
However, commissioners learned Monday morning, that number has now been whittled down 109 parcels. “The whole goal of the tax sale is to get taxes paid,” County Administrator Richard Boeckman said.
Property owners can still avoid having their property sold at auction. They just need to come to the County Treasurer’s Office and pay the taxes due in full, plus the $165 redemption fee which covers the work done by the county officials.
Boeckman praised the efforts of County Treasurer Kevin Wondra, Diana Watson from his office and others for their aggressive efforts to get the properties taken care of and their hours of labor on the project. “There are a lot of moving parts involved.”
On March 12, the 2013 Tax Sale petition was filed with the Clerk of the District Court. Subsequent to the filing, the county sent each party to the sale a summons, a copy of the petition and the corresponding limited Certificate of Title by certified mail.
Prior to the filing, a list of delinquent properties has been published in the Great Bend Tribune and the owners had been contacted by other means.
In previous sales, Boeckman said the typical number of parcels up for auction is about 15.
