In other business Monday morning, the Barton County Commission:
• Approved a proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Kansas Children’s Service League requested that such a proclamation be adopted. The proclamation states that “children are key to the State’s future success, prosperity and quality of life. While children are our most valuable and vulnerable resource, citizens are urged to recognize the importance of healthy families and take steps to ensure that Barton County communities are safe and stable for all children.” Family Crisis Center Director Laura Patzner presented the information.
• Approved a proclamation designating April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. The Family Crisis Center provides services for sexual assault survivors at no charge and offers educational and professional training for community members and professionals, Patzner said.
• Approved the reappointment of Christy Tustin, Dianne Morse and Earl Moses to the Barton County Planning Commission. The county has sought three applicants for the commission which focuses on the plan for the proper growth and development of Barton County through the enactment of planning and zoning laws for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare. Although all applicants must reside in Barton County, the majority of the nine members must be from the unincorporated area, which is now the case, said Environmental Manager Judy Goreham.
• Approved participating in the Federal Fund Exchange Program. The county has participated in this program in the past which allows the city to exchange federal funds for state funds which do not have all of the restrictions that come with using federal money. The exchange is a reduction of 10 percent of the total funds available. The total amount available for Fiscal Year 2014 is $302,160.82, so the county would receive 90 percent of that, said County Engineer Clark Rusco. KDOT allows the County to bank the money with KDOT to use for future federal-aid projects. Rusco recommended the county bank those funds.
• Approved an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation, Bureau of Construction and Maintenance, where by the Barton County Noxious Weed Department would treat weeks along state highway right-of-ways for a base fee $59 per hour. The state will also pay for any additional weed work that the county has to do on state roadways. Money earned will be deposited with Noxious Weed, said Dale Phillips, noxious weed director.
• Heard the annual Noxious Week Department report from Phillips. The Kansas Department of Agriculture, Weed and Pesticide Division, requires that each county’s noxious weed department submit an annual report of their activities for the previous year.
• Approved accepting reimbursement from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism in regards to work being done at the K-4 Cheyenne Bottoms scenic overlook. In November, 2013, the Commission approved a grant amendment for improvements at the overlook and subsequently hired Kirkham Michael to perform engineering services. The associated costs for Kirkham Michael, estimated at $7,200, are to be split with KDWPT. Rather than each agency paying Kirkham Michaels, the KDWPT would prefer to reimburse the county. This required action as payment is pledged from capital improvement, Boeckman said.
• Approved being a cooperative agency in an environmental impact study being conducted by the Bureau of Land Management, Oklahoma Field Office, in conjunction with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Eastern Oklahoma and Southern Plains Regional Offices. The project is designed to analyze lands and minerals under the jurisdiction of both agencies in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
One outcome will result in the revision of the three current Resource Management Plans within the Oklahoma Field Office’s jurisdiction. There is some land in Barton County that is included.
Barton County has been asked to become a cooperating agency and designate a primary representative. County Administrator Richard Boeckman was named to this position.
Commission to canvas votes
The County Commission will meet as the Board of County Canvassers at 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 7, in the County Clerk’s Office. At that time, they will canvass ballots from the city general\Ellinwood Hospital Board election. The Commission’s agenda meeting will begin at 9 a.m. or immediately following the close of the canvass.
Debbie Stephens pulled a dollar bill out of her pocket at the Barton County Commission meeting Monday morning and handed it to County Clerk Donna Zimmerman. With that simple transaction, Stephens and her GPS Kids Club had purchased the county’s Hoisington Annex Building.
“Our goal is to provide a safe, nurturing environment for children from kindergarten through sixth grade,” Stephens said. This will be done through after-school and evening programs, services on no-school days, academic enrichment and homework help, as well as indoor and outdoor activities.
They hope to be going by the start of the 2014-15 school year. In the mean time, there is a lot of planning that has to be done.
“This space is wonderful and perfect for this program,” Stephens said. The is part of the building that has already state licensed that can be used immediately, as well as room to expand in the future.
She hopes to start by service 35 children next fall. But, she hopes to take on Recreation Commission programs and serve as many as 100 come next summer.
The county took possession of the structure at 12th and Vine in 2006 when it was donated by the First Christian Church. At the time, the county was searching for a home for various non-profit agencies and the gift seemed like an ideal opportunity.
However, “that did not come to pass,” County Administrator Richard Boeckman said. The agencies didn’t like the idea of relocating to Hoisington and, except for a couple of exceptions, didn’t.
Head Start used a portion of the building for a while and Clara Barton Hospital is now leasing a portion of it. So, in November 2013, the commission unanimously agreed to sell the Annex.
“This is pretty exciting,” Commissioner Don Cates said. The donation was made with the understanding that the structure would be used for the benefit of Hoisington residents, and GPS certainly meets that requirement.
In preparation for the sale, the property has already been rezoned to commercial.
“Our community has been unbelievably supporting,” Stephens said. Citizens, the City of Hoisington, the Chamber of Commerce and the county have all cooperated on the effort.
Down the road, Stephens said he hopes to include volunteering and mentoring opportunities for local high school students. She also may start a day care service.
“We wish you a lot of luck with this endeavor,” Commissioner Jennifer Schartz said.
