The Barton County Commission will start the Feb. 24 meeting with a public hearing on the possible expansion of Fire District No. 2. The hearing is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday in Suite 106 at the Barton County Courthouse. The meeting will be live-streamed at https://bit.ly/4sP9fEY.
Created in 2018, Fire District No. 2 consists of Albion, Eureka, North Homestead, South Homestead, and Union Townships and the Cities of Hoisington, Olmitz and Susank. It has been proposed that the District be expanded to include Fairview, Grant and Wheatland Townships, and the City of Galatia. The commission will hear public comments.
The regular commission meeting will follow the close of the hearing. It will include a resolution to expand the fire district.
Other items on the agenda:
• Jay Harris, director of K-State Extension, Cottonwood District, will present an annual review.
• The commission will consider a resolution calling for the placement of stop signs at the intersection of NE 220 Road and NE 10 Ave. in Union Township, for northbound and southbound traffic. Josh Beckman, county engineer, will present details.
• Chris Schartz, County Works director, will share the Noxious Weed Eradication Progress Report and the Management Plan.
• Juvenile Services Director Marissa Woodmansee will provide details on her department’s Fiscal Year 2027 funding/budget.
• Central Kansas Community Corrections Director Brooke Haulmark will provide detail’s of her department’s Fiscal Year 2027 funding. She will also request approval to replace a vehicle by purchasing a 2020 Dodge Durango AWD from the Great Bend Police Department for $20,000.
• Environmental Manager Judy Goreham will provide details on a request to extend the deadline for the annual review of the property located at 514 SW 20 Road, until March 10. A resolution adopted on March 4, 2025, allowed conditional approval for Larry and Sheree Marshall, doing business as Marshall Towing, to operate a salvage storage yard at that location. The extension is requested to accommodate the agenda schedule and to give the Marshalls time to submit the required documentation to assure compliance.
Announcements
• County officials may attend the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Ceremony on Feb. 28 at the Great Bend Events Center.
• County officials will attend County Day at the Capital on March 3, beginning at 9 a.m. in Topeka. As a result, the commission will not meet on March 3; its next meeting will be on March 10.
Appointments
Although subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled:
9:45 a.m. or following the close of the Agenda Meeting – planning session with media consultant.
10 a.m., program update with Josh Beckman, county engineer from Kirkham Michael.
10:15 a.m., program with Chris Schartz, County Works.
10:45 a.m., grant opportunities with Karen Winkelman, Public Health.
11 a.m., regular business discussion the County Administrator Matt Patzner.
