Work on the High Risk Rural Roads signing project continues, according to information from Barton County Engineer Barry McManaman presented at the Barton County Commission meeting Monday morning.
This program dates back about three years and involves replacing traffic warning signs with new ones that meet new, more stringent national traffic standards for reflectivity. There are about 400 miles of blacktop roads in Barton County, but this only covers those that see the heaviest traffic.
Utilizing federal funds, the state is paying for the signs and county Road and Bridge Department crews will install them. However, engineering work has to be handled by a third party, in this case Kirkham Michael and Associates of Ellsworth.
According to Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips, the project is 25 percent complete. When completed, over 800 signs will be updated.
The update was part of the biweekly departmental update presented by commission Chairman Don Davis Monday. Other highlights included:
County Engineer
• Reece Construction began work on the new concrete box culvert three miles north of Beaver. The road was closed on Nov. 14 to allow the Barton County Road and Bridge crew to remove the existing structure. The road will remain closed until after the first of the year. The Barton County Engineering Technician is performing the inspection work.
• Inspected a hole in the road at the end of the Walnut Creek bridge on NW 30 Avenue and found no structural problem with the bridge. The hole was filled by the Road and Bridge crew and they removed barricades that had been placed as a precaution when the hole was found.
• Looked at a minimum maintenance road with the Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips and discussed maintenance issues with the township that asked about it.
• Sent two floodplain determinations to the Great Bend city building inspector for properties in the three-mile zoned area.
• Discussed four crude oil line replacements with a pipeline company and provided permit requirements. The lines cross beneath blacktop roads at various locations in the northeast part of the County. They will submit permit applications.
• Approved one floodplain permit for a pond.
• Received an updated Corps of Engineers permit for the drainage channel cleanout work near Ellinwood and visited with the engineering firm that designed the work.
• Talked to an engineer with the Federal Highway Administration who needed copies of bridge inspection data as a part of the periodic audit work they do to monitor the federal requirements for bridge inspections. Sent copies to the official.
Road and Bridge Department
Road and Bridge
• Road and Bridge staff continued work on improving five miles in the Cheyenne Bottoms area, removing trees and performing drainage projects.
• Mowing continued over the past two weeks. Mowers are currently in the northwest portion of the county.
• Winter preparedness continues.
Noxious Weed
• Noxious Weed staff completed pre-emergent weed control on County asphalt road right of way.
• Staff performed spraying in pastures for musk thistle.
• Staff began winterization on spray equipment.
Solid Waste Director Phil Hathcock
In the past reporting period, the Barton County Landfill took in:
• 988 tons of municipal solid waste
• 181 tons of construction/demolition waste
• 214 tons of special waste
• 511 loads of waste received for disposal
• $52,040.18 of revenue generated through disposal fees
Solid Waste staff has been busy with routine operation of the Landfill, recycling activities and litter control.
Environmental Management Judy Goreham
Barton County Environmental Management has moved out of the courthouse. The office is now three blocks north of the Courthouse at the intersection of 18th Street and Kansas Avenue, Great Bend. The new address is 1910 18th street, but all other contact information is the same
• Total permits issued during this period – 13
• Septic system permits – six
• Water well permits – five
• Building permits – two
Total Field Inspections Conducted during this period – 28
• Septic System Final Inspections – five
• Septic Tank Pump-Out Inspections – two
• Site Location for new Septic System – one
• In-House Water Tests Conducted – seven
• Lender Evaluations – three
• Certified Laboratory Water Test Collected – two
• Site Location for new Water Well – one
• Water Well Final Inspections – seven
The next regular meeting of the Barton County Planning Commission is scheduled for 3 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the Barton County Courthouse, first floor conference room. The public is invited to attend.
Juvenile Intake Director Marissa Woodmansee
• All Stars class was taught to two classes at Riley Elementary school. They were the sixth and seventh sessions of the series.
• Juvenile Intake and Assessment has completed 44 intakes since Nov. 3.
• Juvenile Intensive Supervised Probation and Case Management is currently supervising 60 youth from the 20th Judicial District.
• Project Stay is the case management program for youth who have truancy issues and currently provides case management for 35 youth in the judicial district.
• Teen Court is held every month and currently has 18 active cases.
