The Barton County Appraiser’s Office is currently taking calls regarding 2018 oil/gas, personal property and real estate values since tax bills have been mailed, County Appraiser Barb Esfeld said. Anyone wishing to appeal a 2018 value may file a Payment under Protest with the County Treasurer at the time payment is made.
Protest forms are available through the County Treasurer’s or the County Appraiser’s Office. The form is also available on the county website bartoncounty.org under the Appraiser’s appeals tab.
In another appraisal matter, Esfeld said appraisal staff will be out in the county measuring properties that have had building permits and properties that have sold, and reviewing properties for the 2019 values.
“As always, Barton County vehicles have the county logo on the side and all employees will be wearing badges,” she said. The office welcomes any questions that a citizen may have regarding appraisals, revitalization or any other appraisal related question.
Esfeld’s report was part of the county services update presented to the Barton County Commission Monday morning by County Administrator Phil Hathcock. Other highlights included:
County Engineer Barry McManaman
• Cartographer Bj Wooding attended the State-wide Scenic Byways meeting .
• Wooding reports the new kiosk signs for the Wetlands byway have been installed at the K-4 scenic overlook east of Redwing.
• Wooding has been working with Be Well Barton County committee for the design of new bike route signs.
• Collected pavement thickness samples on two bridge approaches in the county.
• Performed field work to document bridge conditions as a part of the Kansas Department of Transportation Bridge Load Rating Project.
• Looked at bridges with the County Works Director Darren Williams to assess needs for cleaning out drift wood.
County Works Director Darren Williams
Road and Bridge
• Staff was called out two weekends in November to treat roads for snow.
• The department held its annual snow training at the Road and Bridge shop and at the sandpit.
• The bridge crew is cleaning out at bridges, removing debris from the October flooding.
• Cold mix was laid at the railroad crossing in Albert after the CO-OP added a spur to haul grain by train.
• The third stone was dedicated at the Golden Belt Memorial Park on Veterans Day. Even with the cold weather, there was a great turnout.
Environmental Manager Judy Goreham
The next regular meeting of the Barton County Planning Commission will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, in the Barton County Courthouse ,first floor conference room. The public is invited to attend.
911 Director Dena Popp
• Continued training two new employees
• Handled 3,220 calls for service, answered 1,062 (911) calls and 6,139 administrative calls.
County Treasurer Jim Jordan
• 3,755 registration renewals
• 48 handicap parking tags
• 83 park permits
• Seven commercial
• All banking has been reconciled.
• Tax payments are in full swing.
Emergency Management
• On Nov. 13, the Barton County Local Emergency Planning Committee (sponsored by Barton County Emergency Management), held its fourth quarterly meeting of 2018. Emergency Manager Amy Miller reported on a functional exercise at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge on Oct. 22.
Miller explained the Central Kansas Wetlands Subarea Contingency Plan, a spill plan for Cheyenne Bottoms, Quivira Wildlife Refuge and Cheney Lake. Miller and county engineering technician Sean Kelly described the damage assessment capabilities utilized during the exercise and how damages are documented after any disaster.
The myriad high-tech tools available allow officials to submit the information such as photographs, GPS coordinates, time stamps and other data, to a central point for emergency planning and response, Kelly said.
Great Bend Fire Chief Luke McCormick joined the discussion. He thought that the apps would be of benefit to multiple agencies.
In other business, Miller requested the committee approve the publication of a public notice to inform citizens on how to access information about hazardous substances within Barton County, discussed sheltering and mass care plans, and talked about ways to share information with the public on Winter Weather Awareness Day which was Nov. 15.
• The Barton County Emergency Management Office also held its annual Training and Exercise Planning Workshop on Nov. 13 for emergency response partners within Barton County.
The TEPW provides a forum for planning an exercise calendar to accommodate the requirements for all agencies/facilities. Facilities and agencies are often required by grants or regulatory authorities to participate in an emergency exercise and coordination between agencies can result in planning efficiencies.
During the planning session, an exercise calendar and training classes for 2019 were developed, and a tentative list of exercises for 2020 and 2021 was established.
Juvenile Services Director Marissa Woodmansee
• The “Be Alert Project” made appearances in the communities of Hoisington and Great Bend as well as the schools. Staff from Juvenile Services attended the multiple presentations from Nov. 4-6.
• Juvenile Intake and Assessment completed 34 intakes from Oct. 26 to Nov. 25.
• Juvenile Intensive Supervised Probation and Case Management is currently supervising 44 youth post adjudication with an additional six on pre-adjudication supervision.
• Project Stay is the Case Management program for youth who have truancy issues and currently provides Case Management for 19 youth in the 20th Judicial District.
• Immediate Intervention (diversion supervision) has 25 youth currently participating.
