The Barton County Zoning Appeals Board held two public hearings on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. As a result of these public hearings, the board voted to grant two “after the fact” zoning variance requests to South Homestead Township relating to the building erected without permits or floodplain compliance in April 2015, Environmental Manager Judy Goreham said.
The variances were granted because the township was able to bring the structure into compliance for their floodplain violation, obtain a 99-year lease agreement to allow the building to be on the landowner’s property and was granted the variance for their property line set back request.
This information was given as part of a biweekly departmental update presented at Monday morning’s County Commission meeting by Operations Director Phil Hathcock. Other highlights included:
Environmental Management
• The Barton County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, to consider a conditional land use permit application submitted by Midwest Energy Inc. for a proposed communications tower they wish to build northwest of Susank. The public is invited to attend this public hearing.
In other updates:
Total permits issued during this period – 44
Septic system permits – 11
Water well permits – 10
Septic pumper licenses – 3
Septic installer licenses – 14
Building permits – 6
Total field inspections conducted during this period – 96
Septic system final inspections – 18
Septic tank pump-out inspections – 15
Site location for new septic system – 5
Lagoon final inspection - 1
In-house water tests conducted – 23
Lender evaluations – 12
Lender evaluation re-visit – 2
Certified laboratory water test collected – 12
Nuisance code violation inspections – 2
Floodplain compliance meetings / inspections – 1
Water well final inspections – 1
Septic pumper truck inspections – 2
Daycare inspections – 2
County Engineer Barry McManaman
• L&M Contractors began deck patching on the northbound lane of the Radium Road Arkansas River bridge. The county technician is doing the inspection work.
• The cartographer gathered information for the purchase of an upgrade to the aerial imagery contract
• The cartographer is working on a software update to the NextGen 911 system.
• The office assistant has been researching files for road openings and vacates.
• The office assistant is organizing the annual County Engineer’s Township Meeting
• Met with township officials at various times on drainage and maintenance issues
• Issued large load permit approvals for manufactured homes
County Works Director Darren Williams
Road and Bridge
• Replaced Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway signs on county blacktops. The Kansas Department of Transportation provided the signs for the replacement.
• Work on Boyd Road – removed an entrance and fixed the guardrail washouts at the two bridges just north of the Boyd Elevators. Ditch work and culvert replacement and cleanout was performed between NW 30 and 50 Road.
• Currently mowing the southwest quarter of the County.
• Continued shouldering Boyd Road for the shoulder drop-off.
County Appraiser Barb Esfeld
The Barton County Appraiser’s Office is in the process of establishing values for all real estate in the County. Staff will be out in marked County vehicles reviewing property. Most real estate properties are valued at their fair market value per Kansas Statute 79-503a. Property Values will be mailed out by March 1st. If a taxpayer wishes to appeal the appraised value, they have 30 days from the date the value was mailed to request an informal meeting with County staff. If an owner disagrees with a value this is the best time to appeal the property since the 2018 taxes will be based on this value.
Personal property and Oil and Gas renditions will be mailed out by January 31st. To avoid penalties personal property renditions need to be signed and returned by March 15th. Oil and Gas renditions need to signed and returned by April 1st to avoid penalties.
The County does not like to assess penalties to taxpayers. If you have any questions, please contact this office at 620-793-1821. The Appraiser is located in Room 206 of the Courthouse.
County Treasurer Jim Jordan
Registration renewals – 592
New title and registrations – 397
• All banking is up to date.
• All property taxes have been applied in the year 2017. The only carry-over is what came in the mail after Dec. 29, 2017.
Juvenile Services Marissa Woodmansee
• Juvenile Services met to do a year in review and work on a strategic plan to prioritize work efforts for 2018.
• Juvenile Intake and Assessment has completed 38 intakes since Nov. 30, 2017.
• Juvenile Intensive Supervised Probation and Case Management is currently supervising 43 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 21 youth in the district.
• Immediate Intervention has 37 youth currently participating in the program.
• Staff continues to provide support for the elementary schools in Great Bend for the All-Stars classes being provided for 205 sixth graders by family support workers from the schools.
