
By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
In late March, the Barton County Commission approved moving their asphalt preparation to Venture Corporation. In the past, Venture would have to break down their plant in order to bring the cold mix to the county’s pit. Looking for a more cost-effective method, Venture now mixes the asphalt and keeps the material at their plant.
Venture CEO Kip Spray informed the commissioners Tuesday that they are welcome to view the operation.
"I just wanted commissioners to know that we started mixing the cold mix for the county today," said Spray. "If any of you would like to meet me out there, I'd more than happy to show you the facility, where we're putting your cold mix and the operations out there."
All five commissioners visited the Venture asphalt plant Tuesday morning as the company mixed the asphalt for the 2025 road maintenance program. The county will receive 25,000 tons of asphalt from Venture at a cost of $32 per ton.
There are 389 miles of paved roads in Barton County, ranking near the top among Kansas counties. A quarter of county’s paved roads are overlaid each year. The southwest quadrant is the focus for repairs in 2025.