Great Bend Post
The County Commission will meet as the Board of County Canvassers at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 11, in the Office of the County Clerk, 1400 Main, Suite 202, Great Bend. They will canvass the Aug. 4, Primary Election ballots.
The agenda meeting will begin at 9 a.m., in the Commission Chambers, or following the close of the canvass.
APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS: -Bev Schmeidler, County Clerk, will present details. An Accounts Payable Register will be submitted to the Commission for the period of July 28, 2026, and ending Aug. 11, 2026.
NEW BUSINESS - COMMUNITY ANTI-DRUG COALITIONS OF AMERICA: Mid-Year Training Institute Recap: - Tyler Morton, Juvenile Services Prevention Advocate; Nichelle Holinde and Shane Sandberg, parents and stakeholders for the Youth Crew task force, will join area youth in presenting the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America mid-year training institute recap. Youth include (Great Bend High School) Branson Holinde (11th) and Braelyn Komarek (10th), (Ellinwood High School) Jaci Sandberg (10th) and (Hoisington High School) Mya Brewer (9th). The event was held earlier this year in Florida.
20th JUDICIAL DISTRICT JUVENILE SERVICES: Fiscal Year 2026 Year-End Outcomes: -Marissa Woodmansee, Juvenile Services Director, will provide details. The Kansas Department of Corrections provides grants to Kansas Counties to develop and maintain a range of programs for juvenile offenders. As a part of that grant funding, Juvenile Services is expected to meet certain outcomes as delineated in service provisions. The Year-End Outcomes Report sets out the results at the fiscal year's close and requires the review and approval of the Barton County Commissioners as the Administrative County for the District.
2025 AUDIT REPORT: -Jami Benyshek, Senior Audit Manager, AdamsBrown, will present the 2025 Audit Report to the Commission. The report will cover the financial condition of Barton County from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
KANSAS NATURAL RESOURCE COALITION: Member Vote on Endangered Species Act – Definition of “Harm”: -Matt Patzner, County Administrator, will provide details. The Kansas Natural Resource Coalition (KNRC) requests that each member county consider two ballot questions relative to KNRC’s proposed participation in federal litigation involving recent Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulatory changes. Ballot question one is: Should the Kansas Natural Resource Coalition be authorized to participate, at no cost to KNRC or its member counties, in federal litigation defending the repeal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s regulatory definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act?
KANSAS NATURAL RESOURCE COALITION: Member Vote on Endangered Species Act – Blanket Section 4(d) Rule: -Mr. Patzner will provide details. Ballot question two is: Should the Kansas Natural Resource Coalition be authorized to participate, at no cost to KNRC or its member counties, in federal litigation defending the repeal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s blanket Section 4(d) rule?
EXECUTIVE SESSION: -Chairman Duane Reif will present. Any Commissioner may make a motion for the board to recess to executive session at this time as allowed by K.S.A. 75-4319. Any motion must contain the justification for the executive session, the subject matter to be discussed, any individuals in addition to the board who will attend the executive session and the time at which the regular session shall resume.
ANTICIPATED ANNOUNCEMENT: -The Commission is invited to attend the Barton County Farm Bureau Association Annual Meeting and Dinner. Beginning at 5 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, at the Black Walnut Event Venue, 292 NE 10 Avenue, Great Bend, there will be a business meeting, election of certain board members and honorees presentation.