By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The Barton County Commission can no longer call the shoe department inside the former JC Penney building its home. Tuesday marked the last meeting at the facility as the board returns to the Barton County Courthouse next week. The treasurer's office is already open on the first floor of the courthouse. Administrative Assistant Diana Watson said everything is setting up nicely for a ribbon cutting and celebration at the renovated courthouse beginning at 1:30 p.m. on May 31.
"We'll have a ribbon cutting, cake, tours of the courthouse, pictures of all the renovations we've done, which is so behind the scenes," she said. "You'll get to see pictures of what the courtroom used to look like. You'll get to see the new lighting, where the treasurer's office is on the first floor now that has all built-in workstations. It is amazing."
The commission approved the HVAC Renovation Project at $4.2 million in February 2023. Improved ventilation, heating, and air-conditioning were the original focus of the project, but other upgrades were made during the process, including moving the treasurer's office from the second floor to the first floor. All county operations were moved out of the courthouse last July, and the building will again be fully operational by next week. County Administrator Matt Patzner said the changes will benefit county residents and employees.
"This was a lot of hard work but this is the community's building," he said. "We wanted to maintain it and keep it in operation for another 100 years. It's a beautiful courthouse, the centerpiece of our downtown. It's for the taxpayers. It's their building so we want them to come out and enjoy it and share it with us."
The May 31 celebration coincides with the Fridays on Forest and June Jaunt parade on the same evening. The first 100 age-appropriate people who tour the renovated courthouse will receive drink tickets for Fridays on Forest. Tours will be available until 6 p.m. All city officials and residents throughout Barton County are invited to the event. Area school students will provide live music throughout the afternoon, including Ellinwood students at 1:30 p.m.