By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
After an extra meeting ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, the Barton County Commission turned to a lighter agenda for Wednesday's regularly-scheduled meeting. The commission approved a bid for electrical work on a new sign at the health department, and also approved the purchase of a new ATV for county use.
Last month, the commission approved the purchase of a new electronic sign at the Barton County Health Department for $51,096. Mark's Custom Signs will install the digital sign but will not be handling the electrical work. Wednesday, Health Director Karen Winkelman asked for the funds required to complete the electrical work. The cost of the electrical work was removed from the original request for proposal (RFP). PNS Electric won the additional bid at $7,000.
"Half of it is coming from our maintenance of buildings," Winkelman said. "That's because the breaker box was going to have to be replaced regardless. The other $3,500 is going to come from state formula, and that is grant."
Winkelman said several of the health department's grants require messaging to the public and the new sign will better accomplish that.
"Twenty-four/seven we are able to get messages out to the public for upcoming events or emergency-type situations," she said. "We can get it displayed quickly."
The anticipated start date for the installation of the sign was not known as of Wednesday's meeting.
The commission also approved the purchase of a Polaris Sportsman XP from Straub's Powersports for $10,490, to be paid from the Noxious Weed Equipment Replacement Fund. The new ATV will be used for spraying weeds in the warm months and clearing sidewalks around the courthouse during the winter.