Barton County Commission
Jan. 20, 2026
Barton County Courthouse, 9 a.m.
Items included on the Jan. 20, 2026, Barton County Commission agenda:
RESOLUTION 2026-03: A Resolution to Expand Fire District No. 2 to Include Fairview, Grant and Wheatland Townships, and the City of Galatia, Barton County, Kansas: -Matt Patzner, County Administrator, will present details. Created in 2018, Fire District No. 2 consists of Albion, Eureka, North Homestead, South Homestead, Union Townships and the Cities of Hoisington, Olmitz and Susank. It has been proposed that the District be expanded to include Fairview, Grant and Wheatland Townships, and the City of Galatia. Should this Resolution be adopted, the Barton County Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at the Barton County Courthouse, 1400 Main – Suite 106, Great Bend, Kansas, regarding the expansion. It is anticipated that the Board of Trustees, as appointed by the County Commission, would expand to a minimum of four (4) and a maximum of twelve (12) members.
FIRE DISTRICT NO. 2: Appointment of a Board of Trustees: -Mr. Patzner will provide details. Per Resolution 2018-10, which created Fire District No. 2, the members of the Fire District Board of Trustees shall consist of not more than one (1) appointee from each participating township and not more than one (1) from each participating city. There is one unexpired term ending December 31, 2026, open for North Homestead Township. Curtis Peterson has reapplied to represent the City of Olmitz. That term expires December 31, 2027.
COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE: 2025 Action Report: -J. Colin Reynolds, County Attorney, will provide the Commission with a 2025 action report that includes case filings, convictions and other relative statistics.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Local Emergency Planning Committee: -Sean Kelly, Emergency Management Director, will provide details. The Barton County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is comprised of representatives from the following groups: state/local officials; law enforcement; firefighting; emergency management; health; hospital; broadcast media and/or communications media; transportation; local environmental group; community service/civic group; emergency medical services; and facilities/industries regulated by SARA Title III. Nominations have been sought for appointment according to LEPC bylaws.
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 – -Elected officials have been invited to attend the Barton County Historical Society Annual Meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m., Monday, January 26, 2026, at the Best Western Courtyard, 2920 – 10th Street, Great Bend, Kansas.
The Commission meeting will be live-streamed through Microsoft Teams. Citizens may view the meeting through their own sign in or by signing in “anonymously”. Please follow this link: https://bit.ly/3KSUeAJ. If you wish to participate in the discussion of any item, please call (620) 793-1800 for instructions.