By DALE HOGG
Barton County Media Consultant
Stops in Claflin and Hoisington were on the itinerary last Tuesday as the Barton County commissioners continued their Travel 389 initiative. The program, aimed at giving the commission the chance to get out and meet face to face with residents and businesses across the county's 389 miles of roadways, started last week in Hoisington.
Included in Tuesday’s trip were: Squeegy’s Bar and Grill, the site of a planned USD 112 Central Plains School District daycare facility (Central Plains High School), Central Prairie Co-op, Millers of Claflin, Cheyenne Bottoms Armory/Quilting by Vickie, Bailey’s Food Bin and Front Street Merchants, all in Claflin; and Ehler Chevrolet and B&B Metal Arts in Hoisington.
The next stop will be Ellinwood this Tuesday. Residents interested in being included can contact the Administration Office at 1400 Main Street, Suite 108, Great Bend, by calling 620-793-1800, or by contacting their commissioner.
In other Barton Commission action last week:
- Façade Improvement Grant for downtown building
A $10,000 Façade Improvement Grant for the Moses Properties LLC-owned office building at 2015 Forest Avenue in Great Bend was approved by the Barton County Commission Tuesday morning. In addition to Moses’ office, it houses several other businesses.
The grant will fund improvements to the back of the building, which is part of the downtown Great Bend consumption district used for community events such as Great Bend Economic Development Inc.’s Final Fridays on Forest. The district roughly covers the area between Forest and Lakin, and between Main and Williams.
Commission Chairperson Tricia Schlessiger, District 4, said this will make a good enhancement to the growing consumption district. County Administrator Matt Patzner presented the grant request on behalf of Earl Moses. The commission directed the Commission Chair to sign the grant agreement and instructed the County Administrator to encumber the award from the General Fund.
- Land in Great Bend purchased by Barton County
The commission approved the purchase of a portion of four vacant lots in Great Bend for $25,050. The land, located between the Health Department and the Barton County Annex, was purchased from the Marilyn J. Kopke Revocable Trust and the Larry L. Kopke Revocable Trust.
The county was approached by representatives for the trusts to purchase the land, which is in the 1800 block of Lakin, on the south side of the street behind the Golden Belt Cinema 6 theater, said Patzner. The cost of the land will be paid from the Capital Improvement Fund.
“This is a good investment for Barton County for the future,” said Commissioner Duane Reif, District 1. It was noted that the commission doesn’t normally like to take property off the tax rolls, but there is potential here, and there is the option of selling back to a public buyer in the future.
The county is eying the site for storage, parking or other uses. But, “nothing is set in stone,” Patzner said.
The agreement for the purchase and sale of real estate was approved by the commission, with closing scheduled for Oct. 15. The county will also be responsible for additional expenses, including title insurance, inspections and closing costs.
- Commission approves updated road classification system
A resolution adopted by the commission on Tuesday authorized an updated functional classification map for county and township roads.
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) periodically works with counties across the state to update these maps, said Barton County Engineer Barry McManaman. The maps classify three types of rural roads not on the state highway system: Major collectors (heavily traveled blacktops), minor collectors (blacktops that see considerable traffic) local roads (mostly gravel roads).
There are just a handful of minor changes to road designations that will show up on maps, but “they don’t really change anything,” McManaman said. There are no changes for nearby residents nor in the level of service, and the county will continue to maintain the blacktops and the townships will maintain the gravel roads.
McManaman worked with KDOT staff to identify changes to the map that would more accurately reflect the level of service for the roads. The commission’s approval of the resolution and the updated map was required by KDOT. The resolution will have no impact on the county's budget.