By KEN CARPENTER
Great Bend Post
Matt Patzner has been offered the top administrative job at the Barton County Courthouse. At Tuesday's County Commission meeting, all five commissioners voted to offer Patzner the position of Barton County Director of Operations effective January 1. Patzner is expected to accept the position when a contract is finalized and will take over the duties currently performed by Interim County Administrator Barry McManaman.
Patzner came to work for the county in 2014 as a financial analyst. He was appointed the county's Director of Finance and Human Resources in 2016.
The decision to approve Patzner for the new role of Director of Operations came after the Commission met in a private executive session. Before the vote, Commissioner Kirby Krier pointed out that Patzner will continue to carry out his current responsibilities.
“Mr. Chairman, also too in those duties, he will still be the H.R. and he will still be the financial officer,” Krier clarified. “He will have three hats to wear.”
The motion to hire Patzner stipulated that Patzner will be paid an annual salary of $100,000.
Just before commissioners voted to select Patzner, they thanked McManaman for serving as the interim administrator since August and awarded him a plaque.
