By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The Barton County Commission made quick work of its open meeting Wednesday morning at the courthouse. The commission did approve a pair of expenditures and voted to approve a nomination for the Memorial Parks Advisory Committee.
Matthew Patzner, the county's director of operations, presented an invoice for $62,960 on a maintenance agreement for the two 800 megahertz radio repeater towers operated by Barton County Communications. Over the past two years, the maintenance was covered by Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) funds. With time expiring on those funds, the commission voted to use 911 tax monies to pay the maintenance invoice.
"Any time we can pay for something with fee-based income versus levied-income, that means the taxpayers aren't paying more property taxes to pay for this," said Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson.
County Works Director Darren Williams also presented on buyback options for two Bobcat Track Loaders. The commission opted to exercise the 2-year option, locking in a rate of $11,000 for each loader. The current units, purchased in 2014 and 2017, will be replaced by 2023 units.
"There's a huge advantage of this," said Commissioner Kirby Krier. "If you do the 1-year, next year when you do another rollover, it could be 12,000 or 15,000."
Williams also reported on the status of the Memorial Parks Advisory Committee. With not less than five, nor more than seven uncompensated members, two positions remained open. The commission approved the appointment of Hoisington's Kathleen McGinnis to the committee.