Alicia Straub has been serving on the Barton County Commission since 2015. She was renewed for another four-year term this past November when she won the uncontested race in the general election. The Ellinwood resident will now be leaving the Commission after getting chosen to represent the 113th District in the Kansas House of Representatives last Tuesday in Pratt.
Straub takes over for Greg Lewis. Lewis resigned the position February 22 for health reasons.
Alicia Straub Audio
As the 113th District Representative, Straub will represent Stafford and Pratt counties, and parts of Barton, Pawnee, and Rice counties.
Straub noted the bittersweet feeling leaving the Commission, but reminded everyone she is not moving and is serving the area in a different way. As for her path to this political office, Straub is not quite sure about being called a politician.
Alicia Straub Audio
Barton County will move forward filling Straub’s open seat on the Commission when the Barton County Republican Committee meets. Straub’s replacement will need to reside in the 4th District. A map of the 4th District can be viewed at bartoncounty.org.
BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Agenda Meeting — March 18, 20199:00 a.m. Until Close
I. OPENING BUSINESS:
A. Call Meeting to Order.
B. Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. Consider Approval of the Agenda.
D. Consider Minutes of the March 4, 2018, and the March 11, 2019, Regular Meetings.
E. Any citizen wishing to make statements during the discussion of any item must first be recognized by the Commission Chair. After being recognized, that person should state their name and the name of any organization represented. Statements should be limited to five minutes.
F. Cell phones and other electronic devices, other than those used by the media and law enforcement, should be shut off.
II. APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS: 13th Month – 5th Run:
-An Accounts Payable Register for the 13th Month, 2018, will be submitted to the Commission. Thirteenth month expenditures include any unpaid bills for a product, service, or utility that has actually been received in 2018.
III. APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS:
-An Accounts Payable Register will be submitted to the Commission for the period of March 4, 2019, and ending March 18, 2019.
IV. OLD BUSINESS – Items tabled, or scheduled, from previous Commission Meetings, will be heard at this time.
-There is no Old Business at this time.
V. NEW BUSINESS – All new business to be considered by the Commission will be heard at this time.
A. COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE: Request for Approval – Added / Abated / Escaped / Refunded Taxes:
-Donna Zimmerman, County Clerk, will present a listing of Added / Abated / Escaped /
Refunded Taxes. Orders for these actions are kept on file in the County Clerk’s Office. These
are used to correct assessments and are requested by the County Appraiser’s Office or the
County Clerk’s Office.
B. COUNTY CLERK / ELECTION OFFICE: Purchase of Replacement Voting Equipment:
-The current voting system is 12 years old and beginning to show wear. Before the equipment
becomes unreliable, the County Clerk proposes replacement. Pursuant to the Help America Vote
Act (HAVA), all Kansas voting systems must include electronic devices that enable an impaired
voter to vote unassisted. The Clerk’s Office personnel viewed various vendor products who
provide both electronic ballot markers with a paper ballot trail and precinct scanners. To meet
HAVA requirements and to best serve the needs of all voters, it is suggested that the Election
Systems & Software voting system be purchased. The cost includes precinct scanners, electronic
ballot marking devices, barcode scanners, encoders, hardened results computer, and memory.
Ms. Zimmerman will provide details.
C. COMPUTER INFORMATION CONCEPTS: Annual Peopleware Agreement:
-In 2013, the County purchased a commercial software package from Computer Information
Concepts, Inc. (CIC). The software includes tax administration, budgetary / fund accounting,
indexing / imaging, payroll / personnel and time / attendance. The Commission will now be
asked to consider approval of the Annual Peopleware Agreement have provides updates for the
soft- and hard-ware, including response time for customer support. Phil Hathcock, County
Administrator, will provide details.
VI. ENDING BUSINESS – After new items are heard by the Commission, the following items, including announcements, will be heard.
A. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-Following the close of the Agenda Meeting, the Commission will consider the authorization of
personnel changes for classified positions, sign any documentation approved during the agenda
meeting or sign any other documentation required for regular County business. Similar action
may take place throughout the day.
B. APPOINTMENTS:
Although subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled:
10:00 a.m. or following the close of the agenda meeting – Cold Mix Bid – Darren Williams,
County Works Director
10:15 a.m. – Job Fest Funding Request – Karen Neuforth, Job Fest Committee
10:30 a.m. – Financial Update – Matt Patzner, Financial Officer
11:00 a.m. – Regular Business Discussion – Phil Hathcock, County Administrator, and Donna
Zimmerman, County Clerk.
THE COUNTY EDITION, KVGB-AM – Thursdays at 11:05 a.m. Members of the Health
Department are scheduled for March 21, 2019.
VII. OTHER BUSINESS:
A. Discussion Items.
B. Citizens or organizations may present requests or proposals for initial consideration.
C. The Commissioners are available to the Public on Mondays during regular business
hours.
D. The Commissioners may, individually, schedule personal appointments related to County
business at their discretion.
E. The next Regular Meeting will be at 9:00 a.m., Monday, March 25, 2019.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., joined the HACC Chamber Chat Friday morning at FHSU.
By BECKY KISER
Sen. Jerry Moran was in Hays on Friday morning to get his hair cut and then swung by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Chat at Fort Hays State University.
The weekly event featured executive staff members of the FHSU Student Government Association, who explained the organization’s purpose and how it works.
Community Relations Director Jacki Dougherty, Wichita junior, talked about the outreach programs she coordinates, including partnerships.
Moran, one of the two Republican U.S. senators for Kansas and a former Hays resident, noted he had served in SGA when a student at FHSU.
“There’s nothing more important than what happens here at Fort Hays State University for the benefit and future of western Kansas. What takes place on this campus matters greatly,” Moran told the crowd. “It’s great to see the chamber of commerce, the business community of Hays, and the students come together.”
Moran visits with constituents at FHSU Friday morning, including Hays City Commissioner Ron Mellick.
After the Chamber Chat, Moran talked with many of the attendees and then sat down for a short interview with local media representatives.
Moran was asked about his vote Thursday for the Emergency Declaration Resolution of Disapproval to block President Donald Trump from using emergency powers to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Moran is one of just 12 Republicans who joined with Democrats in the 59-41 vote. The other Kansas senator, Pat Roberts, voted against the resolution.
The Democrat-controlled House approved the resolution last month, 245-182.
“I and many of my colleagues have been interested in more border security. … I’ve introduced legislation related to strengthening our borders, including money necessary for a wall to be built,” Moran said. “The question is, how do we get there since Congress rejected that?”
After the Senate vote, President Trump tweeted “VETO!”
Moran believes Trump has been “unfairly treated by Democratic leadership” that previously voted for funding for a wall and supported it.
“Perhaps because it’s now President Trump, they’re unwilling to do so,” he said.
The contention that building a wall across the southern border is immoral is “just wrong” in Moran’s view. “It is important to have border security and to know who’s coming across our borders.”
It’s also important, Moran says, that Congress abide by the U.S. Constitution.
Moran believes strongly the method of a president declaring an emergency and spending the money is a violation of the Constitution, which Moran has sworn to uphold.
“This can become a precedent for other presidents and emergency powers have certainly been used by previous presidents,” he said. “When (Democratic) President Obama was using executive orders to negotiate an agreement with Iran on its nuclear abilities, that should have been a treaty subject to Senate confirmation. I and many of my colleagues pushed back strenuously on his, in my view, excess use of executive power. The Democrats were in the majority and the votes weren’t there for success in the Senate.
“Other presidents have worked around Congress to do things that requires Congress to be engaged in. It was wrong then and it will be wrong in the future. Having taken that position with President Obama, I can’t pick and choose at which points in time I think the Constitution is important. I think it’s important always.”
The president is acting under an emergency powers act, a law that is unconstitutional, according to Moran, and needs to be repealed or amended.
“That’s where the focus was in advance of this vote and that’s where the focus is today after this vote, is to have a different set of criteria that guides a president’s ability to declare an emergency in what circumstances.”
Moran said he thinks there is sufficient Republican Congressional support to “rein in” the law that allows presidential emergency powers regardless of the circumstances. “I don’t know about Democratic support, but there ought to be to do so.”
Moran acknowledged the difficulty in amending the law.
“Probably no president will ever agree to sign a law that restricts their authorities,” he said with a wry smile. “It’s a really old law and being used in ways suggesting that it must be amended. It will take a president or a super majority of House and Senate members to alter the law.”
According to Moran, the president on Thursday “indicated that he would consider” signing an amended law “in the future.”
Mid-afternoon Friday, President Trump signed the first veto of his administration, overriding Congress to protect his emergency declaration for redirecting more than $6 billion in federal funds for the border wall.
Friday morning Moran predicted there would not be a vote in the Senate on the override and that a vote would fail in the House.
“But I intend to be consistent with my past votes,” he added.
Trump’s national emergency declaration still faces legal challenges. Sixteen states filed a lawsuit last month challenging the declaration as unconstitutional.
Below is the statement Moran issued yesterday regarding his vote on the Emergency Declaration.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Committee – Thursday announced he will support H. J. Res. 46, the Emergency Declaration Resolution of Disapproval.
“President Trump is correct, there is a need for better border security,” wrote Sen. Moran. “…I have introduced legislation and voted many times for greater funding for border security, including President Trump’s border wall.”
“Upon my election to public office, I take one oath – to uphold the Constitution of the United States,” continued Sen. Moran. “I believe the use of emergency powers in this circumstance violates the Constitution. Allowing the use of such power establishes a precedent for future presidents to further act against laws and appropriations approved by Congress. This continues our country down the path of all powerful executive – something those who wrote the Constitution were fearful of.”
Sen. Moran’s full written thoughts can be found here and below.
1. President Trump is correct, there is a need for better border security.
2. Our borders are a matter of national sovereignty and control over who enters our country is vital in our fight against terrorism and battle against drugs and human trafficking.
3. Many Americans and most Kansans agree with the President that this is an important issue and must be dealt with.
4. The President has not been fairly treated by Democrats in Congress – a wall is not immoral and democrats have previously supported funding border barriers.
5. I have introduced legislation and voted many times for greater funding for border security, including President Trump’s border wall.
6. The President can advance the building of a wall with the funding just approved by Congress and can increase the funds available by reprogramming other accounts.
7. Therefore, the declaration of an emergency is not necessary.
8. The declaration of an emergency under these circumstances is a violation of the U.S. Constitution. The laws passed by Congress years ago allowing the president emergency powers is flawed and needs to be repealed or amended.
9. In high school government class we all learned about our Founding Fathers and the three separate, but equal branches of government. This concept is one of the most significant in protecting America as a republic and maintaining citizen freedoms & liberties. Both government structure and the Bill of Rights matter.
10. Upon my election to public office, I take one oath – to uphold the Constitution of the United States. I believe the use of emergency powers in this circumstance violates the Constitution.
11. Allowing the use of such power establishes a precedent for future presidents to further act against laws and appropriations approved by Congress. This continues our country down the path of all powerful executive – something those who wrote the Constitution were fearful of.
12. Kansans have criticized President Obama for abuse of executive orders, ignoring the laws and avoiding the requirements of negotiating a treaty when dealing with foreign powers. I agree and fought it.
13. I aggressively opposed the overreach of past presidents and believe that I can not pick and choose to now look the other way.
14. If the Constitution means one thing in the Obama administration and another in the Trump administration, the enduring value of the Constitution disappears and another generation of Americans will be less free.
15. The number one responsibility we have as American citizens is to pass to the next generation of Americans our constitutionally guaranteed liberties. There are days where it seems clear we are failing greatly.
16. How we do things – even good things – matters. We were raised that the ends don’t justify the means.
17. To find a loop hole on this issue and to vote another way might be an easier course. But my gut, my intellect, my understanding of history, tells me use of emergency powers is wrong. It can’t be an option to support something I believe wrong.
18. This country is filled with people who care, who are patriots, who served in our military. I try never to let anyone down. On my watch I always want to do right as I see it.
On Friday, March 15 at approximately 9:20 a.m., the Great Bend Police Department executed a narcotics search warrant at 215 Fruit Street in Great Bend.
Methamphetamine, marijuana, and items of drug paraphernalia were located during the search of this residence. Three individuals were located on scene.
Martha A. Comfort, age 58; Peter Zamarripa, age 50; and Julian Huitron, age 58 were arrested and transported to the Barton County Detention Center on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
This investigation continues. Anyone with any criminal activity information is asked to call the Great Bend Police Department 620-793-4120 or Crime Stoppers 620-792-1300.
Barton Community College has been providing affordable and accessible higher education to Barton County for almost 50 years, and the question of what exactly taxpayers are getting for their money comes up every year at tax time.
The college’s Institutional Effectiveness Department has attempted to make the return on investment easy to understand and as simple as one number. The answer they have provided is for every $1 in taxes, Barton County residents enjoy a return of $2.76 injected into the local economy.
Here is a breakdown of the math:
Barton Community College received $8,083,163 in property taxes from Barton County.
The college spent $7,053,455 in Barton County.
Employees living in Barton County were paid $12,652,375 in wages.
Students living in Barton County spent $2,630,880.
Total Direct Economic impact was $22,336,880. (Items 1-3 added together.)
The $8,083,163 in taxes the college collected in 2017 resulted in the circulation of $22,336,880. The latter divided by the former generates the rate of return of 276 percent. For every dollar in taxes, Barton County’s economy sees $2.76.
One might wonder how the college is able to spend more than what it received in local property taxes. The answer is that property taxes are less than a third of the college’s total revenue, at about 27.2 percent. About 41 percent comes from student tuition and fees. Another 26.4 percent comes from state aid, with grants and other sources making up the last 5 percent. The 27.2 percent of the revenue from taxpayers makes possible the other 72.8 percent of revenue, much of which is spent locally and contributes to the high return on investment.
The college’s personnel chose to be extremely conservative with their estimates, only calculating the direct economic impact of the college’s operations. Typically, economic impact studies concerned with geographic areas the size of counties use multipliers ranging from 1.9 to 3.0. This is to estimate the indirect impact of the college, like the socioeconomic benefits of having a higher education institution in the county, other spending that occurs as a result of the college’s presence, a more skilled labor pool to support industry and more.
A conservative multiplier of 1.9 would yield a benefit to Barton County of $42,440,072, or $5.25 for every tax dollar collected by the college.
The study was conducted by Barton’s Institutional Research staff, and was corroborated and certified by the Docking Institute through Fort Hays State University, which said the report is acceptable. The public can view the Docking Institute’s response and verification at bartonccc.edu/economic-impact.
BOOKED: Maria Rodriguez-Carales of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $500 C/S.
BOOKED: Mark Williams of Larned on hold for Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office.
BOOKED: Sergio Luna-Rodriguez of Great Bend on a Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $250 C/S.
BOOKED: Nicholas Hicks for hold for BTDC, hold for KDOC.
BOOKED: Brandon Witthuhn for rape and aggravated battery, criminal threat, no bond.
BOOKED: Leena Witman of Hoisington on BTDC warrant for possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, bond set at $1,000 C/S.
BOOKED: Jasmine Velasco of Great Bend on a GBMC warrant for contempt with a bond set at $699.50 cash only or serve 30 days in jail.
BOOKED: Ryan Hardey on BTDC warrant for failure to appear, no bond.
RELEASED: Maria Rodriguez-Carales of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, posted $500 cash.
RELEASED: Alia D. Lucas on GBMC case for battery LEO and obstruction and disorderly conduct, released by order of the court through Judge Pike.
RELEASED: Charles Bowers of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for contempt, GBMC warrant for contempt, GBMC warrant for contempt, released by order of the court through Judge Pike.
RELEASED: Sergio Luna-Rodriguez of Great Bend on BCDC warrant for failure to appear after posting a $250 cash bond through GBPD.
RELEASED: Christopher Caton of Great Bend on BTDC case for probation violations, time served on both Barton cases.
RELEASED: Kristina Bolz of Hoisington on BTDC case for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, illegal tint, stoop lamps, windshield. Granted OR bond amount of $10,000 through Judge Burgess.
RELEASED: Pablo Martinez of Great Bend on BCDC case after receiving a $1,000 OR bond.
RELEASED: Derek Lysinger posted a $1,000 surety bond on BCDC case for aggravated domestic battery, criminal threat, criminal damage to property, criminal restraint, domestic battery x2 and BTDC case for failure to appear. Both bond posted through Ace Bail Bonding.
RELEASED: Cale Cordell of Great Bend on BTDC case for contempt of court, released per C/A.
RELEASED: Sean Brown on BTDC case for sentence served in full.
RELEASED: Mark Williams of Perkins, OK posted a $500 cash bond on PNDC case for disorderly conduct and drunk pedestrian.
RELEASED: Leena Witman of Hoisington posted a $1,000 surety bond through Ace Bail Bonding on BTDC case for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
RELEASED: Jasmine Velasco of Great Bend on a GBMC warrant for contempt after paying the cash bond of $699.50.
The Barton Community College Theatre Department will host open auditions for its third annual Original Play Series 5-6:30 p.m. March 26 and 27 in the Fine Arts Auditorium. Auditions are open to all students, staff, faculty and community members. No experience or preparation required.
Barton Theatre Director Dr. Rick Abel said submitted original scripts are being reviewed and considered for the performance. The plays are expected to be between 20-30 minutes long. Three or four plays will be selected. Submitted plays must be original, never produced before and submitted by March 18 to Dr. Rick Abel at abelr@bartonccc.edu.
“The last two productions were so successful that we are choosing to make this a regular part of our theatre season,” Dr. Abel said. “I am happy with this addition to our program; it fosters creative writing with our students and community.”
The production will be a one-night performance April 25 in the Fine Arts Auditorium.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations and Subcommittee on Defense – today released the following statement after voting in favor of the Yemen War Powers Resolution, S.J. Res 7:
“The war in Yemen began four years ago this month, furthering tensions in the region and creating the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. More than 14 million Yemenis are on the brink of famine, and Yemen is home to one of the world’s worst cholera outbreaks in history. The United States’ involvement in providing support to Saudi Arabia – which was never properly debated or approved by Congress in 2015 – has prolonged needless suffering, and our engagement in this war must come to an end.
“I voted today to reassert Congress’s constitutional responsibility to authorize involvement in overseas conflicts and to bring an end to America’s participation in the war in Yemen. With this vote, the Senate took an important step to promote peace and security on the Arabian Peninsula.”
Items to Note:
Last December, Sen. Moran voted in favor of the Yemen War Powers Resolution, S.J. Res 54, which passed the Senate 56-41.
Sen. Moran has joined letters to the Administration expressing concern regarding the humanitarian impact of the siege of Hudaydah, Yemen, as well as questioning the certification of Saudi compliance with American law.
BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Agenda Meeting — March 18, 20199:00 a.m. Until Close
