BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Agenda Meeting
February 25, 2019   9:00 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 Tuesday, February 19, 2019, Regular Meeting.
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. OLD BUSINESS – Items tabled, or scheduled, from previous Commission Meetings, will be heard at this time.
-There is no Old Business at this time.

III. 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. APPRAISER’S OFFICE: Valuation Update:
-By March 1 of each year, the Appraiser’s Office is to have completed valuation of property and mailed notices to the public per K.S.A 79-1460. Barb Esfeld, County Appraiser, will report on the mailing of notices of valuation and valuation trends.
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IV. 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:

FEBRUARY 25, 2019
9:15 a.m. – Homeland Security Audit – Dereck Hollingshead, Network Administrator
9:30 a.m. – Program Update – Barry McManaman, County Engineer
10:00 a.m. – Program Update – Levi Morris, County Attorney
10:30 a.m. – Program Review – Bob Wetmore, Great Plains Development
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. Amy Miller, Emergency Risk Manager, is scheduled for February 28, 2019.

V. 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 4, 2019.

VI. ADJOURN.

It’s a two-minute recap of some of the headlines that broke this past week in the Golden Belt.

BUSINESS NEWS

Story and portrait by Brandon Steinert

Barton Welding Instructor Wade Morris spent 35 years fusing metal as a pipeline welder, foreman and in various other roles before coming to Barton in the fall of 2018; he knows what it takes to be a good welder. Skill and technique are important technical proficiencies, he said, but the real basis of mastering the trade is found a little deeper.

“Attitude,” he said. “It’s about your ability to give attention to detail, and welding is about practice. If you can put in the time and effort, you’ll become a good welder.”

He said while anyone can become skilled at the craft, some individuals do seem to take to it a little better than others.

“Artsy people who can draw… they usually make pretty good welders, but it still depends on your attitude,” he said.

Morris’ approach to teaching reflects his philosophy of practice-makes-perfect, as he puts them to work as much as possible.

“I try to keep a limited amount of time in the classroom,” he said. “It’s much more important to get the quality time in the welding booths. My students get lots of hands on time, and if they have problems they come to me or they help each other.”

The time students get with the instructor because of the small student-to-teacher ratio is one of the many benefits of Barton’s program, which takes only one semester to complete via a series of four-week classes that meet every day. The program covers all the basic welds, MIG, TIG and stick, and cutting processes including training on a CNC plasma cutting table. All the equipment in the updated facility is state-of-the-art.

Once they’re done picking Morris’ brain for a semester, students who complete the program can enjoy a plethora of career options.

“People are crying for welders,” Morris said. “You’ll enjoy independence and you can go anywhere you want and work. And there’s no limit to the money you can make, depending on how many hours you want to work. Basic welding jobs start out at $17 to $25 per hour. You can come here for one semester and make a pretty good living.”

Morris’ own career took him all over the country as a welder, and developed a knack for teaching others to weld by coaching welders’ helpers on how to lay a quality bead.

“It was always a challenge to turn a welder’s helper into a good welder,” he said. “It’s kind of the same thing here. You might start with someone who only knows how to spell weld, but they come in and you watch them progress and then they go to work. That’s a good feeling.”

Barton’s welding certificate is 16 credit hours and costs about $3,600 total with equipment and fees.

For more information about Barton’s welding program or to enroll, visit welding.bartonccc.edu.

written by: Donna Krug

While it still seems early in the year to me, I must admit the days are going by in a hurry. Of course each day brings us one day closer to spring, which means warmer weather and longer bike rides. Many of the Extension programs I will be presenting in the weeks ahead deal with health or nutrition issues. Today I want to talk about another type of health – that is financial health.

The last week in February is designated as Kansas Saves week. This coincides with a national campaign America Saves. The slogan for this year is Start saving for your ‘someday’. The primary focus of Kansas Saves Week is to encourage financial action – commitments to save, reduce debt, invest and build wealth.

Whenever I teach a budgeting class I like to share the worksheet titled, “Does your money have wings?” It lists twenty or more things many families spend money on – like, snacks, eating out, cell phone charges, health club, late charges, etc. When participants in my class multiply the amount they spend on such items in a year it can be an eye opening experience. The goal of the worksheet is to help people see how much money is spent on non-essential extras and help them focus on cutting back on their spending.

Since this years’ theme is to start saving for your ‘someday’ perhaps it is time to consider saving automatically. It is proven to be the easiest and most effective way to save. There are several ways to make this work. One way is to have your bank or credit union transfer a fixed amount from your checking account to a savings or investment account. Or you can set it up with your employer to deduct a certain amount from your paycheck and transfer it to a savings account. Having clear goals for what you are saving for will help keep you motivated and you will be surprised at how quickly you can reach your goal.

Feel free to stop by my office or give me a call if you would like additional information about saving and budgeting.

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K- State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu

Since a brand-new golf cart was donated last fall to the Sunflower Diversified Services Charity Gala live auction, the list of attractive items has continued to grow, said Connie Oetken, director of development.

“Thanks to our generous five-county community, we have received many big-ticket items, as well as numerous offerings for the silent auction,” Oetken said. “Anyone who wants to donate an item and/or reserve a seat at the Gala is encouraged to contact us.”

The 14th annual event begins with a social hour at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2 at the Great Bend Events Center, 3111 10th Street. Participants can expect an open bar, wine at every table and a meal catered by Classic Inn.

“The Gala is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Oetken noted. “The community has a legacy of supporting our neighbors with intellectual disabilities and delays. We trust that legacy will continue.”

In addition to the cart, another golf-related donation includes four rounds of golf, four steak dinners, four private indoor golf lessons by PGA certified instructor Tom Swain, and six rounds of indoor golf with selections from 50 featured courses such as St. Andrews and Pebble Beach.

Other live auction selections include: limousine transportation to and from next year’s Gala; Green Mountain grill; football autographed by Bill Snyder; handgun; hand-carved Jayhawk; Serta queen mattress and box springs; 75-quart Bison cooler; 239-piece mechanics tool kit; money wreath; basketball signed by Dean Wade; 5-by-8-foot trailer with sideboards; Cross Mountain Home; and The Lodge at Branson.

Categories for the silent auction include: jewelry; wall hangings; bath and body gifts; wine; gift certificates; purses; seasonings; housewares; and cat and dog food.

“We always try to offer something for everyone’s taste and budget,” Oetken. “The community stepped up again this year to allow us to reach this goal.”

“Every dollar we raise supplements the cost of direct services such as early education, independent living and employment opportunities. Our fundraisers are crucial to the people we serve because there is so much need and not enough tax revenues.”

Auctioneer Mike Niedens and Emcee Scott Donovan will keep the audience informed and entertained again this year. The basketball arcade and putting green will be available.

A seat at the Gala is $100. Contact Oetken by calling 620-792-1325 for more information, or to donate or make a reservation.

Sunflower, a non-profit agency, serves infants, toddlers and adults with intellectual disabilities and delays in Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties. It is in its 53rd year.

BOOKED: Jonathan Houp of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, bond set at $500 C/S.

BOOKED: Richard Newkirk of Hoisington on Ellis County District Court warrant for probation violation, no bond. Harvey County District Court warrant for failure to appear, no bond.

BOOKED: Margaret D. Becker on Barton County District Court warrant for failure to appear, bond of $300 cash or a 48-hour OR.

BOOKED: Jorge Aguilera on Ellis County District Court warrant for domestic battery with a bond set in the amount of $1,500 C/S.

BOOKED: Morgan C. McHenry on Rice County District Court warrant for failure to appear, bond of $500 C/S.

RELEASED: Earl Davis of Great Bend on GBPD case for domestic battery, released by order of the court by Judge Pike.

RELEASED: John Houp of Great Bend on GBMC warrant for failure to appear, posted bond amount of $500 through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: Derrick Ketch of Great Bend on BTDC warrant for battery DV, posted bond of $1,000 through Ace Bail Bonding.

RELEASED: BJ Corter of Hoisington on case after posting a $20,000 OR bond.

RELEASED: Margaret D. Becker on Barton County District Court warrant with a $300 cash bond.

With the majority of states repealing laws dealing with cereal malt beverages, Kansas and Utah are the only two states in the country that sell 3.2 beer, or weak beer. The beer that contains only 3.2 percent alcohol by weight is sold at grocery and convenience stores while the higher alcohol level beer is only allowed at liquor stores. That is about to change on April 1, 2019 when all stores will be able to sell beer with up to six percent alcohol.

Great Bend City Attorney Bob Suelter says the weaker beer has been around for decades.

Bob Suelter Audio

The Kansas Legislature passed a bill in 2017 to allow stores like Walmart and Dillons to sell stronger beer, but allowed for a two-year transition so businesses could adjust to the lack of 3.2 beer manufactured into the state.

With very little demand for 3.2 beer, manufacturers are eliminating the production.

Bob Suelter Audio

The new grocery and convenience store beer will be called “enhanced alcohol beer” but has to be below six percent alcohol by weight. Anything over six percent must be sold at liquor stores. Hard liquor, such as whiskey and vodka will still only be sold at liquor stores.

Great Bend adopted the amended ordinance to come into line with the state statute.

The Workforce Training & Economic Development program at Barton Community College is hosting a new event next month. The Education & Employment Expo is scheduled for Wednesday, March 20th in Case New Holland Shop on the Northeast corner of campus. This event will connect individuals with education opportunities and available job openings. Individuals who may be a good fit for this event include unemployed, underemployed and/or those seeking a transition career. Wade Morris is an instructor in the Welding Program at Barton.

Wade Morris Audio

Barton’s Workforce Training team will also showcase training programs that compliment fields in an effort to assist individuals towards employment. Here’s Barton’s Natural Gas Program instructor Vince Orth.

Vince Orth Audio

Employers representative of the Agriculture, CDL, Weights & Measures, Natural Gas, Automotive and Welding career fields are invited to sponsor a booth to showcase their organization and available positions.

Booth space is free and a number of employers have already chosen to participate.

For more information, contact Mary Foley, Executive Director, at 620-792-9278 or email Mary at foleym@bartonccc.edu