The Barton County Treasurer’s Office is staying busy during the middle of tax season and would like to remind residents of important information and dates.

The Treasurer’s Office mailed out personal property taxes last Friday, Nov. 9. They also mailed out 16/20M truck, and gas and state assessed utilities tax statements.

Real estate and oil statements will be mailed on Friday, Nov. 16.

The public can always go to Barton County’s website, bartoncounty.org, if they would like to know what their taxes are or come to the office and pay them. If you try to call the office to ask how much your taxes are, the staff will direct you to view the website as they remain busy during tax season.

First half taxes are due Dec. 20, 2018 and second half taxes are due on May 10, 2019.

We received more snow than forecast and while it certainly put a halt to the remaining harvest and wheat planting, there are some benefits.  The biggest benefit is a nice insulating blanket to protect the wheat and help keep heat in the soil.  A benefit and a problem is more soil moisture.  Compared to the last several years, the wheat crop is in excellent shape regarding soil moisture for the winter.  Now onto today’s topic.

Most of us never think of how much the weight of things and the need to accurately weigh play into our everyday lives.  This is especially important in agriculture.  All of the products of agriculture from grain and hay to pork, beef, and poultry are sold by weight as are many inputs.  Scales play a vital role in every aspect of agricultural industry.  And it continues into our everyday lives from the food we eat to many of the everyday products we buy.  Go into a Dillon’s or Walmart and each checkout scanner is also a scale.  Purchase meat or cheese or produce.  Mail or ship something and you pay by weight.  Scales are everywhere and these are scales where money changes hand.  They are commercial scales.  This means they have to be certified as accurate and comply with all pertinent rules and regulations of the state they are located in.  So why bring this up?  The weights and measures industry needs employees to not only install and service scales but individuals qualified to be licensed by states to certify the scales.

This is where you or someone you know may come in.  Barton Community College has a one semester, 25 credit hour certificate program training individuals to become scale technicians.  This program was designed in cooperation with the scale industry and Weights and Measures of the Kansas Department of Agriculture to prepare people to work in the scale industry.  Barton Community College has the only program of this kind in the Midwest.  And there is a chronic shortage in Kansas and nationwide for scale technicians.  Age and gender don’t matter to the industry as they want hardworking focused individuals who can work independently and as part of a team.  These are good paying jobs with benefits.  This is a career that can be obtained with one semester of training.  One student in the program already has a position with a starting salary of $18 per hour, full benefits, and a company vehicle.

The advantages of this career path include that it is a stable career, not just a job; these positions pay well above minimum wage with benefits; hard work is rewarded monetarily; and the industry wants to interview students for employment upon completion of the program.  The current class at Barton is finishing up and the class starting in January is currently enrolling.  However, with limited class size due to the hands on nature of this training, if you or someone you know is interested, they should contact the college as soon as possible.

BUSINESS NEWS

Small business owners, human resources managers and anyone in need of help writing job descriptions or policies can benefit from the expertise of Human Resources Consultant Erika Brining, owner of The HR Pro, who is hosting a half-day workshop.

The hands-on learning opportunity is set for 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Nov. 13 in the Plaza de Cavanaugh room (L-116) in the Learning Resource Center at Barton Community College.

Thursday is the deadline to register.

The non-credit fee is $65, which includes materials and refreshments.

Brining has been in the Human Resources field since 1989. She has a bachelor’s degree and two senior-level certifi­cations in the HR field, and has led the HR department of several companies over the last 25 years. She works independently to help companies with their HR projects and problems.

For more information about the workshop, contact Krystall Barnes, Coordinator of Workforce Training Projects & Events, at (620) 792-9332 or barnesk@bartonccc.edu.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Nov. 11, 2018 – With more wintry precipitation and another prolonged dip into below-freezing temperatures on its way, AAA Kansas is gearing up for winter emergency calls. Drivers are more likely to experience dead car batteries or tire pressure issues as the temperature drops. For more than 340,000 Kansans, AAA membership is their security when the unexpected occurs on the road.

• AAA says the average car battery lasts 3-5 years.
• Even at 32 degrees, a battery is 35 percent weaker.
• At zero degrees, a car’s battery loses about 60 percent of its strength, yet the engine needs about twice as much power to start.
• A battery’s life can be drained faster if devices are plugged into cars (cell phone chargers, upgraded audio and GPS devices)

• Emergency kit items to include – de-icer, shovel, ice scraper, warning flare or reflector triangle, flashlight with fresh batteries, first aid kit, jumper cables and sand or kitty litter (for traction).
• Pack a blanket, extra gloves and heavy but light-colored jacket, scarf or hat (so you can be seen if you have to get out of your vehicle) – if you’re stuck on the road for an extended period of time you’ll need to stay warm, especially if your vehicle is not running.
• Snacks and beverages for passengers and pets who may be traveling with you.
• Motorists should also have a cell phone with car charger, and AAA members should travel with their membership card or have their membership number handy when calling for roadside assistance.

UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 428 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
November 12, 2018 5:00 p.m.

1. CALL TO ORDER …………………………………………………………………. Mr. Umphres
1.1 Roll Call
1.2 Adoption of Agenda of Meeting
1.3 Recognition of Visitors
1.4 Request to Speak Reminder
Persons may present ideas or concerns regarding USD 428. The Board will take no action at this meeting. Such items will be referred to the appropriate administrator(s) for future information and researched and reported back to the Board at a later meeting. Personalities and behavior of employees are not to be presented during this period but are to be reported to the employee’s immediate supervisor. The president shall determine the amount of time to be spent for citizen participation.

2. RECOGNITIONS / ACHIEVEMENTS ……………………………………… Mr. Umphres
GBHS Band Honors
Great Bend High School band instructor Mark DeWald and assistant Don Regehr recently accompanied honor band students to the Southwest District KMEA Honor Band in Dodge City. Two GBHS Jazz Band students and six GBMS students received the honor. In October, the Panther Pride Marching Band attended the WAC Marching Festival in Hays and received a 1 Rating. Band students will be present to receive recognition from the board.

3. STAFF / STUDENT PRESENTATIONS …………………………………… Mr. Umphres
-Cristina Ingram, Park Elementary KRR Coordinator, will discuss a recent KRR event that each USD 428 elementary school participated in; Lights, Camera…Afterschool!
-Kip Wilson, chairperson for the Great Bend Reading Initiative, will be present to provide information about the Great Bend Reading Initiative, a combined partnership between Great Bend schools and the Great Bend Public Library. The selected book is The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo.

4. COMMUNICATIONS ……………………………………………………………… Mr. Umphres
-Board Members’ Comments
-USD 428 Education Foundation
-Written Communications / Correspondence

5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A Approval of Title VI B and Early Childhood
Flow-Through Budget Application …………………………………… Mr. Umphres
The public was notified of the Title VI B and ECH budget, which covers salaries for licensed special education staff salaries. The 2018-2019 application amounts to $973,628 for Title VI B pass-through funds ($1629 lower than the prior year) and $40,701 for ECH ($4 lower than the prior year). The budget application will be available for public review at the Barton County Cooperative of Special Education for the next thirty days.

B. GB Recreation Commission Board Representative …………….. Mr. Umphres
The GB Recreation Commission board is comprised of five members who represent the city, school, and recreation commission. Members serve four-year terms and may serve two consecutive 4-year terms. Sandy Smith’s board membership expires 12/31/18 and she has indicated that she will not be serving a second term. The district issued a boxed ad in The Tribune announcing the open position. Administration will make a recommendation for BOE consideration / decision for a replacement on the board.

6. NEW BUSINESS

A. Bus Repair …………………………………………………………………….. Mr. Umphres
Bus 992 is a 2000 Bluebird with 179,000 miles with a recently blown engine. Two options to for a new motor and installation will be presented to the board.

7. ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT REPORT……………… Mr. Umphres / Mr. Popp
A. District Site Council- 11/15/18
B. Visible Learning for Literacy
C. Migrant Program Update
D. Curriculum Meeting Minutes (Folder 7,D)
-Curriculum Steering Committee: 11/6/18
Professional Development Council (PDC) minutes: 10/18/18 and 11/5/18

8. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT ………………………… Mr. Umphres / Mr. Thexton

A. Community Feedback Meetings: 11/15 @ 5:00 –Park Elementary 11/15 @ 7:00 — Park Elementary 11/27 @ 6:30 — GBMS Commons 12/4 @ 5:00 — GBHS Auditorium

B. Annual KASB Convention

C. Approval of Grants / Contributions (Attachment 8,C)

9. FINANCIAL PRESENTATION …………………………… Mr. Umphres / Mr. Thexton
A. Bills and Financial Reports

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION ……………………………………………………………. Mr. Umphres

11. CONSENT AGENDA ………………………………………………………………. Mr. Umphres
A. Approval of BOE Meeting Minutes (October 8 and 31, 2018)
B. Acceptance of Bills and Financial Reports
C. Personnel Report (Attachment 11.C)

12. UPCOMING MEETING DATES …………………………………………….. Mr. Umphres
•Education Foundation Dinner: at 6:30 p.m., on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, at the GB Events Center.
•Community Feedback Meetings: 11/15 @ 5:00 –Park Elementary 11/15 @ 7:00 — Park Elementary 11/27 @ 6:30 — GBMS Commons 12/4 @ 5:00 — GBHS Auditorium
•Thanksgiving Recess: November 21, 22 and 23, 2018.
•BOE Noon meeting: at 12:00 Noon p.m., on Thursday, November 29, 2018, at Jefferson Elementary School.
•Annual KASB Convention: on November 30, December 1, 2, 2018, in Overland Park, KS.

13. ADJOURNMENT…………………………………………………………………….. Mr. Umphres

As the Barton County Election Officer, Donna Zimmerman loves to see a good turnout of voters on Election Day. Zimmerman was pleased from last Tuesday’s showing in Barton County where nearly half the registered voters submitted their vote.

The 48.44 percent voter turnout was the highest turnout in Barton County for a midterm election since 2006. That number came on an election where Barton County reduced the number of voting locations.

Donna Zimmerman Audio

Barton County dropped their voting locations from 23 to 11 last week. The reduction was made to make it easier to staff poll workers and reduce the near-future replacement of the aging voting machines.

As Barton County observes Veterans Day with Monday off, Commissioners will canvas the votes Tuesday.

Donna Zimmerman Audio

Results from last week’s election can be found here.

As the City of Great Bend is roughly 80 percent complete with the water main replacement project, the construction and boring underneath streets has uncovered the need for an outline of streets with marked utilities.

The Great Bend City Council approved a proposal from Professional Engineering Consultants to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) to have a digital map of street conditions.

Great Bend Assistant Public Works Director Simon Wiley says the system will save the city time and money in the future.

Simon Wiley Audio

The comprehensive street evaluation and maintenance program will be based on accepted, standardized methods and guidelines. Data collection will be performed by city staff and pavement ratings will be created by PEC to insert into a digital map. The five-year plan will include maintenance priority list and a construction priority list for the calendar years 2019 – 2023.

Simon Wiley Audio

The street evaluation program will cost $50,000 with an annual $1,200 fee for the online subscription with two editing and eight view-only logins.

Story by Brandon Steinert-Barton Public Relations

The Barton Community College Nursing Club assembled and donated more than four dozen care packages and treat bags to Central Care Cancer Center. The bags and packages were stuffed with donations from faculty and staff at Barton, and included fuzzy socks, facial tissue, lip balm, word searches and crossword puzzles.

The activity was part of Barton’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities in October.

Those involved with the project included (from left) Karla Johnston, Nursing Instructor and Barton Nursing Club Sponsor; Marissa Roach, PN Student; Theresa Berger, PN Student; Mollie Hestand, PN Student; Ann Ridinger, PN Student; Lakin Hulse, PN Student and Regina Casper, Barton Library Director.

BOARD OF BARTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Canvass – 8:30 a.m. Until Close
-The County Commission will meet as the Board of County Canvassers on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, at 8:30 a.m. in the Office of the County Clerk. At that time, they will canvass ballots from the November 6, 2018, General Election.

Agenda Meeting
9:00 a.m. or Immediately Following the Canvass Until Close

I. OPENING BUSINESS:
A. Call Meeting to Order.
B. Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. Consider Approval of the Agenda.
D. Minutes of the November 5, 2018, Regular Meeting will not be available.
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:
-An Accounts Payable Register will be submitted to the Commission for the period of October 29, 2018, and ending November 13, 2018.
III. OLD BUSINESS – Items tabled, or scheduled, from previous Commission Meetings, will be heard at this time.
-There is no Old Business at this time.

IV. NEW BUSINESS – All new business to be considered by the Commission will be heard at
this time.

A. PROCLAMATION 2018-15: Ellinwood High School Girls Cross Country Team, 2018 2A
State Champions:
-The Ellinwood High School girls cross country team, including Erin Hammeke, Ashtin Klepper,
Sarah Hammeke, Courtney Cook, Lauren Petz, Gracie Schlessiger, Saitis Kroulik, and Alicia
Mitchell won the 2018 2A State Championship. The team, along with Head Coach Andrew
Cherry; Assistant Coach Mary Feemster; Derek Schoenthaler, Activities Director; and Mark
Cook, Principal, will be recognized for bringing honor to EHS, the City of Ellinwood and to
Barton County. Mr. Cook will provide details.

B. TREASURER’S OFFICE: Annual Report:
-Jim Jordan worked part-time in the Treasurer’s Office before beginning his first term of office
on October 10, 2017. Since that time, he and his staff have worked together with several County
officials in making operational improvements. Mr. Jordan will provide a public report on his
office.

C. COMMISSION: Letter of Support – Sheriff Brian Bellendir:
-The Barton County Commission has drafted a letter of support for Sheriff Brian Bellendir. Phil
Hathcock, County Administrator will present details.

D. DISTRICT CORONER: Appointment of Special Deputy Coroner:
-Under the procedures outlined by Kansas Statutes and by Resolution 2006-11, A Resolution
Establishing District Coroner Procedures, Dr. Edward Jones requests the appointment of Special
Deputy Coroners. Special Deputies, appointed for one-year calendar terms, do not have the
necessary credentials to be a deputy coroner, but generally have a medical background. Dr.
Jones, at the recommendation of the Stafford County Commission, has requested that Melissa
Dove, RN, be appointed. Mr. Hathcock will provide details.

E. COUNTY SERVICES: Informational Update:
-Mr. Hathcock will provide the informational report of work completed during the last period.
The report, which will be made available to the media, will serve as a public reminder of the
services provided by the County on a regular basis.

V. 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, 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.
-The Barton County Local Emergency Planning Committee will have a meeting, Tuesday,
November 13, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at the Barton County Courthouse, Conference Room, 1400
Main Street, Great Bend, Kansas. It is anticipated that County officials may attend.

B. APPOINTMENTS:
-Subject to change, the following appointments have been scheduled:
9:30 a.m. or following the close of the agenda meeting – Biennial Bridge Inspections and
Program Update – Barry McManaman, County Engineer
10:00 a.m. – Early Childhood Education Funding and Program Update – Jon Prescott, Executive
Director, Sunflower
10:15 a.m. – Server Upgrade, Road and Bridge / Noxious Weed – Dereck Hollingshead,
Network Administrator/ IT Service Technician
10:30 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 November 15, 2018.

VI. 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, November 19, 2018.

VII. ADJOURN.