A 1969 fire truck is being retired and the Solid Waste Department has purchased a 1996 Ford F350 Brush Fire Truck from the city of Wilson for $14,300. Solid Waste Director Jennifer Hamby asked the Barton County Commission to officially approve the purchase at Tuesday’s commission meeting.
The truck was purchased through the Purple Wave online auction site and the funds will come from the budget for the county landfill. There are areas at the landfill that are prone to fires even though the Solid Waste Department has taken measures for fire suppression. Some time back, the department bought an old truck from the Claflin Fire Department and that is being replaced. Hamby said it is smaller than the brush truck and can get stuck easier.
Commissioner Duane Reif helped Hamby find the newer truck on Purple Wave and checked it out.
“I talked to the mechanic at Wilson – he assured me there is nothing wrong with it,” Reif said, describing recent maintenance. It has a 300-gallon water tank and Wilson had purchased a bigger, newer truck.
As for the 55-year-old truck the landfill acquired from the Claflin Fire Department, Hamby said she’d consider donating it to the Barton County Historical Society. “It’s a beautiful old truck.”
If that doesn’t work out, Hamby said it could be sold at the Barton County Surplus Auction on Oct. 24.
Protecting water rights
Barton County isn’t facing a water issue like the one in nearby Stafford County but officials said they want to be prepared if any federal agency ever threatens the availability or use of water for agriculture here. At Tuesday’s Barton County Commission meeting, commissioners adopted a resolution setting out a policy on water conservation.
Last year, the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) received a request to secure water from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service related to their senior water right for Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Stafford County. Quivira’s water rights supersede most farms in the region. Because of upstream irrigation, Rattlesnake Creek – which normally flows into the refuge – has mostly been dry. Most recently, federal officials have backed off on their demand for the water in favor of working with state and local agencies to find a solution.
Barton County Counselor Patrick Hoffman drafted a resolution provided by the Kansas Natural Resource Coalition, which he presented Tuesday. It establishes that “no federal water rights should be exercised in any way that diminishes the availability or use of water for agriculture in Barton County.” It also calls for “all Kansas counties to work together as one coalition to defend the essential existing water system against all threats, including federal control.”
“At this time, we don’t have an issue that we’re concerned about,” Hoffman said. But if an issue were to arise, this resolution would require the fed to work with the county.
Commissioner Tricia Schlessiger spoke in support of the resolution.
“It is important that we put federal agencies on notice that we want to be at the table when issues come up. Water will always be one of the most fought-over natural resources.”
Recovery Month
In other business, the commission proclaimed September to be National Recovery Month. Amy Ferguson, director of Rise Up Central Kansas, was joined by local people in the recovery community who read the proclamation. Community members are invited to this year’s Recovery Out Loud event, with the theme Every Voice Matters, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Jack Kilby Square.
Ferguson said Rise Up Central Kansas, along with this event, shows support for the recovery community with a message of hope and resilience. It can help people find transportation to treatment and restore lost IDs. This year they helped 34 children with basic back-to-school needs.
Commission Chair Barb Esfeld told the presenters, “You guys never giving up is what matters.” She noted that Great Bend has four Oxford Houses for recovering addicts and prevention efforts such as Youth Crew.
Employee honored
The commission presented an Employee Recognition Award to Lindsey Creamer, a shared clerk in offices at the courthouse. She was nominated by the Employee Engagement Committee for being flexible in her position and her assistance to many departments while moving to and from the J.C. Penney’s building when the courthouse was temporarily located there. County employees and trustees as well commented on Creamer’s positive attitude and willingness to pitch in. She received a certificate and eight hours of paid time off, and her name will go on a plaque.
At the meeting, the commission also approved the appointment of Alexandra Romero to the Employee Engagement Committee. There is one more vacancy to fill.
Questions on NIETC
After the close of the agenda meeting, the commissioners planned to meet with Tammy Hammond to discuss her concerns on the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) proposal. She has questions she would like to ask at a joint meeting of people from Barton, Pawnee and Russell counties, set for Oct. 1 in Great Bend. The location of that meeting has not been determined; one possibility is the Fine Arts Auditorium at Barton Community College. Commissioners said questions will be sent to congressional representatives in advance.
