A Barton County Road and Bridge Department employee was involved in freak accident last Thursday, Road and Bridge Director Dale Phillips told the Barton County Commission Monday morning.

The incident took place one mile west of Claflin and 1.25 mile north Thursday morning. 

Phillips said the employee was driving a county pickup and pulled off onto the side of a county road to allow a sprayer to pass. However, as he was accelerating to pull away, the edge of the road gave way, causing the truck to tumble into a ditch and land on its side.

Phillips said the driver was unhurt, but the truck, one of the county’s newest, was totaled.

The report on the wreck came up as part of County Administrator Richard Boeckman’s biweekly departmental update. Other highlights included:

County Treasurer Kevin Wondra

• On July 1, motor vehicle registration fees went up $3.25 per vehicle, County Treasurer Kevin Wondra reported. Kansas Highway Patrol Staff and Training will receive $2 of that, while the other $1.25 will go toward building a new Law Enforcement Training Center. 

• The Treasurer’s Office processed a total of 1,425 motor vehicle transactions between June 16 and June 29. Of those, 897 were vehicle renewals and 248 were new titles. 

• In the past two weeks, the department staff has renewed, registered or updated six commercial vehicles. 

• The Department is still attempting to clear up delinquent properties so they are not on the tax sale. At this time, there are 71 tracts on the tax sale. 

• The bookkeepers are in the process of reconciling the bank accounts. All daily work is current. 

County Engineer Barry McManaman

• The county’s engineering technician is working with Venture Corporation to finalize the cold mix contract and cleanup.

• Sent paperwork to Venture Corporation for the 2016 hot mix asphalt overlay project.

• Discussed an intersection sight distance study (located near Beaver) with Beaver and Cheyenne township officials and local resident. 

• Talked with Kansas Department of Transportation officials about the High Risk Rural Roads signing project plan.

• Met with one citizen to discuss a floodplain permit and exchange information.

• Discussed floodplain elevation information with local surveyor for a floodplain permit.

Road and Bridge Department 

Road and Bridge

• Culvert and Bridge work included five culvert repairs, one bridge cleanout and two ditch cleanouts. 

• Asphalt work in the Hoisington and Susank areas continues. 

• Ditches are being mowed in the eastern and southern parts of Barton County. 

• Sand is being pumped. 

• Bridge marker signs were replaced.

Noxious Weed

• Spraying continues on township roads and on County and KDOT rights-of-way.

• Spaying on Railroad and City rights-of-way is on schedule.

Solid Waste Director Phil Hathcock

In the past reporting period, the Barton County Landfill has taken in:

• 1,069 tons of municipal solid waste

• 313 tons of construction/demolition waste

• 82 tons of special waste

• 657 loads of waste received for disposal

• $55,858.29 of revenue generated through disposal fees

• The next scheduled household hazardous waste collection is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 16, at the landfill. One can call for an appointment if they cannot make the regularly scheduled collection.

• 312 mattresses were recycled through the Ellsworth Correctional Facility.

For more information regarding recycling, household hazardous waste, or regular household waste, call the landfill at 620-793-1898.