No commission meeting next week
The Barton County Commission will not meet next Tuesday, Oct. 19, since most of the commission will be attending the Kansas Association of Counties annual meeting in Overland Park. The conference runs from Oct. 18-20.
The next regular meeting will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26.
The Barton County Commission Tuesday morning moved forward with its hunt for a new county administrator with the hiring of Don Osenbaugh and John Deardoff, municipal consultants, Derby, for $11,000 to help in the search.
Barton County invited proposals from experienced government recruitment consultants to search for a new administrator, County Counselor Patrick Hoffman said. The firm had to demonstrate experience hiring executive administration for governing bodies in Kansas. In addition, it has to work with the governing board to search and identify qualified candidates.
“We did send out an RFP (request for proposals) but that did not result in any responses,” he said. “But, we also reached out to someone who has a reputation for doing this kind of work.”
That was Osenbaugh, he said. They have met with commissioners during a past study session.
“They are very, very concerned about confidentiality,” Hoffman said. So, they assured all applicants that the search process will be done in executive sessions with the commission.
Hoffman said this is allowed under the Kansas Open Meetings Act. Applicants will be treated as non-elected personnel, a permitted topic for closed-door discussions.
“They will not release names of applicants” except to commissioners, he said. “Their philosophy is that they get better applicants if the search is conducted in a confidential way because many of these people will currently be employed in government, and they will be less willing to submit an application if that search is public.”
“I was impressed by these two gentlemen that came in,” District 5 Commissioner Jennifer Schartz said. “I think that they both can identify with where we live, and so they know what kind of person we’re looking for.”
Chairman Jim Daily, District 4, agreed. “Both of them have been city managers, administrators, in communities and counties about the same size that we’re living in population-wise. So they come with a tremendous amount background and credentials.”
Barton County Engineer Barry McManaman was named interim county administrator by the County Commission on Aug. 30. The appointment of McManaman was needed following Phil Hathcock’s stepping down as county administrator on Aug. 24. The commission approved Hathcock’s departure following an extended meeting that involved several executive sessions covering non-elected personnel evaluations.
Hathcock is continuing as the solid waste director overseeing the landfill and took on the added title of facilities director. Although he has never held that title, he’s always handled those duties.
The administrator was making around $100,000 or a little more. The interim administrator contract calls for compensation of $1,000 per month in addition to the current pay and notes the position is only temporary.
Hathcock took the job as administrator after the county operated for about two years without an administrator. Richard Boeckman resigned from the post in October 2016 and Hathcock was named operations director in May 2017 and promoted to administrator in April 2018.
Barton County Commission meeting at a glance
Here is a quick look at what the Barton County Commission did Tuesday morning:
• Named Madonna Oborney the Southwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging Sub-Regional Council.
Barton County accepted applications for two positions on the SWKAAA council. On Oct. 5, Kathleen McGinnis was reappointed. Tuesday, the commission discussed the remaining open position.
SWKAAA helps determine long-term needs and programs for all senior citizens in Southwest Kansas. The uncompensated term expires September 2024.
• Approved another round of Facade Improvement Grant Program applications.
• Approved a proclamation marking October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month at the request of JoAnn Wondra, executive director of the Family Crisis Center.
Domestic violence is a preventable public health problem, she said. It is important that measures be taken to provide domestic violence victims services as about one-quarter of the homicides in Kansas are perpetrated by current or former intimate partners.
• Approved purchasing two Ally Cat four-bin trailers for household recycling from Plymouth Industries for $18,174 and two metal upright bins for electronic recycling products from Scott’s Welding for $3,871. These will allow the county to fulfill the objectives of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Kansas Competitive Solid Waste Grant Program for Local Government that the county accepted in August. Barton County was awarded $16,759.11 to create a cost-free college campus recycling program at Barton Community College, Solid Waste Director Phil Hathcock said. BCC will collaborate with Sunflower Diversified Services for household recycling and Rosewood Services for electronic recycling.
“This campus recycling grant program is relevant to Barton County’s solid waste management plan, as recycling is the primary source of waste diversion extending the landfill’s useful life,” he said. The county provided a 25% match.
Now, $300 remains to be spent from the grant. That will be used for signage on the bins.
• Approved canceling the Nov. 23 meeting due to it being Thanksgiving week.
• Approved the Kansas Association of Counties Legislative Policy Statement. The KAC meets for its annual conference Oct. 18-20 in Overland Park.
An important item that will be discussed is the KAC Legislative Policy Statement, Interim County Administrator Barry McManaman said. Member counties will be called to review the issues and determine the platform’s final form.
It will then be utilized during the upcoming legislative session to promote issues related to county government, he said. Each year, Barton County reviews and considers the KAC Platform and other initiatives that may have local interest.
• Approved the cancelation of the contract with the Kansas Department of Revenue and Barton County, giving 1800 days notice.
• Approved the hiring of Don Osenbaugh and John Deardoff, municipal consultants, of Derby, to help in the search for a county administrator.
Barton County invited proposals from experienced government recruitment consultants to search for a new administrator, County Counselor Patrick Hoffman said. The firm had to demonstrate experience hiring executive administration for governing bodies in Kansas. In addition, it has to work with the governing board to search and identify qualified candidates.
• Ratified the purchase of vehicle insurance for $3,514.00 purchase with Conrade Insurance Group Inc. for the 20th Judicial District Juvenile Justice Authority.
Appointments following the agenda meeting included:
• Review of Facade Improvement Grant applications.
• Talk of a partnership with Great Bend Economic Development Inc., with GBED President Sara Hayden.
• An update the National Opioid Settlement from County Counselor Patrick Hoffman.
Following the close of the agenda meeting, the commission convened as the Board of Health.
That agenda included District 1 Commissioner Kirby Krier presenting a proclamation on the declaration of essential workers in Barton County.
