BY KEITH LIPPOLDT
klippoldt@gbtribune.com
At the beginning of October, the Barton County Commissioners hosted a tri-county meeting with commissioners from Pawnee and Russell County on the proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors that threatens landowners in all three counties.
At Tuesday’s Agenda meeting, the commissioners approved the resolution opposing the corridor.
The resolution is a policy statement opposing the corridor and is based on a model resolution drafted by the Kansas Natural Resource Coalition. The policy decries the use of eminent domain, land acquisition, and the NEPA process - the National Environmental Policy Act used when a federal agency develops a proposal to take a major federal action.
Barton County Council Patrick Hoffman has been the lead in the process and he updated the commissioners on its status.
“One of the coordinating entities that helped us with that meeting that’s been involved is the Kansas Natural Resource Coalition. They have drafted this model resolution for us to adopt,” Hoffman said. “Pawnee County and Russell County have adopted the same resolution. Basically it’s a policy statement in regards to Barton County’s position on this corridor – in opposition to it – and in general, opposition to projects like this where the federal agencies are taking over the role of county government in putting things that we’re in opposition to. The staff recommendation is to adopt it.”
Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson asked Hoffman, “Is this the same exact resolution as Pawnee County and Russell County? Or did we change a few things?”
Hoffman replied, “This is the same one. We had a discussion about it. The Pawnee County Attorney recommended they adopt it. I talked to them about it, so I’m recommending we adopt it as well.”
“It’s more powerful when we all three are exactly the same,” Hutchinson said.
“We’re trying to coordinate with the other counties to have a united front,” Hoffman said.
Commissioner Tricia Schlessiger weighed in, saying “I agree. Will this bring us to the table for the coordination effort if the federal agencies reach out?”
Hoffman went on to explain that if the county would reach out, it is in their (federal agencies) charters that they are required to do coordination.
“There has not been much coordination,” he said. “There’s been no coordination this far with us. One of the things we are asking for them to do is coordinate and come out here and talk to us. So we will be mailing this (resolution) to the Department of Energy.”
Commission Chair Barb Esfeld said the KNRC will hold a Zoom meeting and she and other counties commissioners will attend online.
“And Patrick, you might know there is an opportunity to sign protest sheets to send to Topeka,” she said. “I was told that if there were so many of them, they have to enact legislation. Do you know anything about that?”
Hoffman replied he didn’t know, without first doing research, whether or not they are required to enact legislation.
“I do know that petitions, even if they don’t have the hard power forcing legislation, throughout the democratic history, they’re very persuasive to legislators. The legislature answers to the people. So I think if people are interested in that setting, the petition is a great idea.”
Schlessiger made the motion to adopt Resolution 2024-19. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Duane Reif. The motion passed 4-0 Commissioner Donna Zimmerman was absent from the meeting.
Computers
In other action, the commissioners:
Heard from Barton County Information Technology Director Dereck Hollingshead about the annual replacement of computers within its workforce. According to the agenda, this process is done each year to “improve the County’s technological capabilities and allows for more consistent budgeting.”
“About this time every year, we reach out to all the department heads, and we review all the computers in each of their departments, and we review how many computers they want to replace in their department,” he said. “Once we have that number figured out, we go out for bid on our computers. And I’m here for our annual replacement.
“We went out for bid for eight desktops, two 2-in-1, some docs and then some Surface key computers as well. We went out for bid, received several bids, which was really nice, and I’m asking for your approval today to proceed with the low bid, which also happens to be a local bid, for our computers.”
The low bid for the computer package came from Bauer Computers of Great Bend in the amount of $30,585.10.
The fact that the winning bid was local brought positive remarks from the commissioners.
“I’m just excited our low bid came from here in Great Bend,” Esfeld said. Reif replied that the winning local bid was “a win-win situation.”
Hutchinson made the motion to accept the bid from Bauer Computers and Schlessiger seconded the motion. It passed 4-0.
Road and Bridge
County Works Director Chris Schartz gave a project update on a storage building that was damaged in the July 2023 wind and hailstorm. Upon commissioner approval, the building was demolished by the Road and Bridge department and Steel Builders Construction. Steel Builders is in the process of installing a 50’ x 180’ x 16’ steel building. Schartz was at the meeting asking the commissioners to approve materials and installation to install the interior walls at a cost of $6,226.
“I think this was just something that was overlooked when we put the building together,” Reif said. “And it’s really needed for protection inside.”
Hutchinson was pleased with the results of both previous purchases.
“Madam Chair, I would just like to point out that both of the purchases we needed to make today were both sourced by local vendors,” he said.
Schlessiger made the motion to approve the purchase and Reif seconded the motion. It passed 4-0.
Juvenile Services
Barton County Juvenile Services Director Marissa Woodmansee addressed the commissioners in reference to a Bureau Justice Assistance Second Chance Act grant received by Central Kansas Community Corrections in fiscal year 2020. The county received over $400,000 to complete the work affiliated with this grant. Woodmansee and Brooke Palmer, director of Central Kansas Community Corrections, have been working for many months making sure they remain in compliance with the grant and have it implemented by the first of next year.
“Brooke and I have worked hard over the last several months to get this back to implementation after the first of the year so, that way, we can have outcomes and show some of the fruit of the effort of the monies we received, but then also for the future and continuing to receive funding of this nature going forward,” she said.
“So I’m here today to ask for permission to travel to Philadelphia (for training), in conjunction with the grant.”
Schlessiger thanked Woodmansee for stepping up and requesting taking the necessary training.
“I appreciate that you’re willing to go and learn. Thank you,” she said.
Schlessiger made the motion to approve the travel expenses with a second by Hutchinson. The motion passed 4-0.
Fire Truck
The commissioners also announced the county donated a 1969 Chevrolet C50 Fire Truck they had purchased from the City of Claflin a few years ago for use at the landfill. The truck was not set up properly for use at the landfill, so the county purchased another this past summer. The truck, with only 2,940 miles, was donated to the Barton County Historical Museum. Not only will it be on display at the Museum but they are planning on possibly driving it in parades.
Early Voting
County Clerk Bev Schmeidler reported there has been more than 1,900 early voters so far in Barton County. She said that was slightly over 10% of the registered voters.
“We’ve had a really good turnout, so far.
The courthouse will be open Saturday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The final opportunity for early voting will be Monday, Nov. 4 until noon. The polls will be open Tuesday, Nov. 5 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
