The Barton County Commission is scheduled to convene its first meeting of 2026 on January 6 at 9 a.m. The meeting will take place at the county courthouse, with citizens given the opportunity to view the proceedings via Microsoft Teams. Interested participants can access the meeting at the link https://bit.ly/3KBEylq. For those wishing to engage in discussions, instructions can be obtained by calling 620-793-1800. Following the meeting, recorded sessions will be available on YouTube by searching for the Barton County Commission channel.
In accordance with Kansas statutes, the organizational meeting for counties is traditionally held on the second Monday of the year, which this year falls on January 12. The agenda for the January 6 meeting includes several important items that will affect county operations.
Key Agenda Items and Appointments
Notable agenda items encompass a request from the County Clerk’s office for the approval of added, abated, escape, and refunded taxes. The Commission will also appoint Brian Miller to the Beaver Township Board, filling the vacancy left by Trustee Jennifer Steinert, who resigned effective December 31, 2025. Additionally, the Commission will designate official depositories for county funds and continue its contract with Elle Hutchinson as the county’s media consultant.
The Commission will also review membership renewals for various organizations, including the National Association of Counties for $510, the Kansas Legislative Policy Group for $6,274, and the League of Kansas Municipalities. Consideration will also be given to membership in the Kansas Natural Resource Coalition.
Scheduled Discussions and Updates
The meeting will feature several scheduled discussions and updates. At approximately 9:45 a.m., there will be a planning session with the media consultant. Following that, County Administrator Matt Patzner will lead a regular business discussion at 10 a.m..
At 10:15 a.m., County Appraiser Wendy Prosser will present a bulk mailing request for proposals (RFP), followed by a discussion with Solid Waste Director Jennifer Hamby regarding a dirt purchase from Oneok at 10:30 a.m.. Later, updates will be provided by Brooke Haulmark, the Director of Central Kansas Community Corrections, at 10:45 a.m., and by Christy Crews, rescheduled from December 30, at 11:15 a.m.
For those interested in local governance, “The County Edition” program will be broadcast on KVGB-AM at 11:05 a.m. on Thursdays, with Sheriff Brian Bellendir scheduled to appear on the January 8 program. This meeting marks an important opportunity for community engagement as the Commission sets the stage for its activities in the coming year.
