BY KEITH LIPPOLDT
klippoldt@gbtribune.com
The Barton County Board of Commissioners met Monday at the Courthouse to say goodbye to some old friends and welcome new members on board.
Register Of Deeds Glennda French and County Attorney Levi Morris, who are both moving on from their duties for the county, were recognized for their service. Morris stepped away from the county to become a judge and will be replaced by incoming County Attorney Colin Reynolds. French is being replaced by Susan Williams, who defeated French in the November election.
Reynolds and Williams were sworn in to their new positions by Judge Carey Hipp. Also being sworn in for the next four years were Sheriff Brian Bellendir, County Clerk Bev Schmeidler and Commissioners Barb Esfeld and Shawn Hutchinson.
Passing the gavel
It was also the day to pass the gavel for the Barton County Commissioners.
After serving as Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners for the past two years, Esfeld handed the gavel off to Tricia Schlessiger, who was voted in as the new chairman as allowed under Kansas Statute 19-219. The Commissioners presented Esfeld with a plaque for her service as Board Chairman and, too, presented Schlessiger with a wooden gavel hand made by Commissioner Duane Reif.
The board then selected Reif as Pro Tem of the Board of County Commissioners. Reif will be in place for the occasions when Schlessiger is not available to run the weekly Agenda meetings.
In other action:
• The board designated the Great Bend Tribune as the official newspaper for Barton County, as prescribed by K.S.A. 64-101. The Tribune was selected for its ability to best reach the citizens of Barton County.
• Passed Resolution 2025-04 requesting a waiver under K.S.A. 75-1120a. According to the agenda notes, “it is standard procedure to request a waiver of the requirements relating to the preparation of financial statements and reports each year. The basis is that statements prepared in conformity with the statute are of no significant value to Barton County nor to the general public.”
• County Appraiser Wendy Prosser informed the Commissioners that valuation notices as, as of Jan. 1, 2025, will be mailed by March 1. Prosser asked the Commissioners to approve a bid from Master’s Touch in the amount of $8,457.03 for the creation of valuation notices, mailing labels and envelopes.
• Accepted the Request for Approval of Added-Abated-Escaped-Refunded Taxes. This batch represented 26 records with a value of $14,739.44.
The Board of County Commissioners will meet again Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 9:00 in the Courthouse.
