The Barton County Commission will meet as the Board of County Canvassers at 8:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 17, to canvass the Nov. 4 General Election. The meeting will be held in the Office of the County Clerk, the commission announced Tuesday. The Commission meeting, normally held on Tuesday, will follow the canvass.
The Commission will not meet on the Tuesday morning of Veterans Day, Nov. 11. The next regular commission meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday (not Tuesday as usual), Nov 17.
Wheatland Township vacancy filled, appointments approved.
At this week’s meeting, the commission appointed two individuals to the Wheatland Township Board, filling a vacancy created by the death of Treasurer Garry Batt last month.
Commissioners accepted the resignation of Tim Maier as Wheatland Township clerk and approved his appointment as Township treasurer, effective Nov. 3. Maier’s term as treasurer will run through Jan. 8, 2029.
To fill the resulting clerk vacancy, the Commission then approved the appointment of Rhonda Templing. Her appointment is also effective Nov. 3, with her term ending Jan. 11, 2027.
The appointments were made following a recommendation from the remaining Wheatland Township Board members and were made under the authority of KSA 25-1606, which gives the County Commission responsibility for filling vacancies for trustee, clerk or treasurer in any township. Sam Radke remains as Wheatland Township Trustee.
Revision to Employee Positions List approved
The Commission also approved a revised 2025 / 2026 Authorized Positions Listing to shift one position within the Road and Bridge Department.
The change allows the Road and Bridge Department to convert one seasonal position to a part-time position.
County Administrator Matt Patzner told commissioners the change would not impact the overall number of county employees nor significantly impact the hours worked in the department. The commission approved the revised listing as suggested. The 2026 Authorized Positions list had been adopted earlier this year along with the budget.
Veterans Day Office closures, memorial ceremony, and cemetery decoration rules
The plans for the county’s observation of Veterans Day on Tuesday, Nov. 11, were announced when the Barton County Commission met Tuesday morning, including office closures, a veterans’ memorial ceremony and rules for cemetery decorations.
All Barton County office buildings, including the Health Department, the Records Division of the Sheriff’s Office, and the Landfill, will close for the holiday. Emergency services, however, will operate as normal.
It was also noted that the Commission will not meet on the Tuesday morning of Veterans Day. The next regular commission meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday (not Tuesday as usual), Nov 17.
A Veterans Day ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. that day at the Golden Belt Veterans Memorial. The Memorial Parks Advisory Committee organized the event, which will take place at Golden Belt Memorial Park, 59 NW 50 Road, Great Bend, Kansas. County officials may be in attendance.
The commission also reminded residents of the decoration rules for county-owned Golden Belt and Hillcrest memorial parks. Decorations for the holiday may now be placed on graves seven days prior to and must be removed seven days after holidays, including Veterans Day.
County employees will remove any items left after the removal deadline and will not attempt to locate them. The county also stated it will not be responsible for any loss or damage to items left during the holiday periods.
