The countywide burn ban issued on March 31 was lifted Tuesday by the Barton County Commission. The ban was recommended by county fire chiefs and they also recommended lifting it after recent rains alleviated the threat posed by dry conditions.
The commissioners encouraged the public to continue to use caution if burning. Farmers can check with their local fire chiefs when determining fire safety.
When the ban was issued last month, commissioners said they would lift it as soon as it was possible to do so safely. Tuesday’s resolution was added to the agenda at the start of the meeting.
Commission Chairman Duane Reif noted that parts of Barton County received more than an inch of rain over the weekend, but other areas received less. “Extreme caution is still needed,” he said.
Juvenile Services
In other business, Tyler Morton, Juvenile Services prevention advocate, received permission to travel out-of-state with four members of the Youth Crew to attend a national forum in Orlando, Florida, from July 12-16. It was noted that the action allows him to travel, but the cost will be paid by the Drug-Free Communities Support program grant through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A component of this grant includes training with the National Coalition Academy, working in partnership with the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADA).
The students will report to the commission after they return.
Meetings with Great Bend
One of the outcomes of the April 15 meeting between the commission and the Great Bend City Council was the creation of a committee designed to discuss shared solutions to governmental challengers. Two commissioners, Shawn Hutchinson and Donna Zimmerman, were appointed to serve on the new committee. County Administrator Matt Patzner is also involved.
On the City side, Mayor Alan Moeder is joined by council members Gary Parr and Shelly Arnberger.
Conference update / pipeline news
Commissioner Barb Esfeld attended the 2026 Kansas County Commissioners Association (KCCA) Annual Conference at Hutchinson last week and spent several minutes reporting on recent legislation and other topics.
During the public comments section of the meeting, Dane Olofson, gas system planning and operations manager for Midwest Energy Inc., shared information about pipeline replacement that will begin soon in northern Barton County.
Midwest Energy has procured the pipe and the contractor, based in Garden City, will start south of Otis in Rush County and work its way through Barton County toward the Barton-Ellsworth county line. Letters were sent to 189 landowners, with five responses, “so we haven’t met with much resistance,” he said. The project will not add new lines and will adhere to existing easements. The grant cycle ends in April 2029, but Olofson said completion is expected much sooner. They will replace roughly 34 miles of 6-inch pipe and close to 11 miles of 2-inch line.
“So, all of the pipe within Barton County should be new within the last 15 years by the time we’re done,” he said.
Daycare open house
Commissioner Trisha Schlessiger invited everyone to attend the Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce After Hours event at 5:30 p.m. today, April 30, hosted by St. John’s Child Development at 615 N. Main St. A, Ellinwood.
“This has been five years in the making,” Schlessier said.
