The Barton County Commission is poised to hold its inaugural meeting of 2026 at 9 a.m. on January 6 at the courthouse. Residents can participate remotely via Microsoft Teams by following this link: https://bit.ly/3KBEylq. For those wishing to engage in discussions during the meeting, instructions can be obtained by calling 620-793-1800. Following the meeting, sessions will be available for viewing on YouTube under the channel for the Barton County Commission.
While the commission typically convenes on Tuesdays, the subsequent meeting will occur on Monday, January 12, in accordance with Kansas statutes that dictate the organization meeting for counties must take place on the second Monday of the year.
Key Agenda Items for January 6 Meeting
The agenda for the January 6 meeting includes several significant items. Among them is a request from the County Clerk’s office seeking approval for added, abated, escape, and refunded taxes. Additionally, the commission will appoint Brian Miller to the Beaver Township Board, filling the vacancy left by Jennifer Steinert, who resigned effective December 31, 2025.
Other key topics will involve designating official depositories for county funds and discussing the continuation of the contract with Elle Hutchinson as the county’s media consultant. The commission will also consider renewing its memberships in several organizations, including the National Association of Counties for $510, the Kansas Legislative Policy Group for $6,274, and the League of Kansas Municipalities. The potential membership in the Kansas Natural Resource Coalition will also be on the table for discussion.
Appointments and Broadcast Information
Several appointments are scheduled throughout the meeting. At 9:45 a.m., there will be a planning session with the media consultant. This will be followed by a regular business discussion with County Administrator Matt Patzner at 10 a.m.. Subsequent discussions include a bulk mailing request for proposals with County Appraiser Wendy Prosser at 10:15 a.m., and a discussion on a dirt purchase from Oneok with Solid Waste Director Jennifer Hamby at 10:30 a.m..
At 10:45 a.m., there will be a program update with Central Kansas Community Corrections Director Brooke Haulmark, followed by an update from Christy Crews at 11:15 a.m., which was rescheduled from December 30.
For those interested in more local information, “The County Edition” airs at 11:05 a.m. on Thursdays on KVGB-AM, with Sheriff Brian Bellendir featured on the program for the January 8 episode. This meeting promises to set the tone for the year ahead, addressing essential issues impacting the Barton County community.
