Pottawatomie County’s new Fire Supervisor comes from Nixa, Missouri, where he’s dealt with a large sinkhole and helped with recovery efforts following the Joplin tornado. Jared Barnes says he’s excited about the new opportunity–and told county commissioners Monday morning he learned three main things while in Nixa.
He says he’s learned with fire supervision that his crews guarantee the quality of their work with their lives. And he says a majority of the time his group agrees on 95 percent of the things and if they spend their time focusing on the other five percent, it’s a tough go. But if they concentrate on the 95 percent, they can work through pretty much anything and get through it. And Barnes says he manages for the variance–and what could happen–and tries not to look at things as the best or worst case scenario.
Barnes is filling the position previously held by Bruce Brazzle.
Commissioners Monday also heard from County Public Works Director Leu Lowrey, with approval of a supplemental agreement to transfer a box extension involving Excel Road to the Kansas Department of Transportation, with means a saving for the county of $78,000. A grant application for replacement of signs involving 219 miles of high-travelled roads in the county was signed.
The group also heard from County Sanitarian Scott Schwinn that they’ve doubled the number of sewer permits from the last year at this time from 13 to 26 in the Blue Township area. Landfill numbers are up this year on both residential and construction debris.
An audit report presentation also went well, according to County Commission Chair Pat Weixelman. The group also heard from county extension agents, who reported on upcoming events and presented a budget–which would be held flat from last year. Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent Austin Sexten said there’s been some talk of a three percent cut from the state, but their director is confident state funding will remain flat.
