Barton County Commission Summary
Week of June 3, 2026
Contested races set for Barton County Commission
Candidates line up for Great Bend City Council seats
Rural communities report spotty election filings
Commission approves new vehicle for juvenile services
Commission plans to honor local state-placing student-athletes
Commission continues 'Travel 389' business outreach initiative
Groundwater Management District 5 moves forward with augmentation well
Contested races set for Barton County Commission
BARTON COUNTY, Kan. — Voters will see competitive races for the Barton County Commission this election cycle, as multiple candidates beat the filing deadline for three open districts. The county clerk announced that District 1 will feature a three-way race between [NAME NEEDED], [NAME NEEDED] and [NAME NEEDED]. Meanwhile, District 4 drew filings from incumbent Tricia Schlessiger and [NAME NEEDED], and District 5 will see a contest between [NAME NEEDED] and [NAME NEEDED].
Candidates line up for Great Bend City Council seats
GREAT BEND, Kan. — Every ward in Great Bend will feature a contested race or active candidate for the upcoming city council elections. Official filings announced Tuesday include incumbent Lindsey Krom-Craven and Gary Parr for Ward 1, and a three-way race in Ward 2 between [NAME NEEDED], [NAME NEEDED] and [NAME NEEDED]. Ward 3 candidates include [NAME NEEDED] and [NAME NEEDED], while a sole candidate filed for the Ward 4 seat.
Rural communities report spotty election filings
BARTON COUNTY, Kan. — While Great Bend and the county commission saw robust candidate interest, rural Barton County communities reported a mix of contested races and empty ballots. Ellinwood drew three candidates for at-large positions, while Hoisington saw filings in Wards 1, 2 and 3, but none in Ward 4. Notably, no candidates filed for the mayor or city council positions in Albert, Galatia, Olmitz and Susank, and 22 rural townships also lacked official candidates — an occurrence officials noted is typical and often resolved via write-in votes.
Commission approves new vehicle for juvenile services
BARTON COUNTY, Kan. — A purchase of a 2026 Chevrolet Traverse LT for the juvenile services department was approved during Tuesday's Barton County Commission meeting. The vehicle, secured through a local dealership bid, will cost $21,819 after the trade-in of a 2016 Chevrolet Impala and a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Latitude. Juvenile Services Director Marissa Woodmansee noted that the new vehicle's third-row seating will better accommodate car seats and child transport while reducing the overall fleet size to four vehicles, lowering future maintenance costs.
Commission plans to honor local state-placing student-athletes
BARTON COUNTY, Kan. — Local student-athletes from Great Bend and Ellinwood high schools will be formally recognized for their recent state tournament performances during an upcoming session. The Great Bend Panthers baseball and softball teams were praised during the meeting for securing third-place finishes at their respective state tournaments. Additionally, Ellinwood track athletes will be invited to a future meeting, highlighting athlete Reagan Wirtz's two first-place finishes and the relay team's fourth-place medal.
Commission continues 'Travel 389' business outreach initiative
BARTON COUNTY, Kan. — As part of the ongoing "Travel 389: Driving Our Future" initiative, several visits with local business owners were scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. The initiative, named for the county's 389 miles of roadway, aims to foster collaboration and listen to citizen ideas for economic development. Scheduled stops for the day included lunch at a local restaurant, a tour of the Great Bend Tribune and a visit to a Main Street business.
Groundwater Management District 5 moves forward with augmentation well
BARTON COUNTY, Kan. — The long-standing water impairment issue involving the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge is entering a new phase, as Groundwater Management District 5 (GMD5) proceeds with its planned augmentation well field. During Tuesday's meeting, a report on a recent Kansas Natural Resource Coalition gathering characterized opposition to the well field as having largely stalled through the regulatory process. GMD5 will now move forward with the augmentation project, though the coalition is reportedly still researching its next steps.
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