Barton County Commission District 4 Choose 1
Barton County Commission District 4
Biographical Information
phone
620-617-5247
Campaign Email
kevinlrose@outlook.com
Campaign Phone
620-617-5247
Campaign Address
277 Liberty Road
Mailing Address
277 Liberty Rd
Great Bend, Kansas 67530
Great Bend, Kansas 67530
Personal Biography
I was raised on a farm three miles from the Barton Stafford County line. Graduated from St. John High School in 1978. Upon graduation I worked on the family farm. I moved to Barton County in 1988. Along with farming I worked at the local John Deere Ag and Construction dealerships for twenty-eight years. Then at a Case Application dealership. I retired in 2025.
Education
St. John High
Ballot City
Great Bend
County
Barton
What do you see as the most pressing needs for infrastructure or capital projects in the county? How should they be paid for?
Maintain the roadways and the city airport that would help bring in companies that would bring growth to the city and to the county.
I would look for state and federal funds to help attract the business.
What policy changes or investments are necessary to encourage broader employment?
Research all options and be ready to adapt or invest in the improvement for the county.
What element of the county’s government is most effective, and why?
All departments of the county are effective in their own way. It is the job of the county commissioners to govern each department to maintain and get the most from each department.
Biographical Information
phone
620-562-7744
Campaign Email
triciaschlessiger@gmail.com
Campaign Address
343 Southeast 100 Avenue
Mailing Address
343 SE 100 Ave
Ellinwood, Kansas 67526
Ellinwood, Kansas 67526
phone (mobile)
6205627744
Personal Biography
Tricia and her husband Joe live south of Ellinwood on his Grandparents farm. They have a large farm partnership with his brother and son. Tricia is a graduate of Kansas State University and the University of Wisconsin. She worked in banking for 20 years primarily in Agriculture lending. She now works for the farm as Accountant and farm hand as needed.
Community/Public Service
Barton County Commissioner - 1st term, Barton County KNRC Representative, Vice Chair of 20th Judicial District CKCC Advisory Board, St John's Child Development Center - Board Member, Ellinwood After Prom Chair, Ellinwood Rotary member & AHF Parade Coordinator
Education
Kansas State University Bachelor of Science Business Administration - Major Accounting Graduate School of Banking Degree University of Wisconsin, Madison
Ballot City
Ellinwood
County
Barton
What do you see as the most pressing needs for infrastructure or capital projects in the county? How should they be paid for?
Barton county has 389 miles of paved roads and 372 bridges. Maintaining this infrastructure is extremely important. We cannot become a county that lets their roads and bridges deteriorate. This takes careful budgeting and consistent planning. Our county is divided into 4 informal quadrants and we overlay approximately 35 miles each year with cold mix in a different quadrant. All miles in that quadrant are sealed, approximately 90 miles each year. This takes a very disciplined approach from Road & Bridge.
In addition to that we apply for KDOT grants to help offset the cost of hot mix on our more heavily traveled roads, like Juco Road, Airport Road, and Railroad avenue. The Cost share on that is very helpful. We also apply for cost share on bridges as needed.
Lastly, we are working with KDOT on the 4-lane improvement from Doonan’s corner to the East Edge of Great Bend. This will be funded as a KDOT project but they do require a local match.
What policy changes or investments are necessary to encourage broader employment?
To attract new business and industry Barton County needs to have the necessary infrastructure in place to appeal to those businesses. It also is helpful to not have burdensome regulations and policies that prevent new businesses for relocating here.
Barton County has a housing shortage which is also a problem. There have been some strides made in this area with the housing development in Claflin and Ellinwood. Hoisington also has plans for an area and Great Bend is working towards one as well. Barton County also has a child care shortage as well. This situation has improved somewhat with the opening of the new center in Great Bend, the addition to the Ellinwood Center and the new center that will open in August in Claflin.
What element of the county’s government is most effective, and why?
I feel like budgeting to maintain the county’s infrastructure and public safety are effective areas. Without strong budgeting skills it is difficult to maintain the funding to accomplish these important tasks. Having a strong team of elected officials working together helps tremendously.