From the desk of Bates County Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley

I HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED YOUR SUMMER, THUSFAR. JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THE COMMISSIONERS ARE WORKING HARD TO ACCOMPLISH THE PROBLEMS PRESENTED TO THEM.

WE STRIVE TO FIND ALTERNATIVES TO GET THE JOB COMPLETED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WE LISTEN TO YOU, THE PEOPLE OF BATES COUNTY, TO EACH PROBLEM AND WORK TO RESOLVE THEM.

WE DRIVE THE ROADS CHECKING TO SEE IF THEY NEED ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE OR THE BRIDGES ARE IN NEED OF REPAIR. WE HAVE PROVIDED TRAINING FOR TOWNSHIPS TO BETTER MAINTAIN YOUR ROADS. WHEN EMERGENCIES ARISE AND NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, WE HAVE TO MAKE CERTAIN THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS ARE MET.

EVEN THOUGH WE ARE ONLY IN THE COURTHOUSE TWO DAYS A WEEK, EACH OF US ATTEND SEVERAL DIFFERENT MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH. WE MEET WITH OTHER COMMISSIONERS, IN THE WEST CENTRAL REGION, TO WORK ON WAYS TO PROMOTE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING INITATIVES WITHIN THIS REGION.

WE ALSO, MEET THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACROSS THE STATE, EXCHANGING IDEAS TO IMPROVE THE WAY BATES COUNTY GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

AFTER BECOMING PRESIDING COMMISSIONER, I SUGGESTED EACH COMMISSIONER TAKE A

SPECIFIC AREA OF KNOWLEDGE AND FOCUS ON THAT AREA TO ADDRESS THE COUNTY’S NEEDS.

I TOOK THE AREAS PERTAINING TO EMERGENCY SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY BY THE

STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (SEMA), WHICH HAS SEVERAL DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS

UNDER ITS JURISDICTION.

I ATTEND THE ANNUAL SEMA CONFERENCE TO CONTINUALLY UNDERSTAND THE COMMISSION’S ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY DURING EMERGENCIES.

WE ARE STARTING THE FIRST PHASE OF REPAIRS AND RESTORATION ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE

COURTHOUSE THAT WILL PRESERVE THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK. THIS WILL INVOLVE REMOVING ALL LANDSCAPING AND DRAINAGE. NEW DRAIN SYSTEMS AND REPAIRS TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING WILL BE COMPLETED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION OFFICE (SHPO) TO MAKE CERTAIN THE PRESERVATION IS DONE CORRECTLY. 

WE WILL BE BACKFILLING AND REPLACE THE SIDEWALKS AROUND THE BUILDING TO MAKE CERTAIN THE WATER DRAINS AWAY, NOT FLOWING TOWARDS THE COURTHOUSE.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR EVEN COMMENTS, I AM READY TO ASSIST YOU. DON’T HESITATE TO

CALL ME AT 660-679-3371.