Recently some of you may have received a letter with information that was NOT correct, from a person running for Pratt County Commissioner. As the Pratt County Commission we feel that it is our job to explain some facts about the County and the work it does:
•One of the first incorrect statements was that the Pratt County Commission is made up of three people, and that one of them is supposed to represent the interest of the citizens of the City of Pratt. The fact is that ALL of the Commission represents the interest of ALL of Pratt County, including the citizens of Pratt. The County Commissioners are scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. every Monday in the Pratt County Courthouse and encourage not only people living out in the County, but also within the city limits to come in and voice their opinion, ask for help, or just come in and visit. Often citizens of the City of Pratt come to the meetings. We welcome each and every person. Also, if citizens are unable to be at a meeting, as elected officials we welcome you to contact us at anytime. You can feel safe talking to the current County Commissioners knowing they will listen to you without a hidden agenda.
•The Pratt County Road Department actually owns 14 road graders, not 16 as stated in the letter. The County Road Department takes care of 1,400 miles of roads, including 139 miles of blacktop roads. According to regulations, the County must first open school bus and mail routes. During the record snowfall, Pratt County’s Road Department came into the City of Pratt and helped clear city streets. The county had three road graders, one backhoe, and two front loaders and drivers in the city clearing roads and making way for the Emergency Services to get through. The County Road Department followed the ambulance around the city and county roads for two days to make sure the roads were safe for them.
•Another statement from the letter was that $2.1 million comes from inside the City of Pratt. Actually, the County properties outside the City of Pratt pay $5.9 million. In 2009, only 27.1 percent of the taxes the county received were City of Pratt taxes. The other 72.9 percent was paid on properties outside the city limits. The County collects taxes for the school systems, including USD 382, USD 438, and Pratt Community College. The County Commission also helps fund services that help the citizens in the City of Pratt, including Pratt Senior Citizens, Pratt Regional Medical Center, Pratt Area Humane Society, Pratt County Health Department, Arrowhead West, Horizons Mental Health, Pratt Public Library, and more. Pratt County collects the money, but it is distributed to other organizations for financial support.
