Susank
Susank, KS
Bountiful summer harvest keeps elevator busy SUSANK RD.
USANK — During harvest time, Jeff Cotten is a busy man as site manager at the Susank Co-op. He resides so close, he can walk to work a block away. He also serves on the Susank city council. That’s typical for life in a small town. The Susank elevator is owned by Agco, Inc., of Russell. Summer wheat harvest is Cotten’s busiest time when he hires part-time help to assist with a workload that requires around-theclock assistance for a few weeks. Cotten uses testing equipment to measure moisture content, a key ingredient to determine whether farmers complete their harvest. “The farmers will come in and test their load to make sure the timing is right to finish their harvest,” he said. “Early summer is one of the busiest times of the year.” In an average year, the Susank elevator will process 400,000 bushels of wheat. Milo and soybeans will be harvested in October and November. Cotten also spends time selling farm supplies and salt blocks. The town of 34 residents is still trying to overcome the loss of FlyOver Cafe co-owners, Michelle and Justin Heggemeier, who died in a tragic murder-suicide last winter. The restaurant, 201 Main Street, was open six days a week. Local residents hope the restaurant will reopen later this year after Dixie Clark purchased the property. The townsite of Susank plate map was filed on Dec. 27, 1917 by Albert Janke in the Barton County Courthouse. Susank, in Union Township, was incorporated as a Third Class city on May 9, 1940. The town was named after Edward J. Susank, who worked with the Santa Fe Railroad and Congress to build the railroad
SUSANK POPE ST.
UNION AVE. SANTA FE ST.
A T & SF RAILWAY
NW 190 RD
near Susank. The railway spur was built in 1917 by a Barton County/Santa Fe Railway partnership. Among the first businesses were grain elevators to store and load the wheat on the railroad cars. A cattle shipping yard was located just east of the elevators. A community water well was dug in 1951 with lines connecting to city residents. In April of 1961 a sewer system was completed. When the Russell Rural Water District No. 3 was formed, Susank stopped using the city well and bought water from RWD No. 3. As of the census of 2010, Susank was home to 34 residents, 19 households, and 10 families residing in the city.
City Departments City Clerk, Tammy Cotten Treasurer, Diane Wilson Water Superintendent, Dennis Trapp
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BARTON COUNTY SOURCE
City Council The Susank city council meets at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at 127 Hoisington Road. Questions for council members can be directed through the mayor at 620-653-2769. Mayor – Dennis Trapp Councilman – Lyle Brown Councilman – Bill Luerman Councilman – Mike Hickel Councilman – Jackie Mater Councilman – Jeff Cotten
Other Contacts Utilities Western Cooperative Electric 800-456-6720 Midwest Energy, 620-792-1301 Phone Sprint United, 800-877-4646 Trash Service Shamrock Sanitation, Great Bend 620-792-1639 Recycling Sunflower Recycling 5523 10th St., Great Bend 620-793-5800 Animal Control Golden Belt Humane Society 620-792-4297
Post Office Rural route from Hoisington 620-653-2838