Two more budget

requests for 2020 were presented to Ellsworth County commissioners Monday during their weekly meeting.

Sheriff Murray Marston submitted a 2020 budget request of $1,492,195.20 — nearly 13 percent higher than the $1,300,000 budget presented for 2019.

Marston said the bigger budget will allow him to increase the salaries of his patrol and dispatch employees to make them more competitive. Jail personnel already received an increase in salary. There are also funds available in that budget request for the possible purchase of three new patrol vehicles.

Sue Schlegel of the Post Rock Scenic Byway gave no specific dollar amount when she met with commissioners. Rather, she asked that a percentage of an item in the budget be provided, such as spending on the state travel and tourism guide or the Travel Kansas magazine.

“I just don’t want you to forget us,” Schlegel said.

“We will consider it along with everything else,” said Commissioner Kermit Rush.

In other business:

• After a 10-minute executive session with Dale Houston of the county road and bridge department to discuss non-elected personnel, approval was given to Houston taking over the department’s superintendent job as of Aug. 1. The current superintendent, Rick Nondorf, is retiring on that date.

• Approval was given to a permit pursuant to a variance on the Ellsworth County Sanitary Code previously granted by the commissioners on Jan. 22 for Cheryl Dirks on property at Kanopolis Lake. Commissioners signed the permit and presented it to Ellsworth County sanitarian Shawn Esterl.

• Brendan Giesick of Gilmore Solutions discussed information technology solutions his company could provide the county in the way of networking, security and email. Commissioners took the information under consideration.

• Jeremiah Brown of the county EMS said his ice machine has been installed and is working. He said a windshield in one of the ambulances will need to be replaced. He also requested, and received, signatures from the commissioners on a grant program to help pay the fees for three EMS technicians who are furthering their education in EMS.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County

commissioners will be at 9 a.m. Monday, July 15, at the county courthouse.