After 19 years as an Ellsworth County commissioner, Kermit Rush knows the place he has called home for more than 80 years has more in its economic tool box than many rural counties. Farming and ranching. Oil and gas. Manufacturing. Services. The Ellsworth Correctional Facility. “Ellsworth County is really diversified. We don’t have all our eggs in one basket,” Rush said. Rush has lived in Ellsworth County since his family moved here when he was 3 years old. He and his wife, Darlene, moved from the farm to Ellsworth in 1997. A year later he was encouraged to seek a commission seat. He didn’t think he would win. Not only did he win, three years ago when he decided to retire, Rush was once again asked to run. He will be 86 years old when he finishes his current — and what he says will be his last — term in 2021.

The changes have been many since he started attending the weekly Monday morning commission meetings.

Materials, salaries and other expenses have increased the cost of operating the county. The state also cut back on the money it sends to local governments. The Gov. Brownback years were especially difficult. The state didn’t have the money to support schools, prisons and other services as they had in the past.

“They about wrecked the highway program,” Rush said.

A bright spot in the budget picture was the county’s valuation, which grew from $70 million to about $100 million in the past 20 years. Rush said the increase came from land, houses, “a little bit of everything.” The gas plant at Bushton also has expanded, creating even more value for Ellsworth County. The increase made a mill worth more for property tax purposes.

Rush also saw the development of wind energy in Ellsworth County and another farm is in the planning stage. The farms don’t pay property taxes; however, owners contribute payments to county coffers — money that commissioners use to hold down the mill levy.

It’s called “payment in lieu of taxes.”

Another plus for Ellsworth County has been a relatively stable population.

Many of those positives have come from good leadership, Rush said.

“Ellsworth County has done a lot of things right” he said.

Even things that stirred controversy have worked to Ellsworth County’s benefit in the end, Rush said. He pointed to the Wal-Mart building, which was open for less than a year before the company pulled out of Ellsworth.

Home Lumber ended up taking the space, a move that gave the business more visibility and traffic.

“It turned out to be a good thing,” Rush said.

As commissioner, he serves on the board of the Beloit-based North Central Regional Planning Commission, of which Ellsworth city administrator Scott Moore is chairman.

The two often talk government business and future needs on their trips to and from Beloit. Rush said that’s how Ellsworth eventually attracted a developer for townhouses in the First Bank Kansas addition in north Ellsworth. The two officials went to Russell to investigate a project there and liked what they saw.

Rush, who has served on numerous other boards, can often be found at meetings or events that expand his knowledge of Ellsworth County and its government. He works at keeping in touch with his constituents.

“That was what I was voted in to do,” he said.

Rush, who figures the commission job consumes 10 to 15 hours a week, also spends time on the street talking with voters. In fact, that illustrates his advice to the person who will eventually fill his commission seat.

“Listen to the public,” he said.“Do the best you can and be there. Get involved. That’s the main thing.”