The Ellsworth County commissioners focused on matters of justice during their brief meeting Monday at the county courthouse.

They began by signing an interlocal agreement with the 20th Judicial District Juvenile Services, which was modeled after the agreement the county has with the 20th Judicial District Community Corrections. Other counties in the district are Russell, Barton, Stafford and Rice.

Marissa Woodmansee, who oversees the program, said while the agreement doesn’t change anything, it makes it official.

Amy Boxberger, who oversees Community Corrections, said a gap between the two programs was found and this agreement remedies that.

Woodmansee noted she has worked with Ellsworth attorney Patrick Hoffman on the agreement. It will now be sent to the Kansas Attorney General’s office for approval.

Boxberger noted that while the community corrections and juvenile services share the same building in Barton County, they also share services and resources. The new interlocal agreement outlines the differences between the two organizations, which are state funded and county run.

In other business:

• Commissioners approved the 2019 outcomes report presented by community corrections.

Boxberger said her department just missed its goal of no more than 25 percent of offenders who go back to prison.

“We were over by .01 percent,” she said.

Of the 168 people who went though the Central Kansas Community Corrections program in 2019, Boxberger said 43 went back to prison. However, 125 — 74 percent — did not.

“I think we’re doing good things,” Boxberger said.

She noted one key to success for these offenders is finding a job within the community.

“For them, finding a job is a struggle, but not impossible,” she said.“Especially in Ellsworth County. Ellsworth County is offender friendly.”

• Keith Haberer, emergency management director for both Ellsworth and Russell counties, said now is the time he applies for the Emergency Management Performance Grant. The grant is a federal grant which awards $350 million nationwide to counties. In order to get the grant funding, Haberer said a county must do exercises and training.

Ellsworth County receives $10,000 in EMPG funding annually.

Due to the Labor Day holiday, the next meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners is at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, at the county courthouse.