At Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners, officials reauthorized participation in the Rural Opportunity Zone student loan repayment program for 2020.

Stacie Schmidt, director of the Ellsworth County Economic Development, said this is probably the final year for the program, and the county is not being asked to provide funding by approving it. She said participation would allow employers in the county who wish to sponsor employees to do so.

In other business:

• Commissioners approved the appointment of Jessica Homolka to the Ellsworth County Economic Development board of directors. Homolka will fill the seat representing Commissioner Dennis Rolfs.

“We’re excited to have her,” Schmidt said.“And excited to have that seat filled. It has been vacant for some time.”

• Schmidt said Emily Kelley, partnership coordinator with the U.S. Census Bureau, will present a program on the 2020 Census at noon Friday, Feb. 7, in Room 900 at the Ellsworth Golf Course. The program is part of the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon.

Schmidt said census ballots will be mailed between now and mid March. The ballots are to be filled out and returned by Wednesday, April 1. She is planning to have the Ellsworth Junior-Senior High School Bearcat Marching Band march down Douglas Avenue on Tuesday, March 31, with the banner “March to the Mailbox.” The last U.S. Census was 10 years ago.

“It’s super important,” Schmidt said.

• Schmidt said the Ellsworth County Economic Development will conduct its annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, at the J.H. Robbins Memorial Library in Ellsworth. Elaine Simmons from Wilson, an employee of Barton Community College, is the speaker.

• Approval was given to abatements 2019-33 through 41, in the amount of $3,664.92.

• Approval was given to payroll in the amount of $210,207.25.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 10.