Jeremiah Brown, director of the Ellsworth County EMS, resigned Monday during the weekly meeting of Ellsworth County commissioners. Brown said his last day will be Friday, June 18.

“It’s time to move on,” Brown said, adding he appreciated the opportunity to serve both the commissioners and the people of the county, as well as the relationships with agencies EMS deals with on a daily basis.

No action was taken after a 20-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel with Brown and EMS technician Tim Korbe.

Later in the morning, commissioners met in two 15-minute executive sessions to discuss non-elected personnel (the future of the EMS) with EMS technicians Stacey Jordan, James Stout, Lexie Karst and Shawn Simmons. Again, no action was taken.

In other business: • Sandy Robinson of Wilson was appointed to the Ellsworth County Medical Center board of directors.

• Kathy Mosher, executive director of the Central Kansas Mental presented the 2020 annual report.

“It’s been an unusual year,” she said, adding she has never known a bigger threat to mental health than the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mosher said Ellsworth attorney Patrick Hoffman is a new member of the CKMHC board of directors and is doing well on the board.

She said 50 percent of visits with clients are by telehealth and 50 percent are in-person.

In Ellsworth County, Mosher said service to clients from the county increased 10 percent in 2020, with the high risk group increasing by 30 percent. She said a student survey in Ellsworth County indicated 43 percent of students in grades 6-12 have seriously considered committing suicide.

Mosher said several public training events have been done in the last year.

“Talking about it actually saves lives,” she said.

Mosher said the average per capita annual contribution by county commissions in Kansas is $12.58.

For 2021 Ellsworth County paid $4.55 per capita.

She asked if the county could raise its per capita contribution by 7 percent in 2022 to $4.87 (which amounts to $2,000 more).

“We appreciate any support you can give,” Mosher said.

No action was taken.

• Carol and John Kratzer, members of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ellsworth, introduced Keran, the K-9 comfort dog, to commissioners.

Keran, a Golden Retriever, will be used to provide comfort at no charge to those at nursing homes, schools, hospitals, funerals, during natural disasters and other tragedies.

Carol Kratzer said Keran is a bridge for compassionate ministry, opening doors for conversation about faith and creating opportunities to share the mercy, compassion, presence and proclamation of Jesus Christ.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners is at 9 a.m. Monday, May 17, at the county courthouse.