How to bring broadband internet access to more parts of Ellsworth County was a major topic of discussion at Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners.

Brandon Koch of H&B Communications in Holyrood said even if the county dedicated all of the $1.2 million the county is receiving from the American Rescue Funds Act — which he was not advocating — it would not get fiber optic cable to everyone in Ellsworth County.

“I think you have to look at ways to maximize any portion of that you would want to spend on broadband, whether it’s matching a federal program or a state program that might be coming in the future,” Koch said.

Commissioner Greg Bender said he wanted a starting point.

“I know that was something we’ve talked about before,” he said. “I know there are areas where we need it in the county.”

Koch guessed it would take $10 million or more to get fiber optic cable to every house in the county.

“I say fiber, because ultimately that is the best solution for broadband,” he said.

Commissioner Dennis Rolfs said perhaps the county could put a specific dollar amount towards broadband, then work to get other sources of funding.

Koch said a program through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is awarding $200 million nationwide for broadband distribution. He said the State of Kansas is trying to put together a bid because the applicant has to be a government entity in partnership with somebody else, such as H&B Communications or Wilson Communications.

He said Stacie Schmidt, executive director of Ellsworth County Economic Development, is working with the Kansas Department of Commerce on a plan for Ellsworth County as part of that larger state application,” Koch said.

The applications are due by Aug. 17.

“So that’s a lot of work to do in a short amount of time and it may not be feasible,” he added.

Koch said there are other programs in the pipeline.

He noted an infrastructure program in Congress earmarks $65 billion for broadband, with $45 billion dedicated to actual infrastructure/new construction.

“But we don’t know when that will be available,” Koch said.

Rolfs told Schmidt he would be interested in attending a Zoom meeting of the Kansas Department of Commerce Office of Broadband Development for identified stakeholders in the county.

“We could see what opportunities we get and set something aside,” Bender said.

In other business: • Lorraine Mayor Kim Travnichek and city clerk Jessica Bowlby discussed the poor condition of Wichita Avenue, because of heavy trucks, including those belonging to the county.

Travnichek said the city has tried to repair the road, but it’s too wide. She estimated it would cost $200,000 to repair, with $100,000 of that coming from the Lorraine city coffers and that is money the town simply doesn’t have.

“I think they could use a little help with that,” Rolfs said.

He noted the county road goes on the edge of the Lorraine, and the county does not maintain any road within the city limits.

Rolfs also said the county stores its sand and rock in Lorraine where Green Garden Township has its shed.

“I’m just thinking if the county can reach out and at least help smooth that road out, it would be a real benefit to Lorraine,” he said.

“Maybe we can do something,” Bender said.

“I don’t think it would take that much to fix it,” Commissioner Steve Dlabal added.

The commissioners will talk to Dale Houston, county road and bridge superintendent, about the road.

“We would appreciate it,” Travnichek said.

• Sheriff Murray Marston presented a 2022 budget request of $1,397,914,60, which is $25,379.60 more than the sheriff ’s office received for 2021.

Marston also presented two additional versions of his 2022 budget — one with one extra dispatch employee, and one with two extra dispatch employees.

He noted that the county’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating could drop if the dispatchers were added. This would mean a possible drop in commercial business insurance rates in the county of between 15-25 percent.

Marston said if this were done, the sheriff ’s office would have to figure out where to get the additional dollars to pay the salaries of those employees going into the future. He was encouraged to fill out one of the American Rescue Funds applications for funding consideration.

• Greg Heller, who works at the Fort Harker Guardhouse in Kanopolis, asked commissioners who sets the speed limit on the county-owned Ave. L (the Low Road) as it goes into Kanopolis and becomes Ohio Street.

Heller said going into Kanopolis, the speed limit on that road is 55 miles per hour. But the speed limit going out of town past the Guardhouse to 18th Road is 30 mph.

Heller said people often drive too fast past the Guardhouse.

“I’m surprised nobody has been killed,” he said.

Heller said the Kanopolis City Council told him the county owned the road; therefore, the county is responsible.

The commissioners said they would have Houston move the 30 mph speed limit sign further west.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners will be at 9 a.m. Monday, July 26, at the county courthouse.