After meeting with Dale Houston, superintendent of the Ellsworth County Road and Bridge Department Monday morning, the Ellsworth County commissioners approved closing First Road, also known as 105th Road, to everything but local traffic only — specifically to northbound traffic at Ave. I and to southbound traffic at Ave. E — subject to a five-ton weight limit on the old Wilson River Bridge. The limit was determined during a scheduled inspection of the bridge Friday by state officials The measure will remain in effect until the new Wilson River Bridge is built in coming months.

Houston will coordinate with the Kansas Department of Transportation, Russell County and Barton County to install the necessary signage at his discretion.

In other business:

• Commissioners signed a grant application to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to be submitted by Ellsworth County Health Department Administrator Kerianne Ehrlich.

• Commissioners advised Matthew Fulkerson, owner of Atlas Ad Astra Adventure Resort northeast of Wilson, to contact Wilson Township after Fulkerson requested the county’s assistance in chipping and sealing a half-mile stretch of road leading to the resort.

“That’s a township road,” Houston noted.

County Attorney Paul J. Kasper said there would have to be an agreement between the county and the township to do that work, adding the county would need the township’s permission to participate.

Houston estimated the county’s portion of the work, just figuring materials, would be at least $10,000.

Fulkerson plans to apply for a Sprint grant from the State of Kansas for tourism. Part of that grant would be put towards the work.

• Approval was given to INA Alert of Ellinwood to switch the current strikers on the doors at the county courthouse with magnetic locks at no charge to the county.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners is at 9 a.m. Monday, March 20, at the county courthouse.