There was no public comment Monday, as Ellsworth County commissioners conducted public hearings for both the 2023 Revenue Neutral Rate and the 2023 budget.

Approval was given to exceed the county’s Revenue Neutral Rate of 51.395 mills for 2023. The proposed estimated tax rate for the county will be 57.528 mills.

The 2023 county budget of $13,586,833 was approved. That is up from the $9,158,258 budget of 2022.

In other business:

• Ernie Jezek, a Palacky Township trustee, visited with commissioners about trimming trees in ditches along the county right-of-way that are scratching maintenance equipment and are a safety hazard.

Jezek said he has caught flack about trimming the trees and he decided to seek the commissioners’ thoughts on continuing the work.

“Did you talk with Dale (Houston, county road and bridge superintendent),” asked Commissioner Greg Bender.

“No,” Jezek replied. Commissioner Dennis Rolfs said the county register of deeds office and the county appraiser office could both give Jezek information on where the right-ofway actually is.

“That’s what I wanted to know,” Jezek said.

Shelly Vopat, county clerk, gave Jezek written information on the county’s road right-of-ways.

“I’d say trim the trees,” Bender said. Jezek said he will talk to Houston.

• Flint Warta said something needs to be done to combat Johnson grass in the county.

“I agree with you completely,” Rolfs said.

Johnson grass is a noxious weed. “We’ve got to get back on schedule,” Bender said.

• Approval was given to spend $8,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds plus additional funds not to exceed $6,000 from the county building fund for a courthouse security project to be installed by INA Alert of Ellinwood. Geneva Schneider, county treasurer, thanked commissioners for approving the funds.

• Walter Schwerdtfeger Jr., who has two wind turbines on his property in Sherman Township, said he is charged $225 in commercial taxes and wondered if those funds stay in the township after they are collected by the county or if they were distributed countywide. Vopat showed Schwerdtfeger on his tax statement how those funds are distributed. with Sherman Township getting $72.67 back.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29, at the county courthouse.