Ellsworth County will switch providers for its employee health insurance for 2020. At Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners, a motion to have Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas be the health insurance provider for 2020 was approved.

For the past year, the county has had Atnea as its medical insurance provider. Gallagher will remain the broker for the county’s employee health insurance.

In other business:

• Stacie Schmidt of the Ellsworth County Economic Development, said she contacted the office of Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall to check on the status of the development of the proposed wind farm in southern Ellsworth County. Schmidt was told there has been no active movement on the project because the Federal Aviation Administration is withholding authorization of the project due to its proximity to the Smoky Hill Bombing Range. Schmidt was told movement on the project was unlikely to change unless the project were moved. She hopes to find out more information later this week.

• Schmidt invited commissioners to attend the Ellsworth County Economic Development’s lunch at the Ellsworth Steak House at noon Dec. 11 for elected officials.

• Approval was given to the construction engineering agreement with Kirkham Michael and Associates for the bridge four miles west of Ellsworth on Old 40 Highway. The cost of the agreement is $169,055.

Jon Halbgewachs of Kirkham Michael said work on tearing out and installing a new bridge will begin in March and last six to nine months. L&M Construction of Great Bend is the project contractor for the $773,020.70 project.

• Dale Houston, county road and bridge superintendent, said 2020 is Ellsworth County’s turn to host the annual meeting of the North Central Kansas County Highway Officials Association. He asked commissioner Steve Dlabal to roast a hog for the lunch which is served at the meeting.

• Approval was given to pay 2020 membership dues to the National Association of Counties in the amount of $450.

• County attorney Paul J. Kasper said the security updates on his two office computers expire in 2020. Those computers use the Windows 7 operating system. Kasper is optimistic he can update the computers to Windows 10. If not, he will need to purchase two new computers. The estimated total cost for both computers is $1,500.