More budget requests for 2023 were received by the Ellsworth County commissioners Monday during their weekly meeting.

Nathan Florian, director of the county EMS, requested $674,813 for 2023. That is a 21 percent ($118,093) increase from the $556,720 he requested for 2022. Florian said the price of fuel, medical supplies and vehicle maintenance has skyrocketed.

“We cannot second guess any of that right now,” Commissioner Greg Bender said.

Shelia Nelson-Stout, president of OCCK, Inc., requested the same amount for 2023 as in 2022 — $28,599.

She said 54 people with disabilities in Ellsworth County were served by OCCK in 2022. A total of 23 people in the county were transported by OCCK.

In other business: • Commissioners agreed by consensus to allow Florian to develop two shift supervisors at EMS as a way to develop future leadership.

• No action was taken after a seven minute executi session with Kerianne Ehrlich, county health department administrator, to discuss non-elected personne (a contract).

• Commissioners heard a presentation on recycling by Ken Reitz of Images in Salina. Bender asked him t talk to the Ellsworth City Council.

• Approval was given to an estimate by Levi Schneider to remove three trees around the county courthouse grounds and haul them off. The total cost is not to exceed $5,000.

• Approval was given to a Proclamation that June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month in Ellsworth County.

From the May 31 meeting:

• Clay Rupp and Sharon Holloway of the Wilson Senior Center presented a 2023 budget request of $35,000. That is a seven percent ($7,000) increase from 2022. The reason for the increase was a cut in state funds, increasing utility costs and the need to purchase a new dishwasher.

• Virginia Boots, Alma Deutsch and Julie Phillips of the Ellsworth County Council on Aging presented a 2023 budget request of $33,000. That is a 3.1 percent ($1,000) increase from their 2022 request.

• Geneva Schneider, county treasurer, and representatives from INA Alert discussed three quotes Schneider requested from INA for security at the county courthouse. One option discussed, for $4,840.68, was for the front door to have video inter com to control who came in and out of the courthouse. A second option, for $13,565.27, was for the exterior doors. All employees would have an access card and if it was not returned at the end of employment, it could be deactivated. A third option discussed, for $59,152.47, was for 16 interior doors that would need access cards to enter each office. Schneider said she would obtain an American Rescue Plan Act application from Shelly Vopat, county clerk, to apply for one of these quotes.

• Jon Halbgewachs and Josh Beckman of Kirkham Michael & Associates, and Dale Houston, county road and bridge superintendent, discussed options the county is going to need to make on the Wilson Bridge construction project. The project was originally priced at roughly $2.8 million. However, with a spike in the cost of steel and materials, the estimate is now $4.1 million.

Beckman said he will get the cost of a concrete beam bridge, which he believes will be cheaper than a steel bridge. Vopat will check on doing a temp note.

• Approval was given to a bill from Choitz Electric for $1,398, to repair lights at the 4-H Barn.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners will be at 9 a.m. Monday, June 13, at the county courthouse.