Arequest for funds to repave a halfmile section of Fourth Road east of Wilson to the old missile silo was denied by the Ellsworth County Commissioners Monday.

Matthew Fulkerson, owner of the Atlas Ad Astra Adventure Resort, said he had a company willing to mill up that portion of the road, grind the millings, mix oil with them, then use them to chip seal the road. The cost would be $22,750.

He also said the Kansas Department of Transportation has a grant available which would have a 15 percent match. That would mean, if successful in getting the grant, Fulkerson would only need $4,200 to get the road work done.

“Now is the perfect opportunity to get this project done,” he said.

He hoped to work together with the county, since he cannot apply for the grant himself.

“I’m trying to bring tourism to our county,” Fulkerson said.

County Road and Bridge Superintendent Dale Houston said the grant application may take some time and there is no guarantee Fulkerson would be successful in getting grant funding.

“It’s a township road,” Houston said. “They are the ones that are going to have to make the decision. We’re not going to take that road on.”

“Could the county take over that road,” Fulkerson asked.

“I don’t think we want to,” Houston said, adding his budget is pretty tight.

Houston also said the road would need to be sealed every five years or it would crumble.

Commissioner Dennis Rolfs suggested Fulkerson talk to Marty Sneath of the Post Rock Wind Farm and Grow Ellsworth County Director Stacie Schmidt for possible funding.

Rolfs said the county is not interested in taking on the half-mile stretch of road.

“We have other needs that are more important,” he said.

Board member Robert Soukup of Wilson Township said he would talk to the other two board members about the road.

After Fulkerson left the meeting, the commissioners approved a motion to not put Fulkerson on the agenda in the future. However, he can still address the commission during the weekly public forum.

In other business:

• The Ellsworth County Emergency Operations Plan was approved as recommended by Emergency Management Director for Ellsworth and Russell Counties Keith Haberer.

• Approval was given to certify June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month in Ellsworth County.

From May 30:

• Commissioners decided to form a committee of nine or 10 individuals from different occupations and areas of the county to work on the jail needs assessment project.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County Commission will be at 9 a.m. Monday, June 12, at the county courthouse.