Adding an addendum to the county employee handbook was discussed at Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth County Commission.

Superintendent of the County Noxious Weed Department, Landfill and Recycling Program Teresa Shute and Director of Ellsworth County EMS Nathan Florian said an addendum should be added for drug testing after an incident.

Florian said the emergency room at the Ellsworth County Medical Center could do the testing.

Commissioners asked that a department head meeting be placed on the agenda for the Monday, Oct. 2, commission meeting so it could be discussed with the department heads.

In other business:

• No action was taken after a 15-minute executive session with Shute to discuss non-elected personnel (status report).

• Ellsworth County Health Department Administrator Kerianne Ehrlich advised the commissioners she has had several large expenses recently. Those include purchase of the new COVID-19 booster vaccine (the Moderna vaccine) and the new RSV vaccine.

“Revenue should cover the expenses,” she said.

In other business:

• Commissioners reviewed options with County Clerk and Elections Officer Shelly Vopat regarding a place to securely store the ballot- counting machine as per state mandate. In addition to being in a locked area, the machine must be constantly monitored by camera.

• Commission Chairman Greg Bender said he looked at the concession stand at the 4-H barn and the termites were sprayed by World Pest Control. There was also damage to the serving window screens on the stand that need repaires. He asked Vopat to contact Brent Goss of the Ellsworth County Fair Association to verify the verbal agreement the association has with the county regarding damage.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County Commissioners is at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 2, at the county courthouse.