No action was taken by the Ellsworth County commissioners Monday after two executive sessions lasting a total of 45 minutes to discuss confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships (a proposed PILOT (Payment in Lieu-of-Taxes amount)) with officials from Pattern Energy.

Attending the executive session were Marty Sneath, manager of the Post Rock Wind Farm, and Amanda Cambrice of Pattern Energy.

Cambrice appeared via conference call. Also attending were County Attorney Paul J. Kasper and County Appraiser Carl Miller, county appraiser.

In other business:

• Josh Beckman of Kirkham Michael & Associates said a site for the City of Wilson’s burn pit is still being worked out. A new site may be necessary due to the construction of a new river bridge south of Wilson in 2023.

Beckman said he and County Road and Bridge Superintendent Dale Houston plan to take Wilson Mayor Mike Peschka to the area of the current pit now that it is has been staked out to show him the city would still have enough room to operate as it currently does.

“We’ve got to get this thing taken care of,” Commission Chairman Greg Bender said, adding he will go out with Beckman, Houston and Peschka as well.

• Approval was given to Resolution 2022-R-13, authorizing participation in the Rural Opportunity Zone Student Loan Repayment Program for 2023.

• Approval was given to purchase a new snow plow and dump bed for the county’s new Mack truck at a cost of $75,452 from Hilbuilt in Benton, Ark. The funds will come from the Road and Bridge Department equipment fund in 2023.

• Approval was given to 2023 cereal malt beverage licenses for D&S Convenience Stop, LLC and D&S Oil, LLC, both for original and unopened containers.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 19, at the county courthouse.