Ellsworth County will have additional funds in its coffers, thanks to $1.2 million in funding being made available to the county through the CARES Act.

At Monday’s meeting of county commissioners, Stacie Schmidt of Ellsworth County Economic Development said the money was distributed under Gov. Laura Kelly’s SPARK Task Force based on a county’s population, except for larger counties, such as Sedgwick, which received a flat amount. She requested commissioners approve an economic recovery task force made up of local business owners, officials from the county ministerial alliance, the school districts, county health officials and emergency management officials to discuss how to distribute the funds and make recommendations to the commissioners for final approval.

Schmidt said the funds are to be spent specifically on COVID-19 relief.

The task force is required to submit a plan to state officials by September. Commissioners approved the task force.

Commissioners approved the task force.

In other business:

• Commissioners approved paperwork associated with the $137,000 grant the county received from the Kansas Department of Commerce Community Development Block Grant funding specifically for COVID-19 relief.

• Commissioners approved a recommendation by Schmidt to authorize a three-member committee consisting of herself, Kanopolis Mayor Anthony Hopkins and Holyrood Mayor Brandon Koch to review applications and make recommendations to commissioners on which businesses would receive funding under the grant.

• The Ellsworth County Conservation District requested a budget of $32,000 for 2021 — the same as requested for 2020.

• Chris Landrum and Nicklaus Strecker of INA Alert of Ellinwood met with commissioners to see whether the county was interested in purchasing products from that company, such as automatic door locks and remote camera systems. Commissioners said they would be in contact if they decide to purchase any items.

• Andrew Bair, chief executive officer at Ellsworth County Medical Center, said Deb Hyman’s term on the board has expired and board member Kenny Schepmann has resigned to move to Topeka. Bair said he has a list of possible candidates for the commissioners to consider as replacements.

• John Hirst of the Ellsworth Boy Scouts said scouts were moving items from the scout building near the Smoky Hill River Bridge due to rising water caused by Sunday’s heavy rain. The items are being taken to the Ellsworth County 4-H Barn, which the scouts are renting for a short period.

• Officials from the Ellsworth Senior Center submitted a 2021 budget request of $31,800 — the same as they submitted for 2020. However, the senior center actually received $29,000 in 2020.

The next meeting of Ellsworth County commissioners is at 9 a.m. Monday, June 29, at the county courthouse.