The $1.2 million Ellsworth County recently received from the state will soon be getting somebody to oversee that program locally.

During Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners, Stacie Schmidt of Ellsworth County Economic Development said the county needs to first approve a resolution authorizing the program. However, Paul J. Kasper, county attorney, suggested a person be hired part-time to meet the various state deadlines and oversee the program locally. The job would be temporary. Schmidt said the funds, which

Schmidt said the funds, which are through Gov. Laura Kelly’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Task Force, must be used by the end of the year. They are earmarked for businesses as reimbursement for COVID-19 related expenses as well as direct aid to businesses who are in the process of safely reopening their business.

Schmidt will bring a list of candidates for the job back to the commissioners for consideration.

In other business:

• Schmidt said applications are being taken for funding from the three Kansas Department of Commerce Community Development Block Grants Ellsworth County, the City of Wilson and the City of Ellsworth recently received for COVID-19 relief.

• Commissioners met with Julie Govert Walter, executive director of the North Central Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging in Manhattan. “Our goal is to do our best to

“Our goal is to do our best to provide services people need,” Walter.

Commissioner Kermit Rush asked about paying a portion of health insurance for three senior center employees — a cook at Ellsworth, a cook at Wilson and the senior center manager at Ellsworth. Walter said the organization is obligated to pay health insurance for employees who work 30 hours or more a week. Last year, the county earmarked $8,000 in its budget for that expense. This year, however, that expense increased to $27,780. That amount, when added to a bill to help pay for services provided by the Senior Care Act, such as in home services, amounts to a total owed (including past due amounts needing clarification) by the county of $32,803.

Rush said the county will pay as much of that amount as it can — if it has the money to do it.

• The Ellsworth County Historical Society requested a budget for 2021 of $39,500 — the same amount requested for 2020.

• The Register of Deeds requested a 2021 budget of $102,660 — a three percent increase from the $100,235 she requested for 2020.

• Schmidt and Jennifer Nemnick were appointed to serve on the Ellsworth County Medical Center board of directors.

• The county health supervisor submitted a budget request of $376,753.80 for 2021 — a 1.3 percent increase from the $371,681 requested for 2020.

• A request from Kasper for a projector, a projector screen, case and tripod for the district court room not to exceed $1,200 was approved.

• The Ellsworth County 4-H Fair Association requested a budget for 2021 of $14,000 — $3,000 less than the $17,000 requested for 2020. • Jeremiah Brown of the

• Jeremiah Brown of the Ellsworth County EMS said he is working on a plan to purchase pagers for all full and part-time emergency medical technicians.

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

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners will be at 9 a.m. Monday, July 6, at the county courthouse.