The Ellsworth County Courthouse reopened to the public at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 19. However, the department heads have the authority to decide how they will deal with the public in their individual offices while following Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

That was the decision commissioners made Monday, after consulting with department heads.

Paul J. Kasper, county attorney, said the county could probably work towards opening back up if a little cooperation was shown by both sides — county officials and the public.

“It sounds like the public is going to have to be patient,” he added.

Geneva Schneider, county treasurer, said even if the courthouse is opened to the public, her office will be open by appointment only.

The general words of advice to the public for any of the county offices was to call first.

Kasper said information he has seen from the 20th Judicial District and the Kansas Supreme Court indicates if a county courthouse is open to the public, then the courts are as well.

Peggy Svaty, clerk of the district court, said she thought the court had a full docket of cases.

She plans to have social distancing markings in the courtroom, along with wipes and wastepaper baskets.

In other business:

• Commissioners approved extending the county’s disaster declaration another 30 days so the county can keep its eligibility to apply for COVID-19 relief related grants and supplies.

• Stacy Schmidt, executive director of the Ellsworth County Economic Development, requested and received approval from the commissioners to apply for a Kansas Department of Commerce Community Development CDBG-CV Economic Development grant program. Schmidt said the grant, which is up to $300,000, provides communities with funding to help local businesses retain jobs for low-to-moderate income people. The grants can be used to pay for the following expenses — working capital such as wages, utilities and rent and the purchase of up to 60 days of inventory needed to reopen.

The amount of the awards are up to $25,000 for businesses with five or fewer employees (with a maximum of $30,000 per company) and up to $35,000 for each full-time employee is available to businesses with between six and 50 employees (with a maximum of $50,000 per company).

Schmidt said the Cities of Ellsworth and Wilson plan to apply for the grant on their own. Holyrood Mayor Brandon Koch

Holyrood Mayor Brandon Koch and Kanopolis Mayor Anthony Hopkins were at the commission meeting to show their support but didn’t speak.

Schmidt said she has identified a list of businesses eligible for the program.

The North Central Regional Planning Commission in Beloit is coordinating with Schmidt for the grant application. A public hearing is planned for

A public hearing is planned for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 27, at the county courthouse so commissioners can pass a resolution for the program application.

• Sheila Nelson-Stout and Susan Sprague of OCCK Inc. of Salina presented the 2021 budget request. Stout noted the amount requested was the same as last year, $27,766.

“We appreciate the partnership with Ellsworth County, “ she said. “Our plan is to do as much here as we possibly can.”

Because of Memorial Day, the next regular meeting of the commissioners will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, at the county courthouse.