Shawn Thomas nominated to fill vacancy left by Dlabal

The name of a candidate to succeed Steve S. Dlabal Jr. as the Ellsworth County commissioner from District 3 was presented at Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth County Commissioners.

Todd Heitschmidt, Ellsworth County Republican Party chairman, said Shawn Thomas of Clear Creek Township had been selected by the party.

On July 10, Dlabal sent a letter to Governor Laura Kelly resigning his seat effective Sept. 1.

Heitschmidt said Thomas’ name will be submitted to Kelly for consideration and approval. Thomas is expected to assume the seat after Dlabal’s departure in September. At that time, Dlabal will have served almost seven years.

“I think he’ll do a great job,” Heitschmidt said of Thomas. “He’s very enthusiastic.”

In other business:

• Before the meeting, the commissioners met with County Clerk Shelly Vopat to canvass the ballots from the Aug. 1 election. During the canvass, 24 total provisional ballots were considered. Just 10 of the ballots were accepted to be counted in the official tally.

• Commissioners adopted an addition to the county comprehensive plan revising language regarding the drone corridor from Fort Riley.

• Sheriff Murray Marston said Water Works of Ellsworth installed a heating and cooling unit in a fivecell unit pod in the county jail recently, which means that five-cell unit can now be used again.

“That’s good news for a change,” Commission chairman Greg Bender said.

Marston requested permission to order two more units for the jail. He estimated the cost to be between $8,500-$9,000 each. The request was approved.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County Commission will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 14, at the county courthouse.