The Ellsworth County commissioners took another step down the American Rescue Plan Act funding path Monday by completing the review of the risk assessments for the eight entities that were recently selected to receive ARPA funding.

“We’re probably close to begin ready to write checks,” said Stacie Schmidt, executive director of the Ellsworth County Economic Development.

The eight entities are: Maico Industries, Ellsworth County (for new water fountains at the county courthouse), Ellsworth County EMS, the Ellsworth County Sheriff ’s Office, H&B Communications, The Ellsworth Senior Center, Ellsworth County (Post Rock) Rural Water District, and Ellsworth County (for hand sanitizing stations).

In a related matter, commissioners approved the memorandum of understanding necessary for the ARPA funds.

In other business:

• Sheriff Murray Marston said his office plans to use the ARPA funds to hire an additional full-time dispatcher. Marston said his goal is to have two dispatchers available to provide 24/7 service to the county.

In addition to the two dispatchers, upgraded communications equipment will also need to be purchased and a plan developed for implementation. Doing so would hopefully lower the ISO insurance rating locally.

“We’ve got to work our way into it,” he said. “This looks like a good first step.” • Marston displayed one of the 20 diamond shaped

• Marston displayed one of the 20 diamond shaped “When flooded turn around don’t drown” road signs the sheriff office recently received free of charge utilizing a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

He plans to meet with Dale Houston, superintendent of the county road and bridge department, to plan for the signs. Marston said eight areas in the county were identified as flood prone. Each of these will take two signs. That leaves the county with four extra signs. • Approval was given to have Alamo Specialties order

• Approval was given to have Alamo Specialties order and install three new water fountains at the county courthouse for a cost of $11,240. Sue Arensman, county register of deeds, said the county was selected for $6,000 in ARPA funds for the water fountains. The county will provide the remainder of the cost of the fountains.

• No action was taken after a 15 minute executive session with Houston and county clerk Shelly Vopat to discuss non-elected personnel (wages).

• Jim Kirkbride, chief executive officer at Ellsworth County Medical Center, said the hospital has elevated its COVID alert status for employees based on the number of positive cases in the community (none of which are hospitalized). Hospital employees are now required to wear eye protection when with patients. Kirkbride said there is also a shortage of testing supplies and ECMC is sending its COVID samples to the state for testing. The turnaround time is three days.

• Tracey Barton and Shawn Tasset of the Kansas Natural Resource Coalition gave an update on the coalition.

Tasset said the organization was formed in 2013 with the proposed listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken at that time.

“We’re here to work with local government to protect our landowners rights and preserve the county tax base,” he said.

Tasset said the KNRC was able to get the listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken vacated by a court in Texas.

He said KNRC is actively pursing a conservation program with the onset of the possibility of the Lesser Prairie Chicken being listed again. He said KNRC is also closely monitoring developments with the proposed National Heritage Area.

Tasset said membership in the KNRC is open to the county for $5,000 per year. No action was taken.