Representatives of Enel North America visited with Ellsworth County commissioners Monday to discuss an upgrade of the turbines at the Smoky Hills Wind Farm in Ellsworth and Lincoln counties.

Enel’s Jeremy Price said the upgrade involves replacing turbine blades, generators and gear boxes in the 150-turbine wind farm. The work is necessary to extend the life of the turbines to 2040.

Price said the work in Ellsworth County should begin in late February or early March, with crews using 12th and 15th Roads to get equipment to the wind farm. The gear box work, however, will begin in the summer and fall. It was noted that not more than 25 percent of the turbines would be down at one time.

During the upgrade, minimal road improvement work will be required. However, Paul J. Kasper, county attorney, suggested an update of the original road maintenance agreement be completed and presented to commissioners for approval. Kirkham Michael & Associates will do a pre- and postroad inspection.

Commissioner Kermit Rush confirmed that a $100,000 letter of credit is on deposit at Citizen’s State Bank and Trust Co.

Kasper emphasized the update of the road maintenance agreement has nothing to do with the Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes agreement the county has with Enel.

In other business:

• Dale Houston, superintendent of the county road and bridge department, said work on the bridge on Old 40 Highway located over the Buffalo Creek between Ninth Road and 11th Road in Columbia Township will start Monday, Jan. 20. The project will be completed by Aug. 15. Houston said traffic from the west will be detoured onto K-232 Highway at Wilson and onto Interstate 70. A detour sign will also be posted at K14 Highway in Ellsworth.

• Approval was given to a request from the Ellsworth County Historical Society for a landfill fee waiver for 2020.

• Approval was given for the purchase of a new New Holland tracked skid steer from Ellsworth’s KanEquip for the road and bridge department. Cost of the equipment is $49,035, including the trade-in of an older model Bobcat skid steer.

• After a seven-minute executive session with Houston to discuss non-elected personnel, specifically employee evaluations, approval was given to raise the salary of road and bridge department employeeLogan Pochsic. His salary will go from $16 per hour to $17 per hour.

• Approval was given to a snow removal contract with Blaine Toman for the county health department. Toman will be paid $40 for removing snow six inches or less, and $80 for removing snow six inches or more.

• Commissioners discussed a salary increase for county employees, but no action was taken.

Due to the Martin Luther King holiday, the next meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the county courthouse.