Ellsworth officials like the idea of having a red, white and blue American flag painted on the side of the water tower near the city swimming pool. But they’re not sure about the $2,700 it will cost beyond painting Ellsworth in block letters on the tower. The latter was included in tank renovations. The flag is extra.

After a brief discussion, council member Tyler Renard suggested the city reach out to taxpayers for input.

Others agreed.

It’s a “nice enhancement, but for $2,700,” I wonder,” Mayor Mark Kennedy said.“Let’s get community feedback on that if we can.”

The water tower flag was one of several issues the council discussed Monday night during its regular meeting in Room 900 of the Ellsworth Golf Course.

The biggest block of time was devoted to a proposed sports complex. The site would be off Highway 156 next door to Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery.

City recreation director Ronnie Tenbrink said the complex would be used for soccer, flag football and practice fields.

Engineer and council member Wayne Scritchfield said the information already collected by Tenbrink falls short of the concept that is needed to design the complex.

“We need to know what the drainage is going to do because that’s going to control everything,” Scritchfield said.

Tenbrink agreed the most expensive part of the plan will be to reconfigure the site to ensure proper drainage. Adequate parking and the safety of youngsters using the complex also were issues.

“If we’re going to do it, let’s do it right,” Renard said.

Council members gave Tenbrink a verbal green light to move forward with planning.

In other business:

• Council members approved a recommendation from Ellsworth Fire Chief Bob Kepka to purchase a used winch for $8,000, plus another $1,384 for freight.

They postponed until their next meeting another request from Kepka to buy lighter weight wildland jackets. Total cost of the jackets for 40 firefighters will amount to about $10,000. Kepka plans to apply to the Kansas Forest Service for a grant that would cover half the cost. Council members asked the chief to determine the budget fund that will be used for the expense before the purchase is approved.

• Police Chief Emil Halfhill was authorized by the council to purchase a 2020 Dodge Ram 1500 Classic for $23,906. Halfhill said his department has $26,500 budgeted for new vehicles in 2020.

• At the request of the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce, the council released the $6,000 in the 2020 budget for Cowtown Days.

• The council approved a proposal from Kyler & Son to make concrete repairs, including the removal and replacement of drain boxes if needed, at 1st Street and Lincoln and 2nd Street and Lincoln. The motion put a lid of $10,000 on the project. Council members will reconsider the project if the cost exceeds that amount.

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved the city’ stormwater detention basins planned for the northeast corner of the intersection of Kansas Highways 140 and 14. The verification is valid until March 18, 2022.