Stacie Schmidt, executive director of Ellsworth County Economic Development, summarized the effect of the COVID-19 crisis on Ellsworth County businesses during Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth City Council.

Schmidt said information she has seen from the Kansas Department of Labor indicates 51 residents are receiving unemployment benefits. An additional 15 residents have applied for benefits as of April 18 and await responses.

Schmidt said survey information she has gathered locally indicates employers are worried their employees don’t want to return to work. Concerns were also raised about having skilled workers in the future.

In addition, the survey indicated a 50-50 split in the percentage of residents who want to move forward and reopen businesses verses those who want them to remain shut until the COVID-19 crisis subsides.

Schmidt plans to conduct a virtual job fair on Zoom on multiple dates, Friday, May 1; Wednesday, May 6; Thursday, May 14; and Friday, May 22.

She said interest in the job fair has been shown by out-of-county residents, but appears to be lacking locally.

“There are companies looking to hire right now,” said Mayor Mark Kennedy.

“That is definitely true,” Schmidt said. “We have positions available.”

Schmidt said she plans to conduct a 30 on 30 Zoom meeting at 4 p.m. today (Thursday) to provide local businesses with ideas.

“If our businesses don’t learn to adapt their business model, there will be some casualties,” she said.

In other business:

• Kennedy said the deadline to apply for the vacant Ellsworth city administrator job is Friday, May 1. The council will have a special meeting via Zoom at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 4, at city hall to determine in executive session for non-elected personnel which applicants to interview in person at city hall at a later date using social distancing.

• A proposal to have AT&T relocate buried and aerial copper cables located in an easement between 10th and 11th Streets was tabled until more information is available. Council members Tyler Renard and Steve Magette, along with Delvin Bettenbrock, the city’s street superintendent, will meet with Mark Klein of Western Cooperative Electric to look at the site and determine how best to proceed.

• Approval was given to a $35,400 bid from Wilson and Company to design a structure to house the city’s sewer lagoon auger. As part of the agreement, Wilson and Company will provide a detailed cost sheet.

• The council tabled consideration of entering into a financial services agreement with Piper Sandler so more information can be gathered. The agreement would provide for the issuance of between $1.5 and $2.5 million in 2020 general obligation bonds. The bonds would be used to pay off the temporary notes from the city’s 2017 water and sewer projects.

• A $4,004 bid from HD Supply Waterworks was approved to purchase a six-inch pipe for the waterline extension in the Canren Addition.