At Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners, unanimous approval was given to extend Keith Haberer’s contract as emergency management director for Ellsworth and Russell counties for another four years.

Russell County commissioners approved the contract earlier Monday.

The terms of the contract remain the same with Ellsworth County paying Russell County $2,916.67 per month to share Haberer as an emergency management director.

Commissioner Dennis Rolfs apologized to Haberer for the heated discussion he and Haberer had during a recent commission meeting. Haberer was quick to forgive him.

Rolfs said he wished the commissioners, Haberer and Kerianne Ehrlich, supervisor of the county health department, would have had better communication before travel restrictions were put in place due to the COVID-19 crisis.

In other business:

• As recommended by Haberer, the Kansas Department of Emergency Management and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, commissioners signed a resolution extending the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration for another 30 days.

The measure was previously approved verbally by commissioners, but Haberer said he has since received updated information from state officials, who recommend a physical resolution be approved and signed by all three commissioners. Haberer said the written resolution is necessary so the county can continue to order COVID-19 related supplies such as masks, personnel protective equipment and hand sanitizer from the state.

• County appraiser Carl Miller said he plans to begin a 17 percent reinspection of parcels in the county next week. This is something he does every six years. The parcels he will reinspect are Ash Creek Township, Carneiro Township, the City of Carneiro, Columbia Township, Green Garden Township and the City of Holyrood.

Cowtown 2020

The Ellsworth Cowtown Committee met Monday and decided this year’s celebration will not be an in-person event, Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Tami McGreevy said Tuesday morning.

She said the committee followed recommendations from county health officials with “much care and deliberation.”

McGreevy said the Cowtown Committee will continue to meet and discuss alternative options.

“We look forward to some other fun type of activities sponsored by the Cowtown Committee,” she said.

Earlier, the chamber canceled its annual fireworks show, which typically is the weekend before July 4, as a precaution against COVID-19.