The Ellsworth County commissioners approved a letter of support Monday to Post Rock Rural Water District’s application for a $264,700 hazard mitigation grant to replace one mile of 10-inch water line near Wilson.

According to Doug Janssen, Post Rock general manager, the grant, which is through the Kansas Department of Emergency Management, would replace a portion of water line in a field east of Wilson between Ninth and 10th Road. “This line is among the most important in the entire

“This line is among the most important in the entire system,” he said. “As nearly 60 percent of the entire system’s water flows through this line during our most peak season.”

Janssen also said this is just one portion of the total water line replacement project Post Rock has planned. Other portions of line will be replaced in Russell County. The total cost of the water line project will be $707,600. Post Rock is prepared to provide the 25 percent matching funds. In other business:

In other business:

• No action was taken after a 10 minute executive session with county clerk Shelly Vopat to discuss nonelected personnel (the Family Medical Leave Act).

• Commissioners approved the 2022 Ellsworth County Inter-local Cooperation Neighborhood Revitalization Plan as presented by Carl Miller, county appraiser.

The plan runs from Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2026.

Miller said the next step is for him to draft a resolution for commissioners to sign which will be published in the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter, the official county newspaper. He will bring that to commissioners in early December.

• Dale Houston, superintendent of the county road and bridge department, said the order for the Kenworth truck which the county ordered in early summer has been cancelled, because the factory cannot get parts to build it.

Instead, commissioners approved the purchase of a 2021 Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup truck for $55,000 from Holm Automotive in Abilene.

• Commissioners approved the purchase of a 2020 John Deere 672G six wheel drive motor grader from Murphy Tractor for $292,000. The county will tradein a 17-year-old motor grader as part of the purchase.

• County employee health insurance was discussed with representatives of Freedom Claims. No action was taken. Commissioners plan to meet with Gallagher, the current insurance representative, next week before making a decision. • Approval was given to the memorandum of under

• Approval was given to the memorandum of understanding, risk assessment and the American Rescue Plan Act funds of $80,500 to Maico Industries. The next meeting of the Ellsworth County commisssioners will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 15, at the county courthouse. Commissioners will be canvassing the ballots from the Nov. 2 general election at 8 a.m.