Teresa Shute, supervisor of the Ellsworth County Recycling Program, had good news at Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth County Commission — the program is starting up once again.

Approval was given to purchase a dump trailer for $12,400 from Mid-Kan Trailer Sales, Hays, to collect cardboard.

Approval was also given to transport future recycling to Sunflower Diversified Recycling Center, Great Bend. See an update in the June 20 Independent-Reporter as to which items will and will not be accepted for recycling.

In other business:

• No action was taken after a 10-minute executive session with Shute and Ellsworth County Attorney Paul J. Kasper to discuss non-elected personnel (federal requirements for Shute’s job).

• Ellsworth County EMS Director Nathan Florian requested a 2025 budget of $730,092, a 6.98 percent increase from his 2024 budget request of $682,430. The majority of the increase was to hire an additional fulltime EMS technician.

• Approval was given to EMS to notify their insurance provider of a claim on three EMS vehicles and to proceed with repairs after insurance has been notified of the hail damage sustained. The work is to be done by Randy’s Body Shop, Ellsworth, not to exceed $3,300.

• No action was taken after a 5-minute executive session with Florian to discuss non-elected personnel (possible disciplinary action).

• Approval was given to sell the county appraiser’s 2003 Chevrolet Blazer to Kyle Kaiser, Ellinwood, for $1,850.

• Ellsworth County Sanitarian Shawn Estrel presented the first quarter 2024 report for environmental services.

• Approval was given to a proclamation recognizing June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month in Ellsworth County.

• Cynthia Edgerle of the Ellsworth County Historical Society requested a 2025 budget of $43,000. That is the same amount requested for 2024.

• Approval was given to purchase a quarterpage black and white ad for $179.95 in the July 4 Progress Edition of the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter.

• Approval was given to the managed services agreement with LockIT Technologies for $3,181.63 to be paid from the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund grant.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County Commission will be at 9 a.m. Monday, June 17, at the Ellsworth County Courthouse.