Commission meets with dept. heads

The Cloud County board of commissioners met with department heads during its regular meeting on Monday.
Department heads presenting reports to the board include:
Brandy Bray, Health Department administrator – Staff attended the Governor's Conference in Manhattan last week for Maternal Child Health, Public Health and Family Planning; looking to fill and open position; April 18 the Catholic Charities will be in; and April 18 the KanCare/Medicaid representative will be at the Health Department from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
JoDee LeDuc, Treasurer – As a reminder, there will be no second half taxes mailed out. They are due May 10.
Mike Hake, Solid Waste director – The Transfer Station will be closed April 26-29 for road repairs.
Henry Eilert, Maintenance manager – Getting prices for door locks and routine maintenance.
Barry Porter, Appraiser – Working on appeals and personal property value notices will be mailed out May 1.
Andy Asch, Highway Department administrator – Eight employees went to gravel workshops and routine road repairs.
Kristi Benyshek, District Court clerk – Routine business.
Jerry Collins, IT director – Routine business.
Tyler Husa, River Valley Extension – Going to Republic County for fair business; ramping up for fair time; Cloud County Fair will be July 9-13; Farm Stress Summit; April meetings for KFMA; NRCS/FFA meetings; 4-H tractor safety training is May 11 at Prairieland Partners; wheat plot tours are June 5-6.
Also during the meeting, Hake informed the commissioners he is looking to purchase a mower. He also discussed employee matters.
Asch reported on routine road matters and repairs. He said the department is working on rock and gravel bids.
Commissioner Bill Garrison mentioned road issues on Camp Road from Miltonvale to U.S. Highway 81 to Asch.
Rick Hanson and Merl Ramsey discussed concerns regarding the return of the “Norway” road (Union Road west) to a gravel road. They stated they are not in favor of that happening.
Eilert opened two bids for the Courthouse cooling,  from Hood Heating Air Plumbing & Electric and Callabresi Heating & Cooling Inc.
Eilert will review the bids and specs and make a decision on which option to recommend at a later date.
The board voted to proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Janet Eubanks, chairman of the Cloud County Chemical Dependency Committee, and Megan Blackley presented the commissioners with a proclamation.
The board approved proclaiming April as Alcohol Awareness Month.
The following payroll expenses, totaling $152,659.31, were approved:
General Fund, $83,173.99; Appraisal, $5,060.97; Noxious Weed, $1,668.79; Solid Waste, $4,523.62; Road & Bridge, $41,731.61; County Health, $15,006.88; Election, $1,493.45.
Payroll deductions and benefits totaling $63,530.53 were approved.