County commission approves publishing proposed budget
The Cloud County board of commissioners approved the proposed 2021 budget for publication during its regular meeting on Monday.
A public hearing has been scheduled on the proposed budget for September 14 at 9 a.m in the Commissioners' Room at the Cloud County Courthouse.
The proposed budget calls for a tax rate of 67.832 mills. That is down 2.041 mills from the actual tax rate for 2020 of 69.873 mills.
Proposed budget authority for expenditures is $17,870,083.
The assessed valuation of the county has increased from $114,944,363 to $119,031,734.
Cloud County executive director Kim Reynolds met with the board during the meeting and presented a report on the Community Development Block Grant Funding-COVID-19 funds made available through the Kansas Department of Commerce.
The commission approved awarding funds to three businesses in the county that were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced in June that Cloud County was being awarded $132,000 in Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Response Supplement funds to help local businesses retain jobs for low-to-moderate income people by covering working capital expenses such as inventory, wages and utilities.
CloudCorp received numerous inquiries about the funds, and is working with individual businesses putting applications together.
Working in conjunction with the North Central Regional Planning Commission, CloudCorp submitted three requests to the county commission for approval.
The commission approved awarding B's Place in Clyde $24,883.57.
B's Place, a restaurant owned by Brad and Sarah Sorell, was forced to close the dine-in portion of the business and offer only take-out.
During the month of March B's Place saw an average revenue decline of 41 percent.
Kountry Kafe, Miltonvale, was awarded $11,921.
Kountry Kafe, owned by Trana Dockins, was also forced to close its dine-in services and through the months of March, April and May, saw an average monthly decline in revenue of more than 25 percent.
The commission approved awarding $7,394.10 to Broken Arrow Saloon in Aurora, owned by James Sulanka.
Broken Arrow Saloon was able to offer only take-out services for 10 weeks. During that time much of the inventory was perishable and had to be disposed of, contributing to an average monthly loss of greater than 50 percent.
It was reported to the board that the sales tax received from July sales totaled $76,879.17. That is up from $65,282.41 in 2019.
Emergency Management/Safety director James Quillen met with the board and reported that the county should hear from the state Office of Recovery this week on moving forward with the reimbursements and direct aid plans for taxing entities. He said Glasco's information for individual damage has been sent to the Kansas Department of Emergency Management for review.
Highway Department administrator Andy Asch reported to the board that chip sealing had started on 260th Road last Friday. He also reported that the department is working on washouts and hauling rock and that 60th Road is now open between Quail and Plum.
The board approved a wage change for Sara Johnson, from $14 per hour to $16 per hour, effective August 30 and a classification change for Mark Ferron, from full-time to part-time, effective August 26.
Proclaiming September 2020 as Recovery Month was approved by the board.
The board approved the following expenses totaling $144,839.26:
General Fund, $32,796.75; Road & Bridge, $73,005.50; Special Bridge, $358.03; Employee Benefits, $1,233.64; Juvenile Reinvestment, $85.02; Special Alcohol & Drug, $1,850; Juvenile Justice, $2,963.46; Community Corrections, $197.20; Appraisal, $693.56; County Health, $12,021.77; Noxious Weed, $1,596.17; Election, $636.77; Solid Waste, $17,182.36; County Tourism & Convention, $133.35; Court Services, $85.68.