County commission meets

The Cloud County board of commissioners met for its regular meeting on Monday.
Mike Hake, Solid Waste director, and Casey Fraser, with Foley Equipment, met with the board and discussed repairs and lease and purchase options for a backhoe.
Hake will get a price comparison and report back to the board.
Andy Asch, Highway Department, reported to the board that they are still working on the Ames/Miltonvale blacktop and should put the first seal on this week. He also reported bridge work is nearly complete.
The board recognized the termination of Anthony Smith, equipment operator, effective April 20.
Brandi Bray, Health Department administrator, reported to the board that Cloud County has been selected by the state to offer expanded COVID-19 testing for the county and surrounding area.
James Quillen, Emergency Preparedness director, reported that $3,300 in expenses were needed to qualify for FEMA reimbursement and that department heads should continue to track any expenses related to COVID-19.
Quillen also said that a donation of hand sanitizer was received from Praireland Electric.
The board recognized applications for Meridian Way Wind Farm grant funds from Southern Cloud Unified School District 334 and the Cloud County Fair Board but did not take them into consideration on disbursing funds because they were received after the March 30 deadline. No decision on disbursement was finalized.
The board approved a request for capital outlay funds from the IT Department in the amount of $3,473.96 to purchase one Microsoft Surface book, one HP mini computer system and one Epson DS-320 scanner.
Payroll deductions and benefits of $194,875.86 were approved.
The board approved the following payroll expenses totaling $159,199.91: General Fund, $80,305.44; Road & Bridge, $49,405.11; Appraisal, $5,216.78; County Health, $16,308.58; Noxious Weed, $1,726.46; Election, $1,499.43; Solid Waste, $4,658.11.