County receives requests for Wind Farm funds

The Cloud County board of commissioners received requests for Meridian Way Wind Farm funds during its regular meeting on Monday.
March 30 was established as the deadline for requesting wind farm funds provided each year from a $,300,000 gift from EDP Renewables.
The funds are to be used to support innovative projects that enhance quality of life, prosperity and safety of the citizens of Cloud County by creating additional education, recreational, social, health, community development and economic opportunities for them and existing and new businesses in the county.
Paul Rimovsky, Susie Haver, Marian Condray and Sue Sutton of POW Camp Concordia Preservation Society presented an application for $50,000 in funds to help cover the costs to preserve the original 1943 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Roof. The estimated cost of the project is $170,400.
It was reported that POW Camp Concordia is the second largest attraction in Cloud County, drawing hundreds of visitors each year.
Chris Atkins, city of Concordia recreation director, and Eric Gilliland, Cloud County Community College baseball coach, presented an request for $15,000 to help replace the outfield fence on Doyen Field at the Concordia Sports Complex. The existing fence is 20 years old.
Doyen Field is utilized by the college, Concordia High School and Concordia American Legion and K-18 Baseball teams.
The total cost of the project is $40,000.
A request for $75,000 in funds to help cover the costs of 93-year-old seats was presented by the Brown Grand Theatre.
The Brown Grand board has decided to return the secondary balcony to its original bench-style seating and replace the 477 seats in the orchestra and first balcony levels only.
Irwin Seating Company has bid the project at a total cost of $208,129.11.
The city of Clyde requested $20,660 to complete its signage project with an additional 36 posts with signage.
Lisa Mosher, Cloud County Fair Board, presented an application for $19,950 to place the metal panels on the entire roof of the Hosie Building at the Cloud County Fairgrounds. The 30-year-old roof is leaking.
The Cloud County Fair requested $4,000 to discount 800 tickets for the fair carnival. Total cost of the project is $4,000.
A request for $5,000 was presented from the Clyde Area Foundation to fund improvement of the community and offer additional assistance with projects and organizations at a total cost of $6,500.
The Kansas National Guard, Detachment 1, 995th Support Maintenance Company requested $1,199.90 to purchase 40 additional series 200 folding chairs for the National Guard Armory.
Andy Asch, County Highway Department administrator, submitted a request for commercial rock crushing in the amount of $35,000 to crush limestone to be used on county roads.
Asch also reported to the board that 90 percent of the $108,808.28 is available from the Federal Fund Exchange. He discussed providing rock for previously maintained Class B roads and reported that Husker Steel had looked at the UP Bridge and will be sending in a proposal and that the department will work on Camp Road, weather permitting.
Mike Hake, Solid Waste director, reported that the crawler for the department was being worked on, there is a need for a part-time employee at the Recycling Center, and discussed building a place to collect glass.
Brandi Bray, Health Department administrator, and Lois Tracy, office clerk, discussed a Dane G. Hansen Foundation grant application to support a Baby Shower in Cloud County. The shower will address safe sleep, breastfeeding and tobacco cessation.
The board approved approved authorizing chairman Gary Caspers to sign the grant application in the amount of $2,968.
Bray also reported that Erickson Contracting was working on the roof at the Health Department, the Board of Health meeting is April 10 at noon, four staff members will attend the Governor's Conference and three will be presenting, old office chairs had been delivered to the Cloud County Resource Council, they are working on a grant for CPR and they have a position open.
Niki Henderson, Nancy Farmer, Rod Farmer and Beth Milbers with North Central Kansas CASA presented a proclamation to the board.
NCK CASA currently has 17 active volunteers serving 23 children and 10 current cases.
The board approved proclaiming April as 2019 Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Approving a Get in the Cloud small business grant application from the Aurora Post Office in the amount of $3,400 was approved by the board. The next round of grants will be due May 1, 2019.
The board reviewed documentation on where the Wind Farm funds had been distributed since 2011.
The termination of Brice Berk, Corrections Officer, effective March 14 was acknowledged by the board.
The board approved payroll deductions and benefits totaling $192,800.36 and the following payroll expenses totaling $159,363.37:
General Fund, $85,415.18; Appraisal, $5,059.83; Noxious Weed, $1,676.46; Solid Waste, $4,489.12; Road & Bridge, $46,042.25; County Health, $15,193.41; and Election, $1,487.12.