County receives requests for Wind Farm funds

The Cloud County board of commissioners were presented with several requests for Meridian Way Wind Farm funds during its regular meeting on Monday.
Cloud County received an annual gift of $300,000 in wind farm funds from EDP Renewables North America to be used to support innovative projects that enhance quality of life, prosperity and safety of the citizens of the county by creating additional educational, recreational, social, health, community development and economic opportunities for them and for existing and new businesses.
Jacob Thoman and Samantha Viereck presented a request for funds from Jamestown Country Club in the amount of $4,500 to assist in putting in a six-hole golf course west of the City Park. The total cost of the project is estimated at $8,500. The funds will be used for the remaining sand and oil for the greens. Green fees will be $5 and under the age of 18 are free. Annual memberships are available for $40 for an individual and $60 for a family. They have offered the high school use at no cost. The Jamestown Country Club's mission is to create family friendly outdoor activities for Cloud County residents.
The Clyde Area Foundation submitted two requests for funds including $7,500 for Growing Our Impact and $7,500 for Educating Our Next Business Owners.
The estimated cost of the Growing Our Impact project is $11,000. The project will award grants annually to organizations in the Clyde area to make improvements and the development of the community through projects related to educational, cultural, recreational and health needs.
The estimated cost of the Educating Our Next Business Owners project is $25,000.  The project will assist in establishing a specific scholarship fund to build an endowment for scholarships for graduates of Clifton-Clyde High School. The scholarship will focus on students who attend post-secondary education, specifically targeting students who may return to the community and become future business owners, community leaders and tax payers.
Lisa Mosher presented an application for $2,475 in funds for the Cloud County Fair. The project will construct a new sidewalk connecting the Commercial Building, the Hosie Building and the Ayers Shelter. The sidewalk will be wide enough to handle two wheelchairs passing and aid people with wheelchairs or walkers not having to go through the gravel or mud to get to another building. It will also allow the transfer of tables, chairs and other equipment easily between the areas. Total cost is estimated at $4,250.
The Cloud County Fair also requested $4,000 to provide a discount on the pre-sale of carnival tickets that are sold the week before the fair.
Other requests for funds include:
Crosspoint church, $30,298.42 for park area. The project will revitalize and restore the park area at 803 Valley St. into a clean, safe and usable space for the community. New playground equipment for all ages offering a variety of games and play spaces and adding benches and picnic tables is the vision for families to come together to eat and play. Total cost is $60,000.
Cloud County Historical Society, $8,179.46 for LED lighting. The project would replace the fluorescent light bulbs with LED in 225 fixtures throughout the museum. The electric bill is one of the highest museum expenses and LED lighting uses 20-25 percent less energy than fluorescent and last 40 percent longer. Additionally, LED doesn't put off heat like fluorescent thus saving on the air conditioning bill. Total cost is $8,179.46.
C&R Fire District #1, $35,000. The project would allow the Fire Department to purchase a F-350 XL Ford and would allow the department to quickly respond to local fires and help the department put out the fires with more efficiency. Total cost is $60,000.
Cloud County Resource Center, $3,342.71. The project would allow the purchase of 20 eight-foot banquet tables and 100 folding plastic chairs. The 2019 awarded funds of $2,500 were unable to be used as the items were unable to be shipped. Total cost is $4,000.
Clifton-Clyde USD 224, $8,200.  The project is to provide an AG Shop Equipment upgrade. It includes updating much of the equipment in the metal shop to provide real world experiences inside and outside of the classroom. The investment will boost workforce development by better training students to meet the labor requirements of numerous Cloud County employers. Totals cost is $33,000-34,000.
Prairie Independent Living Resource Center, Inc., $3,704 for assistive technology demo units for older Kansans. The project will provide services to Kansan's age 55 and older that are blind or have low vision. Total cost is $10,000.
Andy Asch, Highway Department administrator, met with the board and discussed moving forward with the bridge replacement on 270th Road. The commissioners asked for a total cost if the Highway Department doing the work.
Asch reported that the chemical supply is going to be tough this year; the department received tire bids from Commercial Tire Center Inc., Budreau Muffler Automotive & Tow, Kansasland Tire & Service and Pomp's Tire Service. Asch will review the bids and report back; discussed purchasing a loader and received quotes from Foley's, Murphy's and Berry Tractor. He is watching auctions on Big Iron. Prices range from $75,000-$113,000 and are not all the same machine and have a variety of hours; requested permission to hire summer help to run the skid steer to clean up ditches. The position is not budgeted bit there are funds available for being shorthanded. The board agreed.
The board recognized the retirement of Dave Lanoue effective March 23.
Marlene Stamm, County Sanitarian, presented a quarterly report. She reported that for this time of year inspections have been busy.
Mike Hake, Solid Waste director, met with the board and reported that the CD pit was drying out after the recent rains and that some corrosion is starting on one of the trailers. He also reported that 42,194 pounds of cardboard and 44,123 pounds of mixed paper had been shipped out.
Sheriff Ken Davis reported to the board that he was looking into replacing another vehicle and will be sending several corrections officers to school in May.
Brandi Bray, Health Department administrator, met with the board and reported that the Kansas Govenor's Public Health Conference is this week and several employees would be attending.
Bray also reported that the county is receiving 100 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine this week and that the state has moved into phase 5 of the vaccination plan with anyone over the age of 16 being eligible to be vaccinated. She discussed the plaque to recognize using 2019 Wind Farm funds to purchase the building. The board agreed to a wall mount plaque for approximately $185.
The board met in executive session with Bray for 10 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel.
The hiring of Katherine Kearn as a certified nurses aide to fill an open position at a rate of $11.52 effective April 5 was approved the board.
Lisa Mosher reported to the board that the Cloud County Fair will be July 6-10. She inquired about the possibility of using American Recovery Act funds to make improvements at the fairgrounds for bleachers, picnic tables and benches.
The county is expecting to receive $1.7 million in Recovery Act funds.
Kim Springer and Tony Miller, NCK CASA & Hope's Place, discussed the work of the organizations and asked that the community wear blue on April 9th. By wearing something blue you are spreading awareness and telling children that you want them to have a happy and healthy childhood.
Springer requested the board proclaim April as Child Abuse Prevention month and recognize the important role CASA volunteers have in advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children in Cloud County and asked to put out pin wheels and awareness signs in the Courthouse yard. Springer invited the community to a Superhero Fun Run day in Concordia on April 17th
The board voted to proclaim April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
It was reported to the board that the sales tax received March 25 totaled $70,023.22 compared to the prior year totaling $64,327.28.
The board approved the following expenses totaling $122,277.11:
General Fund, $43,020.62; Road & Bridge, $46,569.44; Employee Benefits, $7,093.15; Juvenile Reinvestment, $500; Juvenile Justice, $1,887.62; Special Alcohol & Drug, $500; Appraisal, $416.80; Special Law Enforcement Trust, $630.83; County Health, $3,227.40; Noxious Weed, $39.86; Election, $33.38; Solid Waste, $18,358.01.