Wind Farm funds awarded to 22 projects

The Cloud County board of commissioners approved awarding $265,200 in Meridian Way Wind Farm funds to provide funding support to 22 projects in the county during its regular meeting on Monday.
Cloud County again received a gift of $300,000 in Wind Farm funds from EDP Renewables. Those funds are used to support innovative projects that enhance quality of life, prosperity and safety of the citizens of Cloud County by creating additional educational, recreational, social, health, community development and economic opportunities for them and for existing new businesses in the county.
The board of commissioners held back $34,800 in funds until it receives more information on some of the funding requests.
CloudCorp received $120,000 to support the Get in the Cloud small business grant program.
The Get in the Cloud program, now in its sixth year, is intended to encourage economic development in Cloud County, while increasing the property value of existing structure or land.
Entrepreneurs who successfully complete the educational component of the Get in the Cloud program, and who own an existing business in the county, or are developing a business concept they intend to locate in the county, can apply for a one-time grant of 50 percent of start-up costs or $50,000, whichever is less, to fund eligible expenses. Existing businesses are eligible if they can show increased sales and/or customer base from an addition to their current facility.
Applications for the next round of Get in the Cloud grant awards are due by May 1.
Other projects receiving Wind Farm funds include:
Cloud County Highway Department - $35,000 to purchase crushed limestone rock that will be used to repair and improve roads in the county.
POW Camp Concordia Preservation Society - $20,000, new materials and engineering technology to preserve the original 1943 U.S. Army Corps of Engineering roof. The building now houses the POW Museum.
Cloud County Emergency Preparedness - $18,250 for additional repeaters and digital radios for the Rural Fire Departments. The Cloud County Sheriff's Office, the Concordia Police Department, the Concordia Fire Department and EMS and Miltonvale EMS have all switched to digital radios, which made communicating with the Rural Fire Department difficult.
City of Clyde - $8,500 to complete the next phase of the street sign/directional signage project. The Clyde city council has discussed installing an additional 36 posts with signage.
City of Jamestown - $7,500 to a ramada to place over the existing concrete patio at the Jamestown Community Center. It would provide complete shade and complete protection from the elements and would offer outdoor shelter for the many people who utilize the facility for community activities.
Concordia Sports Complex - $7,000 to replace the outfield fence at Doyen Field at the Sports Complex. The existing fence is 20 years old and is showing considerable wear and tear.
Knights of Columbus Council #2114 Aurora - $6,000 to replace existing windows located on the Knights of Columbus Hall. The project will help with heating and cooling bills, enhance the quality of life and also add value to the existing building.
Cloud County Health Department - $6,000 to purchase a Welch Allyn Spot Vision screener, a portable handheld device designed to help quickly and easily detect vision issues on patients from sixth months of age through adult.
Clyde Area Foundation - $3,500 to award grants annually given to organizations in Clyde and the surrounding area. The grants help fund improvement and development of the community, and are offered to organizations that need additional assistance with projects that address civic, educational, cultural, recreational, humanitarian and/or health needs of the citizens of Clyde and the surrounding area.
Glasco VFW Post 7697 - $3,000 to support the kitchen ceiling and lighting renovations. The ceiling in the kitchen area needs to be replaced, and the existing lighting fixtures will be replaced with new wiring and modern LED lighting. The walls in the dining area will be replaced and insulated.
OCCK Transportation - $2,500 to OCCK Transportation, Inc. and 81 Connection, which is a fixed route bus service that runs along U.S. Highway 81. 81 Connection has four stops in Concordia. It runs Monday through Friday with three round trips each day.
Cloud County Resource Center - $2,500 to upgrade tables and chairs in the Event Center. The funds will cover 64 white, plastic folding chairs and two storage racks along with 22 banquet tables with a  storage rack.
Cloud Count Fair Board - $2,500 to provide 800 discounted pre-sale carnival tickets for the 2019 Cloud Count Fair.
North Central Kansas CASA, Inc. - $2,500 to CASA and Hope's Place Child Advocacy Center to assist with computer and software upgrades needed for staff computers. The last computer upgrade for NCK CASA was in 2007.
National Orphan Train Complex - $2,250 to create exhibitions for the new Train Station which houses the Jacobus Gallery and Legend Train Car exhibit.
Concordia Senior Center - $1,000 to assist in the costs of renovating the center, which is planning to update and repair parts of the building.
Kansas Army National Guard - $850 to the Kansas National Guard, Detachment 1, 995th Support Maintenance Company to purchase 40 additional Series 200 folding chairs for the National Guard Armory in Concordia.
Concordia Wesleyan Church - $500 for the nursery department for a safe and secure check in/out system for all children under the age of four that are placed in the nursery rooms.
Hunger Hollow Ministries, Inc., Jamestown - $500 to support local mission projects. The funds will be used for 30 identifying shirts for mission team leaders and for safety wear and equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, breathing masks, trash bags, snow shovel for winter time and more.
Independent Connection, LLC, Salina - $500 to support the Impact Hangouts group for youth ages 14-24, as well as Peer Support Groups, which are available to any individual with a disability who needs to connect with peers in their community to discuss a variety of topics.
Also during the meeting, Sheriff Brian Marks met with the board and inquired about any new information concerning repairs to the Law Enforcement Center. He also discussed a possible call to Wyatt Hoch, Foulston Siefkin, LLP.
Commissioner Bill Czapanskiy inquired about the Sheriff's Department expense spreadsheet. The board has not seen a printout since late 2017.
Marks reported that they were still tracking expenses, and he would look into getting a printout.
The board acknowledged the resignation of Victoria Reed, Corrections Officer, effective March 29.
The hiring of Matthew Tatum as a Corrections Officer at a rate of $14.62, effective April 12, was approved by the board.
Gary Reynolds reported a problem with the road to his house to the board, and asked Commissioner Gary Caspers to look at it. He said he had spoken to the Highway Department, and had asked them to look at it as well.
Reynolds also asked that trees on the south side of the road be removed.
Health Department administrator Brandi Bray presented the 2019 Medicare Certified Home Health Aid program wage results for rural settings to the board. She said the county's wages are $2-$6 lower than the average from the 18 responding agencies for Home Health Aids, LPN, RN and on-call wages.
Henry Eilert, Maintenance manager, inquired about requesting galvanized and stainless steel bids for the cooling tower before moving forward with last week's fiberglass bids. The board agreed to request quotes and report back.
Chancy Smith, Dickinson County Emergency Preparedness director, met with the board and discussed his position. Each county, by statute, is required to have an Emergency Preparedness director.
Smith discussed the possibilities of the position and a variety of things he does with other government agencies in Dickinson County. He said having an emergency plan written so that someone else could follow through is necessary.
Cloud County currently has a part-time Emergency Preparedness director, and is considering moving the position to full-time status.
Smith said that the state association would share any position openings and the regional directors would do what they could to help with training.
The board approved the hirings of Dalton Stromberg as an equipment operator at a rate of $15.02, effective April 15 and Sarah Kolman as an immunization nurse at a rate of $18.40 effective April 15.
The board approved the following expenses totaling $184,978.92:
General Fund, $59,752.85; Juvenile Reinvestment, $40.97; Community Corrections, $827.31; County Health, $6,988.19; Election, $64.07; Court Services, $971; County Tourism & Convention, $8,978.04; Employee Benefits, $1,000; Road & Bridge, $84,254.54; Juvenile Justice, $497.36; Appraisal, $85.91; Noxious Weed, $354.30; Solid Waste, $19,694.20; Auto Special, $376.92; Special Building, $1,057.25; Vending Machines, $26.