Road improvement, workers on commissioners’ minds

Chase County Commissioners Jacci Brown, Duane Dinnel and Dennis Kunnemann covered a variety of topics at their Oct. 25 meeting.
Highway Road Superintendent Toney Krajewski reviewed his suggestions for improvements to the Spring Creek bridge north of Wauneta. Rather than put in a new bridge, Krajewski suggested culverts with a head wall.
Krajewski also encouraged the county to send someone to clean out the ditches around Craig and Jo Fanning’s residence to help prevent their water issues after storms.
With city of Imperial zoning regulations not allowing a cargo container to be used for storage at the county’s Imperial shop, the commissioners discussed their options with Sheriff Kevin Mueller for storing the sheriff’s office evidence somewhere else. Different sites were tossed around along with the possibility of a new county building being built, but no action was taken.
The board reviewed the process of purchasing new radios that were approved at the Oct. 11 meeting and elected to accept formal bids on the radios and equipment which will cost well over $50,000.
Discussion was held concerning Dinnel’s desire to hire temporary road employees at an hourly wage higher than some current full-time employees receive. The addition of benefits for full-time employees makes those positions more attractive jobs, but Brown had concerns that some current employees would be unhappy that temporary workers would be receiving a higher hourly wage.
Deputy County Attorney Rory Roundtree suggested the county break out ranges for part time and temporary employees.
The county plans on applying for the federal Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund. The county is eligible because of the federal land around Enders SRA. Applications need to be in by Jan. 31, 2023 and the county can receive $50,000 for each 2022 and 2023.
The commissioners’ next meeting will be Nov. 8 at 8 a.m.