Grant County Commissioners met November 5, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance before moving into departmental updates and new business.
Department Reports
EMS Director Jeff Baier reported his department received 70 calls, with 20 resulting in transfers.
Mary Honstead shared the Health Fair was a success and noted several recent and upcoming events at the Civic Center, including ACT testing, hosting Election Day and a Scout Energy benefits & Informational meeting, and preparations for an upcoming community dance. She also mentioned the floor repaired in July has begun to show signs of blistering tiles.
County Clerk Anita Lane thanked the election crew for their help during the recent elections, noting the event ran smoothly.
Senior Center Director Nancy Borthwick reported ongoing fundraising efforts for Grant County Gives, including sales of salsa, enchiladas, and strawberry jam. She also shared that five seniors recently attended a concert in Garden City and mentioned upcoming staff time off and a planned holiday party.
Register of Deeds Julie Widder noted her office processed 109 documents and nine passports in the past month.
It was also mentioned that city water bill delays occurred following the departure of Sheila Maxwell.
A clarification was provided regarding recent discussion in The Ulysses News about an earlier vehicle accident. Some concern was expressed about why individuals involved had not been taken to Ulysses for treatment. Officials clarified this was due to the CT scanner at Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital being out of service.
Road and Bridge Superintendent Sam Minks discussed prior concerns about “Children Playing” signs, noting the Board’s stance such signage likely has little impact on traffic, though residents are free to place their own signs outside of the right-of-way. Minks also addressed a few road concerns raised by Commissioner John Martin, citing some recent miscommunications with staff which have since been corrected. Three employees will soon need chest X-rays, and Minks asked about reducing related costs. He also reported the department is due for its five-year seat belt equipment update.
EMS Director Baier later requested approval for two additional full-time staff positions to pair EMTs with paramedics, citing a sharp rise in transfer calls. The department handled 17 transfers last year, compared to 60 critical care transfers since July of this year.
Additionally, it was noted Pioneer Communications and Pioneer Electric completed several road crossings, with five and one improvements respectively.
New Business
Minutes and financial reports were approved as presented.
The Commissioners reviewed bids for the Airport Project, ultimately approving a $68,500 bid from LG Construction and a $51,700 bid from Blattner’s for materials including fencing, clips, and pipes.
Sheila Brown discussed the need to update the county website and PDF accessibility to ensure compliance with standards for individuals with disabilities. The discussion included potential costs, and the decision was tabled until January.
A law enforcement wage increase affecting five employees was approved for 2026, and the salary cap for the County Building Maintenance Supervisor was also increased. Anita Lane requested the upcoming holiday pay period be issued one day early, which was approved.
Kristi Anderson of Grant County Recreation returned to address prior concerns about the department’s financial status. She noted that while their 2024 budget totaled $983,061, they only received six mills of funding. Additionally, $75,000 from the school district is pending, but not expected until 2026. Anderson requested an additional mill levy of $134,000, citing a similar shortfall faced about a decade ago. After discussion, the Commissioners approved a $30,000 allocation to help the Recreation Department recover financially. The School Board is reviewing its budget to help prevent future shortfalls.
The meeting concluded after several executive sessions, with no specific details disclosed, and was then adjourned.
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