By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Construction at the Ellis County Jail and Law Enforcement Center is down to the final few projects. Ellis County Commissioner Dean Haselhorst told the Ellis County Commission on Monday night that they are down to cameras, security measures and key card entry system.

The crew brought in to redo and finish the jail and hold cell floors finished work last week, and Haselhorst said construction on the Law Enforcement Center should be completed by the end of the week.

The commission also approved five change orders for $34,066. Among the changes was a HVAC control valve for $16,000, a device that regulates the temperature in the building. The commission also transferred $200,000 from the sales tax fund to the Public Building Commission to pay construction bills.

Haselhorst added the final major part of the process will be cleaning. He estimated it will take five days to clean the building.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at the Courthouse and Law Enforcement Center will be Saturday, Feb. 27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In other business, the commission approved the Rural Fire Department changing insurance coverage from Insurance Planning to Kansas County Association Multiline Pool (KCAMP). Fire Chief Darin Myers said KCAMP is cheaper and will save the county money.

Health Administrator Butch Schlyer presented the commission with a January health department update. He said the department did have one possible rabies case after a child was bitten by a bat at church, but they were able to test the bat and determine it did not have rabies.

The commission also met in executive session with Interim Public Works Director Curt Hoffman and County Counselor Bill Jeter for attorney client privilege. No action was taken.