By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

UPDATE at 5 p.m. – The Ellis County Commission has removed the indoor training facility from Monday’s agenda and will take up the issue at their next meeting.

The Ellis County Commission will consider giving more than $13,000 to a proposed indoor training facility at Monday’s commission meeting.

In March, a group approached the county about a tax break on property taxes for a new youth indoor facility. The facility does not meet the standards for tax exemption under Kansas law, so the county commission instead proposed the idea of using money previously set aside for economic development to offset some of the tax burden.

According to a memo to the commission from County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes, the commission allocated $47,550 for economic development in 2018. Half of that was set aside for the Ellis County Coalition on Economic Development, but the coalition notified the county it would not ask for the funds.

Jeremy Schmeidler told the commission at its March 12 meeting that the facility will not be able to host tournaments and that it “doesn’t have a direct economic impact.”

Smith-Hanes said counties can spend money for the benefit of the public.

The commission will also consider an agreement for janitorial services at 1105 East 22nd and roof repairs at 2507 Canterbury.

Monday’s meeting is at 5 p.m. at the County Administrative Center at 718 Main St.