By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The discharge of fireworks will be allowed in the unincorporated areas of Ellis County this Fourth of July holiday.

At Monday’s Ellis County Commission meeting, the commission approved a resolution that keeps in place a ban on the sale, purchase and discharge of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Ellis County. But it relaxes the ban on the discharge of fireworks on July 2-4 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The city of Hays already allows the sale and discharge of fireworks for July 2-4 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

According to information provided to the commission, the city of Ellis allows fireworks July 3-5 from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.

The city of Victoria has not approved the discharge of fireworks yet for 2018.

In other business, the commission approved the donation of six old emergency radios to the Gorham Fire District.

The Ellis County Fire Department and the Gorham Fire District work together in a number of emergency situations each year and Director of Fire and Emergency Management Darin Myers said this will allow the two departments to communicate better.

The Gorham Fire District also covers approximately 35 square miles in east-central Ellis County.

According to Myers the Gorham Fire District only has one 800 MHz mobile radio and one portable radio.

Ellis County was going to sell the radios to a company in Great Bend for $1,200 to help off-set the cost of the new radios recently purchased by Ellis County.

The commission also heard budget requests from 12 outside agencies that Ellis County helps to fund. In 2018 Ellis County appropriated $1.07 million to those agencies.

• High Plains Mental Health Center – requested $281,646
  • High Plains is a mental health community based in Hays that serves 20 Kansas counties
• Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas – requested $240,000
  • DSNWK serves individuals in 18 counties in northwest Kansas
• Hays Area Children’s Center – requested $135,000
  • Money requested goes toward infant toddler special services
• Ellis County Council on Aging Recommendations for Senior Citizens’ Agencies – $134,475
  • Hays Nutrition Center/Hays Senior Center – request is same as last year
  • Ellis Nutrition Center – request is same as last year
  • Senior Companion Programs/Foster Grandparents – request is same as last year
  • Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging – requested $14,500
    • The request is an increase of $2,412
      • They are able receive matching grants for those funds
    • Victoria meal site – requested a $15 increase over last year
      • They are trying to improve the utilization of the Victoria Senior Meal Plan
    • Ellis County Historical Society – requested $96,767
      • They have expanded the services they offer including taking part in the annual Art Walk
        • They are also working on a new fundraiser and ways to increase memberships
      • Soil Conservation District – requested $75,000
        • They work on the local level on conservation projects and programs
      • ACCESS Transportation – requested $60,000
        • They are planning on increasing rates to $2 a ride inside the city and $4 in the county
      • CASA of the High Plains – requested $9,000
        • Provides court appointed volunteers to assist with abused or neglected children in the court system
      • Humane Society of the High Plains – requested $4,500
        • All the money goes to cover care for animals that are brought to the shelter from the county
      • Ellis Alliance – requested $4,835
        • The Alliance represents the Ellis Chamber of Commerce, Community Foundation of Ellis, Ellis Industrial Development Corporation and Travel and Tourism
      • Hays Arts Council – requested $3,385
      • Junior Free Fair – requested $5,000
        • They are using the money to finish the horse area and for upkeep of facilities

County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes said all agencies were told to keep their request the same as before. The only group that requested an increase was the Ellis County Council on Aging recommendations for senior citizens’ agencies.

There is one more outside agency that will submit their budget request to the commission at a later date.

The commission will hold a special budget work session on Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Ellis County Courthouse. Members of several county departments will present their budget requests.