By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Two new Ellis county commissioners were sworn in to office Monday evening, prior to their first meeting which was primarily a reorganization of commission appointments for the new year.
Butch Schlyer, R-Hays, was elected to the First District seat formerly held by Marcy McClelland. Dustin Roths, R-Hays, was appointed in December by Republican Party precinct chair members to fill the Second District seat vacated by Barb Wasinger, who was elected 111th District state representative.
Schlyer is the retired longtime Ellis County Health Administrator.
“I am glad to be here. I had to defeat some very worthy opponents in the primary as well as the general election,” Schlyer noted. “And I just want to assure the public I will make very fair decisions, what’s in the best interest of the public as well as what’s in the interest of this Ellis County organization and its employees.”
Roths is owner of Diamond R Jewelry in downtown Hays. He said he got some “pretty good advice” from Wasinger about his decision-making as a commissioner.
“That advice was to think of my kids when I decide things because ‘you’re tough, intelligent and diligent.’ So I’m going to take that and run with it and try to do the best job I can do.”
Roths also commended the Ellis County staff and employees he’s been meeting.
“There’s a lot of people doing a lot of things in the county,” Roths said, “and it looks like we have a very dedicated work force and that’s exciting to me.”
The trio voted to retain Third District Commissioner Dean Haselhorst, R-Hays, as chair of the board for 2019, while Schlyer was appointed vice chair.
“As chair, I want to welcome both of you,” Haselhorst said. “We get to attend a lot of things together. I’m looking forward to that and your sharing of the knowledge you each have to make Ellis County a better place.”
Roths was appointed Ellis County representative to the boards of Northwest Kansas Community Corrections and Northwest Kansas Juvenile Service, Schlyer to the boards of High Plains Mental Health and Northwest Kansas Planning & Development, and Haselhorst to WorkforceONE CEOB.
The Public Building Commission meeting was held immediately following the county commission meeting. Haselhorst was again appointed president, with Schlyer named vice-president.