Wind turbines going up in county
Staff writer
Pieces of wind turbines for Sunflower Wind Farm will be seen on highways and roads in the county starting Oct. 3, planning and zoning director Sharon Omstead told county commissioners Monday.
Erection of turbines is expected to begin Oct. 6.
Omstead told commissioners excavation of turbine locations was 70% complete and turbine foundations were 40% complete.
“We will start to see a lot of quick progress after this,” Omstead said.
In other business Monday:
Hirings
Sheriff Jeff Soyez said he’s interviewing people to fill a jailer position and two dispatcher positions.
Dispatcher Chelsie Rains, who had been on the job less than two weeks, died Saturday.
Soyez said he had received an application from someone in Harvey County who wanted to continue to live there.
“A lot of counties are going to that,” he said.
Prairie View
Soyez told commissioners he’d asked Prairie View what the county gets for the $90,000 it pays the agency every year.
“I got no answer whatsoever,” he said.
Soyez said that when the sheriff’s department consults with Prairie View, the agency charges a $176 consultation fee.
“We’ve already given them $90,000,” Soyez said.
Commissioners said they would meet with Prairie View officials to discuss what is done with the money.
“There are mentally ill people who could spread their wings and fly,” Soyez said. “The mentally ill people are the ones who suffer. Give me the $90,000 and I’ll send all of my deputies to special training.”
County attorney
County attorney Joel Ensey talked to commissioners about wanting more office space.
For months, Ensey has said his office in the courthouse lacks sufficient space.
When a confidential conference is needed, he goes upstairs and asks to use a court conference room there.
County counsel Brad Jantz said the county attorney’s office was the smallest he had ever seen, even in western Kansas.
“I’d like to be in an office with two separate places for people to work,” Ensey said.