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Ellsworth County commissioners approve abatements, compensation resolution and routine appointments
Summary
The Ellsworth County Commission approved agenda and minutes, approved abatements totaling $4,166.78, adopted Resolution 2026R01 establishing compensation rates, and confirmed elections/appointments; several department‑head operational items were discussed.
At the Jan. 12 meeting of the Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners, members took several routine actions including approving the meeting agenda and prior minutes, approving a set of tax abatements, adopting a resolution establishing county compensation rates, and confirming officer elections and appointments.
Chairman Gregory C. Bender called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Commissioners Shawn Thomas and Dennis L. Rolfs joined in routine votes to approve the agenda and minutes; those motions carried 3-0. Later in the meeting Commissioner Rolfs left at 10:30 a.m., and subsequent votes were recorded as 2-0 in favor.
The board approved abatements numbered 2025-85 through 62 totaling $4,166.78 (motion by Commissioner Shawn Thomas, second by Commissioner Gregory C. Bender). The board also approved Resolution 2026R01 to establish rates of compensation for the county and approved the Election of Officers and Appointments; the minutes record those votes as carried 2-0, and the minutes do not list the specific appointees.
Department heads in attendance reported several operational items: working with H&B Communications to solicit competitive bids for county IT services; continued issues with LockIT billing that departments were asked to monitor; consideration of converting Columbus Day to a working holiday to permit Cyber, CPR and AED training; discussion of shifting from uniform 2–4% raises to merit‑based reviews; a request for monthly courthouse door lock tests; and a report that the landfill dozer is undergoing sprocket repairs. The minutes list attendees at the department head meeting as Sue Arensman, Kerianne Ehrlich, Nathan Florian, Marie Ranker, Keith Haberer, Paul Kasper, Teresa Shute, Bret Dunlap, and Shelly Vopat.
The meeting adjourned at 12:37 p.m.
