New county agent speaks at meeting
By: Gable Rhoads
A new chairman and vice-chairman were selected at the first monthly meeting of the Sheridan County Commissioners which was held on January 6, 2015. Commissioner Howard Erdmann was selected as chairman and Commissioner Steve Eisenbeisz as vice-chair. They replace Commissioner Mike Axt and ex-Commissioner Eldon Ehrman, respectively.
Nicole Wardner, the new Sheridan County Extension Agent, made her first report to the county commissioners.
She reported that the McLean/Sheridan students have begun competing in livestock judging, with two events scheduled for the first week in January.
Wardner requested a new office computer as the extension office’s computer is four years old. She said that a grant would be available in the April-May time frame and the grant would cover half the cost of a new computer.
The commissioners discussed the county roads and overweight vehicles with Sheriff Trent Naser. Naser will look into contracting portable scales with the McLean County Sheriff’s Department.
The commissioners voted to request a deadline extension for FEMA approved road projects in Highland, McClusky, Strasberg, Goodrich, Pickard and Holmes townships. The original deadline had been for January 12, 2015 and the request will be made to push the deadline to January 1, 2016.
The County Park Board meeting was held. The board members again discussed raising the fees for full-service camping to $20, but no action was taken.
The board and commissioners also discussed the septic tank issue that has risen at the 4-H building. The septic tank does not drain reportedly because the high water table level causes water to flow into the tank causing sewage backup. The septic tank was being emptied north of the building but the tank filled up again rapidly.
