Commissioners Approve Museum Roof Project

Prowers County Courthouse

The Prowers County Commissioners have given the go ahead for construction of a new roof for the Big Timbers Museum.  The project had been delayed for almost a year due to a lack of needed funding from grants in 2011, coupled with a new set of bids this year that had almost doubled the cost of the project.  County Commissioner Gene Millbrand said the county will need to meet the $55,000 price tag by using $5,100 from the county building fund and another $11,000 from the sales tax fund.  “We’re reluctant to do that, but we’re also looking at eleven separate leaks in the roof, plus another one over the extension porch covering the museum War Room.  The project will just be more expensive if we delay any longer,” he said.  The State Historical Fund is providing the bulk of the grant, coupled with matching funds from the county. 

A brief public hearing was conducted by the Prowers County Commissioners, with Land Use Supervisor, Mary Root, regarding language corrections to the Prowers County Zoning regulations.  Three subdivision exemptions were also approved for Rex and Sharon Hiner, for Wesley and Jan Bolinger and for the Max Fisher Trust. 

An entertainment contract for the August Sand and Sage Fair was approved for $3,500 for Gwen Sebastian.  Fair Board member Brandon Sherwood said she has a growing national following after appearing several times on the TV program, “The Voice”.  The fairgrounds rental agreement for the annual Rolling Hills Cowboy Camp meeting for this summer was also approved.   A single bid was submitted to the county for purchase of the pool table that has been in the Granada Community Building.  The bid was for $600.  The commissioners had advertised the pool table for several months before putting it out to bid. 

Sheriff Jim Faull provided a tour of the Prowers County Jail for the commissioners during their working lunch break.  The new improvements to the sewer system were viewed and the commissioners discussed some proposed security evacuation measures with Sheriff Faull, for the jail and for the courthouse. 

Lorraine Wolley, County Treasurer reviewed the First Quarterly Report of Fees Earned as well as March finances.  As of March 31, 2012, the county general fund was $395,957 based on taxes collected.  Sales Tax Receipts and HUTF Collections as of the end of March were $126,781 and $159,089 respectively, and Year-to-Date were $435,872 and $402,606 respectively.  Compared to YTD for the same period last year, numbers were up from Taxes at $393,670 and HUTF for 2011 at $379,464.

By Russ Baldwin