Pottawatomie County will use funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to plan a regional storm water detention pond.
Commissioners differed on ways to approach the pond, northwest of Oliver Brown Elementary School. Pat Weixelman thought the $1.5 million ask was too high.
Commissioner Dee McKee favored going in at planning and designing now, saying she was flexible in how much would be allocated.
The commission agreed to allocate $500,000 in ARPA funds for the project.
Later in the meeting the commission agreed to move forward on a minimal pond design for the property north of Junietta Road and west of Moody Road. County Engineer Nathan Bergman’s aim was finding a middle ground between the county commission and property owner Brandt Rudzinski.
Bergman reviewed preliminary plats with the commission Monday. He says the developer is hoping for access to the pond via Junietta Road.
The county is about half way into a 7-year agreement with the developer.
In other business Monday, the commission agreed to use ARPA funding allocations for a washer and dryer at the Wamego EMS station and another piece of training equipment.
An allocation of $100,000 for employee bonuses was tabled after commissioners and staff couldn’t agree whether the $750 checks should be paid through the general fund or payroll. They hope to resolve that at next week’s meeting.
