(KMZA)--An Ellsworth, Kansas engineering firm is offering to serve as a liaison between Nemaha County and a Florida-based company planning to construct a wind farm in the county.

Tanner Yost and John Riggins with Kirkham Michael Associates met with the Nemaha County Commission Monday to offer their services pertaining to a road use maintenance agreement.

Next Era Energy Resources is proposing to construct the Soldier Creek wind farm in the southern portion of the county, which would consist of up to 120 wind turbines.

The two engineering firm representatives told the Commission they would survey the county and township roads Next Era plans to use during construction and then survey them afterwards, informing Commissioners of any road and bridge deterioration caused by heavy traffic.

Commissioners took no action.  They plan to contact the wind farm representative to ask if the service would be paid for by the company.

In other business, the Commission approved the purchase of a new skid steer loader for the county Solid Waste Department.

The Commission accepted a bid from Bruna Implement, of Seneca for a 2019 Case skid steer for $14,600 with the trade-in of the county’s current loader.

Bids were received from three companies.  

County Public Transit Director Diane Yunghans informed Commissioners she hired Dick Kohake, of Seneca, for the part-time relief driver position.

Kohake began work Tuesday at a salary of $13.44 an hour.