By RYAN CHRISTNER

rchristner@dailynews.net

The Ellis County Commission approved bids from firms for a reconstruction project along Old U.S. Highway 40 and a 911 mapping system during its meeting Tuesday morning.

Commissioners approved a proposal from Penco Engineering of Plainville to reconstruct a 2-mile segment of Old Highway 40 from Canterbury Drive to 280th Avenue. Commission Chairman Dennis Pfannenstiel said Penco will "act as an agent to make sure construction is done to specification."

Public Works Administrator Mike Graf said the commission has the option to decline the bid if it believes it is too high and choose an alternate company, but must give Penco the opportunity to revise its offer if that option is taken.

Hays Police Communications Lt. Oveta Ford appeared before the commission to discuss a proposal for a wireless 911 mapping system. Ford asked the commission to approve a proposal from GeoComm, a geographic information systems and communications consulting firm based in Minnesota.

Ford said GeoComm's bid of about $84,000 was within range of its cost estimates.

In other business, the commission approved a loan from the Transportation Revolving Fund of nearly $700,000 for improvements to the Eighth Street bridge, west of Fort Hays State University.

Also approved was a $6,500 grant to add Logan County to the list of counties transporting their household hazardous waste to the treatment plant in Ellis County. Pfannenstiel said Logan will be the 14th county transporting its waste to Ellis County.

The commission adopted the rural fire district budget as well. Expenditures for 2009 are slated to be about $25,000 higher than the current year's, with the mill rate dropping 0.45 mills.

Ending the meeting was discussion of the vacant emergency management position. Sheriff Ed Harbin suggested the commissioners enter executive session with Rural Fire Chief Dick Klaus and EMS Director Kerry McCure to discuss the personnel issue.

Upon re-entering regular session, Pfannenstiel said the commission will attempt to schedule interviews for the position Monday. Of the original 10 applicants, four have been chosen to interview, he said.