Much of the Wednesday, May 6 session of the Saline County Commission was spent extending appreciation for the linemen and volunteers who assisted residents pick up the damage after last week’s tornado through Slater and Gilliam.

No injuries or fatalities were reported from the twister that made its way through Saline County the morning of April 27. During her report, presiding commissioner Becky Plattner expressed the commission’s appreciation for the support both communities received.
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Emergency Management Director Brad Hinz followed Plattner’s report with an update on efforts to secure state assistance for both communities. Hinz said that he had submitted documentation last week to the State Emergency Management Agency, seeking a disaster declaration for Saline County. Hinz noted that 15 light poles were damaged in Slater, several more in Gilliam, and up to 80 poles along Route 240 east toward Glasgow. He added that SEMA is looking into bundling Saline County’s storm damage claims with those from other parts of the state that occurred from that weekend’s series of storms.

Also Wednesday morning, the commission took under advisement the lone bid received for security camera systems at the Welcome Center and Marshall Junction Wastewater Treatment Facility. The bid was received from Verge Technology Solutions. The commission will meet in special session Thursday at 10 a.m. to open bids received for the construction of a replacement bridge on 245th Road over Pass Branch, outside Mount Leonard.