Florence Grand Prix to use county radios
Staff writer
County commissioners granted a special event permit Monday to Flint Hills Bent Rims to hold its Florence Grand Prix and lent the organization radios to boot.
Race organizer Duane McCarty asked for the permit because the race will be partly inside Florence and partly in the county.
“I think we should do all we can to help with that,” commissioner David Crofoot told McCarty.
“Can I ride down Main St.?” commissioner Kent Becker asked.
“Sure — for $75,” McCarty quipped.
The radios commissioners agreed to lend are older 400 MHz models used by emergency medical services before county switched to a 800 MHz system.
The radios work with or without a repeater.
Crofoot said that lending the radios for community events was a good idea. He suggested Threshing Days in Goessel might use them.
Commissioners voted to provide up to 20 batteries for the radios at a total cost not to exceed $800.
Money will come from transient guest tax.
EMS director Travis Parmley asked commissioners to draw up regulations for use of the radios before the equipment is lent to other groups.
In other business, Marion city administrator Roger Holter provided commissioners a diagram of a four-foot-wide easement the city will need as part of its electrical upgrade.
Commissioners voted to allow the city to have the property.
Commissioners also voted to give American Rescue Plan money to rural water districts to upgrade water distribution systems.