ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times
The Seward County Commission made quick work out of a short agenda Monday with only two action items on the docket.
The first action item concerned a temporary cereal malt beverage license for the upcoming Seward County PRCA Rodeo scheduled for Aug. 16 and 17.
“The purpose of this agenda item is to review and approve the temporary special event application for the Seward County PRCA Rodeo event,” Administrator April Warden said. “The Seward County PRCA Rodeo has submitted an application for a temporary license to sell cereal malt beverages for consumption on county property.”
Warden told commissioners of a resolution in Monday’s agenda packet establishing rules for alcohol consumption.
“This is something this group has applied for each year they’ve had the event,” she said. “It does come before you this evening, and it is the recommendation for the board to approve the temporary CMB license application as presented.”
Commissioner Steve Helm motioned to approve the license, with Chairman Scott Carr seconding. The commission voted 4-1, with Commissioner Presephoni Fuller voting against, to approve the license.
Monday’s second action item concerned filling an unexpired term on the county’s Planning and Zoning board which is set to expire Dec. 31. The county received three applications for the position – Felix Vargas, Felipe Chacon and Edgar Ortuño.
The applicants were given the chance to speak about why they chose to apply for the board. Only Ortuno spoke.
“I’m interested in being part of this board,” he said. “I currently serve on the P and Z board for the City of Liberal. I’m currently a vice chair alongside Steve Mertz. So far, my experience with serving on the P and Z board has been a very learning experience. I’m truly grateful for all the experience. I want to further my service to the community by serving on the P and Z board for the county.”
Two years ago, Ortuño graduated with a master’s degree in agriculture, giving him a wealth of knowledge for the board when it comes to better serving the community and protecting the public’s health, safety and welfare.
“This is my premise I try to bring for the board in terms of bringing that wealth of knowledge to them, and I always seek to serve in that manner,” he said. “I wanted to come back to the community to help serve it, to help make it better in any way I can.”
With Carr and Fuller attending Monday’s meeting via phone, a verbal vote was taken by Warden, and the commission unanimously chose Ortuño to fill the unexpired term. Counsel Nathan Foreman advised the commission to put the choice in the form of a motion, and once that motion was made, the commission chose Ortuño by a unanimous vote.
