Bourbon County Commission Meeting Agenda: January 26, 2026

Date: January 26, 2026 Time: 5:30 PM Location: Bourbon County Commission

Meeting Agenda Outline

01.26.26 Agenda

1. Call Meeting to Order

2. Roll Call

3. Pledge of Allegiance

4. Prayer

5. Introductions

6. Approval of Agenda

7. Public Hearing (5:35 PM) – Vacation of Road

   • Resolution 08-26

8. Minutes

   • Commission Minutes 01.12.26

   • Commission Minutes 01.15.26

9. Approval of Consent Agenda

   • Accounts Payable 1.23.26 ($1,123,999.50) & 1.22.26 ($98,394.22)

   • Tax Corrections

10. Citizen Comments

11. Executive Session

    • K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(1) – Motley

12. Department Updates

    • Payroll update – Milburn-Kee

    • Courthouse Space – Lora Holdridge

    • Inventory – County Clerk

    • Commission Minutes – County Clerk

    • County Clerk Procedures

    • 2025 End of Year Financials – County Clerk

13. Old Business

    • Sewer update – Milburn-Kee

    • Handbook Follow-ups

14. New Business

    • Strategic Planning – Motley

    • Commission Calendar – Motley

15. Create Agenda for Next Meeting

16. Commission Comments

17. Adjournment

(Agenda source: Page 1)

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Detailed Information Packet Summary

Resolution 08-26: Road Vacation (Page 3)

The commission is considering the vacation of a 62′ wide by 125′ section of 267th Street located in Woodard’s addition to Garland, Kansas. This resolution follows K.S.A. 68-102, which allows for the vacation of roads consisting of less than two consecutive miles. If approved, the County Clerk is instructed to publish the resolution for two consecutive weeks in the Fort Scott Tribune.

Meeting Minutes Summary: January 12, 2026 (Pages 4–8)

• Reorganization: The board appointed Samuel Tran as Chairman and David Beerbower as Vice Chairman.

• Board & Liaison Assignments: Commissioners finalized their roles on various boards (e.g., Fair Board, SEK Mental Health) and department liaison duties. Greg Motley was assigned Finance, while Samuel Tran took Public Works.

• Public Safety: Mark McCoy discussed the critical need for a trained Emergency Manager and the current status of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

• Software Upgrade: The commission approved the purchase of “Hey Gov” software for approximately $1,100 to manage meeting agendas and minutes more efficiently.

• Contract Approval: A contract with Schwab Eaton for annual bridge inspections was approved for a total of $43,910.

Special Meeting Minutes Summary: January 15, 2026 (Pages 9–16)

This meeting focused almost exclusively on a methodical review of the 65-page County Employee Handbook. Key updates included:

• Elected Officials: Added language clarifying that while the handbook establishes general policies, independent elected officials maintain statutory discretion over certain operational matters in their offices.

• Probationary Period: After debate, the commission settled on a 90-day probationary period for new employees.

• Sick Leave Payout: A new policy was established allowing a 25% payout of sick leave for employees with at least 10 years of service.

• Inclement Weather: Essential personnel will now receive time-and-a-half pay during courthouse closures, while non-essential staff receive regular pay.

• Law Enforcement: Specific biweekly work schedules (86 hours) and overtime triggers were added to accommodate the Sheriff’s department.

Financials and Accounts Payable (Pages 17–81)

The packet includes extensive line-item documentation for accounts payable.

• January 23rd Totals: $1,123,999.50. This includes significant payroll clearing accounts for various departments including the Appraiser’s office and Ambulance services.

• January 22nd Totals: $98,394.22. Notable expenses include $19,589.36 for District Court (including courtroom hearing devices and software) and $10,443.72 for the County Treasurer’s department.

County Commission Calendar (Page 82)

The packet concludes with a 2026 statutory calendar outlining critical deadlines for tax foreclosures, budget certifications (due to the State by September 20th), and strategic planning sessions scheduled for February and March.