Obituary of Marjorie Faye Bowen

Marjorie Faye Bowen, age 91, a former resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, and more recently of Spring Hill, Kansas, passed away Friday, August 2, 2019, at the Spring Hill Care and Rehab Center.

  She was born January 7, 1928, in Plew, Missouri, the daughter of Orval Sparks and Olga Baker Sparks.

She married William R. Bowen on August 3, 1946, in Columbus, Kansas.

Marjorie passed away one day prior to their 73rd wedding anniversary.

Marjorie worked in the housekeeping department at Mercy Hospital in Ft. Scott.  She retired as Head of Housekeeping after twenty years of service.

She enjoyed sewing and crocheting as well as cooking, reading and working puzzles.  She loved spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Bill, of the home; three children, Linda McClanahan, of Paola, Kansas; Billy Bowen and wife, Barbara, of Willard, Missouri; and Jim Bowen and wife, Pam, of Alma, Nebraska.  Also surviving are eight grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, Girvan, Wallace, Willard, Kenneth and Carol Sparks and two sisters, Jean Burnett and Mary Means.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, August 10th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Correctional Facility Emergency Declaration Ends

Governor ends Emergency Declaration at El Dorado Correctional Facility

 

The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) has notified the President of the Kansas Organization of State Employees (KOSE), Sarah LaFrenz, that improvements in staffing levels at the El Dorado Correctional Facility will allow the Department to return to eight-hour shifts for security staff.

 

“There are many people to thank for their support during this emergency, first and foremost our employees,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Under very difficult circumstances, our employees demonstrated their commitment to each other and to the safety of their fellow Kansans.”

 

Uniformed staff vacancies at El Dorado have been reduced from 75 on June 17, 2019, to 50 on July 29, 2019. The reduction is attributed to the commitment of funding by Governor Kelly and the 2019 Kansas Legislature. That funding increase allows KDOC to be more competitive in the job market by offering starting wages of $18.26 per hour, an increase from $15.75.

 

“We are encouraged to see this administration and Acting Secretary Jeff Zmuda take seriously the issues at EDCF and our other Kansas Correctional facilities, as well as the safety of our Kansas workers,” LaFrenz said. “We look forward to working collaboratively with KDOC both currently and in the future.”

 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) between KOSE and KDOC requires a 45-day notice before implementing this change, which would end scheduled 12-hour shifts beginning October 6, 2019. This will provide time for staff to express their preference for a specific post.

 

“In my first weeks at KDOC, I have appreciated the open dialogue and collaboration between KOSE and KDOC and look forward to our continued work together,” Zmuda said.

 

KDOC is experiencing reduced vacancies at facilities across Kansas. On June 17, 2019, a total of 342 uniformed positions were vacant compared to 252 on July 29, 2019, a 26.3% improvement

Public Health Department Moves: New Possibilities In Future

From left: Rebecca Johnson, BSN, RN, the administrator of SEKMCHD; Alice Maffett, Registered Nurse in Bourbon County and Kristi George, the administrative assistant. They stand in front of the new public health department facility at 6th and Horton.

The local public health department moved from behind the Bourbon County Courthouse to a more spacious building and reopened on July 29 to offer health services to the community.

The new space for Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department is located between 6th and Horton and 6th and Lowman Streets at 524 S. Lowman.

The Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department is located between 6th and Lowman Streets and 6th and Horton Streets.

 

In former years the building has been Mercy Home Health, Curves-a woman’s fitness center, then Cornerstone Bible Church.

The location on two main streets in Fort Scott will be an advantage.

“We hope this location makes people more aware of the health department,” Alice Maffett, health department nurse, said.

Now the employees can serve the community in a larger and more visible building with services such as physicals, immunizations, pregnancy tests, family planning, Kan Be Healthy Screenings, blood pressure and blood glucose checks, hearing and vision screenings, SRS referrals, Sexually Transmitted Disease testing and treatment, and lab/blood draws.

 

The Public Health Department, located at 6th and Horton Street, Fort Scott.

Rebecca Johnson, BSN, RN is the administrator of SEKMCHD and her primary office will be in Fort Scott. Maffett is the Registered Nurse in Bourbon County and Kristi George is the administrative assistant.

A physical exam and current immunizations are required for entrance into kindergarten.

New this year in immunizations, is the state-required meningitis shots for 7th and 11th-grade students, Maffett said, which the department offers.

The WIC program will be utilizing the building and also available are breastfeeding classes.

The health department board is working to build community partnerships.

“It is a great building and we are looking for other community groups or agencies to utilize our conference room.

The conference room is approximately 25 feet by 16 feet and has an adjacent kitchenette for use, she said.

Dave and Jan Elliott will be offering Love and Logic Parenting classes in the future.

The health department board is also interested in exploring the option of telemedicine in the future, Johnson, said.

Another possibility in the future is to hire a Nurse Practitioner, Maffett said.

The hours of operation: Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to noon and 12:30  p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information: 620.223.4464. The fax number is 620.223.1686. or www.sekmchd.com

 

 

Flags At Half-Staff For Shooting Victims

Governor orders flags lowered honoring the victims of El Paso and Dayton shootings

 

In accordance with Executive Order 10-12, and in coordination with the proclamation signed by President Donald Trump, Governor Laura Kelly has ordered flags throughout the State of Kansas to be flown at half-staff starting immediately and ending at sunset on August 8, 2019, in honor of the victims in the El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio shooting.

 

“My thoughts go out to the people of El Paso and Dayton today. And, to everyone touched by these tragedies,” Kelly said. “This is not normal. We are in the midst of a public health crisis and we should not wait for another gun-related tragedy to occur to take action. It’s time we do something about this before it’s too late. It’s time to implement real, common sense gun-safety laws.”

 

To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honors.

The Bottom Line by Jimmy Tucker

Sear Your Steak, Not Your Conscience

When I was a little boy, I stole a quarter from my mother’s purse. I immediately knew I had acted wrongly and I needed to make it right. Day after day my conscience bothered me and the heavy load of guilt increased. I finally confessed my sin to my mother and repented to God. Admitting that I had stolen money was the hardest thing I’d ever done. Of course mother and God forgave me. It was a wonderful feeling to be free from guilt and shame and to have a clear conscience again!

When you become a child of God, the Bible states that you’re a new creature and you have the spirit of Christ living in you. Your newly-cleansed conscience can be trusted to lead you in paths of Christlikeness. Deliberately ignoring your conscience is a spiritual danger as stated in 1 Timothy 4:1,2 NKJV: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,  speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron… Sear means to burn to dryness and hardness; to cauterize; to expose to a degree of heat that changes the color of the surface, or makes it hard. A seared conscience will make you insensitive to God’s voice and opens the door to deceiving spirits from Satan.

In the book of Acts 24:16 NKJV, Paul writes, “…I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” Keeping it clear requires you to do the right thing even when it seems to be the hardest task you‘ve ever done. God speaks in a soft and tender voice that can be ignored if that‘s what you choose to do. But in order to follow Christ wholeheartedly, you must be able to hear the voice of your conscience.

A seared conscience doesn’t happen overnight; it‘s a process that occurs over a period of time. I recently read an incident about an older gentleman that brewed his coffee on the woodstove. He’d pour the boiling coffee into his cup and drink it quickly. Through the years, this man had seared his lips, mouth, and throat until it was easy for him to drink boiling coffee. This is an example of how you need to keep your conscience tender so that spiritual things will be clear to you.

If you speak unkind words, treat someone badly, tell a lie, or act out an evil thought, your conscience will let you know about it. Do yourself a favor and don’t shrug it off! The minute your conscience warns you, stop and make it right. Believe me, the sooner the better because the passing of time will make it harder to straighten out, and repeated offenses will eventually sear your conscience.

If you want to walk as close to the Lord as possible, then you should be thankful when your conscience convicts you. God is giving you the opportunity to come up higher in your spiritual walk.

The Bottom Line: If you want a close personal relationship with God, don’t sear your conscience.

Pastor Jimmy Tucker

(620) 223-1483

Diamond Community Church

Worship 10:45 am

Breastfeeding Awareness

Governor Kelly Proclaims August “Breastfeeding Awareness Month”

In support of World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month

 

TOPEKA – At an official signing ceremony, Governor Laura Kelly proclaimed August “Breastfeeding Awareness Month” in Kansas. This proclamation recognizes the importance of breastfeeding for the health and wellbeing of Kansans.

 

“We are extremely pleased with Governor Kelly’s proclamation which highlights the importance of breastfeeding support for families in Kansas.  This proclamation supports their decision and provides a foundation to build support for the policy and practice changes needed to build a landscape of breastfeeding support in our state.” said Brenda Bandy, Executive Director of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition (KBC).

“Kansas recognizes breastfeeding as a public health responsibility and priority,” said KDHE Secretary Lee Norman, MD. “Strides in improved breastfeeding rates have been possible through strong statewide partnerships and community collaboration. We will continue to promote and support breastfeeding as a way protect and improve the health of mothers and infants.”

More than 90 percent of families in Kansas choose to breastfeed. Yet despite its importance, only 31 percent of Kansas’ infants are exclusively breastfed during the critical first six months of life. Increased investment in breastfeeding could results in saving an estimated 22 women’s lives each year due to breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes and hypertension.  Investing in breastfeeding could save the lives of seven children, due mostly to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).  And finally, investing in breastfeeding would save Kansas more than $27 million in medical costs each year. [1]

Today’s proclamation stresses the role of every Kansan to make breastfeeding easier in our state. The Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition has suggested actions various groups and individuals can take to support breastfeeding in the “State of Breastfeeding in Kansas” available at http://ksbreastfeeding.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/stateofBFinKS.pdf.

 

You Can Learn A Lot From A Church Fan by Pastor James Collins

Pastor James Collins

 

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.Revelation 21:21

It was so hot last week… I saw a chicken lay an omelette. It was so hot last week… I started sweating like a politician on election day. It was so hot last week… Jehovah’s Witnesses started telemarketing.

Right in the middle of all this heat we have been having, our air conditioner went out. I came home and my wife, Amanda, was frowning. She was drenched in sweat. She looked at me and said, “The air-conditioner is out. I don’t care how you get it done, you just better get that air conditioning fixed, preacher boy.” Now this is not in the Bible, but I have learned a valuable lesson in life: “If Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” From the expression on Amanda’s face, I could tell she was not happy.

I panicked and ran to the phone. I called 10 air-conditioner repairmen. Nine of the 10 did not answer. I left messages for all of them. None of them called me back. I finally got a hold of an air conditioning repairman. I said, “Our air-conditioner is out. I’ve got an emergency.” He said, “You and everybody else has an emergency. I can get someone out to you in 4 to 6 weeks.” The rest of the summer is going to be hot at my house.

When I was growing up, our church didn’t have air conditioning. Instead we used church fans. For those too young to remember, church fans were little paper fans with wooden handles. In our church, they were always available in the hymnal racks on the backs of pews. The fans in our church were provided by the local funeral home, and at election time, a politician or two would bring in a batch.

On one side of a church fan there would always be a picture of Jesus. Usually Jesus was in a garden, or sitting with children, or holding a lamb in a soft meadow near a brook. On the other side there would be the commercial message of the funeral parlor or the politician who had donated the fans.

Downer Brothers Funeral Home. Put Them In The Ground, With No Money Down. Our Coffins Are So Nice, You’ll Want To Die Twice. We’re Dead Serious. Ask About Our Installment Payment Plan.”

Or, “Elect Hamp Baker State Senator. Family Man. Deacon. Honest. Keep Your Freedom, Guns, And Money. Vote November 7th.”

Hamp Baker wasted a bunch of money on church fans, because he never was elected. He always put his picture on his fans. He looked just like Uncle Fester from “The Adam’s Family.” He was so strange looking that nobody would vote for him.

I remember one church fan with a picture of heaven. As a seven-year-old, I would stare at the golden streets and imagine walking there.

That church fan reminds me of the story of an old miner who struck gold and carried his bag of gold with him everywhere. One day he died and went to heaven, still carrying his gold. When he arrived, an angel asked him why he was carrying asphalt.

On earth, we value gold as being the most precious of metals. In heaven, it will be what we walk on.

The point is: The things we value in this life will not be so highly valued in heaven. Money, fame, houses, and cars are nice in the here and now. What value will those things have in eternity? Earthly possessions are temporary. Our true wealth is in heaven.

Have you made your reservation for heaven? Trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Make you reservation today. Trust me, you would rather go to heaven than the alternative.

You think it’s hot here? There are no air conditioners in hell.

James Collins is the Pastor at Fort Scott’s First Southern Baptist Church. He can be reached at (620) 223-2986, or through the website thepointis.net.

New Recources For Students

State Library of Kansas Announces New Resources for Students

 

TOPEKA – Back to school means back to homework and the State Library of Kansas is ready to help. New five-year contracts for online resources went into effect on August 1, 2019. The State Library is pleased to provide access to more than 60 online databases to all Kansans at no charge. All Kansans can access these resources online at https://kslib.info or via their local library’s website.

 

“We’re excited to maintain subscriptions to resources that our patrons and Kansas libraries have come to expect, while also adding several new topic areas and key collections,” said State Librarian Eric Norris. “Kansas students now have a wider variety of resources to help them with their research needs.”

 

These new resources provide Kansas residents and students with reliable, high-quality content that supports education, lifelong learning, and personal enrichment.

 

Resources now available:

 

Issues & Controversies helps student researchers understand today’s crucial issues by exploring hundreds of hot topics. The in-depth articles present both sides of each issue clearly and without bias, supported by primary sources, statistics, audio content, and breaking news.

 

The Mailbox® School and District Edition is a teacher-created, editor-reviewed resource that offers unlimited access to worksheets, crafts, forms, songs, games, graphic organizers, and more for prekindergarten to sixth grade.

 

World News Digest has been a go-to resource for context and background on key issues of both historical events and breaking news. Highlights include an editorial newsfeed featuring current U.S. and international newspaper editorials and a collection of historical video footage.

 

The World Almanac is a classic reference tool. With age-specific resources, users can choose the right resources for their needs. The Kids edition provides resources for homework, reports, and projects as well as support material for teachers. The Kids Elementary edition is aimed at intermediate-level students.

 

Bloom’s Literature offers complete, yet curated, coverage of the most-studied authors and works—with a wide range of reference essays and scholarly criticism, full-length videos of classic plays, the full contents of classic works of literature, suggested essay topics, and more.

 

Ferguson’s Career Guidance Center’s unprecedented depth of coverage is organized into three main sections—Industries and Careers, Plan Your Education, and Launch Your Career—with industry and professions articles, school planning resources, and other valuable material.

 

Read It! is designed for middle and high school students and adults who have a basic foundation in English grammar and reading, but need adapted reading material for a variety of subjects. It offers resources to build background knowledge, conduct research, and improve study skills.

 

Health Reference Center includes comprehensive, in-depth coverage of body systems, current health issues, major diseases and conditions, treatments, and procedures, as well as health and nutrition information.

 

US Newsstream provides more than 1,000 national and regional news sources from the U.S. and includes popular titles such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Newsday, and Chicago Tribune.

 

Fold3 is a resource for genealogists, historians, veterans, and their families. It provides access to US military records, including stories, photos, and personal documents of those who served. Content begins with the Revolutionary War and continues to the present.

 

 

To access all databases provided by the State Library of Kansas, visit https://kslib.info/databases.

 

Fort Scott Commission Minutes of July 16

CITY OF FORT SCOTT

CITY COMMISSION MEETING

Minutes of July 16, 2019 Regular Meeting #13

The regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held July 16th, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Room, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas.

ROLL CALL:

Commissioners Adamson, Bartelsmeyer, Mitchell, and Nichols were present with Mayor Parker presiding.

INVOCATION: Pastor James Collins, First Southern Baptist Church, said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City, our Government and City officials.

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Robert Uhler, Rachel Pruitt, Darrell Parker, Jason Pickert, Clayton Miller, Deb Needleman, Paul Ballou, Dave Bruner, Shawn O’Brien, Lindsay Watts, Michael Mix, Josh Jones, Bobby Duncan, Don Lindeman, James Collins, Linda Krieger, Mike Krieger, Janet Braun, Deb McCoy, Pete Allen, Teri Hulsey, Chris Reed, Andrew McGee, Bill Osbern, Michael Hoyt, Linda Fox, Kevin Allen, Ed Cox, and representing the press, Jason Silvers of the Fort Scott Tribune.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS: Recognition of Bourbon County EMS – Dave Bruner, Deputy Fire Marshal, recognized Mike Krieger, Paramedic, Amanda Miller, Paramedic, Chris Reed, AEMT, and Teri Hulsey, EMT of the Bourbon County EMS for their lifesaving efforts on a call on May 27th, 2019. They were called to the west side of Lake Fort Scott for a patient in cardiac arrest. They were able to revive him and get him transported to Via Christi who then air lifted him to Freeman Hospital in Joplin where he underwent heart surgery. The patient sent an email thanking the EMS crew for their efforts and said that because of them he was alive today.

Mayor Parker presented the crew with a Certificate of Recognition. The audience gave them a standing ovation.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND APPROPRIATIONS/CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of July 2nd, 2019.

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1242-A totaling $365,643.69.

  1. Approval to rescind Resolution No. 4-2019.

  1. Resolution No. 12-2019 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 505 S. Ransom Street – Public Hearing Date – 9/3/2019 – 6:15 p.m.
  1. Resolution No. 13-2019 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 1012 S. Crawford Street – Public Hearing Date – 9/3/2019 – 6:15 p.m.

  1. Resolution No. 14-2019 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure and Accessory Structure located at 517 S. Clark Street – Public Hearing Date – 9/3/2019 – 6:15 p.m.

  1. Resolution No. 15-2019 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure and Accessory Structure located at 706 S. Clark Street – Public Hearing Date – 9/3/2019 – 6:15 p.m.

Adamson moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Bartelsmeyer seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED CONSENT AGENDA.

APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

  1. APPEARANCE:

Rachel Pruitt, Economic Development Director, introduced Bill Osbern to the Commission.

Bill Osbern, Peerless Products – Mr. Osbern, CEO, Peerless Products, informed the Commission that Peerless needed warehouse space and storage. They located a building in Nevada which was the old American Standard building. They would rather have it here but could get it at a much better price than what they could build it for here. They also need the building space right now. Those are the two reasons they bought the building in Nevada. We could grow both here and in Nevada. It will take a lot to fix the building up in Nevada. We bought 20 acres to the south of their building, the old Arnold land. We are finishing up a trade of property with Labconco to connect our property to that property. We are currently in the middle of moving our sewer and water lines to connect to this property. We have done a lot of automation in our factory and put a lot of money into new machinery and did a makeover with our current building. There is new lighting and new flooring and they are trying to make it look the best. It is important for them when they have customers come in that they look the best. Their next big project, which is being designed by architects and being bid right now, is the expansion of their front office space. It is currently too small. It is important to keep quality employees. They are taking away half of their parking lot away. They will have 15’ ceilings now. This is an important project to them right now. They have another major project as they are an aluminum extruder and are looking at a new building and a new extruder operation. There have been several of them traveling all over looking at new equipment in Australia, Italy and Spain. They believe they have the best paint line in the world and are trying to do the best with the aluminum extruder line also.

B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute

limit per citizen)

Bobby Duncan – Mr. Duncan thanked Peerless. He said he installed Peerless windows at a project he did at the Port Authority in Corpus Christi, Texas some time back. It was the best product that the architect that designed it decided. That’s why he used them. He has a little issue that came up this week. He’d like to know who authorized the use of public property in a photo op that was clearly designed to sway the elector in the upcoming election to favor certain candidates and political policies. The ladder truck being too far from the building, it was improperly deployed at a very low angle and out the side. The same would be true for a 100 foot truck or a 125 foot ladder. Worse still, a firefighter was at the end of that ladder, bouncing it up and down. That’s reckless. He wants to know who authorized this. Another thing that came up in the postings from the Tribune for the candidates, Mrs. Adamson has stated that you are a successful business owner in the downtown historic district because you have always adhered to code regulations. Would you care to post online or give me a copy to review of your 2012 IBC code footprint that is approved as a 2012 IBC code? He would like to see it. Now remember, his was constructed under the Uniform Building Code. It’s legal. It’s safe. It’s fireproof. Yours is not fireproof. Your implication concerning his dilemma in the paper is obvious. So, he pretty much resented that. Thank you.

Pete Allen – Mr. Allen said that he only had two questions tonight. We in Fort Scott are a little shy on population. We’ve got a lot of population in the outlying areas, particularly the three mile area. He’s wondering why we discriminate against those people in the zone outside the three mile limit. Why do we not allow them to vote in our election? I figure they are Fort Scott citizens and they should vote in our election and I think you should redo the ordinance about the three mile area for elected officials. That was around 1991 or sometime around there. I don’t understand why we alienate them those people out there. That’s one thing I’d like you to take a look at. Also, I’d like you to take a look at Chapter Ordinance Number 7, chapter ordinance number 7 in the ordinance book for the City of Fort Scott that has to do with construction and reconstruction of the sidewalks and streets. I’d like a ruling on that ordinance to see what it really says because he can’t understand it. That’s all I have.

City Manager said he would get back with him.

  1. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None

CONSIDERATION:

  1. Consideration of award of contractor for River Intake Structure – Michael Mix, Public Utilities Director, informed the Commission that he was happy to bring this item to them tonight. He shared pictures of the river intake structure. The original structure was built in 1883 to pump water to the plant. It was fired by a coal engine steam motor. This steam engine pump was in operation until 1950. This facility had some minor upgrades in 1980 but nothing major since then. Some of the electrical is still original from 1950. It does need updated. He reminded the Commission that this is our only means to get water to the treatment plant facility. Bids were taken for the update of the project. Crossland Construction of Columbus, Kansas was the low bidder in the total amount of $2,287,242.00. He read the statement from U.S.D.A.: In addition, we are now ready to incorporate our current design contract into the required USDA EJCDC E-500 Agreement, and add the construction phase services. This action is required to: 1) fund the construction phase services, and 2) be able to include the design and construction phase services in the USDA funding for the River Intake Structure. He asked for approval to award the bid to Crossland Construction and authorize the Mayor to sign the construction contract and sign the EJCDC E-500 contract for engineering services as required by U.S.D.A.

The time frame is a little less than one year according to the engineer.

City Manager said that this is a two phase project. The structure update is phase one and the dam repair abutment is phase two.

Bartelsmeyer moved to approve to award the bid to Crossland Construction in the amount of $2,287,242.00 and authorize the Mayor to sign the construction contract and sign the EJCDC E-500 contract for engineering services as required by U.S.D.A. Mitchell seconded. All voted aye.

approved to award the river intake structure bid to Crossland Construction in the amount of $2,287,242.00 and authorize the Mayor to sign the construction contract and sign the EJCDC E-500 contract for engineering services as required by U.S.D.A.

Michael Hoyt informed the Mayor he had asked to speak.

Mayor Parker informed him his name was not on the signup list to speak as he did not arrive in time. He needs to sign up with the Clerk.

  1. Update on fire trucks – Paul Ballou, Fire Chief, informed the Commission that he had originally planned to come to this meeting with some prices on some pumper trucks. Rhonda Dunn is out of town this week and he is still working with H.G.A.C. and wants to get information from them also. He hopes to do that next meeting.

He said to answer Bob Duncan’s question, it was him that authorized the ladder truck to be downtown and to some of the residential properties that are off the street. It honestly wasn’t meant for a photo op, but to inform the Commission when we decide what to do. We have to find out about the grant before we can talk ladder trucks.

City Manager said that it comes back to him. He was going to address that under his time. He wanted to do research on the Peerless building. We had a fire on a house a couple of weeks ago and the 75’ ladder was not high enough. We are just gathering information. We did not put it on social media. We will be showing what we know when you make a decision on the fire truck budget. The State Fire Marshal got a call and called the Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief and when they explained what we were doing, they were fine with it.

COMMISSION/STAFF:

  1. Director Updates:

Robert Uhler – Robert updated the Commission on Waggoner Associates. When this started last September, this group was going to present the Strategic Implementation Plan. The final report will be given on August 20th to the Commission. This is a very strategic plan that we are doing to look at the next five to ten years. This includes everything we are doing in our town.

Rachel Pruitt – Rachel introduced Breann Martin of the Bourbon County Arts Council to the Commission. The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission reached out to the City of Fort Scott and asked if we had any projects in collaboration with the arts. There was a project that we didn’t know how we were going to fund. It all came together after the grant application was submitted. We received a reward for over $8,000 for a downtown mural.

Breann Martin informed the Commission that she is an art teacher and she wanted to incorporate student artwork into a mural for the downtown area. She serves on the Bourbon County Arts Council and heard about the grant opportunity and worked with Rachel on it. This mural will incorporate student artwork. It will be a common theme that kids will be involved in.

Rachel said that $8,725.00 in grant funds were awarded. The grant was under art integration and innovative partnership. The section applied for was under community development and historic downtowns. It is about revitalizing the downtown. The mural will be an enhancement to the downtown area. The grant award will be $4,800 and in-kind donations will total the $8,725.00.

The other item she had was the closure of the 2019 Downtown Building Grant Improvement Fund. There was $30,000 set aside annually for downtown business owners to renovate and rehab their properties. They helped twelve historic properties this year. So far this year, we have spent $27,570.43 with a total investment of $3,119,347.79. A very good return on our investment. These funds are not tax payer funds, but funds from the building lease in the Industrial Park.

  1. City Commission:

Nichols Thanks to Mr. Osbern and Peerless Products. He also thanked Jason (Silvers) for his hard work. He attended the budget work sessions and knows he works late at night also.

Adamson – Thanked Rachel and Breann Martin for the funding that was found for the arts. She is excited to see this come to our downtown.

Mitchell Remarked that she thinks it’s important to recognize that while we have all the negativity on social media regarding the City and all that goes on in our community, we do have citizens that are positive about our services and that believe that we are trying to conduct ourselves in the best manner possible. I know it’s important to our firefighters and how far it can reach, it’s important to mention that our caregivers, the fire fighters and police departments, even if they never get the needed equipment, they will always do what it takes to save someone in this community.

Bartelsmeyer Remarked that she is excited about the Water Treatment Plant upgrades and thanked Michael for his work on this project.

Parker – Thanked Tom Robertson who brought in the Cal Ripken Tournament this last weekend. That event brought in around 300 to 350 children and parents. She thanked Tom and the Fire Chief and Chief of Police who cooked and Diane Clay and Courtney Rooks who helped serve all of the guests. We are trying to do the best we can for this community. She thanked the Commission for the time they put in going through budget.

  1. City Manager:

  1. Budget Review – This is ongoing and he appreciates the Commission attending the meetings. The City is trying to cut approximately $200,000 in operational costs. This is a mixture of salaries and productivity. We are working hard to put $1,000,000 into the Street budget.

  1. Tourism – Larry Gazaway has resigned and is leaving us for another opportunity. We have about six or seven resumes. This position will be a Manager position and report to Rachel Pruitt.

  1. Stout Building – He thanked Kevin Allen (Skitch) for taking down the Stout building safely.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mitchell moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:44 p.m. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

ADJOURNED MEETING AT 6:44 P.M.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is to be held on August 6th, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.

RECORDED BY:

DIANE K. CLAY

CITY CLERK