Monthly Archives: June 2020

Fort Scott, Government

FS Commission Meeting Agenda for June 16

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AGENDA

FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION

FORT SCOTT CITY HALL

COMMISSION ROOM

123 SOUTH MAIN

JUNE 16, 2020

6:00 P.M.

I. ROLL CALL:

K. ALLEN P. ALLEN NICHOLS WATTS MITCHELL

II. FLAG SALUTE

III. INVOCATION: Pastor (None)

IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS:

V. CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of June 2nd, 2020 and amended minutes of May 19th, 2020.

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1265-A totaling $258,206.58.

  1. Fireworks Waiver – July 4th, 2020

  1. Parade Permit – Burke Street Parade – July 4th, 2020

  1. Request to Pay #5 – Schneider Electric – $55,016.60 – Energy Upgrade Project

  1. Request to Pay – HDR Engineering, Inc. – $15.721.43 – River Intake Project

  1. Approval of 3RK – Certificate of Pay Request #5 – MIH Housing Grant – $16,573.26.

  1. Approval to Pay – Lauber Municipal Law, LLC – May 2020 – $26,923.00

VII. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

  1. APPEARANCE:

B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 5 minute limit per citizen) Comments will not be taken during this meeting. If you have a topic to discuss not listed on the agenda, please contact a City Commissioner or send a written request to [email protected].

C. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS:

VIII. CONSIDERATION:

  1. Appointment of Appointment to Golf Course Advisory Board to replace the position held by Ken Holt

  1. Approval of Notice of Award – Conrad Fire – Ladder Truck and Change Order #1 – Reduction in $24,739.67.

  1. Approval of CDBG-CV Grant 20-CV-022 contract and for Mayor to sign all pertinent documents

  1. Approval of Administrative Agreement with Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission for CDBG-CV Grant

  1. Approval to pay retainage remaining to Ace Pipe Cleaning – $5,430.85.

  1. Approval of proposal from Midland GIS Solutions to inspect all 1,168 sewer mains in the sanitary sewer system

  1. Consideration to Update City Specification 02605-2 D – Standards and Specifications for the City manual

  1. Consideration of Code of Ethics for the City of Fort Scott

  1. Consideration of Code of Procedures for the City of Fort Scott

IX. COMMENTS:

  1. Director Updates: Allyson Turvey – Smart Growth America
  1. Commission:
  1. City Attorney:
  1. City Manager:

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

I MOVE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE

SESSION FOR ________________________________ IN ORDER TO

(see below justification)

DISCUSS ______________________________________. THE

EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE ___________ MINUTES AND THE OPEN

MEETING TO RESUME AT ________________.

Justifications for Executive Sessions:

  • Personnel matters of non-elected personnel

  • Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

  • Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative or representatives of the body or agency

  • Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

  • Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

X. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL

Business, Fort Scott

Fort Scott Garage Sale Continues Today and Tomorrow, June 12-13

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St. Mary’s Catholic Church’s annual multi-family garage sale was busy on Friday morning.

Fort Scott was busy Friday morning, June 12, with a town-wide garage sale, as residents enjoyed a mild day for shopping. The sales continue on Saturday, June 13.

This is the first town-wide garage sale of the season and is a month later than usual, due to the pandemic restrictions.

 

Fort Scott Christian Heights School had a multi-family garage sale.

Maps of sale locations can be picked up at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Office, 231 E. Wall;  Bids & Dibs, 108 S. Scott Avenue; Casey’s General Store, 2216 S. National; Pete’s,  1920 S. Main, and 603 S. National Avenue; Fort Scott Smoke Shop,1705 S. National; and  5-Corner’s Mini Mart, 1122 S. Clark.

At least three Christian organizations are having multi-family sales: St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 705 S. Holbrook; Fort Scott Christian Heights School, 1101 S.  Barbee Street;  and First Southern Baptist Church, 1818 S. Main.

Garage sale signs were located all over Fort Scott for the annual garage sale. These are at Margrave and Sixth Street.

 

To see the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce map of all the town’s garage sales, click below:

http://fortscott.com/town-wide-garage-sale-june-12-13

Opinion

Come to Jesus by Patty LaRoche

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Patty LaRoche

Some of my Florida friends—along with hundreds of others– recently were participating in an online prayer call with the leaders of their home church. To their horror, mid-prayer, pornographic images began flashing across their screens, bringing an abrupt halt to the virtual meeting. After a day of investigating, a 26-year old son of one of the participants was found responsible.

When the story was shared with me, my first response was how mortified his poor mother must be. The church leaders also recognized that, but more importantly, they saw a young man who desperately needs Jesus. They are praying for opportunities to disciple him.

Last week I wrote about the radical protestors who were looting and creating havoc in American cities, following the death of George Floyd. I said their destructive actions would do nothing to prevent racism, and that innocent business owners were being irreparably harmed/killed by the thugs’ actions.

Following that article, a visiting Steamboat Springs, Colorado, friend and business owner shared about the peaceful protest in his community–about 30 people standing on the lawn of the courthouse. And then Antifa showed up, attempting to incite a rebellion. The peaceful protestors would have none of it and sent the rebels on their unmerry way. I found myself cheering that the rebel group had their “Come to Jesus” moment, although I’m not sure they did.

But as I learned of the pornographic Bible study interruption, I began to compare the response the church leaders had to the guilty man versus my response to the protestors. I thought about how embarrassed the parents of the radicals had to be when they went to the jailhouse to bail out their sons/daughters. Putting myself in their shoes, I knew that if those were my children…well, let’s just say they would beg to stay in jail instead of going home with me.

It was an Aha! moment when I realized that, like the church leaders, I had missed the first response God wanted me to have towards the thugs: prayer that they find Jesus. Granted, that does not mean there should not be consequences, but before the porn story, I had ruled out nothing as deserved punishment: tazing; being sprayed by a firehose or tear-gassed at close range; forcing them to make restitution to the shop owners or police department (even if meant working for the rest of their lives); or coming home with me.

After all, these insurgents had chosen to act out with no regard for the innocent people involved. Just like the pornographer. Yet the church had chosen to pray for him, realizing that he is one of God’s children and God wants, more than anything, for all of us to come to know him. 1 Tim. 2:4 tells us so: (God)… wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

I would love to think that there will be stories of redemption from these vindictive protestors, that they will understand how loved they are by their Creator who sent His son to pay the price for their sinful behavior, that in the future they will take a stand to prevent others from acting as they did. I know that’s what God wants. I also know that He wants me to pray for that to happen.

Apparently, I’m needing a “Come to Jesus” moment myself.

Opinion

Pollinators Are Critical In Crop Production

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Op-Ed

Producers Use Conservation to Protect Pollinator Habitat, Boost Crop Production

By Troy Munsch, USDA NRCS State Conservationist, and David Schemm, USDA FSA State Executive Director, in Kansas

The next time snacking on almonds, add blueberries to a smoothie or eat pumpkin pie. Farmers, ranchers and private forestland owners work hard to create and maintain habitats for pollinators.

Pollinators, such as honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies, birds, bats, flies and many others, play a critical role in crop production. Without pollinators, some crops would suffer.

During the week of June 22-28, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will celebrate these iconic and crucial pollinators during National Pollinator Week. This year’s theme is “Pollinators, Plants, People and Planet.”

Thirteen years ago, the U.S. Senate unanimously designated the third week in June as National Pollinator Week to increase awareness on the importance of pollinators and the challenges many of them face, including serious population declines and habitat losses, often due to land use changes and excessive or improper pesticide use. Nearly 200 species of pollinators are considered threatened or extinct.

Pollination occurs when pollen grains are moved between two flowers of the same species, or within a single flower by wind or insects and animals. Successful pollination results in healthy fruit and fertile seeds, allowing the plants to reproduce.

The extensive and critical world of crop pollinators is a $20 billion a year industry. About 75 percent of crop plants are pollinated by billions of animals and insects every year.

Many Federal, State and local government agencies, non-government organizations and universities have launched extensive efforts to protect pollinators, especially honeybees and the Monarch butterfly. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) works closely with farmers, forest landowners and other private landowners to increase pollinator habitat in targeted areas nationwide.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), offers financial incentives to agricultural producers and private forest landowners who enhance pollinator habitat by voluntarily implementing conservation practices such as cover crops, wildflower and native plantings in buffers and areas not in production.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) also can be used to enhance habitat to protect pollinators. Administered by USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), CRP is a land conservation program which enrolled landowners remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality.

As owners and stewards of the land, producers manage their natural resources to work to achieve their production goals. They protect the rich and diverse ecology on or near their operations.

When protecting pollinators, we protect the ability to grow food. Thank you to our farmers, ranchers and private forest landowners for who offer a safe haven for pollinators and grow the products for our nation.

Whether you are a large commodity producer, a small and diverse organic producer or even a suburban homeowner, you can have an important role in saving pollinators in Kansas.

You can help protect pollinators by doing the following:

  • Plant appropriate vegetation. Use conservation practices and create habitat that sustains and enhance pollinators on the farm, forest or the yard.
  • Use pesticides, herbicides and insecticides carefully on and off the farm, ranch and private forests. Keep your operation pollinator friendly.
  • Protect flowering plants and potential pollinator nesting sites such as areas of undisturbed ground and native vegetation.

Do your part to help protect pollinators. By taking action to diversify and enhance your operation or property, it ensures that many fruits and vegetables are available and plentiful for future generations for many years to come.

For more information about pollinators and what you can do in Kansas, please contact your local USDA service center.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Government

Farm Service Nominations

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Farm Service Agency County Committee Nominations Open June 15

#LeadYourFSA and be the Voice of Farmers in Your Community

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2020 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will begin accepting nominations for county committee members on Monday, June 15, 2020. Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2020 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2020.

“I encourage America’s farmers, ranchers and forest stewards to nominate candidates to lead, serve and represent their community on their county committee,” FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce said. “There’s an increasing need for diverse representation, including underserved producers, which includes beginning, women and minority farmers and ranchers.”

Agricultural producers who participate or cooperate in an FSA program, and reside in the LAA that is up for election this year, may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee. Individuals may nominate themselves or others, and organizations, including those representing beginning, women and minority producers, also may nominate candidates.

Committee members are vital to how FSA carries out disaster programs, as well as conservation, commodity and price support programs, county office employment and other agricultural issues.

Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made of three to 11 members and typically meet once a month. Members serve three-year terms. Producers serving on FSA county committees play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of the agency.

Producers should contact their local FSA office today to find out how to get involved in their county’s election. Check with your local USDA service center to see if your LAA is up for election this year.  To be considered, a producer must sign an FSA-669A nomination form. The form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at fsa.usda.gov/elections.

Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters beginning Nov. 2, 2020. Read more to learn about important election dates.

Government

Ag Risk Coverage 2020

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June 30 Last Day to Complete Enrollment for 2020 Agriculture Risk Coverage,

Price Loss Coverage Programs

Call Today About 2020 Crop Year Eligibility

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 11, 2020 – Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2020 must do so by June 30. Although program elections for the 2020 crop year remain the same as elections made for 2019, all producers need to contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to sign a 2020 enrollment contract.

“The Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs are critical safety-net programs for farmers, helping producers weather market distortions resulting from natural disasters, trade disruptions and, this year, a pandemic,” said FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. “Contact your FSA county office today to complete enrollment before June 30. This can be done in concert with filing your acreage report and applying for other FSA programs.”

To date, more than 1.4 million ARC and PLC contracts have been signed for the 2020 crop year. This represents 89 percent of expected enrollment. FSA will send reminder postcards to producers who, according to agency records, have not yet submitted signed contracts for ARC or PLC for the 2020 crop year.

Producers who do not complete enrollment by close of business local time on Tuesday, June 30 will not be enrolled in ARC or PLC for the 2020 crop year and will be ineligible to receive a payment should one trigger for an eligible crop.

ARC and PLC contracts can be mailed or emailed to producers for signature depending on producer preference. Signed contracts can be mailed or emailed back to FSA or, arrangements can be made in advance with FSA to drop off signed contracts at the FSA county office – call ahead for local drop off and other options available for submitting signed contracts electronically.

Producers are eligible to enroll on farms with base acres for the following commodities: barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium- and short-grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat. 

More Information 

For more information on ARC and PLC including web-based decision tools, visit farmers.gov/arc-plc.

USDA Service Centers, including FSA county offices, are open for business by phone only, and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with producers by phone and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service or any other Service Center agency are required to call their Service Center to schedule a phone appointment. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

 

Visit offices.usda.gov to find location and contact information for the nearest FSA county office.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

Obituary

Obituary of Charles Lee Clark

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Charles Lee Clark

Charles Lee Clark, age 83, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at his home in Ft. Scott.

He was born June 22, 1936, in Ft. Scott, the son of Guy Clark and Minnie May Majors Clark.

Charles graduated from the Hume High School. He married Nina L. Orear on May 17, 1955, at the family farm near Foster, Missouri. Charles served with the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1958 where he was stationed in Germany. Following his military service, Charles was employed by the Johnson County Water Department. He later owned and operated his own dairy east of Hammond, Kansas, for many years. After retiring from the dairy business in the mid-1980’s, Charles began working for the Ft. Scott Water Department and later for the Bourbon County Landfill.

Charles enjoyed spending time outdoors and looking after his horse. He was a member of the West Liberty United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his son, Anthony Clark and wife, Linda, of Lebanon, Missouri and his daughter, Lozana Zimmerman, of Pittsburg, Kansas.

His wife, Nina, preceded him in death on November 8, 2010. He was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, John Zimmerman and three brothers, Joe, Kenneth and Gene Clark.

There was cremation.

Private burial will take place at a later date in the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to the West Liberty United Methodist Church 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.

Fort Scott Community College, Government

FSCC Trustees Agenda for June 15

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The Board of Trustees of Fort Scott Community College will meet in regular session on Monday,
June 15, 2020. The meeting will be held in the Heritage Room at Fort Scott Community
College.
5:00 p.m. Dinner in the Heritage Room at 5:00 p.m. followed by regular board meeting at
5:30 p.m.
THE AGENDA
5:30 ROLL CALL, 3
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
CALL TO ORDER, 4
A. Comments from the Chair, 4
CONSENT AGENDA, 5
A. Approval of Agenda, 5
B. Approval of Minutes of previous Regular Board Meeting conducted on May 18, 2020,
6
C. Approval of Treasurer’s Report, Bills, and Claims, 7
D. Approval of Personnel Actions, 5
ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Consideration of 2020-21 Meeting Dates, 38
B. Consideration of Revised 2020-21 Calendar, 39
C. Consideration of Kansas State Department of Education Migrant Education Project State
Level Activities Application, 41
D. Consideration of Proposed Continuation Agreement Between Iowa Dept. of Education
(IA DOE) And Fort Scott Community College, 52
E. Consideration of KASB Worker’s Compensation Member Participation Premium
Agreement, 53
F. Approval of Consortium Memberships and Dues, 57
G. Consideration for Disposal of Property, 59
H. Consideration of Tech Grant Purchase, 60
I. Approval of Panopto Video Platform Renewal, 67
J. Approval of CAMP Laptop Purchase, 70
ITEMS FOR REVIEW, 94
REPORTS, 95
A. Administrative Updates, 95
EXECUTIVE SESSION, 105
1
ADJOURNMENT, 106
UPCOMING CALENDAR DATES:
• June 15, 2020: Board Meeting
• August 7, 2020: In-service
• August 10, 2020: Fall semester begins
• September 2, 2020: Labor Day – Campus Closed
• November 19-24, 2020: Finals
• November 21, 2020: Graduation
• November 25 – 27, 2020: Thanksgiving Break – Campus Closed
• December 16, 2020 – January 4, 2021: Winter Break – Campus Closed
Sincerely,
John Bartelsmeyer, Chair
Alysia Johnston, President

CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
1) Attached are the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting conducted on May 18,
2020.
C. APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT, BILLS and CLAIMS
Attached are the Treasurer’s Report and the Bills and Claims Report.
D. APPROVAL OF PERSONNEL ACTIONS
1) Additions
a) Chris Riley, Assistant Football Coach, effective June 1, 2020
b) Jesse Herd, Assistant Football Coach, effective June 15, 2020
c) Elizabeth Cazares, MEP Advocate, effective July 1, 2020
d) Paulin Conde, MEP Advocate, effective July 1, 2020
e) Mayte Fuentes, MEP Advocate, effective July 1, 2020
f) Melanie Stuart Campbell, MEP Advocate and Instructional Specialist, effective July 1, 2020
g) Janet Reynolds, National PASS Coordinator and MEP Advocate Supervisor,, effective July 1, 2020
h) Yazmin Batch, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach, effective July 1, 2020

2) Separations
a) Tabitha Stults, Endowment Assistant, effective May 20, 2020
b) Michael Reynolds, Assistant Football Coach, effective May 31, 2020
c) Makaihlah Gibbs, Spirit Squad Coach, effective May 31, 2020

 

To view the full package:

Fort Scott Community College, Government

FSCC Trustees Minutes of May 18

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FORT SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE Minutes of the Board of Trustees Training, May 18, 2020

PRESENT: John Bartelsmeyer, Jim Fewins (via Zoom), Dave Elliott (via Zoom), Kirk Hart (via Zoom), Bill
Meyer (via Zoom), Robert Nelson (via Zoom)
ALSO PRESENT: Alysia Johnston, President, Juley McDaniel, Board Clerk, faculty, staff, and community
members.
Chairman Bartelsmeyer called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of
Allegiance.
COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR: Chairman Bartelsmeyer said he was glad the Board could continue to meet
through Zoom, and is looking forward to having a regular in-person meeting in June if possible.
CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Meyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote to
approve the consent agenda and addendum provided.
ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:
A. A motion was made by Meyer, seconded by Elliott, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the core
values, mission, vision, and updated strategic plan.
B. A motion was made by Elliot, seconded by Hart, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the Collection
Exhibit Loan Agreement Policy for the Gordon Parks Museum.
C. A motion as made by Hart, seconded by Nelson, and carried by unanimous vote to remove the item of
Greyhound Dorm replacement windows from the agenda.
REPORTS:
A. ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES: The Board reviewed and heard reports from the Student Services,
Athletics, Academic Affairs, Finance and Operations, and the President.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Trustees, a motion to adjourn was made at
6:24 p.m. by Elliott, seconded by Hart, and carried by unanimous vote.