The Fort Scott Planning Commission will meet on Monday, May 10th, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to consider a change of zoning from R-1 (Residential) to C-1 (Commercial) for the property at 124 S. Judson Street; a change of zoning from A-G (Agricultural) to M-U (Mixed Use) for the property at 2127 Jayhawk Road; and a change of zoning from R-1 (Residential) to I-1 (Industrial) for the property at 310 N. National Avenue.
This meeting is open to the public. This meeting will be made available via the City’s youtube channel at City of Fort Scott.
Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission to hold webinar series for military artists
TOPEKA – The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) will present a virtual Artist INC Express workshop for military servicemembers, veterans and their family/caregivers living in Kansas who want to explore career options in creative arts industries.
The Artist INC Express workshop will introduce Kansas military members and veterans to career options in the creative arts sector. These highly interactive sessions will provide resources and an understanding of numerous career pathways in arts professions. Workshop sections include writing about your work, building a personal brand, goal setting and more.
“KCAIC specializes in high-quality professional development programs, and this particular workshop will provide an incredible opportunity for our military and veteran community in Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “Their experiences and perspectives are welcome and needed in creating meaningful, expressive art that enriches communities and lives. I strongly urge military servicemembers, veterans and their families to participate in this valuable and interesting workshop to discover and explore ways to engage in the arts industry.”
Artist INC Express is sponsored by KCAIC in partnership with the Arts Council of Johnson County and the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs at Kansas State University.
“The Artist INC program has a proven track record of connecting creatives in all disciplines to the resources and networks necessary to build a successful practice,” KCAIC Director Peter Jasso said. “This workshop will provide critical skills to members of the military community who wish to pursue a career in the creative sector, build professional relationships, and continue service to their community through personal experience and creative expression.”
The workshops will be facilitated by experienced Artist INC peer professionals Erin McGrane, Chris Dahlquist and Erica Iman. Participants will have access to networking opportunities in discussions and activities with the artists and facilitators.
This 3-day workshop is for veterans, military servicemembers and their family/caregivers living in Kansas. Registration is required, however, admission to the workshop is free. All participants must be at least 18 years old and attend all three days. Seats are limited to 20.
Priority registration ends at midnight on Sunday, May 16.
The workshop will be delivered via Zoom and will be highly interactive. Registrants must have a microphone and camera-enabled computer or iPad/smart tablet or smart phone, along with a strong internet connection.
For additional questions, please contact Kathy Liao at [email protected]
To learn more about the KCAIC webinar for military artists, click here.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses.
Welcome: Twelve members representing twelve agencies joined the Zoom meeting. Billie Jo Drake shared that the Coalition Board was able to approve 31 applications for the family swim pass program. She also shared that the Coalition Board had received a $6,000 donation from the Key Charitable Trust to be used for the swim pass program and rent/utility assistance. The number of requests for rent/utility assistance has been down the past few months, no doubt, due to the government programs for Covid.
Member Introductions and Announcements:
Holly, Healthy Home Start: There will be a drive-through community baby shower on May 12 beginning a 10:00 a.m. at the health department, 524 S. Lowman. Holly can be reached at 417-661-0308 for additional information.
Elizabeth, Feeding Families: This program continues to serve meals to approximately 300 people each Wednesday evening.
Sandy, RSVP: She has enrolled several volunteers from the High Rise; she is in need of service projects. She does have Hallmark bags available.
Nancy, American Red Cross: Red Cross needs volunteers. Information and sign-up options can be found on the Red Cross website.
Allen, Compassionate Ministries: He has been able to help a number of people, including two Covid cases, with housing. He has also received a large donation of queen-sized bedding that needs to be disbursed to those who are in need.
Mandy, Healthy Families: They have programs for children aged 3 months to five years; she will be starting a parent support group later this month.
John, Thrive Allen County: Signs are all ready for the Prairie Spirit Trail – the safest way to bike from Fort Scott to Iola. He will be working to place signs soon.
Dena, DCCCA: DCCCA will be offering a summer youth conference for middle and high school students June 1-15; sessions will be student-led. May 9-15 is Substance Abuse Awareness week. This month’s Third Thursday Prevention topic will be “Marijuana and updated Legislation.”
Christine, Southeast Kansas Works: The Pittsburg office is now open with access by way of a doorbell. They are closed from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. for lunch. Christine is also continuing to be in Fort Scott at the BWERC building one day each week. She will be here Friday this week and then begin coming on Mondays.
Cinda, Red Cross: The recent blood drive in Fort Scott was not as large as usual; Red Cross now requires appointments to be made online, and calling only comes from the office in Wichita. The next drive in Fort Scott will be held in June.
Alice, SEKCAP Head Start: The home-based program works with children from prenatal through five; there is currently no waiting list.
Program (no programs for Zoom meetings)
Open Forum: Following discussion, the consensus was that the June 2 meeting will be a hybrid meeting. We will provide the Zoom link; in addition, we will meet in person at the community room at the High Rise, 315 Scott Avenue.
Nancy mentioned that the Good ‘Ole Days celebration will be held this year in Fort Scott.
Adjournment: Next General Membership meeting will be June 2, 2021.
In May 2021, Nu Grille Restaurant is celebrating its 15-year anniversary at the downtown Fort Scott location under the ownership of John & Cindy Bowman.
On Monday, May 10, Rob Harrington will begin as the newly created position of Bourbon County Economic Director.
Harrington, 40, has 13 years of experience in economic development and civil investment.
Currently living in Houston, MO, Harrington is the economic director there. He has a wife and four children.
The Harrington family. Submitted photo.From left: Ostin, his wife Kathryn, Rob, Braley, Hunter, and Avery.
“His office will be in the Landmark building,” Gregg Motley, chairman of Bourbon County Economic Development Council, said. “That may be temporary, but we would like him to take ownership of a final domicile.”
Harrington has a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Phoenix in business and has been a retail company business manager and in politics, he said.
He has a master’s degree in economic development practicum and certification from the Advanced Economic Development Leadership Program sponsored by the University of Clemson, Texas Christian U., Southern Mississippi U., and New Mexico U.
He is currently finishing a master’s degree in public administration from Park University, based in Parkville, Mo.
“I am facilitating a rural economic development class in the Kansas City portion, for the Advanced Economic Development Leadership Program.”
For Harrington, the best part of his job is “Knowing if I do my job right, the person with no job, can get a job and provide for their family.”
Challenges of Economic Development
The number of members in a family has decreased, which for this generation means fewer workers, Harrington said.
People his parent’s age are retiring, and there are not as many people in the working-age group, he said.
“Also in rural areas, is ‘brain drain’ in the 1990s and early 2000s,” Harrington said. This is where young people left their rural areas to find higher-level wages.
That is changing because of quality of life issues like cost of living and crime, and many in urban areas are seeking smaller towns, he said.
“And in my opinion, the COVID-19 Pandemic has changed the way people look at being in densely populated areas,” he said.
Work ethic also comes into play.
There is a work ethic problem when you can stay at home and receive money, he said.
“There will still be some who would live off the system,” he said.
Harrington has been president of the University of Missouri Extension Board and treasurer for the Houston Community Foundation, along with several other groups in his community, he said.
“My kids are active in our school, where we live,” he said.
In his spare time, he likes to hunt and fish and is a Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Cardinals fan.
Harrington will have a forty-hour workweek, Motley said
“We are not disclosing salary, as we are a private entity,” Motley said. “Funding is from a budget from the county (Bourbon County Commission).
Safehouse Crisis Center is continuing to accept victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking and Human Trafficking into our shelter.
If you are working with or know anyone in need of shelter, please contact 620-231-8251.
If you are working with or know anyone who does not want shelter but would like outreach services, please contact 620-231-8692.
Some of our outreach services include protection order assistance, Court accompaniment, safety planning, support groups, individual counseling, therapy, information on victim rights/victimization, helping navigate through the systems, etc.
If you have any questions about our services or would like more information, call our office number at 620-231-8692.
All of our services are completely free, and are ready to assist anyone 24/7.
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR
MEETING OF
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL
CITY COMMISSION MEETING ROOM
123 SOUTH MAIN STREET
APRIL 20, 2021
6:00 P.M.
Roll Call:
K. Allen P. Allen R. Nichols L. Watts J. Jones
II. Flag Salute:
Invocation: Led by: Associate Pastor Brian Rhoades, Grace Baptist Tabernacle
Proclamations/Recognitions:
Consent Agenda:
Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of April 20th, 2021 and special meeting of April 27th, 2021 and amended minutes of April 6th, 2021.
Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1287-A totaling $270,376.88.
Certificate of Appropriateness – Unsung Heroes Park sign murals
Consideration to Pay – HDR Engineering, Inc. – $7,335.00-River Intake Project
Approval of Cereal Malt Temporary Beverage License – Good Ol’ Days – Beer Tent – June 4th & 5th, 2021
Public Comment:
(Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at Commission discretion)
City Manager Reports and Comments
Director Update: Allyson Turvey-Smart Growth/T-Mobile Update
Old Business: None
Appearances: Emilie Zalfini – NLC Presentation
Shaun O’Brien – Requests for closure of streets for Good Ol’ Days event:
Old Fort Blvd. from Wall Street to National Avenue
Main Street from Skubitz Plaza to Third Street
Scott Street from Wall Street to Second Street
Wall Street from National to Scott
First Street from National to Scott Street
Second Street from National to Scott Street
Use of Memorial Hall for Baby Contest and Talent Extravaganza
Heritage Park at corner of First and Main
Parking lot behind Heritage Park
Parking lot at corner of Third and Main
Parking lot at Second and Scott
Parking lot at Wall and Scott
Parking lot at Wall and alley between Main and Scott
Parking lot between Memorial Hall and the Library
Parking lot between National and Block House (Carnival will begin setting up here on Tuesday, June 2nd)
Parking lot between Old Fort Blvd. and H & H Realty Agency (Carnival will begin setting up here on Tuesday, June 2nd)
Old Fort Blvd – South side from National to alley (Carnival will begin setting up here on Tuesday, June 2nd)
Skubitz Plaza – (No special set up for event this year, but need Old Fort Blvd closed when tents go up Wednesday on east bound from Main. All closed Thursday and Friday.
New Business:
Consideration of Conditional Use Permit – 10 N National – Allow residential living on the first floor
Free Friday Night Concerts are sponsored by the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce and coordinated by Ralph Carlson. The event is usually at First and Main Streets, Fort Scott. In case of inclement weather, the event is moved to indoor venues.
Each Friday evening at the Heritage Pavilion in downtown Fort Scott live music performances are offered to the community from 7 to 8 p.m.
“This week’s featured artist will be David Prickett on guitar and vocal,” Ralph Carlson, event organizer, said. “David made his career in Alaska, moving back to Deerfield Missouri upon retiring. David has a wide range of music, from gospel, Hymns, classic country, and old standards. David has been a great supporter of our Chamber of Commerce music series and it is a real pleasure to get him back.”
“In addition, another regular contributor will be Floyd Feezell, a local native who made a career in California and Washington states,” Carlson said. “Floyd has been a regular at the pavilion since his retirement and return to the area. Floyd also does a mixture of music including hymns, classic country traditional and gospel”.
In the event of bad weather, the event will move to the Common Grounds Coffee Shop, 12 E. Wall Street.
Those attending are asked to bring lawn chairs as seating is limited.
From front to back are Jaylisha Montanez, Giancarlo Montanez, and Jose Montanez, the three new barbers in Fort Scott. Mayra Montez stands beside her husband, Jose. In the barber seat is Jose Montanez Jr.A view of the inside of Fort Scott Barbershop, 118 E. Wall.
The Montanez family will soon open their new barbershop at 118 E. Wall.
They are waiting on a few items to complete the shop and plan on opening in the next few weeks.
Jose Montanez is father to the other barbers: his daughter, Jaylisha Montanez, and son, Giancarlo Montanez. Jose’s wife, Mayra does bookkeeping for the business “and everything else,” Jose said.
For 20 years the family has had a barbershop in Overland Park, operating six shops altogether, Mayra said.
“Jose won an award for best barbershop in the midwest and the Trailblazer Award of Kansas City,” she said. “Jose started training other barbers. We specialize in straight razors. It gives a clean, direct shave to the face, that started getting people’s attention.”
Razor cuts are what the Montanez family is known for in Overland Park.Jose Montanez demonstrates a razor cut on his son Giancarlo.
“It is an old fashion barbershop with hot towels and hot lather for our VIP treatment,” Mayra said. “But also all the trending hairstyles.”
The cost for a haircut is $20 and $30 for the VIP Treatment, which includes a beard cut with a hot towel and hot lather, Jose said.
There are posters of 180 men’s hairstyles on the wall of the barbershop, Jose said. “But we can also do custom hairstyles.”
“If you bring your kid in for a first haircut, they get a certificate with a piece of the hair and their name, date, and the signature of the barber,” Mayra said.
Their hours will be Tuesday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Their first day of business, instead of a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony, will be a day of free haircuts for City of Fort Scott personnel: which includes police officers, firemen, city office, EMTs.
“Following the honoring of Fort Scott employees, the shop will be open to the public,” Mayra said.
“We are making vouchers, so if the city employees can’t come on that day, they can still come and get the VIP treatment,” she said.
“Being Puerto Rican…we know how to work with all hair,” Mayra said. “That has helped us be so diversified in the city. Anybody can come and get a great haircut experience.”
Fort Scott City Manager Jeremy Frazier was in the shop on May 3 to welcome the new business.
Fort Scott City Manager Jeremy Frazier, right, welcomed Joses Montanez, to Fort Scott on May 3 outside the new barbershop.
When people are looking for a new town to reside in, they look for the basics: housing, transportation, schools, health care… but also personal care, such as barbers, Frazier said. “I feel like this shop will help add diversity and offer people with different kinds of hair a place for a haircut.”
The Montanez family purchased the storefront at 118 E. Wall from Dean and Marlene Gettler.
Former building owners Dean and Marlene Gettler stop in the Fort Scott Barbershop on May 3 to view the building remodel.
The Gettler’s would often have coffee and people-watch from the storefront, they were told by their realtor, Barbara Albright.
Realtor Barb Albright, left talks with Mayra Montanez on May 3 at the new barbershop.
So the Montanez’s have installed a coffee station in the shop, with free coffee, and a table to sit and have the coffee.
“We started a coffee station, with Puerto Rico, Brazilian and American coffee, so the Gettlers can come for coffee, along with patrons, and can have a free cup of coffee,” Mayra said.
Jose and Mayra have purchased a home on Judson, Jaylisha a home on Main Street and Giancarlo is looking to purchase a home in Fort Scott, as well.
~April receipts show $91.3 million more than estimated~
TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly announced Kansas saw a $91.3 million, or 10.2%, growth over the estimated tax receipt with $982.4 million in total tax collections during the month of April. That is $404.3 million, or 69.9%, better than last year. This increase is due, in part, to businesses having opened back up compared to the same month last year.
“Our April tax collection numbers are encouraging, but we must maintain fiscally-responsible policies as we continue to recover from COVID-19 to ensure our continued growth,” said Governor Laura Kelly.
With federal stimulus money, federal tax refunds, and state tax refunds getting into the pockets of Kansans, retail sales and compensating use tax collections were more than the estimate. Retail sales tax collections were $236.5 million; a 9.5%, or $20.5 million, growth from the estimate. Compensating use tax collections were $59.2 million; up $13.3 million, or 29.0%, for the month.
In addition to changing consumer purchasing patterns, another contributing factor to the increase in compensating use tax collections is the fact that more out-of-state businesses are registering with the state to collect and remit taxes that are due and owing.
Individual income tax collections are $26.5 million, or 5.8%, more than the estimate with $487.3 million collected. Corporate income tax collections were $152.8 million; a 23.9%, or $29.4 million growth from the estimate.
To view a complete breakdown of April tax receipts, click here.
