Want to level up your career or need to take classes that transfer to a 4-year college? Enrollment is OPEN for the spring and summer semesters at Fort Scott Community College! Dive into a world of knowledge from the comfort of your home. Spring classes start on January 10. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to boost your skills and achieve your academic goals. Plus, did you know that most classes at FSCC transfer? Join us on the journey of learning! For more info, go to https://fortscott.edu/
HBCAT partners with Chamber to help small business owners apply for loan and grant funding
For five years, Susan and Eddie Townley sold antiques, vintage finds, and home decor in booths at markets in Louisburg and Overland Park. This year, they were ready to open their own business in a historic building in downtown Fort Scott.
They just needed a bit of capital to seal the deal. And to get that capital, they had to prepare paperwork.
For help, they turned to The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Center for Economic Growth. And on Nov. 2, their dreams were realized when the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon on Be the Light Boutique at 12 N. Main, just across the street from the Fort Scott National Historic Site.
The boutique, which is open Thursday through Sunday, provides shoppers in Fort Scott as well as visitors to the area with a choice of unique clothing, home decor, antiques, and vintage finds.
“We are so excited for them because we have been with them step by step since the beginning of their business endeavor,” said HBCAT Executive Director Rachel Carpenter.
As a result of assistance from the HBCAT’s Center for Economic Growth, the Townleys were able to apply to the Fort Scott Chamber for an e-community loan, an initiative started by Network Kansas in 2019.
“Network Kansas provides us funding that we can then loan out to businesses for start-up, expansion, or any other type of needs they have,” explained Lindsay Madison, Chamber president. “A business will work with the staff at The HBCAT and another of their partners, the Pittsburg State University Small Business Development Center, to determine cash flow projections, market research reports, and other documents.”
The applicant then makes a brief presentation to the loan committee and awaits approval or a request to go back to the drawing board. If approved, the applicant might receive anywhere from $5,000 to $45,000 at 4 percent interest for 10 years.
For Be the Light Boutique, it was a critical piece of new business ownership.
“We needed funds to purchase some final inventory and provide a cash flow to continue with improvements to a building built in 1895,” Susan said. “My husband and I have done all the work on it to date.”
“The HBCAT helped us develop a business plan and loan documents that would serve as a basis for all of these grants,” she said. “We gave them our information, and they assisted with the creation of it. It was a beautiful thing.”
For more information on e-community loans, visit fortscott.com/e-community
About The HBCAT
The mission of The HBCAT is to increase access to healthy food and physical activity, promote commercial tobacco cessation, enhance quality of life and encourage economic growth. The problems of health inequity and social injustice are complex in nature and inextricably linked to key economic indicators. A healthy workforce is a prerequisite for economic success in any industry and in all cities.
Learn more at HBCAT.org. Find HBCAT on Facebook at facebook.com/HealthyBBCo/
Carolyn Sue Morrison, age 80, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at Medicalodge of Fort Scott. She was born February 18, 1943, in Moran, KS, the daughter of Clyde and Dorothy Darlene Hunsaker Stewart. Carolyn was a very happy person. She was a wonderful cook, her specialty being fried chicken. Carolyn loved spending time with her family. She will be greatly missed.
Survivors include 2 brothers, Melvin, and Frank Stewart; 4 sisters, Anna Reagan, Coleen Barker, Vicki Rhodes, and Denise Adams; a granddaughter, Sheila Weber; a great grandson, Josef Weber; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Debbra Weber; son in law Gene Weber; 2 sisters, Avis, and Clydean Stewart; and her parents.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, November 20th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery, Blue Mound, KS. Memorials are suggested to the Carolyn Morrison Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
CITY OF FORT SCOTT
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
Unapproved Minutes of November 13, 2023 Special Meeting
The special meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held November 13, 2023 at 5:30PM in the City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners T. Van Hoecke, K. Harrington, E. Woellhof, and M. Guns were present with Mayor M. Wells.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION: T. VanHoecke led the Pledge of Allegiance and said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City, our Government and City officials.
AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Brad Matkin/City Manager, Bob Farmer/City Attorney, Lisa Lewis/City Clerk, Ben Hart/BakerTilly Finance Advisor to the City (by telephone).
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
SESSION #1 – T. VanHoecke moved that the City Commission recess in to an Executive Session to discuss personnel matters pursuant to the personnel matters of non-elected personnel exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1). In that meeting will be the (5) City Commissioners, the City Attorney, Ben Hart/City Financial Advisor (by telephone). They will recess into the City Manager’s office for (25) minutes and will resume the meeting in the Commission room at 5:57PM. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO RECESS IN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND RETURN AT 5:57PM.
APPROVED TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION
SESSION #2 – T. VanHoecke moved that the City Commission recess in to an Executive Session to discuss personnel matters pursuant to the personnel matters of non-elected personnel exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1). In that meeting will be the (5) City Commissioners, the City Attorney, Ben Hart/City Financial Advisor (by telephone). They will recess into the City Manager’s office for (20) minutes and will resume the meeting in the Commission room at 6:19PM. K. Harrington seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO RECESS IN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND RETURN AT 6:19PM.
APPROVED TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SESSION #3 – T. VanHoecke moved that the City Commission recess into an Executive Session to discuss personnel matters pursuant to the personnel matters of non-elected personnel exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1). In that meeting will be the (5) City Commissioners, City Attorney, City Manager, and Ben Hart/City Financial Advisor (by telephone). They will recess into the City Manager’s office for (30) minutes and will resume the meeting in the Commission room at 6:50PM. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND RETURN AT 6:50PM.
APPROVED TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SESSION #4 – T. VanHoecke moved that the City Commission recess into an Executive Session to discuss personnel matters pursuant to the personnel matters of non-elected personnel exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1). In that meeting will be the (5) City Commissioners, City Attorney, City Manager, and Ben Hart/City Financial Advisor (by telephone). They will recess into the City Manager’s office for (15) minutes and will resume the meeting in the Commission room at 7:26PM. K. Harrington seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND RETURN AT 7:26PM.
APPROVED TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:28PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa A. Lewis, City Clerk
Submitted by:
Lisa A. Lewis, City Clerk
CITY OF FORT SCOTT
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
The regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held November 7, 2023 at 6:00PM in the City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners T. Van Hoecke, K. Harrington, E. Woellhof, and M. Guns were present with Mayor M. Wells.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION: M. Wells led the Pledge of Allegiance and said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City, our Government and City officials.
AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Brad Matkin/City Manager, Bob Farmer/City Attorney, Jason Dickman/Earles Engineering, Jason Pickert/Chief of Police, Diane Striler, Rachel Carpenter, Lindsey McNeil, Kylie Paulsen, Angela Simon, Nate Lyons, Bailey Lyons, Dwight Sprouls, Robert Harrington, Jody Hoener, Darrell Pulliam
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
APPROVED THE AMENDED AGENDA
CONSENT AGENDA:
APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Diane Striler – request to establish a Common Consumption Ordinance for the City and to be ready for Christmas on the Bricks beginning November 30, 2023.
APPROVED THE CITY TO ESTABLISH A COMMON CONSUMPTION AREA ORDINANCE FOR THE DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT, EXTENDING THAT AREA TO INCLUDE HOLMTOWN PUB AND RIVERFRONT PARK, AND THE EXCLUSION OF ALL FEDERAL BUILDINGS, THE CREATIVITY MUSEUM AND THE BOUNDARY OF THE MEDIAN IN SKUBITZ PLAZA AS INDICATED ON THE MAP SUBMITTED FOR THE PERIOD OF (1) YEAR.
OLD BUSINESS:
Consideration of Demolition Bids (Bid No. 2-2023) – 4 S. National and 10 S. National –
APPROVED TO ACCEPT THE BID OF $94,396.00 FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURES ON 4 S. NATIONAL AND 10 S. NATIONAL.
Consideration of Housing Development – Patrick Wood: Tabled from 10/17/2023. P. Wood asked the City for incentives that are required for his grant application for his development of (6) duplexes.
APPROVED UP TO $85,000.00 OF IN-KIND WORK INCLUDING WATER, SEWER, DEMO AND ASSOCIATED DUMP FEES, DIRT WORK, SITE WORK, WAIVING OF PERMITS, EXPEDITING PERMITS FROM THE CITY AND EXPEDITING SERVICES FROM THE CITY AND WILL GO OUT FOR A ZERO DOLLAR IRB BOND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT.
APPEARANCES:
Rachel Carpenter, Kylie Paulsen and Lindsey McNeil addressed the Commission to increase the awareness of issues in the community, encourage collaboration through all sectors, educate the community on the role of Community Health Workers and resources available through the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) and Local Health Equity Action Team (LHEAT) and introduce the implementation the grant program Communities Organizing to Promote Equity (COPE).
The agenda’s order of Appearances was amended by request.
Bailey Lyons and Meredith Tucker addressed the Commission on behalf of the Splash Pad Committee to request permission to work with the City and Earles Engineering for their upcoming projects in 2024. The Committee received grants from the Timken Foundation ($85,000.00) and Walmart ($20,000.00) to be used for shade structures and construction of an ADA-compliant restroom.
Rachel French, Bailey Lyons, Angel Simon and Nate Lyons addressed the Commission to request that the City enter into a Memo of Understanding (MOU) with Eighteen65, LLC and provide a financial subsidy of $100,000.00 ($50,000.00) per building at 10 and 12 S. Main to support the renovation and operation of the kitchen incubator program. Jody Hoener (HBCAT) and Robert Harrington (REDI) spoke in support of the project.
APPROVED $100,000.00 TO EIGHTEEN65 AS THE PHYSICAL AGENT FOR FUNDS TO BE USED BY THE KITCHEN COLLABORATIVE, THAT AN INVOICE AND UPDATES BE PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSION.
Rachel French – Certificate of Appropriateness for The Christian Learning Center at 6 S. Main and 8 S. Main – Recommended by the Design Review Board on 11/6/2023.
APPROVE THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS SUBMITTED AND RECOMMENDED BY THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD ON 11/6/2023.
Kendall Schoenrock (not present) – Certificate of Appropriateness for DCF Parking Lot at 4 S. and 10 S. National. The Design Review Board recommended option K-8 to amend the current Lease Agreement he has with the City that would address concerns regarding diagonal parking.
APPROVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE PARKING LOT LEASE AGREEMENT TO REFLECT OPTION K8 THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD ON 11/6/2023.
APPROVED TO ACCEPT THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE BUILDING PLANS FOR THE FUTURE DCF BUILDING TO OCCUPY 4 S. AND 10 S. MAIN SUBMITTED TO AND RECOMMENDED BY THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD ON 11/6/2023.
NEW BUSINESS:
Consideration of Interview Room recording system and case management software – $11,467.00 – J. Pickert requested that the Commission approve the system as it was budgeted.
APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF THE INTERVIEW ROOM RECORDING SYSTEM AND CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR $11,467.00.
Consideration of reappointment of Frank Halsey to Parks Advisory Board Recommended by the Parks Advisory Board on 10/26/2023 –
APPROVED TO REAPPOINT FRANK HALSEY, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD ON 10/26/2023, FOR ANOTHER (3) YEAR TERM ON THE PARK ADVISORY BOARD.
Consideration to accept contract with Hofer & Hofer for the Gunn Park Shower House and Restroom –
The Parks Advisory Board recommended to the Commission to approve the proposal/contract with Hofer & Hofer for a shower house ($87,283.00) and restroom facility ($41,900.00) at Gunn Park on 10/26/2023. It was understood by the board and the Commission that the City’s sewer work would not be complete by April and waste would need to be manually removed until the necessary infrastructure could be completed. The money would come from the Parks Fund.
APPROVED TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL/CONTRACT FROM HOFER & HOFER FOR THE SHOWER HOUSE ($87,283.00) AND THE RESTROOM FOR ($41,900.00).
Consideration to accept a bid for (22) window replacements for Shelter houses 2 and 6 as recommended by the Parks Advisory Board on 10/26/2023 – Three quotes were supplied: 1) D&J Glass (224 State St) for $12,514.83; 2) Peerless (not stated) and 3) Home Depot for $8976.00.
APPROVED TO TABLE THE DECISION UNTIL 11/21/2023.
Consideration to approve and pay Sprouls Construction – Project 22-031B – Fort Scott Pavilion – Change Order No. 1 – Increased cost of foundation piers for $16,000.00 –
APPROVED CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 FOR THE FORT SCOTT PAVILION (PROJECT NO. 22-031B) TO PAY SPROULS CONSTRUCTION $16,000.00.
Consideration of Lake Fort Scott boat ramp bids – One bid from Marberry Concrete was submitted. K. Harrington confirmed that the Lake Advisory Board was in favor of the repair. B. Matkin confirmed the money would come from the Lake Fund.
APPROVED TO PROCEED WITH THE PROPOSAL FROM MARBERRY CONCRETE FOR $66,750.00.
E Woellhof left the room.
Consideration of City Employee holiday bonus of $150.00 submitted by B. Matkin – Funds to come from the individual departments.
APPROVED THE 2023 CITY EMPLOYEE HOLIDAY BONUS OF $150.00.
Consideration of the 2024 City of Fort Scott Holiday Schedule –
APPROVED TO TABLE THE DECISION OF THE 2024 CITY OF FORT SCOTT HOLIDAY SCHEDULE TO THE 11/21/2023 MEETING.
Consideration of Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID) proposal with Gilmore & Bell – M. Guns motioned to move forward with the creation of Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts and Downtown Second-Story Reinvestment Housing Incentive Districts. E. Woellhof seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CREATION OF REINVESTMENT HOUSING INCENTIVE DISTRICTS AND DOWNTOWN SECOND-STORY REINVESTMENT HOUSING INCENTIVE DISTRICTS.
Consideration of South Industrial Park Waterline Project Inspection Proposal by Earles Engineering & Inspection for $76,383.00 –
APPROVED EARLES ENGINEERING & INSPECTION’S PROPOSAL OF $76,383.00, TO COME FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) FUND, FOR THE INSPECTION OF THE SOUTH INDUSTRIAL PARK WATERLINE PROJECT.
Consideration to accept the resignation of City Manager Brad Matkin –
APPROVED TO TABLE THE DECISION TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION OF CITY MANAGER BRAD MATKIN TO THE 12/19/2023 CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
Consideration of a Tourism Rubric – T. VanHoecke moved to table the decision on the submitted Tourism Rubric until 11/21/2023 and that Commissioners send their recommendations to the City Manager for consideration. K. Harrington seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO TABLE THE DECISION ON THE SUBMITTED TOURISM RUBRIC UNTIL 11/21/2023 AND THAT COMMISSIONERS SEND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR CONSIDERATION.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 10:07PM
Next Meeting:
WORK SESSION – Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 5:00PM – Small Business Incentive Program
REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING – Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at 6:00PM
Submitted by:
Lisa A. Lewis, City Clerk
A special meeting of the Uniontown City Council will be held at City Hall on November 27 at 6 p.m.
____ Jess Ervin ____ Danea Esslinger ____ Amber Kelly ____ Josh Hartman ____ Bradley Stewart
Discuss ordinance regulating council pay
Motion by _____________, Second by __________, Approved ______, to enter into executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel exception, KSA 75-4319(b)(1), in order to discuss performance and job duties of non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at ____________.
Leland Eugene “John” Bolden, age 79, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at his home. He was born December 2, 1943, in Ft. Scott, the son of Arthur Shrakes and Violet Bolden.
Following high school, John enlisted in the United States Army. The Army became a career for John and he served for twenty years.
John married Barbara Ann Audilet on November 29, 1966, at Lowell, Arizona.
After retirement from the military, John and his family moved to Arizona where John began his second career as a copper miner. He worked as an equipment operator in the copper mines for another twenty years. John retired from mining in 2003. He and Barbara lived for a short time in Iowa before relocating to Ft. Scott, Kansas partly because Ft. Scott had better fishing. In addition to fishing, John also enjoyed hunting and working on vehicles as long as they weren’t Chevys.
Survivors include two daughters, Laura Barenthin of Ft. Scott and Barbara Ann Spinazzola (Tony) of Mesa, Arizona; six grandchildren, Craig Bolden, Jasmine Tomasi (Ethan), Lillian Barenthin, Alex Bolden, Sierra Spinazzola and Caitlyn Spinazzola and four great-grandchildren, Tessa Goddard, Auryana Bolden, Jonathan Bolden and Emilia Barenthin. Also surviving are three brothers, William “Bill” Fountain of Ft. Scott, Richard Fountain of Joplin, Missouri and Randy Fountain, Manhattan, Kansas and three sisters, Naomi Hull of Groves, Texas and Myrtle Hull and Patty Hathaway, both of Ft. Scott.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara on July 15, 2020. He was also preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Thelma Lewis.
Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, November 21st at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Monday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project 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.
Several local people are donating their artwork, and supporting the local arts council in fundraising.
The Bourbon County Arts Council invites the public to join them in celebrating creativity in our community at this year’s “Bad Art by Good People” Fundraising Event and Auction.
The event is Thursday, November 16, at 7 p.m. at the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, 2108 Horton Street on the Campus of Fort Scott Community College.
The first “Bad Art by Good People” Event was in 2013. This is where local people try their hand at art and then offer that art to be sold to benefit the Bourbon County Arts Council.
This year’s auction will be the 6th year, with 23 artists participating.
“Since that first auction, 120 community members have donated their time and creative energy (with a bit of humility) to this project, where individuals are given a canvas and asked to create an original piece of art,” Deb Halsey, BCAC President said.
The BCAC Mentoring Workshops provide inspiration and technical advice to those who are creating the art, with the help of local artists.
This year’s artists include Caroline Barnes, Kelly Barr, Nedra Barr, Donna Bowman, Dave Brezik, Rilie Creollo, Kathy Dancer, Kate Freeman, Trent Freeman, Rachel French, Stewart Gulager, Rob Harrington, Ronda Hassig, Krysta Hulbert, Bobbi Kemna, Megan Malone, David Martin, Madelyn Martin, Matt Park, Carrie Southwell, Joy Self, Diane Striler, and Billy Webster.
Artificers Gallery owners, Kate and Trent Freeman, have also donated a series of “Pendulum Paintings” that were created during their 2023 Kids Camp. Proceeds from the auction of these paintings will be donated to Bourbon County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).
At 7 p.m., the event will begin with art viewing and voting for this year’s “Best Bad Artist”.
The winner of this award will receive a certificate for $50 in Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Bucks, which can be spent at any of over 60 local retailers.
Local auctioneer Marty Reed will conduct the art sale at 7:30 p.m. and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
“Bad Art by Good People is one way that the BCAC attempts to fulfill its mission to ‘foster, promote and increase the knowledge, appreciation, and practice of the arts’ in our community,” said Halsey. “The BCAC also supports local students, by donating annually to Project Art at Fort Scott Middle School and providing scholarships to high school seniors in Bourbon County who will be pursuing art-related majors in college.”
“This year, the BCAC has also made contributions to the Gordon Parks Celebration, as well as the First Kansas Colored Infantry Mural,” she said. “They have also hosted two Patio Concerts at Crooner’s Restuarant and are scheduled to host a Membership Drive Concert and Dinner in February 2024, headlining the musical group “Wednesdays at Herman’s” which features singer Summer Buerge Timperley, daughter of local artist Elaine Buerge, and Steve Buerge.”
The Bourbon County Arts Council is comprised of the following members: Deb Halsey, President; Breann Eden, Vice-President; Terri Floyd, Treasurer; and Steve Floyd, Secretary; as well as Elaine Buerge, Trent Freeman, Justin Meeks, Kelly Nelson, Robin Whitlock, Chris Woods, and Vicki Wright. Deb Anderson graciously served as board president for 23 years, Halsey said.
“Come out and enjoy an evening of original art, and cast your vote for this year’s ‘Best Bad Artist’,” she said.
