Brick streets took up much of the Fort Scott City Commission’s meeting on Oct. 20, which ran nearly three and a half hours, though the commission’s biggest decision of the night was about solar panels. Commissioners voted 3-1 to build a 225-kilowatt solar system at the water treatment plant, committed $24,000 to the regional transit service for its 2027-28 program year, and put off a sale of lake lots and a $558,564 sewer-cleaner purchase until Nov. 3.

Commission President Julie Buchta presided. Mayor Kathryn Salsbury was absent and sent a statement that City Attorney Bob Farmer read into the record. Commissioner Tim Van Hoecke took part by phone because he was on a work trip.

A “dig once” plan for Crawford Street

Former commissioner Pete Allen presented what he called the Crawford Street 7 Block Infrastructure Demonstration Corridor, covering Crawford from 6th Street north to Oak Street. The city would replace sewer and water lines first, then dig out the clay and lay a new rock base before putting any surface on top.

Over the past seven years, Allen said, “we’ve had 597 water leaks in Fort Scott.” (A handout in his packet puts water main breaks over the same period at 395.) He said the city has about $9 million in its street, sewer and water funds since it stopped using Charter Ordinance 31, that the water department’s budget has grown from $300,000 six years ago to “well over a million and a half,” and that the street crew has grown from three workers to 18. He estimated that 50% to 60% of the bricks could not be relaid, and noted that a state-required plan for replacing lead service lines is due next November. (Allen has also laid out his case in letters to FortScott.biz on street repair methods and the city’s infrastructure funds.)

City Manager Brad Matkin said a rough estimate by the city’s Bill Lemke put the cost for the seven blocks at “roughly around $900 to a million just for water and sewer.” “The cost scares me,” Matkin said.

Commissioner Matthew Wells said new water lines should go outside the pavement, as KDOT recommends; Matkin said KDOT has no rule against putting them under the street. Wells came back saying that it is the KDOT recommendation not put utilities in the street, though it’s not policy.   Wells also said the two-inch galvanized mains on the east side should come first. Bill Lemke said most of the city’s recent main breaks have been on those two-inch lines. Commissioner Tracy Dancer asked Matkin to schedule work sessions after the holidays. Van Hoecke suggested one before the Nov. 3 meeting, but Dancer and Wells noted that is Election Day, so the date was set for Nov. 17.

Residents speak up for the bricks

Most of the residents who spoke defended the brick streets. Sarah Ellis said asphalt has to be replaced about every 15 years and that with bricks, “we long-term are going to save money.” Martha Jane Gentry told commissioners, “The decision that you make regarding our brick streets will last far longer than your tenure on this commission.” Denise Doherty asked the city to expand its historic brick street district, offered to serve on the brick street committee, and suggested a trip to Lawrence, which has been restoring its brick streets since 2010. She said she had read that 80% of that work was paid for with government transportation grants.

Charles Gentry, who serves on the city’s Street Advisory Board, said that when Allen presented a citywide version of the plan to that board on Oct. 5, the estimate was $1 million for the 97 blocks of Ward 1, or $7 million for the city. “Well, now I’m hearing that seven blocks will be $1 million,” he said.

Ray Streeter was the exception. “I hate to say it, but I hate brick streets,” he said. He also asked again for center striping on a road with no shoulders near the community college.

Eddy Street and the mayor’s statement

Matkin said city crews replaced about 520 feet of two-inch galvanized water line on Eddy Street earlier this year, which under the city’s brick street policy means the street between 6th and 8th has to be restored. His options ran from a full brick street to six-inch asphalt or concrete with a brick crosswalk. Van Hoecke said the estimate for a full brick restoration would take about half of the city’s $2 million street budget; Wells said two other cities’ figures pointed to $570,000 to $800,000. The commission agreed to seek bids.

In her statement, Salsbury asked that both street items be received as information only, that any change to the brick street rules in Chapter 12.12 be tabled, and that the city first get independent engineering and life-cycle studies, a written city attorney opinion, and comment from the State Historic Preservation Office. “My expectation is that the brick should stay unless a sound independent study shows otherwise,” the statement said.

Solar at the water plant

Daniel Zywietz of SEK Solar, who came to the commission in August with a proposal for several city buildings, narrowed it to one site: panels on the ground and on the concrete reservoir at the water treatment plant, with a small battery backup to carry the plant through power dips. He put the cost at about $550,000, half of it covered by a federal direct payment, for a net cost to the city of about $270,000 and savings of about $30,000 a year. That is roughly an eight-year payback and about a 13% annual return, he said, compared with about 3% on the wastewater fund’s CD. He said the system would need to be running by the end of 2027 to qualify for the federal money.

Matkin said power surges damage equipment at the plant and that it is where solar would help most. Wells moved to go ahead, with the city lending the money to itself from the wastewater fund at 1% interest. The motion passed 3-1. Van Hoecke voted no, saying he still had reservations.

Transit, lake lots and downtown parking

The commission agreed to sign a letter of support and a letter committing $24,000 to the public transportation program run by SEK-CAP, the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program, for the year beginning July 1, 2027. Transportation director Scott Christiansen said the service runs in Bourbon County Monday, Wednesday and Friday and expects a little over 1,200 riders this year, up from a little over 1,100 in 2025, about half of them disabled or elderly. Asked about Medicaid money, the agency said none of the state’s ride brokers has yet requested a ride. SEK-CAP said the county has indicated it will not contribute money. Before the vote, Van Hoecke asked whether Dancer still serves on the agency’s board and suggested abstaining, since it is not a city-appointed seat. “I serve on that board because I’m an elected official representing this community,” Dancer said, and voted yes.

Matkin asked to start selling five surveyed lots at Fort Scott Lake to help pay future costs of the arena project. Diane Striler, a lake lot owner and real estate agent, said the lots would narrow the area where high-speed boats run. She urged the city instead to collect the lake’s boating fees, rent out equipment, add campsites and bring back the Lake Advisory Board. Leroy Kruger, who oversees the lake, said patrols and permit sales are up and that he plans to propose limits on boat size and speed and on wake boats, which he said are damaging the docks. He said he would try to have a study ready by the next meeting. The commission tabled the sale to Nov. 3 on a 4-0 vote.

Other business

• Commissioners discussed complaints about the downtown two-hour parking limit but took no action. Buchta favored permits for construction parking and Van Hoecke suggested a small fee for them, Wells asked Matkin to look into card-reader parking meters, and Kruger said enforcement has to apply to everyone equally.
• The commission tabled the purchase of a Vactor 2100i sewer cleaner to Nov. 3 so used equipment can be considered.
• In public hearings on four properties owned by Max Fanning, the commission granted 30-day continuances for him to demolish the buildings at 507 W. 18th St. and 418 S. Barbee and directed repair of 416 S. Barbee within 60 days. The commission also acted on 611 W. 5th St., where Fanning said the house has a new metal roof and electric installed. He has the supplies to replace the windows and porches, as well as paint it. They gave him 30 days to get the improvements done.
• First readings were held, with no vote, on Ordinance 3802 codifying city ordinances and Ordinances 3803 and 3804 updating the Standard Traffic Ordinance and Uniform Public Offense Code.
• Farmer said the city has received a clean title policy on the Moody Building and has prepared a quitclaim deed to 124 South Main LLC, the company of Al Niece. (Earlier coverage.)
• City engineer Jason Dickman said the C-CLIP project is still waiting on a BNSF railroad permit and an insurance certificate.

Commissioner comments

Van Hoecke said he wants the commission to revisit the brick street policy. Dancer asked staff to notify lake lot residents about encroachments on city land, to update the ordinance on skateboards and scooters, and to look again at reinstating the Lake Advisory Board; Matkin said staff will bring a notice letter to the next meeting. Wells defended the nine-year street plan funded by the sales tax and argued that over the long run, “Bricks are the cheapest road surface around.”

The commission next meets Nov. 3, which is Election Day.