FORT SCOTT — Bourbon County commissioners voted Monday night to remove Chairman Samuel Tran from the chair and elected Commissioner Gregg Motley to replace him, roughly two and a half hours after a resident stood at the public comment table and asked Tran to step down.

Commissioner Joe Allen was elected vice chairman. Motley was elected on a 3-2 vote, with Tran and Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee dissenting; Allen was elected unanimously. With about seven minutes left before the commission’s 8:30 stop time, after certifying the election results, the board then voted to table the remainder of its agenda until the next meeting, two weeks out.

Tran, who has four months left in his term, declined an invitation to step aside voluntarily before the vote was taken.

A resident asks first

The request came first from the public. During public comment, resident Josh Jones told Tran he had watched the previous meeting and the past year of the commission’s work and did not think Tran was suited to the chair. (video, 0:15:36)

“You’re due here to keep the meetings orderly and peace, and so far, they’ve been out of control, and that directly relies on you,” Jones said. “I come here today asking you to step down from chair. I mean, I don’t know you, you seem like a good guy, but I just don’t think you’re the right man for this.”

Jones then named the commissioner he wanted to act if Tran refused. “I would ask for you to make the motion to replace Chairman Tran if he so chooses not to step down,” he said, addressing Allen as his district commissioner.

Allen did not make the motion. He seconded it when it was made later.

“I’m the lightning rod right now”

The question returned at the end of the meeting, under a new business item listed as “Vice Chair Resignation.” (video, 2:45:59)

Commissioner David Beerbower resigned as vice-chair, citing his platform of the need for change and the current attitude that the positions of chairman and vice chairman “have become confused with command and control rather than on of guidance and leadership. Leadership is not a title. Leadership is stewardship,” he read from his resignation statement.(video, 2:46:03)

“I respectfully call upon the chairman to consider following the same example and allow another commissioner an opportunity to lead. This is not criticism of service, but an affirmation of a principle: leadership renewal strengthens public institutions,” Beerbower read at the end of his statement.

Motley put it to Tran directly. “Mr. Chairman, would you consider stepping down and allowing us to vote on new leadership tonight?” he asked. (video, 2:51:00)

Tran declined. “No, not tonight,” he said. “I made a promise to some people. It wasn’t a position that I sought, but it was a position that was given. I understand that there’s a lot of turmoil that happened within this building. I think part of it is a growing pain. I think there’s a path forward now.”

In a longer answer, Tran acknowledged the criticism directed at him while defending how he had run the board.

“I’m the lightning rod right now, and I understand that, and I own that,” he said. (video, 2:51:35) “I have never, to my knowledge, I don’t ever remember dictating anything from this position. I’ve always tried to let you guys say what you want to say, do what you want to do. The quorum is the quorum. But when you have very passionate people sitting here and have very passionate views, they’re going to say what they want to say, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Tran said the same friction had occurred under previous chairmen and would occur under the next one. “And right now, I am the lightning rod. And one day, I won’t be the lightning rod. But I have four months left, and I intend to, barring anything from you guys, I intend to finish out my term and do the best that I can.”

Motley then moved that the commission vacate the chairman position and hold an election for chairman and vice chairman that evening, and that the deputy clerk run the election. (video, 2:53:03) Allen seconded. The motion carried 3-2, with Tran and Milburn-Kee voting against.

Acting County Clerk Michael Hoyt came to the table and ran the vote. (video, 2:54:04) Allen nominated Motley for chairman, seconded by Beerbower; Motley nominated Allen for vice chairman, also seconded by Beerbower. Motley was elected 3-2, Tran and Milburn-Kee dissenting. Allen was elected unanimously.

Tran closed with a brief statement. “I do appreciate the opportunity to be chairman. It’s been fun. It’s been real,” he said. “I wish everybody the best of luck in their current position. I have no hard feelings against anybody. It is the nature of this beast, and it is a beast. So best of luck, gentlemen.” (video, 2:55:26)

Tran pressed for the clerk’s full statement in the minutes

Earlier in the same meeting, Tran had objected to how the minutes of the previous meeting recorded County Clerk Susan Walker’s resignation — the statement in which Walker rebuked Tran directly.

Reviewing the draft minutes, Tran said he had no issue with the narrative but that the summary did not go far enough. (video, 0:05:31)

“I think it would be a disservice to the county if we did not include the whole verbage of that resignation statement,” he said. “That resignation statement needs to be in the minutes.”

Told that including it in full would roughly double the length, Tran said that was acceptable and explained his reasoning. “What happens in the future, the minutes tend to be the things that people pull and people reference,” he said. “Very few people go back through and look at the actual documents.” (video, 0:06:39)

The commission tabled approval of the minutes until a corrected version is produced. Tran also asked whether Walker’s resignation letter had yet been sent to the governor, saying the county was “in limbo” until the vacancy is formally recognized. (video, 2:32:40)

Walker announced her resignation, effective Aug. 31, at the commission’s Aug. 10 meeting, telling Tran that his behavior toward her had “crossed every reasonable line” and accusing him of open disrespect and sexist comments. Hoyt, her deputy, was named acting clerk and has been running the office since.

When Walker resigned, several of her staff also left the clerks office. Hoyt is running the office as deputy clerk with one other employee.

An attempted abstention, then an abstention

Early in the meeting, Milburn-Kee asked to set aside a $3,485.21 invoice from MSB Law, the firm conducting the county’s review of the donation agreement covering the former Mercy hospital property. She said the invoice covered an opinion letter she had not been able to obtain. (video, 0:07:56)

“I’ve been trying to track down the opinion letter, and I’ve not been able to get it,” she said. “So we paid $3,400 for it, and they won’t give you an opinion letter?” (video, 0:08:16)

Motley explained that the firm was only able to go through half of the data and thus could not submit a full analysis. When the commission voted to stop funding the effort, the firm stopped analyzing: “There is no opinion letter in that account… They got through about half of it, so you can’t give an opinion letter based on half review.”

Told the board intended to approve the payables regardless, Milburn-Kee said she would abstain. Tran ruled that she could not. “In order to abstain from the vote, you have to have a conflict of interest,” he said. “I’ll just vote no,” she replied. (video, 0:12:11) The accounts payable, totaling $129,800.18, were approved.

Roughly two and a half hours later — after Tran had been removed from the chair — Milburn-Kee abstained. Asked to approve Resolution 27-26 finalizing the results of the Aug. 4 primary election, canvassed shortly before the meeting began, she said she had not read it. “I’d like to look at it. So, I mean, you have enough to pass it. I’ll just abstain,” she said. (video, 2:56:28) The resolution passed. The commission adjourned moments later.

Budget, radios and EMS

Before the leadership vote, the commission worked through a long agenda, most of it budget-related.

Budget consultant Matt Lawn of Baker Tilly presented preliminary operating fund pages. Milburn-Kee asked him to evaluate holding every department at revenue neutral and splitting the roughly two mills of increased valuation between the general fund to increase cash reserves and the employee benefits fund, “sharing the burden of the increase.” (video, 0:42:47) Lawn said he is “in favor of looking at that.”

Milburn-Kee also flagged the landfill, which the county treats as self-supporting. “The landfill is a fee-funded operation. However, we’re not figuring in their benefits. So it’s not 100% fee-funded. The mill is carrying the benefits,” she said. (video, 0:44:27)

Commissioners heard a presentation on a countywide emergency radio system estimated at roughly $14.5 million in infrastructure plus about $6.3 million in long-term maintenance.

“It’s something that we need desperately because it’s mandated, number one, and number two, it’s officer safety,” said Sheriff Bill Martin.

The system would be shared with the City of Fort Scott: “I don’t expect the county to foot the whole bill. I expect participation from the city,” said Martin.

Tran pressed on how the county would guard against cost overruns once bids came back. Milburn-Kee questioned the financing against the equipment’s lifespan: “It’d be silly to get a 30-year bond if the life of the materials is only 17 years.” (video, 1:58:41)

EMS Directory Teri Hulsey talked with the commission about the financial information she had gathered from the EMS department’s billing company, Omni. Currently, the EMS department is nearly $60,000 ahead in receipts compared to where they were last year.

The commission approved an EMS hire after discussion of an overtime-heavy schedule, with Milburn-Kee confirming the position was covered in the benefits budget. Commissioners also discussed election administration costs, including ballots that must be approved by the Secretary of State before the November election, and deferred a decision on the county’s human resources contract until the first meeting after Labor Day.

Old business items, including allocation of space, were tabled.

The Bourbon County Commission spent most of its Monday, Aug. 3 meeting on the sheriff’s and corrections budget for 2027 — a review dominated by a looming radio-system upgrade with a price tag of about $3.2 million — and heard election workers ask for more room and more time ahead of the primary. Chairman Samuel Tran presided; Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee was absent.

Sheriff’s budget review flags $3.2 million radio project

Budget consultant Matt Lawn walked the board through the sheriff’s and corrections budgets with Sheriff Bill Martin present, describing a roughly 2% increase in wages and contractual costs and a larger bump in commodities driven by about $14,000 in computer replacements through Stronghold.

The larger issue was the five-site P25 simulcast radio upgrade — about $3.2 million for the total system infrastructure including the City of Fort Scott and rural fire departments, with a county share of roughly $496,000. Lawn told the board a project with a 15-to-20-year service life is a capital item that should not be absorbed into the annual operating budget. Sheriff Martin said the feasibility findings from TUSA are due Aug. 17, to be followed by a request-for-proposals phase and a proposed third-phase service-contract requirement, “That system from day one should be operating as it was 15 years from now, should be operating the same way as it was the first day that it was installed.”

Martin also stressed what is at stake for deputies and for fire and EMS communications in getting a new radio communication system: “It’s public safety, and I want to make sure that my men and women, both local and county, go home to their families.”

Tran asked Lawn to prepare a sales-tax analysis, including compensating use tax, once the budget work wraps up. Commissioner Gregg Motley and Lawn both cautioned against leaning on sales tax rather than an industrial-revenue-bond or bond package. Lawn asked for one more short work session next week to tie up loose ends in the budget-making process.

Election workers ask for space and time

In public comment, Michael Hoyt, Debbie Schoenberger and Diane Keating each pressed the county for more space and more time for election-day operations, reporting more than 800 early voters and more than 90 ballot styles for the primary. Keating said the crunch of both time and space had her missing her granddaughter’s sheep show at the Linn County Fair.

EMS rates and collections

EMS Director Teri Hulsey presented three years of call-volume statistics and confirmed the current billing structure: a $650 base rate plus $19 per loaded mile. Tran asked her to find out what neighboring counties charge and whether raising the base rate — which insurance companies generally pay without dispute — would close the department’s collections shortfall. Hulsey agreed to come back with numbers.

Courts locked out of their own cameras

Tran said the board’s earlier vote to have Stronghold clean up the courthouse camera system had inadvertently kicked the courts off it, leaving court staff unable to view their own security cameras. The board voted unanimously to restore the courts’ access, working through Stronghold.

Backhoe purchase reopened

The landfill backhoe purchase approved July 27 — a CAT 420 at about $173,675 — was reopened after Tran proposed a two-machine alternative, a Takeuchi TL-12 skid steer plus a TB-260 mini-excavator, which he said could save roughly $38,777 and add tracked mobility. Landfill equipment operator Diane Ballou pushed back, saying a standard skid steer cannot reach over the transfer-station wall and that she cannot afford to be down to a single machine if one breaks. Skitch Allen shared his experience with the machines, and Tran said he would get lease and demo pricing from Kirby Smith of Kansas City by next week.

“I’m not going to direct them on how to do and what to do,” said Tran of his proposal. “I’m just offering an alternative to the process. That’s all I’m doing.”

Other business

Policies and procedures. Commissioner David Beerbower presented a draft county policies-and-procedures manual — prepared with AI assistance and marked “draft” — emphasizing that individual commissioners may not direct department heads, tour facilities unilaterally, or speak for the board without a vote. The board agreed to schedule a work session on it.

Space allocation. Requests involving the old dispatch room (county clerk for election equipment vs. sheriff’s evidence room) and the Register of Deeds’ request for Room 12 — complicated by an unsecured primary server rack in that room — were tabled for two weeks, along with Beerbower’s proposal to seek a grant writer to fund an architectural study of the annex and the courthouse first floor to maximize the space. Motley will informally contact Redfield, a grant-writing firm first.

S&P rating surveillance. Ben Hart briefed the board on a Standard & Poor’s rating-surveillance letter and will sit in on the analyst call scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. The purpose of the call is to answer questions regarding the county’s financial health, which affects the interest rate available for bonds the county may enter in to. “Any kind of movement within your credit rating, just like at home… if it goes up, your costs go down. If the credit rating goes down, your costs go up,” said Hart. He pointed out several things that the county is doing that should reflect well on its credit rating with S&P. He recommended the county adopt a fund-balance policy after budget season.

Landfill items. The KDWP walk-in hunting contract for the old landfill parcel moved toward signature, with Beerbower still researching options. Separately, a KDHE email surfaced flagging that the county has never filed a required restrictive covenant on the closed landfill, with a Sept. 30 deadline; the county attorney will take it up when he returns Aug. 17.

Elevator and backup court space. The courthouse elevator is running again after the OEM part arrived, but a longer outage is expected in October during construction. Beerbower and court staff will tour the federal courtroom at the post office building Thursday morning as possible backup court space.

Beerbower also proposed considering turning the county-owned building at 108 W. 2nd into commission space that could also function as a courtroom. The property has “very little economic value,” said Motley, and thus could be better used by the county as needed meeting, court, and office space.

Asbestos. Responding to a constituent concern about asbestos in the courthouse, the board voted to assign Motley to investigate the county’s EPA responsibilities and develop a plan.

The Bourbon County Commission voted Monday, July 20, to cap its 2027 budget at a mill levy of 56.669 — the same rate as the current year — rejecting its auditor’s recommendation to leave a slightly higher ceiling in place. Because the flat rate still raises more revenue than last year, the commission is required to hold a public hearing before it can adopt the budget. That hearing is set for Sept. 14, 2026.

The decision followed the July 13 meeting, at which commissioners tabled the property-tax-rate decision to July 20.

The mill-levy vote

Matt Lawn of Baker Tilly, the county’s budget consultant, recommended adopting a cap of 57.705 mills. He told commissioners the higher ceiling would preserve flexibility over where to find the roughly 1.027 additional mills needed to cover an EMS shortfall — a deficit he attributed to declining collections and pegged at about $50,000 — and rising elections costs, without committing the county to actually levy at that rate.

Lawn said he did not anticipate needing that mill levy for the final budget, but by allowing it, the commission would give him the flexibility to move funding around to cover the projected shortfalls. “I would like to retain some options as to where to take them from. I don’t anticipate you adopting more than 56.665 mils,” he said.

Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee instead moved to adopt a flat cap of 56.669 mills which was Baker Tilly’s recommendation last week and matches last year’s rate. Commissioner Joe Allen seconded, and the motion passed. Commissioner Gregg Motley voted no, arguing the commission should trust the expert it hired to set the ceiling rather than lock in a number before the budget was finalized. Commissioner David Beerbower also voted no, wanting to defer the expert’s opinion as well.

“We’re not approving any mill levy. We are approving a notice to submit to the county clerk that caps each individual fund, the amount of mills going into each individual fund. But I need some kind of direction on that,” explained Lawn.

“It’s looked at by funds, not looked at by overall,” agreed Clerk Susan Walker, confirming his explanation.

The vote forced Lawn to reallocate within the flat cap. He shifted the additional elections and EMS mills out of the General Fund, reducing that fund from 13.004 to 12.120 mills and setting the Elections levy at 1.036 mills. Commissioners then authorized Chairman Samuel Tran to sign the notice to the county clerk to exceed the revenue-neutral rate at 56.669 mills, with the 2027 proposed revenue of $8,147,031.

Because the flat 56.669-mill rate raises more money than the revenue-neutral rate of 54.664 mills — about $309,000 more, or roughly $22 per resident, since assessed valuation in the county grew about 3.7 percent — state law requires the county to notify the clerk and hold the September 14 hearing before it can adopt the budget.

“This is not my money. This is not our money. This is the people’s money,” Tran said during the budget discussion, noting that adding staffing options requested by county offices could push the levy up by close to a full mill. “We’re going to have to make some hard calls again.”

Department budget requests

Several officeholders walked the commission through their 2027 requests:

• Elections. County Clerk Susan Walker presented a flat clerk’s budget but a significantly larger elections budget, including $11,500 for new poll pads after the 10-year-old units failed on the morning of election day, new voting booths to replace existing ones she described as having mold and sharp aluminum edges, $3,500 for onsite ballot shredding, and a three-quarter-time employee at $16 an hour. She also said the state’s “Elvis” software for voter registration cost will quadruple in 2027.
• Treasurer. Treasurer Jennifer Hawkins presented two options: Option 1, wage increases to bring her staff in line with other courthouse clerical pay; and Option 2, which adds a position to bring commercial motor vehicle registrations back in-house. Residents currently must drive to Garnett or Girard for that service. Hawkins noted she was not requesting any increase to her own salary.
• Conservation District. Jarred Pollock, joined by Ronnie Brown, presented a $40,000 funding request, noting that state and federal funding for the district is given in proportion to local funding by the county. He also described the district’s role in soil health, water quality, and its partnerships that draw state and federal matching dollars back to local landowners.
• Register of Deeds. Presented by Walker, the office sought a modest increase of about $6,300.
• EMS. EMS Director Teri Hulsey asked about hiring an additional paramedic to reduce overtime worked by current employees. Commissioners deferred the request pending the full budget picture.

Other business

Commissioners also:

• Authorized Tran to sign a $3,199 Otis service call, paid from the general government fund, to restore the courthouse elevator. Tran reported that Kone had terminated its elevator contract after Otis performed intervening work, and noted the courts need the elevator for a full docket running through September.
• Voted 3-2 to table the $116,500 comprehensive-plan and zoning agreement with the consulting firm Confluence — reduced from an initial $152,000 estimate and first reviewed at the county’s June 29 meeting — citing a lack of budget funds. Commissioner David Beerbower, who read a statement describing growing interest from data centers, renewable-energy developers and large-scale battery storage in rural county land, moved to table the agreement until it can be budgeted. Beerbower, Motley and Allen voted in favor; Tran and Milburn-Kee opposed. Chairman Tran, who wanted to keep the option alive, warned the firm’s offer would likely expire.
• Authorized Tran to sign a letter requesting the appointment of Lou Howard to the Homeland Security Council.
• Approved a $2,000 payment to MSB Law from the general government fund.
• Approved accounts payable, including a $1,600 reimbursement for an aluminum flatbed for Road & Bridge truck #141.
• Held a 30-minute executive session to discuss employee health data.

Public comment

During public comment, Tim Emerson of Emerson and Company thanked the commission and invited feedback. Kevin “Skitch” Allen urged the commission to hold spending down and to “live within our means,” and publicly pressed Commissioner Beerbower over unreturned phone calls. Michael Hoyt argued a forensic audit is unnecessary given the county’s clean Baker Tilly audits and walked through the new Kansas HB 2622, which subjects certain lease-purchase agreements over $100,000 to protest petitions, warning of the cost of any resulting special elections. Pete Owenby urged commissioners to hold the line on taxes.

Looking ahead

Tran reminded residents of a town hall on Wednesday, July 22, at 5:30 p.m. at the Ellis Fine Arts building. Commissioners also flagged future agenda items, including courthouse space proposals from each department at the first meeting in August, and a discussion with Kansas Wildlife and Parks regarding the old landfill property.

The 2027 budget public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 14, 2026.

 

The Bourbon County Commission met July 13, 2026, with Chair Samuel Tran presiding and Commissioners Mika Milburn-Kee, Gregg Motley present, and Joe Allen arriving late. Commissioner David Beerbower was absent.

Property-tax rate decision tabled to July 20

The centerpiece was Baker Tilly’s budget forecast for the general fund and Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) presentation. Lawn reviewed a 2026 general fund estimated to end near $594,000 and a preliminary 2027 deficit of about $201,000 if general-fund property-tax revenue stays near the cap. He laid out three options: hold the mill levy flat at last year’s 56.669 mills (about $8.15 million, roughly a $22-per-person increase), cut 15 percent (about $718,000 less, roughly a $50-per-person rebate), or adopt the true revenue-neutral rate, keeping the dollar amount of taxation the same as last year at $7,858,000, or 54.664 mills, a two mill reduction accounting for the 3.7% growth in the county. This option will reduce the county’s income by about $300,000 from the current mill rate of 56.669.

Lawn recommended the commission notify the county clerk that it reserves the right to exceed the revenue-neutral rate, capping at 56.669 mills. “I would not want to see you go lower than that.,” he said.

Milburn-Kee strongly opposed exceeding the RNR, arguing a flat rate would work. “We have proved time and time again, if we levy it, we’ll spend it. So if everybody wants an excuse to raise it and levy it, then consider it spent,” she said.

Tran cited concerns about unforeseen legal and litigation costs and a pending employee-benefits presentation; Allen pointed to aging Public Works equipment, ambulance needs, and employee raises after three years without one. The commission reached consensus to table the rate decision to its July 20 meeting, when Beerbower returns and Lawn brings a full employee-benefits fund budget.

“I don’t believe the revenue neutral rate should ever be a consideration for a county unless that county is growing considerably and there is a positive, non-strained economy,” Lawn stated to the commissioners. “Lowering it that much would severely hurt your ability to operate, I believe.”

Minutes and accounts payable

Minutes from June 29 were approved. Minutes from July 6 were tabled and later approved 2–1, with Milburn-Kee voting no because she had not yet read them. The commission addressed accounts payable of $543,225.90; Motley questioned a “desert snow training” line item in the Sheriff’s Department budget. A representative from the Sheriff’s office said it refers to narcotics training.

Treasurer’s report

Treasurer Jennifer Hawkins reminded residents that July 31 is the last day to pay property taxes before delinquent names are published (with a publication fee), and pointed to missingmoney.ks.gov for unclaimed property. She also publicly disputed a comment Milburn-Kee made the prior week that the treasurer had not returned a call about postage, saying the call came two hours before that meeting with no voicemail, text, or email. Milburn-Kee did not stay in the room to hear Hawkins dispute, but walked in and out several times during her report.

Other business

The commission pushed the Jarred Gilmore Phillips auditor engagement to July 20 to allow Milburn-Kee to obtain a competing bid from Barney and Associates.

Motley pointed out that switching auditors increases the cost to the county because of setting up the paperwork.

Allen spoke with a representative from GovDeals who pointed out the items that would sell and the items that will not sell and should be trashed or scrapped. The commission agreed that Allen should created the recommended lots and list the items for sale with deals.gov.

Milburn-Kee addressed the question of what the opioid fund can be used for. She suggested the county create an application process for awarding grants from the fund. Motley mentioned the 16-page list of permitted uses for the fund that the Kansas Attorney General’s office provided.

For the prior week’s budget discussion, see Bourbon County Commission — July 6, 2026.

Commissioner Comments

Milburn-Kee encouraged the commissioners to use their resources, particularly with regard to gravel roads in the county, which she claims are getting thinner. She referred to a road engineer provided for no charge by KAC who has had some meeting with the public works director in her district.

Allen asked about the HR study on salary surveys. They are expected to be done in the coming year, said Tran. Allen also encouraged visiting the county fair this week.

Tran talked about how crazy the budget season is for the commission. He said he is happy with the mill levy at its current level, but has concern about the funding the future. He said the commissioners have a fiduciary responsibility, and owe the citizens of the county an explanation for their decisions regarding taxes.

 

The Bourbon County Commission met Monday, June 29, 2026, with a Public Works budget work session scheduled to follow. With out-of-town guests waiting and the work session ahead, the board trimmed its agenda at the top — tabling several items, including the Jarred Gilmore Phillips audit engagement, an American flag purchase, a resolution-adoption procedure, Resolution 25-26 on canceling warrant checks, and Heartland business-license billing — and added an economic-development update, a Chamber of Commerce item, and an executive session for non-elected personnel.

Comprehensive plan: firm in place, funding unresolved

Planning Commission representative Brian Ashworth presented the “best and final” offer from Confluence, the firm the board selected on June 15 to write the county’s comprehensive plan and zoning code. Confluence lowered its price from $152,000 to $116,500 by combining the end of the planning phase with the start of zoning, trimming public-engagement sessions, and removing outside legal-review fees (items that can be added back later by change order).

The commission did not sign the agreement, opting first to settle how to pay for it. Chairman Samuel Tran favored signing immediately, noting the contract can be terminated at any time with the county paying only for work already done: “I say, let me sign it just so we can get the wheel moving, because in the end we can cancel if we haven’t done anything, right?” Commissioner Gregg Motley pushed back: “I would prefer to know how we’re going to pay for it first.”

The commission voted to add a resolution for payment after the public comments portion of the meeting.

With the county’s financial advisers from Baker Tilly at the table, commissioners weighed several funding sources for the project, which is not in the current budget:

• Inmate-reimbursement fees — Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee believed about $150,000 was available, but Baker Tilly’s Ben Hart corrected the figure to roughly $50,000 and advised against using it, because the fund reimburses the sheriff’s inmate-housing costs (about $320,000 a year) and helps keep that office under budget.
• FEMA funds — Commissioner David Beerbower said about $600,000 is available but should go to Public Works.
• Solar-agreement money — Beerbower asked outside counsel to report on possible funds tied to the Tennyson Creek and Hinton Creek solar agreements.
• Year-end budget savings — Hart suggested pooling unspent money from across departments (unfilled positions, unbought commodities) as a one-time source.

Commissioner Joe Allen said, “I don’t want to touch the sheriff’s funds. I really think that FEMA money should go back to Public Works also.”  He expressed the need to be creative in finding the funding.

Motley agreed with Allen and Beerbower about not touching the sheriff’s money or the FEMA money. He also mentioned that situations like this are why it’s important for the county to carry cash reserves.

Tran asked the advisers to “please, find us the money somewhere.” He expressed concern that the money be found and encumbered  so that it cannot be spent elsewhere. Hart agreed that has been the county’s history. He also applauded a funding resolution as a step that puts everyone on the same page.

Baker Tilly is expected to bring year-to-date figures and a forecast back to the board at its next meeting, and Beerbower expects an update on the solar money from outside counsel.

Accounts payable, financials and minutes

The commission approved both accounts-payable batches — $83,374.82 (June 18) and $453,809.91 (June 26) — but pulled a single postage line of about $3,011 pending an explanation and invoice, after Milburn-Kee questioned why a “postage overage” charge was being billed to the courthouse general fund rather than a department budget. The board also approved the May 2026 financials and the minutes for the June 15, May 11 (revised) and April 13 (revised) meetings.

Public comments

Al Neese updated the board on a local museum group’s plans for the downtown depot and its interest in the Moody building, announcing the group had been gifted a “Katie Caboose” from Houston that morning, with the pad poured and track work expected soon.

Don Tucker, along with Jennifer Simhiser, live-in manager at Redemption House, asked the county to use Opioid Settlement Fund money to replace the Redemption House roof, which has a hole causing water damage; three companies recommended full replacement. The lowest bid they got for a new roof is $24,000. The roof has been patched, but it is 30 years old and cannot withstand more patching.

Commissioners were unsure how much opioid money remained after an earlier transportation expense and questioned whether the bid covered needed roof decking. A motion by Beerbower to fund the roof did not carry, but Tran said they would add it to the next week’s agenda, when they have “the hard numbers” to work with to determine how much money is available in the opioid fund to help with the need.

Juvenile detention

Commissioner Allen reported on a Southeast Kansas juvenile-detention meeting, where the recommendation was to stay one more year with the facility in Girard and recruit other counties to share costs, while Sheriff Bill Martin favors switching to a pay-as-you-go arrangement with Johnson County. With a contract deadline of July 1, commissioners were split between staying with Girard, and moving to a pay-as-you-go arrangement with Johnson County.

Motley agreed with Allen’s recommendation. Beerbower agreed with the sheriff’s recommendation. Milburn-Kee asked that Allen “get out there and talk to other counties and do some recruiting” to get them to join in membership with the Girard facility, bringing the costs down for Bourbon County.

Beerbower said that by following the suggestions of waiting a year, the commission is continuing the pattern of kicking the can down the road and not dealing with the issue. “We’re paying for something that we’re not getting the value of our money for,” he said.

A representative from the sheriff’s office said they need to terminate the contract to save money: “Based on what I know from the sheriff being there, we do not want that contract.”

Tran expressed his opinion of NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations), saying they often raise prices and reduce what they deliver over time. He said that if the county doesn’t terminate the agreement with the juvenile facility at Girard, it will be obligated to them for 2027, as well as the rest of 2026. He suggested banking the money that may be needed to send juveniles to Johnson County, rather than, “to pay for a buffet that you’re not eating from…to me it’s a no-brainer that we should go ahead and pull out of that and use our money the way we want to use it and not be stuck to something that really doesn’t fit our needs.”

Tran moved to notify Southeast Kansas that the county would not continue, Beerbower seconded. Milburn-Kee suggested it was a gamble to forfeit the county’s position at the Girard facility.

Tran called for a vote. The motion did not carry. Beerbower and Tran voted for it, but Allen, Milburn-Kee, and Motley voted against, so the county’s membership at Girard will continue at least until summer of 2027.

Other action

• Chamber of Commerce — the commission approved renewing its Chamber of Commerce membership for another year.
• Jayhawk bridge — the board signed a previously approved engineering contract for the Jayhawk Road bridge (which requires a geological study before fall construction), recommending PEC for the work.
• Executive sessions — the commission held two closed sessions on the performance of non-elected personnel under K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1) and reported no action out of either.

Looking ahead

Future agenda items include the Redemption House roof, an update from outside counsel on solar money, a discussion of commissioner job descriptions, and the budget. A Public Works budget work session followed the meeting; among the items discussed was a requested $75,068 increase to the landfill budget tied to staffing, fuel and disposal costs. Baker Tilly recommended the board adopt the authority to exceed the revenue-neutral tax rate at an upcoming meeting (a cap, not a commitment), with a second-quarter forecast expected later in July. Current figures for revenue neutral would lower the mill.

Agenda: Agenda summary for the June 29, 2026 meeting (full agenda packet PDF).

The Bourbon County Commission met Monday, June 15, 2026, with all five commissioners present and Chairman Samuel Tran presiding. The board worked through county roads, a new development moratorium, the selection of a comprehensive-plan consultant, and an extended discussion of the budget process and election logistics. The full meeting is available on the county’s YouTube channel: June 15, 2026 Bourbon County Commission Meeting.

Hidden Valley Roads

Public Works Director Kenny Allen told commissioners the county has no recorded easements for the Hidden Valley roads in the Mound City/Mapleton area, that the roads do not meet county construction standards, and that bringing them up to standard would require costly reconstruction. After confirming counsel’s agreement, the commission adopted Resolution 23-26, reaffirming that Resolution 7-21 designated the Hidden Valley roads only for law-enforcement access and not for county maintenance. Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee pointed out that adopting the resolution should keep the same issue from needing the attention of the next set of commissioners, should the residents of Hidden Valley bring it up again in the future.

Accounts Payable and Payroll

The commission approved two accounts-payable batches (setting aside two rock-crusher training charges for Kenny Allen to dispute) and, after amending the agenda, approved two payroll registers. Commissioners also approved the June 1 meeting minutes.

Public Comments: Security Cameras and Drainage

Tristan Smittle and a colleague from INA Alert (introduced as Jacob Strecker) pitched integrated security and camera systems, offering rough per-camera cost figures. Landowner Mark Warren raised drainage and standing-water concerns on three properties — near 120th and Paint Creek south of Redfield, on Limestone Road southeast of Uniontown, and on Kansas Road west of Highway 3. Milburn-Kee took his contact information for follow-up.

Elm Creek Lake Dam Grant Terminated

Don George of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks asked the commission to terminate a five-year-old grant for Elm Creek Lake dam repair, explaining that the cost figures are now outdated.

The county has no records of how the dam was constructed by the WPA, so there’s no way to know what would happen if the face was removed.  George pointed out that it’s an important part of Bourbon County and the longer they wait to make repairs, the more expensive it will be.

Commissioner David Beerbower expressed a desire to keep Elm Creek Lake in good condition. MIlburn-Kee asked about reports that the fishing is declining at the lake. George said that he doesn’t stock it as much as he used to because of the leak and how low the water gets, making stocking the lake a potentially poor investment. George also offered to take any interested commissioners on a tour to learn what his department does for the county.

When Tran asked about the conditions of the grant, George said that the Department of Wildlife was going to pay about 1/3 of the cost at $40,000 and the county pay the remainder of $121,000, the majority of which would be using the county’s workers, equipment, and resources. (Background: County Commission Discusses EMS and Elm Creek Quarry.)

The commission voted to terminate the grant, and George invited the county to submit a future application with current numbers for the next grant cycle in May of 2027.

Comprehensive Plan: Confluence Selected

Planning Commission representatives Brian Ashworth II and Pete Owenby recommended hiring Confluence to produce the county’s comprehensive plan — at a cost of $105,500 — along with an optional zoning-code update (costing $46,500), citing stronger community-engagement plans than competing firms. The proposed time line is 10 months from the beginning of work with an additional four months for zoning. One way the county could save money on the cost of the work is to work on the zoning in conjunction with developing the comprehensive plan. By developing a comprehensive plan, the county will provide leverage for various entities in Bourbon County that may wish to apply for grants. “It promotes growth,” said Milburn-Kee.

The commission voted to select Confluence, with Commissioner Gregg Motley abstaining, and authorized Ashworth to pursue best-and-final pricing. The selection follows the Planning Commission’s spring review of proposals (see May 13–14 Planning Commission agendas and the February RFP summary).

Clerk’s Requests: Website Access and Election Room

County Clerk Susan Walker requested front-page access to the county website for herself, the county treasurer and the emergency management department to keep required publications and the emergency status of the county current. No one is updating the finance page at this time. The commission deferred pending consultation with its IT provider, Stronghold.

Walker also formally requested use of the commission room for early voting and election school on specified dates. A motion by Commissioner Milburn-Kee to deny use of the room (while still allowing Public Works and custodial assistance with election equipment) split the vote and failed; a follow-on motion by Commissioner Motley to approve the clerk’s full request passed.

Milburn-Kee claimed that the commission room is the only space she can use on the courthouse for commission work. A heated exchange occurred between Chairman Tran and Clerk Walker over election-room security and tone.

Budget Process

Commissioners Beerbower, Tran, Motley, and Allen said they want department heads to present their budgets directly to the board — beginning with Public Works on June 29 — while Commissioner Milburn-Kee preferred letting financial advisor Baker Tilly handle the process. The commission approved read-only CIC remote access for Baker Tilly so the firm can pull budget information directly. The discussion continues the board’s budget work from its May 18 meeting.

New Development Moratorium

The commission adopted Resolution 24-26, a 365-day moratorium on utility-scale power generation, crypto mining, data centers, and waste-disposal operations, excluding three previously named Tennyson Creek/Hinton Creek Solar projects. Commissioner Joe Allen abstained pending further research, and Motley agreed. The action revisits ground the county has covered before — see the January industrial-development moratorium, the 2025 solar moratorium, and the timeline of Bitcoin-mining noise complaints and the related litigation.

The moratorium will be in effect for one year, or until Bourbon County adopts amendments to the zoning regulation of the county pertaining to utility-scale power generation crypto mining, data centers, and waste disposal operations, whichever first occurs.

Other Business

• Signed previously approved Resolution 22-26.
• Authorized Chair Tran to sign a real-estate (MLS) listing extension.
• Appointed Michael Hoyt as the county’s representative to the Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging board, Milburn-Kee and Tran voting against.
• Commissioner Allen praised first responders’ performance during a recent incident involving the sheriff and reported the DMV may reopen within the week.

Commissioner Comments

Beerbower: Asked that the commissioners give their opinion on the size of flag to fly from the 40-foot poll at the courthouse. The commission decided to bring it back to the table next week after some research.

Allen: Asked that documents be attached to the meeting agendas prior to the meeting to allow time to read through resolutions prior to voting on them.

He also gave a shout-out to public works for their work mowing and grading. He also commended the first responders with Sheriff Bill Martin’s collapse last week.

Watch the full meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xih_URPfsUs

06.01.26 Agenda

Commissioners Gregg Motley and Mika Milburn-Key in person, and Samuel Tran and Joe Allen via video chat attended the County Commission Meeting which lasted less than 6 minutes.

TUSA was removed from the agenda for lack of attendance at Sheriff Bill Martin’s request.

Approval of Minutes 05.11.26, Special 05.18.26, 05.18.26

Minutes were approved pending changes to attribution requested by Milburn-Key.

Approval of April 2026 Financials

Approved

Approval of Tax Corrections

Approved

Approval of Accounts Payable 5.22.26 $139,611.15, 5.29.26
$456,069.98

Approved, Tran abstaining.

Allen and Tran asked that Motley sign the AP checks in absence of Allen. Motion approved.

There were no Public Comments, Department Updates, Old Business, Future Agenda Topics, New Business, or Commissioner Comments.

Commission Agenda 05.18.26

Approval of Accounts Payable 05.15.26 $363,496.33

Commissioner Gregg Motley pointed out that the commission had been using attorneys in addition to county counselor Bob Johnson for legal opinions, which is costing the tax payers more money. He said that while he did approve the spending of the $4,500 on other attorney fees, the commission should “be cognizant of taxpayer dollars,” and use Johnson, as he is on retainer for that purpose.

Baker Tilly

Matt Lawn and Ben Hart from Baker Tilly addressed the commission about the budgeting process.

Motley brought up to Hart that Baker Tilly hadn’t shared the budget instructions that were given to the various departments within the county with the commission directly.

Hart apologized and said that he had understood that the commission has discussed goals, but it was not made clear to him that they have not agreed on them.

“These instructions really revolve around what the commission’s goals are in limitation to property tax revenue,” he explained.

Milburn-Kee said she reviewed the video of the last meeting where the commission discussed their goals and she is still of the opinion that she wants to lower property taxes.

Hart said he needs input from the entire commission, as they must have consensus to move forward.

Motley said his objection to the instructions given to county departments by Sam Lawn of Baker Tilly does not pertain to revenue but restricts “the department heads and elected officials from having input into their budget.”

He said that those instructions were not agreed to by the commission and they should be removed, as the commission has not reached consensus revenue or expense.

The bullet points in question state that wages, salaries, employee benefits costs will be prepared by Baker Tilly and departments should not modify personnel costs, and that the total of the 2027 budget request should not exceed the total shown in the 2026 budget column.

Allen expressed a desire to efficiently work on the basics the county should provide. He said they should keep taxes a low as possible and still be able to succeed as a county.

Hart read through the entirity of the budget instructions that Baker Tilly gave to county departments, pointing out that there was a place to explain in the notes about any changes department heads and elected officials needed to make. He emphasized that this part of the budget making process is an information gathering stage to be able to paint a complete picture for the commission.

Tran summarized his notes from the work session about county goals earlier this year. He said that Milburn-Kee wants to cut 10% off of everything, lowering the mill levy again. Motley said his priority is to restore trust tot he employees, the public, and financial markets to the county can get bonding sources. Allen echoed Motley. Beerbower wants to reduce property taxes by 155 and re-balance services. Tran said his priority is to stay revenue neutral. He also said that the commission did a good job with their budget last year and justified their expenditures.

Tran supported Hart’s statements that Baker Tilly is collecting information to present to the commission through this budget process.

Motley pointed out that county managers and elected officials were seeing a repeat of last year’s budget with no raises and a cut in benefits.

“I could have clarified,” said Lawn. “The instructions could have clarified more. I tried to separate out personnel costs and say not to worry about that because that would be for a later discussion.”

Motley said Lawn had no way of knowing the sensitivities in the county at the time.

Lawn said they need budget questionnaires back from the departments by the end of the month.

Motley said that explaining the situation to the department heads and elected officials should help address their concerns and get the process going again.

Milburn-Kee said that the commissioners need to be clear about what they are looking at doing with taxpayer dollars. She asked Tran to share his perspective.

Tran advised Lawn to collect the information they need and not change the questions. He said he’d rather have too much information than not enough.

Milburn began questioning the commission about their positions on taxes.

SEK Multi-County Health Department Budget Request – Rebecca Johnson: Administrator and Health Officer for the Bourbon County Health Department.

Johnson brought the health department’s yearly funding request. There was no increase last year.

2025 was a really rough year for the health department. They rely on federal and state grants, many of which were cut. Johnson said the health department is asking for a cost of living increase of 2.8% for a total of $93,291. They are currently operating at the minimum required staffing amount.

Further reductions in funding would affect accessibility and cause delays in services, as they’ve already cut personnel as far as possible.

They document animal bite reports, offer breastfeeding support, disease investigations, immunizations, lab draws, and local emergency preparedness work. They also facilitate WIC for Bourbon County.

Tran asked how much WIC has been cut by the federal government.

Bourbon County provides about 6% of the health department’s budget.

Johnson asked to be included in communication from Matt Lawn with Baker Tilly on budget information.

Department Updates
EMS Equipment Request – Teri Hulsey

A computer that Stronghold has come to repare and a few times and is not working properly needs to be replaced. The computer is used daily for paramedics and EMTs to do their reports. Stronghold quoted $1407.88 for a new computer. Hulsey did some research to compare costs.

She asked if the county could buy the department a new computer using the county’s equipment fund, as she has no money in her budget for the purchase.

Milburn-Kee asked if they could use one of the mini-PCs that the county already has. “Whatever works,” answered Hulsey.

Tran agreed with the idea of using computers that the county already has. He offered to talk to Stronghold about how to get that working for the EMS department.

Public Comments

Anne Dare read a statement about her disappointment with the county regarding recent discussions on contracted services. She pointed out failings of the HR firm and PayEntry and questioned continued expenditures on technology required by Stronghold. She suggested that the commission’s efforts to lower the mill will result in a planned reduction of services. She asked that the commission put a fair and consistent policy in place for hiring services and called for an acknowledgment of the appearance of unequal treatment on the part of the commission.

Tran interrupted her statement to tell her her time was up.

Bob Reed: came on behalf of the fair board

Rodeo will be June 24-25 and Fair Week is July 11-17th.

They are seeking individual sponsorship for the fair board and rodeo. Historically, the fair board has asked for sponsorship for elected officials and those running for office. Sponsorship will lead to recognition on the handbill and during the event.

Old Business
Hidden Valley Roads – Allen

Commissioner Joe Allen was contacted by Kaety Bowers about the condition of the roads. Kenny Allen, Public Works Director, discussed the load of work it would be to add the entire neighborhood to his crew’s rotation.

Tran asked Kenny Allen to come up with a plan. Allen then asked if there was a resolution in place to address the situation of working an HOA. He didn’t think working the whole neighborhood was feasible, but possibly the main road, and that the county could help if the neighborhood could supply the rock. Allen said he would consult with an employee who used to grade it and see what he thinks.

Auction Update – Allen

The majority of the items to be sold or gotten rid of have been moved.

There are quite a few toilets and sinks still in the EMS building.

Milburn-Kee moved to give Joe Allen the authority to auction it off. Motion carried.

New Business
Solid Waste Plan – K Allen

It’s time for the annual update of the five-year plan. The only change from last year is that they are no longer taking beans.

The commission approved and signed the plan.

Allen said his department laid 572 tons of asphalt at Osage and 215th. There’s a small spot remaining. When it’s finished, next will be Maple.

Hale Fireworks Permit

To sell at 2325 S. Main. Permit approved.

Jarred Gilmore Phillips 2026 Audit Engagement

This is the regular audit that is done every year. Motion approved.

Commission Comments

Allen addressed Milburn-Kee’s comment she made during the budget discussion about dancing around questions.

Milburn-Kee said the commission needs to start engaging the public about the budget.

There’s no meeting scheduled for Memorial Day, May 25.