Commissioner Brandon Whisenhunt, District 1, resigned right after the opening prayer of the June 2 Bourbon County Commissioner meeting.

“It’s been a pleasure serving Bourbon County, but effective immediately, I’m resigning,” he said and left the meeting.

Commissioner David Beerbower said, “That’s unfortunate news. I don’t know what to say about it,” before moving on with the meeting.

County Clerk Susan Walker then read a statement saying she is “respectfully declining to perform the employee grievance process in the future due to continual interference in the most recent investigation I performed. I will share my findings with the county counselor and let him present them to the commission at a later date.”

Contractual Services for Municipalities

Commissioner Mika Milburn said she found Dr. Cohen in her search for help as a commissioner and asked him to talk to the commission about what his company does to serve counties and other municipalities.

Cohen has a consulting operation based in Kansas City that specializes in human resources. They serve several Kansas health departments, cities, counties, and ambulance districts as clients, and so are familiar with working with elected officials. They have submitted a proposal to Bourbon County to do HR systems work, including updating Bourbon County’s outdated job descriptions and policy manuals, as well as wage and salary development and implementing a performance appraisal process. As part of their services, they would assist in all investigations and examinations of allegations by employees or elected officials. They have an employee hotline for elected officials and employees to get real-time, effective guidance or recommendations. This is a step county personnel can take for assistance before choosing to call the Kansas Human Rights Commission. The company will also perform governance training and sexual harassment prevention training, reducing the county’s liability in the event of a case. Their objective is to protect the county and employees and to put would-be perpetrators on notice that sexual harassment won’t be tolerated. Cohen said his first priority is to protect the county and help it operate in a healthy way.

The proposal is for an all-inclusive fee. The county would be hiring a company, not an individual, with lots of experience in municipal settings.

“I think it’s really important that we do something, David. Take it very seriously, please,” said Milburn. She also said the fees Cohen’s company charges are “a fraction of what it would cost,” to hire a full time county HR person.

The commissioners put it on the agenda for the June 9 meeting.

Old Business
Department Updates
Susan Walker-Employee Benefits

Walker talked to the commissioners about raises given on May 27 that were “pretty significant” and impacts the budget, which she said requires some extensive discussion. The fund that the commissioners have charge of, which pays employee taxes will need to increase by at least $12,000 to finish the year, possibly more if the employees work overtime.

Sheriff Bill Martin and Officer Murphy, his advisor spoke to the commission about the situation. Murphy said his department lost two officers since the first of the year, and the current staffing shortage leaves money in payroll and benefits to cover the cost of the raises. He said there’s not a current need for a budget amendment.

He also said his department has lost 20 trained people, at a cost of $1 million dollars, over the last several years, because “we can’t pay enough…so we’ve got to get our starting wages up so we can get qualified people in the door.” The county needs to adjust to be somewhat comparable to other law enforcement in the region.

Past administration made a choice to use sales tax dollars to keep taxes down, said Walker, which affected the sheriff’s department as well as the rest of the county offices.

Commissioners decided to wait to see if a budget amendment would be needed in the future.

Brian Allen-Disaster Proclamation

Allen asked the commissioners to sign the disaster declaration from the storms of May 19. Road damage and other damages met the qualifying threshold. This will allow the county to submit it to the governor, so that if the governor declares a state of emergency, the county can benefit from it.

Allen also told the commission he wants to compile a list of those with safe spaces for tornado events so that first responders can use it to check on folks.

Eric Bailey – Public Works

The May 19 storm caused damage to several roads with washouts, as well as large trees down in the roads. Bailey encouraged county residents to let them know of roads that need his department’s attention.

Bailey said he’s been working with the motor grader operators on a plan to get the crowns back on the roads and lips to guide the water off the roads and into the ditches. This plan will take several weeks of dry weather to implement. Mowing has been delayed by water-filled ditches.

The Elm Creek Lake shelter houses and house have been roofed. Outhouses are under construction. Bailey gave credit to Todd Fox and his family, as well as county public works employees, for volunteering their time to work on the shelters.

Bailey said he had spoken with former commissioner Whisenhunt and Don George about applying for a grant for dam improvements at Elm Creek Lake. The phase two grant application is due June 16. He referenced suggestions of applying for a feasibility study to drain the lake and repair the valve box and the dam. The commissioners chose to wait for the safety study, which means they will probably miss the deadline of applying for the second phase of the grant this year.

A group called Kansa Bonanza is planning to come to Fort Scott this weekend. This group drives side-by-sides on the back roads, cleaning up trash. They have asked for a roll-off dumpster for the trash they will collect. The commission made a motion to approve that use.

Allen County landfill will shut down on days with high wind notifications, per the National Weather Service, because of the trash blowing away, which affects what Bourbon County will do with its trash.

Tornado sirens interrupted in the first 5 minutes and the meeting was paused and most audience members and staff moved to safety until the sirens stopped. The pause lasted about 10 minutes.

Despite further sirens going off the commissioners opted to continue the meeting.

Public Hearing for Vacation of Road

Alley between lot 3 and lot 4 for the sublot of block 8 in Hiattville, KS.

No public comments were made.

The commission approved the resolution for the vacation of the road in Hiattville.

Old Business

Budget Reminder

Commissioner Mika Milburn addressed the elected officials and county department heads, reminding them to get their very detailed budgets in to the County Clerk’s office by June 1, and “be ready to defend your budget down to the dollar.”

Work Sessions Reminder

Both the June 16th separation of landfill and public works work session and the June 23 camera work session will be held after the regularly scheduled commission meetings on those dates.

Landfill Separation

Commissioner David Beerbower read a statement after apologizing to the chairman and members of the board as well as those in attendance at the May 12 meeting for his failure to follow Robert’s Rules of Order and the disrespect he presented towards the chairman in bringing his motion forward in that meeting. The heated discussion between himself and three citizens failed to allow Chairman Commissioner Brandon Whisenhunt control of the meeting at that time.

He brought the issue back up during the May 19 meeting because the motion he made to table it last week was based on incorrect information he received regarding an email about landfill rates. Regarding cost analysis he acknowledged the importance of the budget as well as services the county offers. Higher costs of operation in the future are a possibility.

He said that on its own, the landfill would be its own priority, giving it more attention than it has had historically. This isn’t about punishing anyone or saving money. The 2025 budget is set.

He again moved that the landfill department be separated from public works, that the landfill be increased by one employee from the current public works roster, that the equipment currently used at the landfill, including the dozer that is sometimes used elsewhere in the county, be placed under the control of the landfill supervisor; that the landfill will operate under the approved 2025 budget and public works will operate under their remaining department budget and that any revenue generated by the landfill must be presented to the commission before being used.

“There is a work session that you’ve told all these people is going to happen and now you’re trying it again,” said Milburn. She refused to discuss the issue with a second to Beerbower’s motion.

Whisenhunt seconded the motion.

Milburn then read a statement that included the statement that landfill employees have said they don’t want raises until they can prove that the landfill can make money. She is concerned with the cost of the change. “You could lower the budget if you didn’t do all these things.” It’s going to cost a secretary, a mechanic, and one more employee. “So we want to spoil this department and make sure they take all this money because it can generate revenue, when really we don’t have to do that?”

She then asked for public comments on the issue.

Whisenhunt reiterated that the  motion had been made and seconded before acknowledging an audience member that had been at the previous meeting.

Kevin Allen, who does a lot of hauling out to the landfill transfer station, included Clayton Miller whose family had been in trash hauling since 1987, and other local trash companies as people he was representing in his comments said, “There’s several of us that are really nervous as to where this would head.”

One of their concerns is the county looking at the transfer station [landfill] as a cash cow. He asked the commission if that was a correct assessment.

Beerbower said, “The only way the rates [for dumping at the transfer station] would be raised is if the rates are raised where we take it.”

Allen said he and the other trash haulers were excited about the commission having a work session that would compare numbers because of the potential to lower fees for county businesses who dump there if the numbers worked out, though he admitted that idea was “pie in the sky.”

Allen said that he and other trash haulers in the area are friends with the landfill employees and don’t want to create hostility with them by questioning practices at county meetings. “We don’t want to look at this as a big hostile environment either, and we’re not going to be treated any different than what we ever have been. I’m not going to allow that either.” He reminded the commission that they all are watching.

He said he would rather talk about this stuff with the commissioners outside of the meeting than have these kinds of discussions in a public forum, but his call wasn’t returned. Beerbower was recovering from surgery at the time of the call.

He asked them to do a P&L (profit and loss) analysis on the landfill for the last three years. Beerbower said he was willing to do that.

“You have a pretty luxurious way to run it because if at any given moment they need extra help, it’s a phone call away,” said Allen, when referring to the fact that the landfill transfer station is under the umbrella of the Public Works Department.

Whisenhunt said that the county charges $40 per ton for household trash, but then pays $33.70 per ton to dump it at the landfill in Allen County.

Whisenhunt also said that one of his goals for the county is to go beyond a transfer station and create a Bourbon County landfill.

Allen said, as a tax payer and business operator in Bourbon County, “I just want to be heard, I want to be respected…I don’t want to make hasty decisions…that’s why I’m here.” He then thanked the commission for listening.

Whisenhunt mentioned that he has regular, weekly conversations with the “county boss” who has said that the landfill is probably not ready yet to be apart from Public Works.

Milburn used information from Susan Walker, County Clerk, to say the county is spending more money by making this decision. She also had further information for Beerbower regarding non-elected personnel that would inform his decision.

They tabled the motion, then adjourned to a 10-minute executive session.

Jennifer Hawkins, Deputy County Clerk, then asked how the commission would handle the required $250,000 which the transfer station must have on hand by state mandate. Currently, Public Works has that money set aside in its budget. “That’s a significant chunk of Public Works’ budget that’s just in limbo that they can’t use to buy equipment or do any repairs or upgrades,” she said.

Allen spoke up and said that would be a great item to be worked over in a work session. Another audience member said he didn’t understand the rush and it looked to him like they were lying when the commission proposed a work session for June 16, but made a motion to go ahead with the separation today.

Johnson reminded the commission to follow the rules for a public meeting, but not a public forum.

Beerbower made the motion to withdraw his original motion to vote on the separation of the landfill from public works.

The Commission will not be meeting during Memorial Day week.

Public Comments for Items Not on the Agenda

Nick Graham addressed the commission, saying the last time he spoke with them was at the first meeting of the new commission in January. “That night I felt something I had not felt for a long time: hope.” He believed the toxicity he had seen pervading the county’s operations was coming to an end. However, he no longer believes that is the case. He says the county suffers from “grievance mentality.” He addressed the cause of Leroy Kruger’s resignation, saying he believed Kruger felt caught in the middle of the internal wars the various departments within the county have with each other.

He said he hates to bring this up with people he considers friends and has respect for, but he hates even more the fact that, “every time I encourage good people like Leroy and Dillon and Mika to serve this county it turns out that what I’m really asking them to do is jump head-first into a spirit-grinding toxic meat grinder. That has to stop. And now.”

FSCC asking for gravel

Milburn did the cost analysis and said it will cost the county $1305 to give FSCC the gravel they are requesting to improved the drive to the softball facilities being used for regional games. Bailey said he wouldn’t have time to do it if the storms increased the work the county needs to do on roads. She said it was at his discretion whether to do it or not and she wasn’t sure the county should spend the money, either. She didn’t want to tell him to do it in place of the work he needs to do on the roads.

Beerbower said he thinks that if Bailey can do it, he should do it. Whisenhunt said he already told Bailey to do it if he can.

Milburn said she wanted to see a motion to that effect. Whisenhunt made the motion, Milburn voted against, but it carried.

Dale Griffith

Griffith spoke to the commission, saying he’s seen a lot of talk that the county has paid a large amount due to non-representation of the board in litigation. As a tax payer, he asked why.

Johnson said they cannot speak about pending litigation.

Don George with Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

George asked the commission if they wanted to apply for further grants for repair of the Elm Creek Lake Dam.

Whisenhunt said he would get information on numbers from Bailey and get back to George.

Concerned Citizen

Another audience member spoke with the commission, saying he agreed with Nick Graham. He then thanked the commissioners for serving, acknowledging how hard their job is, and reminding them to do what’s best for the people who elected them. He encouraged them to hang in there despite the difficulties. “It’s not pretty, but it’s not meant to be pretty. It’s politics.” He reminded them to keep their heads up and do the best they could, saying that he and several other citizens he knows appreciate their service.

New Business

KCAMP Memorandum

The memorandum speaks to the need for replacing roofs on the county building. KCAMP inspect the facilities annually and submits their assessment. The information will need to be kept in mind as the commission makes their budgets.

Commissioner Comments

Mika Milburn; apologized for getting heated during the landfill discussion. She has spent several weeks talking to department head and elected officials in an effort to get acclimated to the county and find out where she can best serve.

“My opinion: there’s a lack of respect for the tax payer,” she said.

She isn’t aligning herself with any other elected offices, but seeks to represent the best interests of the county. She said that no one in the county employ deserves to be making “the most money.”

“There are men and women that sign up to defend our nation every day and they are signing up to serve. We all signed up to serve our county in a different capacity but want to set here and bicker about what we deserve. Well if you ask me, we all deserve to be elected out for our displeasing behavior that we subject our electorate to, and I don’t want to hear any more about it. Right now we have an economic crisis in our county. Let’s not forget that we all signed on to serve the people of Bourbon County and not ourselves. And if anyone chooses to stay the course and keep on, I’ll do nothing, because your choices are yours and they are not a reflection on me and mine,” she concluded.

With that, they voted to adjourn the meeting.

Susan Walker, County Clerk, spent the first several minutes of the meeting bringing new District 3 Commissioner Mika Milburn and the other commissioners up to speed on the county’s quarterly financial report.

Last year, the county saw a major dip in sales tax from $1.6 to $1.2 million, which affected the county’s ability to deal with hard surface roads.

Commissioners approved the quarterly financial report for publication.

Pest Control Bid Opening, 3 year

Quality Pest Control Inc. Bid a $375 initial service charge and monthly service for $375.

Ashcraft Pest Control, bid a 3 year contract for $500.

PestX Solutions, the county’s current vendor, bid $310 per month.

Milburn expressed desire to be transparent with county business and give local business owners an opportunity to bid on county contracts.

Commissioner David Beerbower said he favored the Ashcraft bid because it was local. Milburn said that while she favored local, she wanted to be careful not to set an unwise precedent, because it’s not her money being spent.

The commissioner unanimously approved the Ashcraft Pest Control bid.

Trash Service Bid Opening, 3 year

Lynn Sanitation bid $470 per month, no additional fees, no yearly increase.

WCA out of Missouri bid $440.30 with a 7% annual increase possible.

Commissioner Brandon Whisenhunt made motion to hire Lynn Sanitation and the commission approved it.

Executive session for employee performance

Resumed normal session with action

Milburn made motion to move $6,500 from the commission fund to the clerk to cover the funds needed for Resolution 1425, adopted by the commission earlier this year.

Milburn also moved to create a floater position to help around the courthouse through October and to post the job opening. Commission approved both motions.

Old Business

Policies and Procedures

Milburn moved to adopt the employee procedures for deviation and the deviation form that goes with it as an addendum to the employee handbook. Walker will prepare the resolution for the next commission meeting.

City of Fulton request for reduced landfill rates on condemned house debris

Fulton has 6-8 city-condemned houses, some falling in and some with unreachable owners.

Milburn recommended the commission adopt a resolution allowing Bourbon County cities with populations of less than 400 to bring construction and demolition waste to the landfill for $0 for the gratification of Bourbon County. This is for buildings or structures condemned by the city, not individuals.

Beerbower asked to table it for a week to have time to study the issue.

Work Comp Procedures and Benefits

Walker said that the county’s procedures for work comp are in the handbook. The first seven days is not covered, but it can be in severe instances. When an individual takes insurance that is voluntary, they are expected to pay it. With work comp, no taxes are taken out, so the person is made whole.

Sick leave can be used whether injury happens on or off the job. If a county employee feels that their situation is not covered by the employee handbook, they can file a deviation form and come speak to the commission in executive session about their situation.

Beerbower asked that they bring it back next week for further discussion.

Road Closure Application

Milburn moved to publish the road closure with GIS location to the official Bourbon County social media page, local news and certified mailings where appropriate so the commission can take into account any disputes before the meeting in two weeks. Commission approved.

Milburn also moved to create a resolution to require those who petition for road closures to cover the cost of the administrative functions of that road closure, including but not limited to newspaper publications and certified mailings because they are gaining a piece of property through that action.

Walker offered to check the state statutes about fees the county is allowed to charge and apply it to the resolution before bringing it to the next meeting. Commission approved.

Human Resources

Beerbower took Kruger’s position as commissioner liaison for human resources. His role was to be the disciplinary portion of a Human Resources position. The rest of the county’s HR needs are handled by the clerk’s office. Commissioners mentioned needing an actual HR person.

They decided to gather more information and discuss again next week.

Sheriff Vehicle request

Beerbower moved to fund the vehicle replacement costing $66,914 out of the general fund to be partially reimbursed by the insurance payment when it arrives.

Walker suggested paying for it from the jail sales tax fund, which is used to pay for other vehicles and which has a bit of a surplus right now. She said that the general fund doesn’t have a lot of money, and there’s no extra money setting there at this time.

Brian Murphy, deputy and advisor for the sheriff, said that the jail funding isn’t reliable. Murphy’s opinion says the money needs to be set aside in case of a problem at the jail.

Whisenhunt amended the motion to  take the funds from the jail sales tax fund and the motion carried.

Budget

Walker gave the commissioners a list of those county officials and department heads who must come to speak to the commission regarding budget matters as the commission prepared the 2026 budget. She said they are running out of time to complete the work needed before June 15, when they get their tax numbers. They need to have the budget ready for those numbers by June 15 so that Walker can plug them in and the commission make any necessary changes to complete a budget by July 20, which is the legal deadline.

Walker said not to base the budget on the tax numbers, but on what the various department heads request in their budgets.

Milburn moved for a budget work session for Wednesday, April 30 at 4 p.m. to include Greg Motley as an advisor, as well as Susan Walker.

The commissioners set the date of June 1 to have department heads turn in their budgets to Susan Walker.

Whisenhunt made the motion to that affect and the commission approved it.

Mika Milburn-Kee attended her first regular Bourbon County Commission meeting as the newly appointed commissioner for District 3.

The zoning public hearing process was discussed. Commissioner David Beerbower said that the first zoning advisory committee meeting had been held on April 17 where the committee elected their chairperson and other officers. They also adopted bylaws that include having one commissioner present at meetings to serve as a resource. Beerbower said the commissioners could take turns doing that.

The zoning advisory committee has expressed an interest in hosting several public hearings and will announce the dates for those as they are finalized. The next committee meeting will be Wednesday, April 23 at 6:30 in the county courthouse commissioner room.

Public Comments for Items Not on the Agenda

Larry Paddock for the city of Fulton, came to ask the commission if the city could bring rubble from a condemned and torn down building to the county landfill at a reduced rate.

The commission chose to add the issue to next week’s agenda to allow time to discuss the matter with the landfill and public works supervisor.

Bob Reed, a 15-year Bourbon County employee, came to talk to the commission about how they will handle injuries at work. He was in a serious work injury on March 10 and he asked the commissioners to consider changing the way they handle sick time and vacation time for injured employees.

“Our vacation and sick time is earned,” so we have the right to decide how it’s used, he said. “We shouldn’t be forced to use it on a work-related injury.”

He also expressed concern about insurance issues for future employees who get injured.

Whisenhunt and Beerbower thanked Reed for sharing and offered to look into it and see what they can do.

New Business

Road Closure Application: Bradley Plaster

Plaster asked that the alley between lots 3 and 4 off Dragon Road in Hyattville, which is unincorporated, be closed. He had signatures from the two other affected land owners also asking for the closure. The road, in district 2, is not even graveled and is overgrown with trees.

Beerbower will confirm that it is county property and the commission will make a decision at next week’s meeting.

Human Resources Discussion

Beerbower moved to table it until they could have the County Clerk, Susan Walker, present at the meeting to enable discussion.

Procedures

Commissioner Milburn wants to smooth out county operations and has made notes and adjustments to the current county handbook, which is more than 20 years old. She said the purpose of this work is to “establish procedures to implement a corrective action plan and personal improvement plan to assist in our expectations of employment with the goal of being transparent, consistent with expectations, and improving the overall function with a supportive approach.”

Milburn asked the other commissioners for edits, changes, corrections and additions to the handbook. Beerbower offered a work session to combine Milburn’s work with the work done earlier this year by the department heads on employee procedures.

“That’s good. Hit the ground running,” said Whisenhunt of Milburn’s work.

He made the motion to keep “Procedures” on the agenda every week until they reach the point of being able to implement them. Commission approved.

Sheriff Vehicle Requests

Sheriff Bill Martin asked the commission to approve the purchase of a new vehicle to replace the one that was in an accident earlier this year. That 2014 vehicle was hit and rolled several times and is most likely totaled. It had 200,000 miles on it. They are awaiting insurance payments from the counties insurance and the driver who caused the accidents insurance.

Martin said any funds received from insurance will go back to the county to help offset the cost of the new vehicle.

The vehicle he is requesting to purchase is a 2025 and will cost $66,914 once fully equipped.

Whisenhunt asked if he had any funds in his budget to help cover the cost of the vehicle, but the sheriff has no extra funds in his budget right now.

Beerbower moved to table it until next week to allow the commission time to look at the budget for the funding needed. Commission approved.

Commissioner Comments

Milburn read a statement expressing her desire to hear from her constituents about their desires and priorities for Bourbon County. She said she will listen with the goal of understanding and will ask questions to that end.

“The question right now is what you want your county to look like in 10, 15 or 20 years. How we get there is going to be of great debate,” she said.

Milburn welcomes input, and asked that county citizens send letters, email, or call to share their ideas about the future of Bourbon County.

Final note

A citizen in audience wants to thank whomever cleaned up hwy 54 west of town. “It looks way better and I’d like to thank somebody, but I don’t know who to thank.”

Whisenhunt said that whoever did it should let the county know so they can be thanked.

Southeast Kansas Health Department 2026 Budget Request

Rebecca Johnson administrator of the Southeast Kansas Multi-county Health Department and the Bourbon County local health officer presented the SEK Health Department budget request for 2026 to the commission.

The department is requesting a 3% increase in funding for the upcoming year to account for inflation and rising operational costs. This reflects a standard cost of living adjustment and the continued rise in the cost of goods and services. The department’s last increase was in 2021.

In the annual report she presented, Johnson said that the health department conducted 362 disease investigations, 795 immunizations, 3,751 WIC appointments, and 140 home visits, the best home visits in the state of Kansas per a recent KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment) report. The department also engaged 1,349 individuals through outreach and 496 through other services.

A new project the department has taken on started in August of 2024 with a breast milk donor depot to help get frozen donated breast milk to hospitals in the area. They are also working on a tick disease prevention project.

The department applies for many grants to help the region. They currently have a grant through KDHE for safe sleep baby showers, and will be hosting an event in June with safe sleep trainers to educate families in safe sleep for babies, which includes distribution of pack-and-plays. The department also has carseat safety trainers, providing safety check lanes, and a grant to pay for car seats for children. In addition, the breastfeeding coalition is experiencing rapid growth.

The SEK Health Department’s funding request for 2026 is $93,473.

The commission will use this information as they write the 2026 budget.

Old Business

Hay bid letter from Pat Murphy, over-the-road truck driver who missed the bid deadline

Murphy bid $200 to hay Native Road and the old dump site. The commission approved.

Letters of interest in the zoning committee

The county received 14 letters from individuals interested in serving on the committee to advise the commission on zoning. More letters were submitted from District One than any other.

Commissioner David Beerbower read the new committee bylaws aloud in the meeting.

After taking about 13 minutes of the meeting to look over the letters of interest, the commission chose a nine-member committee. Brian Wade, Christine Farbo, Brian Ashworth II, James L. Banwart Jr., Mary Pemberton, Jason Yaunt, Amanda Spicer, Pete Owensby, and Mike Hueston were selected as committee members.

The committee will meet once a week for 5 weeks starting Thursday, April 17 at 5pm in the commission room at the courthouse. These meetings are open to the public, but are not a public forum, and no public participation allowed.

Public Comments for Items not on the Agenda

Kevin Shafer asked the commission to upgrade the septic code to include a soil test.

Shafer had spoken to the previous commission about this problem, but no changes were made at that time. There was a requirement prior to 1998, but it was dropped then. Shafer said it’s a safety issue and right now it’s “just guesswork” going on when a septic system is installed. He offered to come back with more detailed information about the changes he’s suggesting at a later date.

Brent Smith from Redfield Kansas thanked Beerbower for coming to the recent chamber event. He also commended the commission for the professional manner in dealing with the public, compared to the previous commission.

Anne Dare recently joined an organization called Path of Ease, a transitional program for women coming out of addiction. They need lockable medication boxes and she is interested in checking over the hospital supplies the county will be auctioning to see if they have any that meet Path of Ease’s needs. Whisenhunt said they would check on the progress of the auction company and if the items aren’t yet up for auction, they will help Path of Ease get in to look and see if any of the items fit their needs.

Michael Hoyt said that Veteran advocacy has been a challenge since November of 2024. He wanted the public to know that on April 22-23 from 9am-6pm in Kansas City, the Missouri and Kansas VA Benefits offices will be in Kansas City, Kansas at the Veterans Memorial Hall to work with those who need help inputting their claims.

Michael Walden, Director of Juvenile Detention Center in Gerard, KS, which Bourbon County is part owner off came to meet the commissioners. He said they will have a Board of Directors Meeting on April 23, where they will discuss legislative changes affecting the center. Beerbower plans to attend. Walden offered the commissioners a tour of the center, and emphasized that it is part of Bourbon County, which has $300,000 invested in the center. He expressed the desire to serve the county in whatever capacity he can.

New Business

Letter of Support for SEK Community Action Program

Casey Brown, Community Engagement Coordinator for SEK CAP, which covers the 12 counties in Southeast Kansas, including Bourbon spoke to the commission. He asked for a letter of support for their application for the Community Service Block Grant, the core funding that operates CAP programs across the nation. CAP programs are a federal initiative designed to alleviate poverty at local levels.

Initiatives the grant and SEK CAP conduct include: community needs assessments, housing programs, early childhood education center and home visitation program, transportation services and weatherization assistance.

The commission approved signing letter.

Department Updates

Eric Bailey, Public Works

After last week’s road presentation, they went out and got the estimate to do Maple Road. The distance of 2,092 feet will cost $30,170.

Wednesday, 195th, south of 54 to Maple will be under construction for a culvert replacement.

Roofs are going on right now at the shelters and house at Elm Creek. Todd Fox and his group of volunteers have been working on it. The Fort Scott High School construction trades department is building windows for the house, using materials from the county.

The Public Works Safety Committee is doing CPR  and First Aid training this week and continue to look for ways to improve their rules and procedures through committee meetings.

Current job postings for public works are a Class A driver, a mechanic, and a general laborer.

Commissioner Brandon Whisenhunt wants the county to hire a scale house operator at the transfer station to weigh trucks, handle tickets, pick up trash when not busy. Beerbower sees the need for more personnel out there but is concerned about finding the money. Bailey’s opinion is that the county needs to get the transfer station paid off, which won’t be done until March of April of 2026. They also have to have $235,000 set back, per the state, for reclamation. Hopefully that’s all handled by next year. Then there will be room in the 2026 budget for that position.

Beerbower says further discussion requires getting numbers to see if the budget will allow it at this time. Bailey asked to be in on any discussion, and Whisenhunt agreed.

Commissioner comments

Whisenhunt thanked all who sent a letter of interest in for the zoning advisory committee. “It’s nice to see the citizens getting involved and taking an interest in what’s going on in the county.”

He also wants to have a public hearing on the zoning discussion with a moderator. In the public hearing, the commissioners will be there to listen. The date will be announced.

Whisenhunt was asked to explain the difference between zoning and coding. “Coding would be when we get involved in everybody’s business and everything they do. I am not in favor of that,” he said.  Zoning is no permits for agricultural or residential. It only takes affect when you go from those things to commercial and industrial use. “I don’t know how to make it any easier than that,” he said. “Hopefully that clears it up some.”