All posts by Loretta George

Bourbon County, Schools

St. Martin’s: Third Year Educating Boys

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St. Martin’s Academy Theotokos Hall. Photo was taken from the school’s website.
The St. Martin’s Academy all-school photo taken December 2020. Submitted.

Saint Martin’s Academy, rural Fort Scott,  is a Catholic boarding school for boys that combines classical academics with a practical work program on a sustainable farm, according to its’ website. www.saintmartinsacademy.org

The school is in its’ third year.

 

 

Daniel Kerr is the headmaster of the academy and gave fortscott.biz an email interview.

 

Daniel Kerr is the founder and headmaster of St. Martin’s Academy. Photo was taken from the academy’s website.

 

“We have 42 students this year across all four grades: 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th,” Kerr said.   “Our first graduating class of nine will graduate on May 29th.  Our graduates’ plans include college, apprenticing in a trade, and mission work.”

 

Adam Taylor is the new assistant headmaster of St. Martin’s Academy. Photo was taken from the academy’s website.
One of the new faculty this year is Adam Taylor,  who is the assistant headmaster.
“Adam spent 20 years in the Marines before entering the private sector as a vice president at Cloudera, a software company,” Kerr said.  “His son, Ian, is a 12th grader.”
Bryan Meyers is the new St. Martin’s Academy Dean of Student Life. Photo was taken from the academy’s website.
The school also has a new dean of student life, Bryan Meyers.
 “Bryan has taught at a variety of private and public schools for over a decade and has a passion for integrating academics with the living laboratory of the farm and fields,” Kerr said.  “He teaches several classes and is also the school’s beekeeper with several active hives and more on the way.”

St. Martin’s Academy Rugby Team. Submitted photos.
The school offers rugby as part of the program.
“Practices for the 2021 Rugby season are well underway and we have seven or eight matches slated in the late winter and early spring, mostly with teams from the Kansas City metro area,” Kerr said.   “Team captains Ian Taylor, Henry Hickey (12th grade), and Nate Jones, Danny Harrington (11th grade) will lead the Kingfishers in our first year of playing with a full squad of 15.  Rugby is played by all the boys who are able and helps develop a real esprit de corps and sense of camaraderie.”
The school is still in the construction phase with the main completed building, Theotokos Hall, the center of activity.
“Theotokos Hall serves a multifunctional purpose during our first years,” Danielle Bauer, who has development and fundraising duties at the academy, said. “Currently the building houses our kitchen, dining hall, common area and hearth, library and classrooms. Most importantly, the top floor of Theotokos Hall serves as our chapel where the boys gather daily for prayer and Holy Mass.”
It also served as a temporary dormitory until bunkhouses could be built.
A bunkhouse at St. Martin’s Academy in construction. The students help with the building of the structures. Submitted photos.
“Three of our five bunkhouses scheduled for construction are now occupied by the boys,” Kerr said. ” This has been a game-changer for us by freeing up space within our main building, Theotokos Hall, to be developed for proper classrooms and a library.  Enrollment next year should approach 60 and it is likely we will have a waiting list by May.”
The students are involved in the community.
“Among our work project, the boys are currently re-building several picnic tables for Gunn Park and have done some preparatory cooking for Fort Scott’s soup kitchen (Feeding Families In His Name at the First United Methodist Church),” Kerr said.
“I am sincerely grateful for the hospitality and kindness of Fort Scott’s civic leaders and residents in welcoming St. Martin’s these first few years,” Kerr said. “We look forward to being increasingly engaged in service and cultural projects that make positive contributions to the community.”
St. Martin’s Academy students practice music in their bunkhouse room. Submitted photo.
St. Martin’s Academy is located at 1950 Indian Road, Fort Scott.
Fort Scott

Alene Jolly Retires After 40 Years at Tri-Valley

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Tri-Valley Developmental Services is located at 4305 Campbell Drive in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park.

Alene Jolly is retiring from Tri-Valley Developmental Services after 40 years. Her last day is Friday, Feb. 12.

 

Alene Jolly. Submitted photo.

Through those years Jolly has done transportation of clients, worked at the service center, was a case manager, worked at residential services, and most currently, the program director in Fort Scott.

 

She has tried to provide individuals that receive services involvement in the community, “to add value to their lives and provide services, too.”

 

Tri-Valley empowers people with disabilities to realize their potential as full citizens in the community, by supporting them in working and living in the place they call home, according to the company’s website.

 

Currently, Tri-Valley in Fort Scott has close to 40 employees and 30 individuals they provide services to.

 

For Jolly, the best part of the job was seeing the individuals that she worked with having joy when they accomplished a task.

 

“It puts warm fuzzies in your heart,” she said.

 

Tri-Valley opened in 1975 and Jolly has been with the company since 1980.  Through the years she has seen people’s attitudes change towards developmentally disabled in the community, she said.

 

“There is more acceptance, especially of the individuals having jobs in the community,” Jolly said.

 

Mary Davis, a former co-worker of 25 years, said of Jolly, “She is a very capable, intelligent, dedicated person. She can do about anything that needs doing.”

 

Jolly thinks it is time to start a new chapter in her life.

 

“I’m going to do a little this, a little that,” she said. “Travel, crafts, gardening…things I have put on the back burner.”

 

Opinion

Pretty Is A Pretty Does

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Carolyn Tucker. Submitted photo.

Keys to the Kingdom

Carolyn Tucker

 

If I had a nickel for every time I heard my Mom tell me, “Pretty is as pretty does,” I could buy a Big Mac or some Belgian truffles. Even though she’s been gone several years, her words of wisdom still resound in my soul. Recently, I was visiting with a Missouri cousin and this particular quote came out of my mouth. This relative had heard that expression before, but had never really thought about the meaning. So I explained it in a straight-shooting manner and he said, “That makes sense.” My sweet cousin Danny is a perfect example of this saying when I exchange “pretty“ for “handsome.”

How you act and what you do is what makes you truly pretty, not your appearance. A gal can be pretty, but she is only (as good, kind, etc.) as she does. An individual with exemplary character, ethics, and integrity is more important than good looks. Just because a person is physically pleasing on the outside doesn’t guarantee he/she is pretty on the inside. If our actions, attitudes, and behaviors are ugly, it doesn’t matter how gorgeous we are on the outside! Our words and deeds continuously speak for themselves because what‘s on the inside will certainly find its way to the outside — for good or bad.

Jesus was batting a thousand with His point-blank sermon. He criticized the religious leaders by telling them that religious appearance is not enough. “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy — full of greed and self-indulgence“ (Matthew 23:25,26 NLT). The religious leaders were only concerned with outward appearances and neglected inward purity and loving others. Jesus instructed them to clean the inside of the cup and dish first, and then the outside will follow suit.

Jesus boldly told the crowds and His disciples not to follow the example of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees. Why? Because they didn’t practice what they preached. In fact, Jesus said that everything they did was for show. “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs — beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matthew 23:27,28 NLT).

In the book of 1 Samuel Chapter 25, Abigail is a beautiful woman with brains married to nincompoop Nabal. When David’s men kindly asked Nabal for provisions, he foolishly refused, insulting the most powerful man in the region. When Abigail wisely intervened and brought a caravan of food and gifts to David and his 600 men, she fell to the ground at his feet. She made one of the longest speeches by a woman recorded in the Bible. God used her humble words and prudent actions to save many lives. After her scoundrel husband died, she later became David’s wife. Abigail was pretty on the outside, but she is remembered as one of the great peacemakers because she was pretty on the inside.

“The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT).

The Key: Live your life inside-out to get to the heart of the matter.

Fort Scott, Schools, Sports

Tiger Swimmers Compete

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The Fort Scott High School Swim Team, Feb. 4, 2021

Last week the Fort Scott High School  Boys Swim Team competed at Coffeyville on Tuesday.

  Oliver Witt took 1st in both the 500 Free and the 50 Free.  He swam a state consideration time in the 50.

Bobby Kemmerer took 1st in both the 100 Free and the 100 Back, swimming a state consideration time in the 100 Free.

  Sam Mix took 2nd in both the 50 Free and the 100 Breast.

The boys also were able to swim in the 400 Free Relay placing 1st as an exhibition team.

On Thursday, the Tiger Swimmers traveled to Hutchinson to compete in the Buhler High School meet.

Oliver took 1st in the 200 Free and 4th in the 100 Butterfly.

Sam took 3rd in the 50 Free and Bobby took 2nd in the 100 Free and 4th in the Breast.

Next week the boys will be preparing for their last regular-season competition, the League Meet in Osawatomie.  This will be the last opportunity for earning State Qualifying times.  The 5A-1A State Swim Meet will be on Saturday, February 21st in Shawnee Mission.

Submitted by Coach Angie Kemmerer

Bourbon County, Health Care

Girard Medical Center of Uniontown To Open In March 2021

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An exam room in the Girard Medical Center of Uniontown clinic.

Girard Medical Center of Uniontown, the new community health center in western Bourbon County, will open in March.

 

Residents currently must travel either to Fort Scott which is 20 miles away,  Iola-25 miles, Pittsburg-38 miles, or Girard-30 miles for medical care.

 

Spearheaded by Uniontown Ruritan, and the vision of several members of the community, the Uniontown health clinic is a collaboration of Ruritan, USD 235 School District, the Bourbon County Commission, the City of Uniontown, and Girard Medical Center.

 

“We hoped to open March 1, but it may be mid-March,” Ruth Duling, the CEO of Girard Medical Center, said.

 

Ruth Duling, CEO of Girard Medical Center. Photo from CMC website.

 

The school district provided the building for the clinic, which is located south of the Uniontown High School football field on the main street in the small town.

 

 

The sign in front of the Girard Medical Center of Uniontown building, which is located just south of the town’s football field.

 

 

“Uniontown USD 235 is excited to partner with other organizations to bring health care options to our district communities,” USD 235 Superintendent Bret Howard said.  “The 2020-21 school year has been very challenging, especially when it comes to community health.  USD 235 is pleased to partner with Girard Medical Center and the Uniontown Ruritan Club in making this dream a reality.”

 

Bret Howard, Superintendent of USD 235. Submitted. photo.

 

“It is great to see the successful culmination of a dream become reality in the creation of the Uniontown rural health clinic,” Mark Warren, District #37 Governor of Middle America Ruritan, who helped spearhead the project, said. “This clinic has the potential to benefit citizens of all ages and provide a choice in health care for the residents of our community.”

 

Mark Warren, Uniontown Ruritan member, opens the east door of the medical clinic. in February 2020, before the renovation of the building began.

 

 

GMC is planning to start providing services to the community with the clinic open three days a week, Duling said.

 

“The remodel has gone well,  and we just have clean—up and finishing touches,” she said.

 

“We are still working on securing personnel,” Duling said. “We will have two positions to start with and we have applicants for those positions already.”

 

The Girard Medical Center of Uniontown is part of the satellite clinics that GMC has in southeast Kansas:   Girard Medical Center of Cherokee, Girard Medical Center of Arma,  and Girard Medical Center of Frontenac.

 

The business area of the Girard Medical Center of Uniontown.

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott

Interest In The Mayhew Cemetery Has Revived

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Submitted photo.
Shirley Hurd is a lifelong resident of Fort Scott and a researcher at Old Fort Genealogy Society (OFGS).
In 1995 she started to research the Mayhew Cemetery, she said in a press release. “This cemetery was set out in a deed in 1885, when the owner, Henry Mayhew sold all but a 100 x 100-foot section where his son-in-law was buried.”
The cemetery is predominantly an African-American burial site .
At the time she began her research, she and two others made a visit to Chet Ober (the property owner) of the site and asked if he could show them where the Mayhew Cemetery was.
“The location (Ober) took us to is where the Mayhew No. 2 cemetery is located,” she said. “Mr. Ober told us that he asked Bourbon County several times to fix up the cemetery. He stated that the county dozed the tombstone, sometime after 1961, into the river, and told him to use the ground as farmland.”
Others Have Sought Info About the Cemetery
Prior to Hurd, in 1973 OFGS Member Gerald Wood met with Ober.
“He stated that he tried diligently to get someone to help preserve the cemetery, but when they were unable to do so, they had it bulldozed since they needed the land,” she said.
In 2006 Hurd was asked for information about the Mayhew Cemetery by Sandra Dudley who was writing a story about the cemetery.
Hurd told Dudley all that she knew about the cemetery and Dudley attempted to view the site.
Dudley found a sign that stated “Do Not Enter – Hazardous Waste – Keep Out” and a Fort Scott City employee told her she was not allowed on the property, that it was private property, according to Hurd.
Dudley published a booklet in 2007 named “The Buried Roots of African-American Ancestry in Fort Scott, Kansas” which includes information on the Mayhew Cemetery.
Hurd Started Researching Again in 2019, After a Hiatus
Last year, she had another join in the research.
“In 2020, Ann Rawlins joined the research of the Mayhew Cemetery and we soon located Mayhew Cemetery No. 2 from aerial maps,” she said. “We believe that Mayhew No.1 could no longer hold any more burials in the 100 x 100-foot lot and burials were started north of the original site, and then to the east just south of the (Marmaton) river bank.”
The updated list of names is now about 175 buried in the two sites of the Mayhew Cemetery, she said.
“There is a Civil War Soldier buried in Mayhew, along with some that were freed as slaves and retained their slave owners’ names,” Hurd said. “There is an entire family that died in 1911 – 13 of whooping cough and other complications due to disease at that time. There are newborns, children, families, neighbors, and a couple (of people) that even lived to be 100 years old. There are so many stories of these families that need to be told.”
“Restoration of the cemetery is not possible,” Hurd said, “but there is a plan to have a memorial stone with all the names of the deceased on it placed in Fort Scott.”
A tombstone that had been located at Mayhew Cemetery. Submitted photos.
The memorial stone will be financed through personal and business donations.
“If you would like more information on the Mayhew Cemetery, please stop by OFGS Library or give me a call,” Hurd said.
OFGS’s phone number is 620-223-3300 or her email address is [email protected]. The office is located on National Avenue, in the basement of Memorial Hall.
Ann Rawlins is a librarian at Old Fort Genealogical Society and recently assisted  Hurd on the project.
 The site for Mayhew Cemetery No. 2 was unknown until Rawlins’ twin brother, Dr. Wayne R. Tucker, used lidar photography of the area. He found that there were two separate locations that were divided by a low channel.
“Once this was discovered…and we had located and recorded GPS coordinates of several surface items,” Rawlins said, “we have been authorized…to dig, but are still working on surface finds.”
“There are many buried in Mayhew who would never have been posted in the local newspapers or death records, so the total number of burials may never be known,” Rawlins said.
“Robert J. Hoard, Ph.D., State Archeologist of Kansas Historical Society is investigating the sites,” Rawlins said, “and has now classified them as historic and archeological cemeteries.”
Currently, a moratorium is in effect that Fort Scott city crews can only brush hog the area to maintain it, and no further damage to the site can be done.
The document is signed by former Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin and authorized by the Fort Scott City Commissioners, Rawlins said.
For an upcoming information event on the Mayhew Cemetery:
To donate to the memorial:
Fort Scott, Government

Land Bank Moves Forward In Fort Scott

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Allyson Turvey. Submitted photo. She was selected by the new city manager to become the Fort Scott Land Bank Manager.

At a Feb. 1 meeting, the newly formed Fort Scott Land Bank voted on the acquisition of 10 N. National Ave.

“This first acquisition marks a historic step for the Fort Scott Land Bank,” City Manager Jeremy Frazier said.  ” It is important to note that this could not have been possible without the visionary leadership of the city commission and the hard work of many key employees such as Community Development Manager Allison Turvey and many others.”

Frazier’s first official day on the job as city manager was Feb. 1.

Jeremy Frazier. Submitted photo.

 

“The city would also like to express its appreciation to the principal owners of J&S Properties and Earth Always for allowing the Fort Scott Land Bank to acquire this property,” he said. ” When asked why the acquisition was allowed to proceed, the owner noted that first, he felt that this would be the best way to preserve the historic building on behalf of the community of Fort Scott, its residents, and the downtown business community. Second, he expressed that he had great faith and optimism in the current city commission and myself to make the best use of this acquisition in a way that would benefit and improve the community.”

 

The owner donated the property.

 

“His generosity has breathed life into the Fort Scott Land Bank which was once only a plan and now is reality,” Frazier said.  Thank you J&S Properties and Earth Always. We have high hopes for this building and its location in the future.”

 

 

The Fort Scott Land Bank is an independent instrument of the city with the responsibility to efficiently buy, hold, manage,  and transform surplus city properties and other underutilized or distressed properties to turn these properties into productive use, according to Allyson Turvey, the newly appointed manager.

 

The Land Bank Board is comprised of Joshua Jones, Mayor of Fort Scott; Kevin Allen, City Commissioner, Pete Allen, City Commissioner; Randy Nichols, City Commissioner; Lindsey Watts, City Commissioner; Jim Harris, Bourbon County Commissioner;
Gregg Motley, Bourbon County Economic Development Board, Inc. Director; Turvey, LandBank Manager, and  Susan Bancroft, LandBank Treasurer

 

“At our next meeting  (Feb. 9)I will be giving a presentation on the processes and objectives of the Land Bank,” Turvey said.  “We will also be discussing priorities for acquisition of property.”

 

Turvey provided the following on the Fort Scott Land Bank:

 

The Fort Scott Land Bank focuses on the conversion of vacant, abandoned, tax-delinquent, or otherwise underused properties into productive use.

 

Vacant, abandoned, tax-delinquent, or otherwise underused properties are often grouped together as “problem properties” because they destabilize neighborhoods, create fire and safety hazards, drive down property values, and drain local tax dollars.

 

The Fort Scott Land Bank was created to strategically
acquire problem properties, eliminate the liabilities, and transfer the properties to new, responsible owners in a transparent manner that results in outcomes consistent with community-based plans.

These opportunities are a collection of parcels owned by the Fort Scott Land Bank.

Every transfer of property from the Fort Scott Land Bank will be accompanied by a development agreement, outlining the final use of the property as well as accompanying timelines. The purchase price
for Land Bank properties will be negotiated based on the cost to acquire the property as well as the details in the development agreement. The Fort Scott Land Bank Board of Trustees will approve the final agreement and purchase offer.

 

Ascension Via Christi, Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Fort Scott, Health Care

CHC/SEK In Negotiations With Price Chopper to Move to 2322 S. Main

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Krista Postai. Submitted photo.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is in negotiation with the owners of the former Price Chopper building to acquire it, Krista Postai, CHC/SEK President and CEO, said in an email interview.

 

“However the details are not yet finalized,” she said. “Following the closure of the store in 2019, the health center identified the building as a potential site to house a future clinic based on the uncertainty surrounding the future of the existing hospital building at that time,”  she said.

 

“The large size and convenient location would allow us to bring our medical clinic, walk-in care, and pharmacy into one location with enough space to allow additional expansions if needed,” Postai said.

 

The Price Chopper building is located at 2322 S. Main and has been empty since 2019.

 

The Price Chopper building Nov. 2017, prior to opening.

 

The CHC/SEK lease for the clinic space at the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills expired on December 31, 2020,Postai said.

 

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.

Postai said CHC/SEK needed to “move forward on determining a long-range plan for a permanent home for our clinic.”

 

“We did secure an additional two-year lease from Mercy Health System in December – who remains the owner on the building —  on our existing clinic space, with the understanding from Mercy that there was no option to renew,” she said.

 

 

“Mercy also donated several acres of land behind the existing hospital to CHC/SEK and we were planning new construction when the opportunity to acquire the Price Chopper Building was once again raised,” Postai said.

 

 

“We had originally pursued the possibility of utilizing that space (the Price Chopper building) in collaboration with Ascension Via Christi when it first became available but were in the midst of transitioning both the clinic and the Emergency Room over from Mercy which was the priority for both organizations,” she said. “We did, however, remain in contact with the owners of the building who were anxious to see this space utilized once again.”

 

 

“With our plans to now move forward on acquiring the former grocery store, we have reconnected with Ascension Via Christi regarding the possibility of future collaboration and are in serious discussions with their senior leadership,” she said.

 

 

“We remain committed – as does Ascension Via Christi – to ensuring the residents of Bourbon County have access to primary and emergency care today and into the future,” Postai said.

 

 

Entertainment

Motorcycle Riders To Stop at Veterans Memorial in Fort Scott

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Photo from the Tour of Honor Facebook page.

A nation-wide group of motorcyclists is stopping at the Veteran’s Memorial on Skubitz Plaza in downtown Fort Scott when the warm weather gets here, a part of a self-directed ride to selected memorial sites across the nation.

 

“We’ll be featuring the veterans memorial at 2 Old Fort Blvd. this year — one of seven in Kansas — and you can expect riders visiting there between April 1 and October 31, usually solo but sometimes in groups of 2 or 3,” Steve Brooks, with Tour of Honor LLC, said. “They’ll be stopping there to pay respects and taking photos of their rally flag and motorcycles.”

 

The Tour of Honor Motorcycle is a self-directed ride to selected memorial sites that honor American heroes and will have approximately 1,000 riders in 2021, according to  Brooks.

 

“Fort Scott was selected by Kansas state sponsor Alexander Schmidt because of the veterans memorial there,” Brooks said. “All states have state sponsors that wish to share more of their state.”

 

“Not all riders are veterans, but all are patriots and support veterans,” he said.

“Tour of Honor is a great reason to hit the open road, honor our nation’s heroes, and contribute to a few good charities, according to the website tourofhonor.com “The event is a season-long, self-directed ride to memorials and monuments around the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii. Beginning April 1, visit as many sites as you want, with any route you choose.

2021 will have an all-new set of memorial sites to visit, with new roads and new experiences for any avid motorcyclist!”

 

 

Fort Scott, Government

FS City Commission Meeting Agenda For Feb. 2

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NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR
MEETING OF
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL

CITY COMMISSION MEETING ROOM

123 SOUTH MAIN STREET
FEBRUARY 2, 2021
6:00 P.M.

Call to Order

  1. Roll Call:

K. Allen P. Allen R. Nichols L. Watts J. Jones

II. Flag Salute:

  1. Invocation: Led by: Steven Cole, First United Methodist Church

  2. Approval of Agenda:

  3. Proclamations/Recognitions:

  4. Consent Agenda:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of January 19th, 2021 and special meeting minutes of January 19th, 2021.

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1281-A totaling $345,26816.

  1. Certificate of Appropriateness – 6 N. Main – Paint color approval

  1. Request to Pay – Suez Treatment Solutions, Inc. – Water Treatment Plant – $15,784.70

  1. Public Comment:

(Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at Commission discretion)

  1. Interim City Manager Reports and Comments

  1. Director Reports: Doug Guns

  1. Old Business: None

  1. Appearances: None

  1. New Business:

  1. Consideration to solicit Aquatic Center Cleaning Bid

  2. Consideration of Alley Construction Policy

  3. Consideration of Assessment Waiver Policy

  4. Consideration of Assessment Policy for County Tax Sale

  5. Consideration of Kansas Municipal Utilities Training Program for 2021

  6. Consideration to accept C.FA.P. Grant for $1,317.00.

  7. Discussion of Charter Ordinance for replacing vacant Commissioner position

XII. Reports and Comments:

B. Commissioners Reports and Comments:

C. City Attorney Reports and Comments:

XIII. Executive Session – If requested, (please follow script in all motions for Executive Sessions)

XIV. Adjournment:

Business, Fort Scott

Shelter Insurance: New Digs For New Agent

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Dillon Duffy from Facebook.

Dillon Duffy was working as a para-educator at Fort Scott Middle School when he was approached by Danny Brown, the school principal, and Barb Albright, the owner of H & H Agency, to join their team as an agency manager for H & H Agency. Brown was also working at H & H Agency.

 

“I wanted to get an engagement ring for Abi (now his wife) and needed more money,” he said.

 

He began selling insurance for H & H in 2016.

 

In 2018, Shelter Insurance personnel approached him about the opportunity to have his own insurance business.

 

“Working for myself was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” Duffy said.

 

In 2020, Duffy completed the Shelter Insurance program to become a  full-time agent.

 

Also in August 2020, Duffy moved his office from downtown to 1711 S. National, Suite C., just behind Dominos Pizza.

 

Shelter Insurance, 1711 S. National Avenue, Suite C. Submitted photo.

 

He provides all insurance services: auto, home, health, life,  and business.

 

“We take care of it, here at Shelter,” he said. “In addition, we do have Progressive, Bristol-West, and Dairyland Insurance. I sell for these companies.”

 

He likes the business because he is “people-oriented and I like to serve the community,” he said.

 

Duffy is an assistant basketball coach at Fort Scott Middle School.

 

He and his wife, Abigail, now have an almost two years old daughter, Emalynn.

Emalynn, Abigail, and Dillon Duffy. Submitted photos.

 

In addition, his family is a part of congregants at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

 

Hours of the business are 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during basketball season he said. Outside of basketball season, the business hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

Duffy can be reached at 620-223-4110 or his cell at 417-214-4282.

 

After the COVID-19 Pandemic frees meetings up a bit, he will have a Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Open House at the new site, he said.

Also, when the pandemic ends, the conference room in his office will be available for public use, he said.

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Minutes of Jan. 12

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January 12, 2021                                            Tuesday 9:00 am

 

The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners, the County Counselor and the County Clerk present.

 

Also present were the following; (some were present for a portion of the meeting and some were present for the entire meeting, Jason Silvers with the Fort Scott Tribune, Jody Hoener, Mr. & Mrs. Clint Walker, Nancy Van Etten, Michael Hoyt, Anne Dare and Shane Walker.

 

Clifton made a motion to reorganize and elect Lynne Oharah as the Commissioner Chairman, Jim Harris seconded the motion and all approved.

 

Road & Bridge Director Eric Bailey met with the Commissioners; he said there were limbs down due to ice on the trees on January 1st, he said they are chipping and burning limbs from this storm.  Jim Harris complimented Road & Bridge on the work they did on the roads in the ice/snow storm.

 

Eric reported they are still having issues with the hydraulic pumps on the dump trucks, he said a new pump lasted just over 3 hours.  He said they had a conference call between him, Hillbilt & Tri-Star, Hillbilt rode around with the County and the truck shut down again, there is also an issue with the control box.  Lynne told Eric to keep track of the amount of time spent dealing with the mechanical issues.

 

Eric reported that Schwab Eaton has been doing the annual bridge inspections; he said there are three bridges of concern… a bridge on 215th over the railroad tracks, a bridge at 85th & Xavier, and a bridge on Jayhawk.  Eric said they are cleaning brush under the bridge at 235th & Valley and working on a sidewall at 85th & Xavier.

 

Eric said the motor for the rock crusher is at Berry Tractor for repairs; he said they are getting low on the rock supply.  Eric said they bought coal patch by the ton to fill potholes with.

 

Eric reported they had three internal candidates for the Road & Bridge office manager; he said he interviewed all three and said Jennifer Hawkins was selected and will be starting on 1/19/2021.

 

An employee had an accident in the belly dump trailer on 1/11/2021.

 

At 9:20 am, Clifton made a motion to go into an executive session KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy to discuss a specific employee, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 9:30, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Patty Love).  Clifton made a motion to reconvene in open session, Jim Harris seconded and all approved, no action was taken.

 

At 9:31 am, Clifton made a motion to go into a 15 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy to discuss an employees performance, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 9:46am, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners).  At 9:46, Clifton made a motion to come back into open session, Jim seconded and all approved, no action was taken.

 

Lynne made a motion to amend the agenda to eliminate the times stamps on the agenda, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Kendell Mason met with the Commissioners to discuss a real property relief application for a home that burnt down in March of 2020; Clifton made a motion to approve the real property relief application for M&RC rentals for a property at 306 S. Steen, Jim seconded and all approved and signed the application.

 

Lynne made a motion to adopt Resolution 06-21, a resolution regarding patron participation and public forums, Jim seconded and all approved and signed the resolution.  Justin Meeks suggested having a time on the agenda for public comment and for County Counselor.

 

Lynne made a motion to adopt Resolution 05-21, a resolution naming P. K. Gugnani as the public health officer for 2021, Clifton seconded and all approved and signed the resolution.

 

Lynne made a motion to adopt Resolution 04-21, a resolution designating depositories and the official publication carrier, Jim seconded the motion, Clifton questioned if Landmark was the main bank and how it was selected, Lynne said yes and said it had been the main bank for several years; Lynne and Jim were in favor of the motion, Clifton was against the motion, the motion passed.

 

Lynne made a motion to adopt Resolution 03-21, a resolution for reimbursement of travel expenses; Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Lynne made a motion to adopt Resolution 02-21, a resolution concerning the waiver of generally accepted accounting principles, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Lynne made a motion to adopt Resolution 01-21, a resolution naming the County holidays for 2021, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

Lynne made a motion to nominate Clifton to serve on the SEK Juvenile Detention board, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

Clifton made a motion to nominate Lynne to the SEKRPC board, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

Lynne made a motion to nominate Jim Harris to the Mental Health board, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

Jim made a motion to nominate Lynne to serve on the BEDCO board, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

At 10:06 am, Clifton made a motion to go into a 10 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy, to discuss pay and leave time, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 10:16, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Kendell Mason).  At 10:16, Clifton made a motion to come out of executive session and go back into open session and said there will be action, Jim seconded and all approved.  Lynne made a motion to extend the Federal leave benefits for the County employees that had not used the benefits in 2020, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Register of Deeds, Lora Holdridge met with the Commissioners to give an end of year review; she said they had the best year in 3 years, (even with COVID), she said in 2020 $121,025 was deposited back into the County general fund, in 2019 $94,979 was deposited back into the County general fund and in 2018 $82,103 was deposited back into the County general fund.

 

Nancy Van Etten, Lake Advisory Board, met with the Commissioners; she said there is a meeting on 1/16/2021 at 9:00 am at the City Hall, she asked for an update on the inter-local agreement regarding the sewer district and asked that the Commissioners appoint someone to the lake advisory board.  Justin said he had conversations with the City and hoped to have the service contract finalized by the end of February, he said there is plenty of capacity for single family homes on the lake to connect to the sewer district.

 

Dave Bruner and Robert Leisure met with the Commissioners to discuss EMS.  Dave Bruner asked the Commissioners to approve the medical director contract with Dr. Burke; Clifton made a motion to accept the EMS medical director agreement as written, Jim seconded and all approved.  Clifton moved to allow Lynne to sign the EMS service agreement, Jim seconded and all approved.  Clifton made a motion to accept as written the memo of understanding, Jim seconded and all approved.  Robert Leisure reported that the company was building the new EMS vehicle; he said they still had time to decide if they wanted 6 or 7 total vehicles in their EMS fleet.  He reported that in 2020 there were a total of 2,321 calls – 1702 were transports and 611 were transfers.  He said an average year for calls is 2,400.  Justin Meeks briefly discussed the memo of understanding; he said the 2021 budget is the same as the 2020 budget, but said there may be a possible increase in 2022.

 

At 10:35, Lynne made a motion to go into a 15 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b) (4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships, regarding contract issues, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 10:51, Clifton seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners).  At 10:51, Clifton made a motion to come back into open session, Jim seconded and all approved.  No action was taken.

 

Lynne said the Commissioners had been working on a budget director position for the County and said Justin had put together a contract for this position.  Justin said creating this contract was a joint effort between the City, himself and Susan Bancroft, he said the base pay for this part-time position is $60,000 and said this position includes benefits (which will be reimbursed back to the City of Fort Scott); Lynne said this is not an Interlocal agreement.  Lynne said the County had incidents where they had to hire an outside person to do an audit of the accounts, that person recommended to do this to increase transparency and help the workings between departments.  He said this person could be beneficial to have for budgeting issues, he said not having to pay an outside firm for budget issues could save $20,000.  Justin said this person could help with HR issues and give support when needed.  Clifton said the County is a very large organization and said this person could come in and solve some issues; he said we weren’t just dealing with gravel roads anymore.  Clifton said he was tired of his taxes going up and said we had to move forward and put this organization in the 21st century, he said he was tired of status quo, he said we are a large organization that is somewhat disjointed.  Jim Harris said he had concerns over this position, he said he had gotten the impression that they hadn’t involved any other elected officials during the dialog of this position and said he didn’t see a job description for this position.  Jim said the elected officials needed to be brought into the conversation and make sure they are all on the same page.  He questioned what the duties of this position were and asked if this meant a reduction in force.  Lynne said there had been a large sum of money not moved into the correct account, Jim said they haven’t been transparent and said he wasn’t ready to make a decision on the position, he said he did support the position.  Lynne said this is a one year contract.  Clifton made a motion to accept the engagement letter as written, Lynne seconded and Jim abstained from the vote, motion passed.

 

Monica Murnan with Greenbush called the Commissioners to give a SPARK update; she said as of January 6, 2021 Bourbon County had all of the required documents submitted to the State and said the grant had been zeroed out.  She said it was unknown if there would be any future grants for the County due to COVID.  Monica thanked Ashley in the County Clerk’s office for all of the work she did with the grant.  Greenbush will be providing the County with a flash drive with all the grant information on it; Jody Hoener questioned who at the County would receive the flash drive, Lynne suggested the new business director get the flash drive, Jody suggested giving it to an elected official, Justin said the flash drive should go to Kendell’s office.

 

Clifton made a motion to amend the agenda to discuss a work session, Jim seconded and all approved.  Clifton said the City has requested a work session with the County on January 14th at 5:00 pm at City Hall, Clifton made a motion to allow all of the Commissioners to attend the work session, no business will be conducted, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

At 11:16, Clifton made a motion to go into a 20 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency regarding the County Counselor position, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 11:36 am, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Justin Meeks).  At 11:36, Lynne made a motion to come out of executive session into open session, Clifton seconded and all approved.  After the session, Justin Meeks said he had enjoyed his job the past 3 years, but said it had come with a lot of pressure when dealing with the EMS, hospital, COVID and the windfarm.  He said his goal is to revert back to being the County Counselor and said he wouldn’t take on any administrative functions. He had a one year contract effective 1/12/2021 to agree to work 20 hours a week for $75/hour, he said if he works over the 20 hours he would bill $100/hour for hours over 20.  Justin said his goal is to step further back and eventually work less hours.  Justin said this is a one year agreement and said the Commissioners could terminate it at anytime.  Clifton made a motion to accept the engagement letter and to allow Lynne to sign it, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

Clifton made a motion to amend the agenda to terminate the last scheduled executive session, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

The Commissioners decided to allow time on the end of each agenda to allow for public comment.

 

Clifton made a motion to amend the agenda for public comment for a total of up to 10 minutes (3 minutes per speaker), Jim seconded and all approved.

 

Anne Dare said that the public will be surprised when they see the numbers for the part time position created.  Michael Hoyt said he would get Jim Harris a copy of the advisory board documents he had given to the other Commissioners and said he would like to discuss this in the future.

 

Clifton made a motion to discuss the election canvass date and time, Lynne seconded and all approved.  Clifton made a motion that all of the Commissioners attend the canvass on January 14th, 2021 at 10:00 am in the Commission room, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

At 11:47, Clifton made a motion to adjourn, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

 

 

 

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS

(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman

(ss) Jim Harris, Commissioner

(ss) Clifton Beth, Commissioner

ATTEST:

Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk

January 19, 2021, Approved Date