All posts by Loretta George

Business, Fort Scott, Housing

Union Lofts Apartments Open For Rental In Downtown Fort Scott

3 Comments
A view from the window of a Union Loft apartment. Submitted photos.
Union Lofts Apartments, 20 S. Main in downtown Fort Scott, will be available to move into in mid-January 2021.
The building has been under demolition then reconstruction since 2018, at the corner of 1st and Main Streets.
Tony Krsnich, Flint Hills Holdings, (located at 7301 Mission Rd, 326 Prairie Village Campus, Prairie Village) is the developer.
Twenty-five apartments fill the three-story historic building, and eight have already been leased.
Some of the perks for living in them?
​
“The tenants will be living in a newly renovated historic building,” said Mandy Maples, Flint Hills Holdings Vice President of Operations. “There will be a courtyard area with seating and a BBQ grill, indoor workout facility, every apartment is uniquely designed.
 ​No two apartments are the same. Every apartment is unique and holds its own personality.”
Residents may move in the middle of January and there are apartments available for leasing now, she said.
Applications can be picked up at 8 East First Street, at the apartment building across the street.
For questions, call 620-223-1718.
Following are prior stories on the building:
Flint Hills Holding
 ​Flint Hills Holdings Group was established in early 2014. FHHG specializes in historic preservation and multifamily developments. FHHG has developed over $100MM of real estate in Kansas and Missouri since its inception in early 2014 and currently works in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Iowa.
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

Nancy Evans Retires From CHC

2 Comments
After 17 years working for CHC/SEK, Nancy Evans, RN, BSN, will retire at the end of December. CHC/SEK established a scholarship in her honor for her service and dedication.
 
CHC/SEK’s first employee retires, scholarship created in her name  

To honor Nancy Evans, RN, BSN, for her 17 years of service to Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and a lifetime dedicated to nursing, CHC/SEK has established the Nancy Evans Nursing Scholarship at the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas.
The scholarship will be given annually to an individual, selected by Nancy, pursuing a degree in nursing.
“While we can’t replace Nancy, she can now help us find someone who may one day try,” said Krista Postai, CHC/SEK CEO and President in a video announcing the scholarship. “Enjoy your well-earned retirement Nancy and for always, always, being where we needed you the most and when we needed you. God bless you and thank you for all you’ve done.”
People who wish to contribute to the scholarship endowment can send a check made out to CHC/SEK Evans Scholarship Fund Attn Douglas Stuckey, Trustee P.O. Box 1832, Pittsburg, KS 66762-1832 or call Douglas at 620-240-5011.
Over the span of 17 years, Nancy was part of the beginnings of many services at Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, from dental to flu shots and prescription assistance to diabetic education.
Nancy, who most recently served as a Nurse/Certified Diabetic Educator, is set to retire at the end of December.
“I’m looking forward to retiring but I most certainly will miss this place, it’s been a wonderful job,” she said.
Nancy started working for CHC/SEK out of the Wesley House.  The dental program then began at Wesley House and she continued to be part of the program when it moved over to 924 N. Broadway in Pittsburg.
Later on, with a kitchen table for an office, Nancy worked in the CHC/SEK doublewide trailer where she provided prescription assistance. She looked at her log recently, and since becoming employed Nancy has provided prescription assistance for over 14,000 encounters. Nancy didn’t do it alone, she said, she often had volunteers working with her or a part time employee to help do paperwork.
Providing prescription assistance grew the need for case management.
“When you do prescription assistance, they tell you what they are needing and why they can’t afford things and one thing just turned into another and you work with them to try to get food or shelter, all kinds of things,” Nancy said.
Krista noticed Nancy was frequently educating diabetic patients and encouraged her to become a certified diabetic educator. Nancy became the first diabetic educator at CHC/SEK.
“That’s something I never thought about,” Nancy said. “I thought I’d get bored because it was pretty much doing one disease entity and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do that, but now – by all means – it is my passion.”
Before testing, the certification required 1,000 hours of teaching and she had to do it within four years. Completing her certification became quite the undertaking because CHC/SEK kept growing and growing.
As she was preparing for her certification, Nancy was involved in a prescription assistance program, (PALS) which was “up and running and huge,” she said. Nancy also provided nutrition education, went to health fairs, traveled to southeast Kansas schools and gave vaccines to students. She became the “flu shot lady,” delivering thousands of shots as she went from one business or company to another to provide flu shots.
Diabetic education became such a strong passion for Nancy because there is such a need not only in southeast Kansas, but also globally. There are thousands just in Pittsburg who are diagnosed with diabetes.
“It’s on the brink of an epidemic, partly because of the obesity factor and the fact that you can buy pop for a whole lot less money than a gallon of milk,” she said. “I really think the biggest reason is the lack of exercise, which is contributing to the obesity too.”
It’s rewarding to see the changes in patients when they get their diabetes under control, she said, adding that when somebody has high blood sugars, nothing about them feels good, they are tired all of the time, and nothing feels right.
“If we can get your blood sugars down to where they are supposed to be, you are going to be delightfully surprised how much energy you have and how many more things you can do, and how much bigger your life is going to be,” Nancy said.
The people – her patients – are what made CHC/SEK a special place for her.
“That’s what I’m going to miss when I leave, my people, and they are the world to me,” Nancy said. “I see them out on the streets and I have some that text or call me to tell me stuff, someone brought in their new baby the other day, and somebody came in saying something about just needing a hug – that’s the kind of the thing I’m going to miss when I’m not here anymore.”
Nancy beams with pride when she shares with people about her career and CHC/SEK.  She gives the credit to the founder and employees and other visionaries of what CHC/SEK has come to be and continues to grow into.

“When I start going through all the things we do, I kind of take a step back and I’m so impressed,” she said. “And I work here and I’m part of it, but I’m still impressed by all that we do and the resources we provide, it’s pretty darned amazing.”

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Progress on Fiber Optic Projects In Bourbon County Continues

1 Comment
The Craw-Kan Cooperative space is seen on the backside of the  Bourbon County Courthouse. The county commission has leased Craw-Kan two cells from the former jail. September 2018 photo.
Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative Inc., Girard, is working on multiple projects in Bourbon County to provide fiber-optic lines for internet services.
Craw-Kan Telephone serves Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, offering high-speed fiber optic internet, cable TV, and telephone service in its’ service area, according to its’ Facebook page.
Zach Adams, Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative Marketing Manager.
Fort Scott Project
Work began on a new hub for Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative on South Judson Street in late 2018.
“We are continuing to build fiber to non-cooperative member areas in the southeast side of the city of Fort Scott,” Zach Adams, Craw-Kan Marketing Manager said.   “These are homes and businesses where we have not been able to provide services in the past.”
“The goal of our Fort Scott project is to provide 100% fiber-optic coverage in the city limits,” he said.  ” The west side of US 69 HWY is complete and we are currently working on the southeast quadrant of the city.  We will also connect some residences outside but adjacent to the city.”
“We are subcontracting Jim Radell Construction, Pittsburg, for construction on the southeast quadrant of the City of Fort Scott,” Adams said.  “They have multiple crews working in the area.  We also use multiple Craw-Kan employees in the construction and installation process.  There are two or more repair and installation technicians assigned to the Fort Scott territory at any given time.”
Craw-Kan began the Fort Scott overbuild in 2017 and completion is estimated to be in 2021-2022, Adams said.
Uniontown Project
Conduit for the Craw-Kan Fiber Optic project. in March 2020 in Uniontown.
  “The other large project in Bourbon County is the upgrade to the Uniontown (756) phone exchange,” he said.   “This project will be replacing copper phone and DSL lines with fiber-optic lines that will bring maximum reliability and gigabit internet speeds to 100% of Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative members in the Uniontown exchange…The project will upgrade 100% of existing Craw-Kan members to fiber-optic connections to the home.”
“For the Uniontown project, Bob Hull Inc – BHI was with bid winning contractor doing the fiber upgrade construction,” Adams said.  “They will be using multiple crews to complete the work.”
The Uniontown project was started in 2020 and is expected to be completed in 2021, he said.
Cost of the project
“Craw-Kan has invested several million dollars over the last four years into upgrading the connections of our cooperative members in Bourbon County as well as bringing new fiber optic services to the City of Fort Scott and surrounding areas,” Adams said.
Business, Fort Scott, Housing

New Furnished Apartments Open As Vacation Rentals

3 Comments
The Hole in the Wall Liquor Store, at Wall and Scott Street September 2018. The new apartments are above the retail store.

Roy and Jody Hoener have opened a new business in the historic Fort Scott downtown area.

“The name of the new apartments are called ‘H Bar Suites,'”, Jody Hoener said.  “This was Roy’s cattle brand when he had cattle.”

 

Submitted photos of the H Bar Suites vacation rental’s interior construction.

The apartments are located in historic downtown Fort Scott, directly above Hole in the Wall Liquor, another business the couple own,  and across from the Fort Scott National Historic Site, she said.

The physical address is 8 North Scott Street.

They are fully furnished apartments.

The Hoeners have used Ruddick’s Furniture,  and local contractors: Casper Enterprises, Stoughton Plumbing, KTK Electric, and Perry Cannon to name a few. The cabinets were made by Kirby’s Cabinets.

“There are two apartments.  The two-bedroom apartment is currently available, click on the link,” she said.

https://www.vrbo.com/2121361?unitId=2685895&noDates=true&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=earned:vrbo:sharecopylink:USA&utm_content=2121361&oc=fXSJaTIjDS9f5Xk0maRRj

The furnished 2 bedroom apartment is finished. Submitted photos.

The couple hopes to have the one bedroom available at the end of this week, Hoener said.

 

“There were a few issues with furniture and appliances being back-ordered that has delayed the opening,” she said.

 

Construction on the Hole in the Wall Liquor Store at Wall and State streets  began in 2018.

History of the Hoener businesses at the site

“Our project started in 2016 when we started looking for a place to move Hole in the Wall Liquor.  (https://holeinthewallliquor.com/) ,” she said.  “One stipulation we had to move as we wanted to remain downtown.  As business owners with a vested interest in our community, we wanted to make a larger impact beyond a retail store.  Downtown revitalization’s direct impact is well documented and has shown to spur local economies.”

 

“When we took on this old and condemned building downtown, it literally had poles coming from the middle of the street, up to the side of the building, holding up the wall, for almost a decade,” Hoener said.  “This was quite the eyesore to one of the main entrances of our downtown.”

 

“Heather Smith, the city’s then Economic Development Director, showed us several downtown buildings,” she said. “It was a hard sale. All of the buildings were in such disrepair that it would be impossible for us to come up with the capital to make the needed improvements. The cost of replacing the roof was much more than the value of the whole building.  In short, we discovered what many already knew: it would be impossible to obtain a loan on a worthless building.  We learned first-hand why these buildings are sitting empty but also a few tricks, tips, and solutions to the problem.”

” Smith, through the City of Fort Scott, was able to offer us the State of Kansas Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for historic districts,” Hoener said.  “This is a state-wide grant program, highly competitive, to help cities provide financial incentives to bring these condemned buildings back to life.   After much thought and planning, working through the risks and unknowns of old buildings, and working with Smith and Dave Martin, we decided to take a leap of faith. ”

“Working with Smith (even after she took on a new job in Wisconsin!) and Susan Galemore at the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission we wrote and submitted a winning CDBG grant,” she said.  “The grant, paired with creative financing from Gregg Motley at Landmark National Bank, and lots of sweat equity, brought new life into the building, encouraging foot traffic downtown, and being a part of the momentum to spur economic growth.”

They had a plan and worked it.

“Our business plan was developed and written in phases,” she said. “The first phase was to move Hole in the Wall Liquor to the new location and open the retail liquor store.”

 

” The second phase was to then take advantage of the opportunity in the space upstairs and develop housing.  We are now, four years later, almost to the end of that final phase,” Hoener said.

“Our initial plans were to use the space as market-rate apartments,” she said.  “We have since decided to try marketing the space on VRBO as short term or vacation rental space.  We have decided we can always offer them as apartments later if that does not work out.”

 

Bourbon County, Business, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Government, Health Care, Jobs, Schools

SPARK Recipients Working To Complete Spending

Leave a comment
The north wing of the Bourbon County Courthouse houses the county clerk, treasurer and commission offices.

The SPARK recipients are working to complete COVID-19 related projects by the end of 2020, as required by the grant program.

SPARK is responsible for the statewide distribution of the U.S. Coronavirus Relief Fund.

The total amount of grants disbursed in Bourbon County to over 100 entities was $2,835,212.86 on October 21, 2020, according to Bourbon County Economic Director Jody Hoener.

To see the list of recipients:

https://fortscott.biz/news/spark-projects-in-bourbon-county ‎

The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) taskforce is leading the state through recovery from the far-reaching effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, according to its’ website. https://covid.ks.gov/spark-recovery-office/

 

“Congress recently passed the new COVID bill that gave an extension to states and cities on spending this money for a year,” said Jody Hoener, the Bourbon County Economic Development Director. “The State of Kansas Recovery Office indicated there will be an extension on our spending plans, but unknown at this time how much of an extension we will receive.”

 

Jody Hoenor, Bourbon County Economic Development Director. Submitted photo.

 

Locally, SPARK recipients have been balancing and reconciling expenses.

 

“At the county level we gathered the department heads who have been awarded funds for programs,” Hoener said. ” We went through every single dollar amount from the department and made sure it matched exactly what the County Clerks Office cut for a check and what Greenbush have in their reports.  Any errors are caught and quickly corrected.  From there, we subtract the total amount spent from the total amount allocated and have a final amount left to spend.”

 

The other recipients are also required to submit receipts and invoices of SPARK money, she said.

 

“For the community’s grant/award expenses( they) need to submit receipts and invoices to show dollars spent,” she said. “Greenbush is going through every single receipt and invoice with a fine-tooth comb.  It is very time-consuming as you can imagine.  From this, we have a very clear understanding of the amount spent and how much is left to be spent.”

 

The Southeast Kansas Educational Service Center (also known as Greenbush) was hired by the county commission to administer the SPARK distribution and oversight.

 

“Greenbush was contracted to administer the county SPARK funds,” Hoener said.

 

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Minutes of Dec. 18 Special Meeting

Leave a comment

December 18, 2020                                         Friday 9:00 am

The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with Lynne present and Jeff and Clifton present by telephone.  The County Counselor and the County Clerk were also present.

Lynne made a motion to go into a 30 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy (the Commissioners plan to discuss two non-elected individuals), the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room, Jeff seconded and all approved, (the session included the 3 Commissioners).  No action was taken.

 

Lynne made a motion to go into a 20 minute executive session for confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room, Clifton seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Justin Meeks).

 

At 9:48, Clifton made a motion to adjourn, Jeff seconded and all approved.

 

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS

(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman

(ss) Jeff Fischer, Commissioner

(ss) Clifton Beth, Commissioner

ATTEST:

Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk

December 22, 2020, Approved Date

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Minutes of Dec. 15

Leave a comment

December 15, 2020                                         Tuesday 9:00 am

 

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

 

Also present were the following: (some were present for a portion of the meeting, some were present for the entire meeting), Jason Silvers with the Fort Scott Tribune, Mr. & Mrs. Clinton Walker, Anne Dare and Michael Hoyt.

 

Eric Bailey and Dustin Hall with Road & Bridge met with the Commissioners; they are putting brine on some of the roads and hills today due to the anticipated weather coming.

 

Eric said he had a good meeting (regarding clean up and the roads) with the contractor installing fiber on the south side of 54 Highway.

 

Eric said some of their employees are getting updated CPR and 1st aid training for their MSHAW qualifications.

 

Eric said they needed to update the board members for the 5 year solid waste plan; Jeff made a motion to appoint Lynne Oharah, Clifton Beth, Jim Harris, Eric Bailey and Frank Young as the solid waste management committee, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Eric said they applied and should receive a grant from KCAMP for the purchase of a tarp for a hauling truck.

 

Eric said the hydraulic pumps are overheating on the dump trucks, he said they are taking a truck to Joplin for the installation of a new pump to test to see if this repairs the issue.

 

Eric said they are repairing a spindle on a tire on a grader.

 

Eric and Dustin discussed the motor on the rock crusher; they contacted Foley, Inland, Larry’s Diesel and CAT in Joplin for a quote, to date they have received a quote from Foley for $36,000 to replace the motor with a re-manned motor.  They have contacted Murphy Tractor to discuss the cost of repairs vs. the trade in value of the crusher, (they don’t want to spend more in repairs then the crusher is worth), to discuss a possible crusher demonstration or to possibly rent a crusher.

 

Gregory Vahrenberg with Raymond James (on the telephone) met with the Commissioners to discuss the possible bond refinancing.  Mr. Vahrenberg said with the current low interest rates it is a good opportunity to refinance the 2015 general obligation bonds, he said refinancing the years 2024-2035 can produce savings.  He said the cost to refinance would be paid out of the proceeds.  He said the current average interest rate is 3.23% and the estimated refinanced rate is 2.03% and if refinance could produce approximately $251,941 in savings.  Lynne asked if they reviewed savings for refinancing other bonds, Mr. Vahrenberg said only refinancing the 2015 bonds produced savings; he hadn’t reviewed the sewer district bonds, but said he would.  The approximate cost to refinance is 2% of the principal amount of the bonds. After discussion, Clifton made a motion to start the process to refinance the 2015 bond, Jeff seconded and all approved.  If the County later decides to cancel the refinancing there will be no cost to the County.

 

Jody Hoener met with the Commissioners to discuss Spark; she said they have encountered some difficulties getting items purchased, she said the credit cards being used have limits and there have been barriers getting checks cut in off cycles.  The Spark money has to be spent by the end of the year.  Jody said they needed real-time numbers on what the balance is so that all of the money can be spent by the end of the year.  There is a Spark meeting (between Greenbush, departments and others) on December 15th to discuss the balance and reconciling expenses.

 

Jeff made a motion to allow employees with unused vacation time as of 12/31/2020 to carry over the unused vacation time until 4/30/2021, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Register of Deeds Lora Holdridge met with the Commissioners to discuss longevity pay; she had concerns over employees that had left employment and come back to work getting longevity credit for the time the employee worked at the County before leaving.  Lora said all of the elected officials had prior experience with the County before becoming elected.  Jeff said elected officials aren’t eligible for the one-time longevity pay, but said if they became unelected and serve the County then their prior knowledge with the County should count towards longevity.  Lora said she wasn’t asking for elected officials to get the longevity pay. Lora said if an employee comes back to work for the County then their longevity date should be the date they come back to work, not their original start date.  She said their other benefits aren’t held and said their longevity (original hire date) shouldn’t be held either.  Lora didn’t agree with the longevity calculation for a former Commissioner leaving and coming back as an employee.

 

Lynne made a motion to amend the agenda to discuss a pay matter, Jeff seconded and all approved.  Lynne said pay raises had been given at times and said Lora had taken on extra work regarding road records back to the 1950’s, Lynne said he thought they should consider a pay scale to compensate for the extra work; Lora thanked him, but said she wasn’t here to discuss that issue.

 

Clifton made a motion to go into a 15 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room, Jeff seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Justin Meeks).  No action was taken.

 

 

Jeff made a motion to go into a 15 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room, Clifton seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Eric Bailey).  After the session, Jeff made a motion to fill the administrative clerk position for Road & Bridge, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

On 12/8/2020, the Commissioners approved a bid from Schwab Eaton to do the bridge inspections; the Commissioners asked that yes be circled on that agreement for the low water crossings.

 

Jeff made a motion to go into a one hour executive session for confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships, Clifton seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Jody Hoener, Shane Walker, Nedra Barr, Sharon Ross, Lindsay Madison, Josh Jones and Pete Allen (some were attending the meeting by Zoom).  No action was taken.

 

Jeff made a motion to go into a 25 minute executive session for confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room, Clifton seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Justin Meeks and Jody Hoener).  After the session, Lynne made a motion to give Clifton permission to meet with CHC, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Lynne made a motion to amend the agenda to discuss resolutions, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Jeff made a motion to adopt Resolution 30-20, a wage resolution effective 01/01/2021, increasing the wages for the position of major, captain and GIS coordinator, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Jeff made a motion to adopt Resolution 31-20, a resolution allowing unused 2020 vacation time to be carried over until April 30, 2021, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Lynne made a motion to not have a Commission meeting on December 29th or January 5th and to allow the Commission room to be used for early in-person voting, Jeff seconded and all approved.

 

Jeff made a motion to go into a 20 minute executive session confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room, Clifton seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Jody Hoener and Justin Meeks).  No action was taken.

 

At 1:00, Jeff made a motion to adjourn, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS

(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman

(ss) Jeff Fischer, Commissioner

(ss) Clifton Beth, Commissioner

ATTEST:

Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk

December 22, 2020, Approved Date

 

 

Business, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Schools

Sunbeam Preschool Receives SPARK Funds To Keep Doors Open

Leave a comment

As with life in America at all levels, the COVID-19 Pandemic has affected schools.

Sunbeam Christian Preschool received SPARK funds to help them continue to teach young children, said owner Lindsay Hill.

“We are very thankful for the SPARK grant as it helped keep our doors open for another year,” she said. ” We are a private preschool, so we rely on tuition to pay bills and staff. We did not collect tuition after March but continued to provide online services for our preschoolers. This grant allowed us to continue to pay our staff and bills.”

 

“Although enrollment is down this fall because of COVID, Sunbeam Christian Preschool continues to provide a Christian learning experience for all their Sunbeamers,” she said.

 

“Sunbeam Christian Preschool has taken extra precautions to make sure their students can continue in-person learning, with extra cleaning, temperature checks at the door of children entering the building, no parents or adults allowed in the building, and much more,” Hill said.

 

History of Sunshine Christian Preschool

Sunbeam has been in operation since 1985,  30 years under the direction of Marilyn Barker.

Sunbeam Christian Preschool is now owned by Lindsay Hill and directed by Tonya Defebaugh.

The preschool has 3-5-year-olds and offers three different class times:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 12-1:30 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

 

“We are extremely blessed to be apart of the Fort Scott community and thankful for First Baptist Church, where our classroom is located,” she said. The church is located in downtown Fort Scott at the corner and Second and State Streets.

 

SPARK, The Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas program, is federal COVID-19 Pandemic recovery money that was given to the states and then to local entities.

Business, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

CHC/SEK Collaborates With Ft. Scott Business and State

Leave a comment
Krista Postai. Submitted photo.

President and CEO of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas Krista Postai gave an update on some recent collaborations.

Food Storage With New Ft. Scott Grocery Store

One collaboration is with the Star Emporium Downtown General Store, owned by Bill Michaud of BAJA Investments.

Michaud reached an agreement with the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas to provide food storage space to expand the food distribution and delivery programs CHC/SEK is currently offering in Crawford County into Fort Scott, with services beginning in January, he said. The store will provide the food storage piece.

To learn more about this new downtown venture:

Star Emporium Downtown General Store To Open Early Next Year

“With the pandemic, we’re finding more and more people are struggling and challenged to find food, so we’re going to be adding food distribution to our list of services,” Postai said.  “The folks in Ft. Scott are providing our freezer and refrigerator space within the basement of the grocery store for any donated food or purchased food from Kansas Food Bank or other local partners.”

“This will not be used as a distribution point for community members, just a place for us to store it,” she said. “Our long-term plan is to create a Food Rx program for chronically ill and food-insecure patients and to offer grocery delivery to homebound patients throughout our region. It’s always great to find partners willing to help and this is a great example.”

 

Part of Kansas Distribution Plan For COVID-19 Vaccine

“We are part of the state’s overall plan for (COVID-19 vaccine) distribution and are anxiously awaiting its arrival,” Postai said.  “We just learned that we may be receiving one of the ‘super’ freezers from the state which would make the vaccine more accessible. Once available, we will be following state guidelines on priority immunizations which I believe will be front-line medical personnel first. For the latest information on the state’s plan, go to https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/284/COVID-19-Vaccine.”

Elections, Fort Scott, Government

FS Commission Discusses Charter Ordinance This Evening

1 Comment
Susan Bancroft is the Fort Scott Finance Director. Submitted photo.

The Fort Scott City Commission is discussing a charter ordinance that will be voted on in a special election on Jan. 5, 2021.

“The purpose of Charter Ordinance 31 is to clean up language to our local ordinance that is in direct conflict with Kansas Law and to prevent property tax increases during difficult budget years,” Susan Bancroft, Fort Scott’s Financial Director.
Also to discuss is the issue that money transfers are an accounting mechanism to reimburse other funds or departments for work performed on behalf of a utility, she said.

The Fort Scott City Commission will meet at 6 p.m. today, Monday, December 21, in the City Hall Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street, to discuss Charter Ordinance No. 31 and in addition, some insurance issues: Supplemental Extended Reporting Law Enforcement Liability, Public Officials Liability, and Employee Benefits Liability coverage for the city, according to a city press release.

This meeting is open to the public, but no action will be taken.

The work session will also be available on the city’s YouTube channel.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6DcVf4t2fxjdKCwa0Ufzjw

 

“Early in the year, Commissioner Pete Allen pointed out that past administrations had been illegally making transfers to the General Fund based on City Ordinance 2842 adopted in 1982,” Bancroft said.

 

Bancroft followed up during a regular commission meeting agreeing that the local ordinance essentially states all funds ‘shall’ stay in the sewer fund. Research done also showed that transfers from the sewer fund to the general fund had been made dating back to 1980 according to audited financial statements, she said.

 

“Prior to 1978, the City of Fort Scott had a combined ‘water and sewage system’  under K.S.A. 12-856,” Bancroft said.  “Ordinary Home Rule Ordinance 2692 of May 1978 separated these systems and created various utility funds for each utility. The city now has separate funds for water, sewer, and stormwater.”

 

“Precedence of the law is as follows: 1. the  Federal Constitution and laws, 2.the  Kansas Constitution, including valid charter ordinances, 3. state statutes, and 4. local ordinances and laws,” she said.

 

Bancroft gives a history of the precedence:

 

“In 1973, K.S.A. 12-631p passed which governs sewer reserve funds,” Bancroft said. “The statute allows cities to deposit funds in a reserve fund or funds for ‘construction, reconstruction, expansion, operation and maintenance’  of municipal sewer systems. The statute also allows transfers from these reserve funds back to the originating fund. K.S.A. 12-852d amended in 1977 give certain powers to cities that own waterworks. Cities may use monies ‘derived from the sale and consumption of water’ for the purposes set out in K.S.A. 12-825d. Sewer monies are derived from the sale and consumption of water. The statute later also allows the governing body ‘in judgment’ to authorize transfers to other funds. K.S.A. 12-631p gave all cities powers and limitations and later K.S.A. 12-852d allows governing bodies additional power.”

 

“In 1982, the city passed ordinance 2842 that conflicts with K.S.A. 12-825d,” she said. “Because this is an ordinary home rule ordinance, not a charter ordinance, the favor would be given to K.S.A. 12-825d. Because the current state law is in conflict as well as our own ordinary ordinance, charter ordinance 31 was presented to make the language clear, giving the governing body the ability ‘in judgment’, to authorize transfers.”

 

“During the August 18, 2020 commission meeting, the commission voted 4-1 to approve Charter Ordinance 31 which would allow for transfers to other funds,” Bancroft said. “A petition was filed on October 5th with the County Clerk to call an election so that the voters can decide whether the ordinance shall take effect. The commission had 30 days (November 5th) to decide whether to have an election or rescind the ordinance. The commission chose to move forward with the election. The election is required to be held within 90 days of October 5th and is scheduled for January 5, 2021.”

 

The following are questions that Bancroft answered regarding the ordinance:

“Why was Charter Ordinance 31 presented?

  • “Currently, the governing body has the cash available to transfer $200-400K each year into the sewer reserve fund. The ability to sell wastewater to a commercial industry allows the utility to generate additional revenue on top of regular service fees.
  • “Over time as the utility improves infrastructure, systems will improve and should become more efficient and reduce operational costs which will keep rates stable and possibly generate excess funds.
  • “No transfers are scheduled in the sewer fund for 2020 or 2021 with the budget changes presented to the commission on October 20, 2020. These changes required a 10-13% reduction in the general fund budget across all departments which results in $300,000 less to operate. The budget is tight, and any emergency or annual inflation costs could affect quality of life amenities or public safety services.
  • “”The funds being transferred are not property tax dollars but could prevent a property tax increase.
  • “Charter Ordinance 31 was an option presented to allow the governing body the ability to make financial decisions when appropriate or during times of need. Good financial practice would be to limit the amount of funds that can be transferred and noted in the governing body’s financial policies. The suggested maximum amount of transfer would be 5% of gross revenues which is similar to normal utility franchise fees for the use of right of way and street oversight, maintenance, street cuts etc.
  • “The movement of funds allows for reimbursement of costs incurred when the utility is making infrastructure changes in the cities right of way. Furthermore, it covers the cost of permitting, inspections, equipment, and material for the utility cuts made and legal fees.
  • “Transfers are an accounting mechanism to improve efficiencies in all departments to not have to track each detailed expenditure supported by General Fund departments.

How is the city ensuring sewer infrastructure is being addressed?

“City administration continues to develop plans on how, when, and where to rehabilitate the city’s sewer system. Inspections of the condition of the city’s sewer infrastructure, rating the condition, and then mapping these findings through GIS will ensure customers that plans are developed methodically. In addition, through a five-year capital plan, the utility resources will be managed prudently.

Are city sewer rates sufficient to support the failing infrastructure?

“City administration will be seeking governing body approval in 2021 to pursue a professional rate analysis to see if any changes are needed to the current declining rate structure.”