This is part of a series on Fort Scott and Bourbon County Public Servants.
Scott Shelton, 38, is a lieutenant with the Fort Scott Fire Department.
He is a Fort Scott High School graduate and earned Emergency Medical Technician Certification from Fort Scott Community College, and also graduated from FSCC Graduate. In addition, has Kansas University Fire Certifications.
Shelton has 18 years experience in fire fighting.
He works from both Station 1 and Station 2.
What are your duties?
“Fire suppression, EMS, equipment/ vehicle maintenance, public education, training, Life Safety Inspections, and manages a shift in the event of captain’s absence.”
He is married and has two sons.
Community involvement, interests or hobbies:
“Taking kids to ball games, volunteer time to community projects,
cars, motorcycles, running/fitness.”
Why did you pursue your career?
” I am a third-generation firefighter.
I enjoy serving the community and protecting the citizens and property. “
This is part of a series of City of Fort and Bourbon County public servant profiles.
Clint Roberts, 37, is a captain with the Fort Scott Fire Department.
He earned his Associates Degree from Fort Scott Community College and also Emergency Medical Training. In addition, he has received Kansas University Fire Service Training.
He has 14 years of experience.
Roberts works out of Fire Station 1, 1640 S. National Avenue.
What are your duties?
Fire suppression, EMS, rescue calls, shift management, public education.
Family:
He is married to Crystal, and they have two boys, Reece and Ryan.
Community involvement, interests or hobbies:
” Several members from the fire department have a motorcycle group,” Roberts said. “Every year we hold an annual benefit ride fundraiser for a child in need.”
In addition to motorcycles, construction is an interest of Roberts, he said.
Why did you pursue your career?
“I had a lot of interest in the fire (service) and EMS profession when I was younger.”
Chelsi Boydston, Mounds, OK, in her new student housing room at the former Mercy Hospital building.
School started Monday, August 10, for Fort Scott Community College, and the administration took the difficult situation of the COVID-19 Pandemic and used available community resources for expanding student housing.
FSCC is leasing 30 rooms at the former Mercy Hospital from the Mercy corporation.
“The reason we are leasing rooms at the Mercy building is that we had to leave rooms vacant in student housing, in case we need to quarantine students,” FSCC President Alysia Johnston said.
FSCC students moved in over the weekend to the west side of the former Mercy Hospital building. FSCC is leasing the building until May from corporate Mercy.
“It’s a beautiful facility,” Tom Havron, FSCC Vice President of Student Affairs, said. “It’s in really good shape. Mercy maintenance has been good to help us (accommodate the students). We like having them out here. We are excited about it.”
“There are lots of perks for staying here,” Havron said. “The rooms are larger, student lounges are larger and each room has its’ own bathroom.”
In student dorms on the main campus, two rooms share a bathroom.
Two students are in each room.
This FSCC student lounge has access to the Mercy outside enclosed courtyard.
One of the student lounges has available the Mercy courtyard, an enclosed outside area, that former Mercy employees and patients may remember.
Currently, there are 57 students and three residential assistants living at the site.
“The RA’s will supervise and make sure the students are safe,” he said.
The students will still be on the cafeteria plan on the main campus at at 2108 S. Horton, just down the street. The nursing stations will be used for studying, with internet availability, Havron said, and there will be tutoring available in the facility.
A former Mercy nursing station will be a study area for FSCC students with Wi-Fi availability.
Students moved their items in this past weekend and stayed at Sleep Inn Motel, until the Kansas State Fire Marshall gave approval of the building, which happened yesterday, Aug. 10.
The hallway of the repurposed Mercy building which now houses FSCC students.
FSCC had 11 positive cases of COVID-19 when students started arriving in July, Havron said.
They were quarantined, meals were delivered and coaches checked with them to make sure they were on track academically, Havron said.
Currently, there is no sign on the outside of the building that the site is now FSCC student housing.
“We had people who thought this was the emergency room over the weekend,” Havron said.
The west entrance of the building is locked 24 hours a day.
Other changes
“August 10 is one week earlier than originally scheduled,” FSCC President Alysia Johnston, said in an email interview.”We will not have a spring break and the semester will be over before Thanksgiving on November, 24. The reason we are starting early and ending before Thanksgiving is part of our (pandemic) mitigation plan. We do not want to bring students back from a large geographical area after thanksgiving and risk introducing COVID-19 again. Also, KDHE had predicted COVID-19 would spike in December, with the rise of the flu and cold season, therefore increasing our chances of positive cases.”
“We do not have any new programs or classes,” she said. ” We do have more classes offered online than in the past.”
Despite the pandemic, class numbers are up.
“As of this morning (August 10), overall enrollment is slightly up compared to this time last fall. On-campus and online enrollment are up, off-campus enrollment is down.”
Mike Miles, 33, is the Fort Scott Fire Deparmtent Deputy Chief / Fire Marshal.
He works out of Fire Station 1, 1604 S. National .
Miles graduated from Fort Scott High School, then attended Fort Scott Community College EMT, EMT A. He has also attended the Hutchinson Fire Academy, and Kansas University for numerous fire training classes and certifications.
“I started my career as a reserve firefighter in 2006,” he said. “I have held positions as Firefighter, Senior Firefighter, Lieutenant and most recently promoted into the Deputy Chief position.”
Family: ” I have a beautiful, loving wife, Danyell, and four kids. Gavin, Benson, Luci Kate, and Emmett.”
Why did you pursue your career?
“I got into the fire service because I wanted to be there to help people. I want to be the bright light for people in their time of darkness. The fire service is a very humbling and rewarding job to have. I love being able to lend a helping hand when someone is having a bad day. It is also an amazing feeling to give back to the community I call home. ”
What are your duties as deputy fire chief and fire marshal?
“I act as second in charge behind the Fire Chief (Dave Bruner). In the event of his absence, I take on his responsibilities as well. On fire scenes, I am incident commander. I control the scene and make sure the fire crews have all the resources they need. I also get my hands dirty when they need some extra help. The fire marshal side of the job I handle a lot of the inspections for businesses being built or remodeled. Reviewing plans to make sure they follow the building codes we are currently under and following the fire and life safety code as well.”
What services does the FS Fire Department provide for the city?
“The Fort Scott Fire Department provides many services for the city and citizens. We provide a rescue truck that covers the entire county. That truck provides rescue services for entrapment, water rescue and vehicle extrication countywide. The rescue truck responds and assists Bourbon County EMS within the city limits for ambulance calls. We may also assist in the county if specifically requested by EMS for our service. We also provide fire protection for the citizens in the city limits. We do have mutual aid agreements with Scott Township we will provide water and manpower if requested. The Fire Department also runs the third out ambulance when the other two ambulances are on calls. Outside of the medical and fire services, we provide many other services as well. We provide fire prevention for all of the schools public and private for the month of October. We offer smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for citizens. We provide fire extinguisher training classes for citizens as well as CPR classes. There are many services we provide that may go unnoticed.”
Anything new on the horizon?
“The fire service is always evolving. We have been blessed this year with many new pieces of equipment. We were able to upgrade our old rescue equipment to brand new battery-powered equipment from the Mercy Foundation. We also received a grant to upgrade our 20-year-old air packs to new MSA air packs. We upgraded from our 1992 Firetruck and was able to get a new Pierce Pumper to serve the community for 20+ years with. Finally, we were able to get a grant to help cover half the cost of a major purchase in replacing our aerial ladder truck. We should receive it next year. We are upgrading from our 1993 E-One Ladder 75’ to a Pierce 100’ ascendant tower with many safety upgrades for our firefighters. All of this new equipment will help and assist our firefighters in performing their jobs to the public at the highest level.”
There is a current surge of COVID-19 in the world and in Bourbon County. Those who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms have several options to choose from for testing for the disease.
Fortscott.biz contacted five area medical agencies to look at their requirements and costs for testing.
Requirements are very similar, and most costs are covered by insurance, the government CARES Act or other means.
The return time to receive the results back varies in each facility.
Here are the results:
SEK Urgent Care, Pittsburg
From Angie Andrew, administrative assistant for Dr. Brent Cosens and PA Michele Cosens.
Requirements: call the Bourbon County Health Department
Cost: $125
How long for results?
One-half hour
Girard Medical Center
From Girard Medical Center’s CEO Ruth Duling:
Requirements:
* a physician’s order to be tested for COVID-19.
*a call to their laboratory for an appointment.
How long for results?
* within 24 hours.
Cost?
* most health plans cover the COVID-19 test.
“We will make every concession possible for an uninsured patient,” Duling said.
Community Health Center
From Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas Communications and Marketing Manager Robert Poole:
Requirements:
* individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms,
*those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19.
“A close contact is defined as any individual who was within six feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days prior to positive specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated,” Poole said. “It is recommended for persons with close contact exposure to wait five to seven days following their exposure to be tested, for improved test accuracy.”
* $140, however, the cost of patient testing is being covered by the CARES act, currently.
How long for results?
* 14 days, “with the number now decreasing.”
On the horizon for CHC:
“In another two weeks, we expect to be doing in-house molecular testing using Abbott ID Now testing equipment which delivers results in 30 minutes or less, with a capacity of up to 1000 tests per week, system-wide. We ordered this equipment very early in the pandemic and have been waiting since for it to arrive.”
Why do results take a while?
“Across the country, the very high demand for Covid-19 tests exhausted many lab’s physical capacity, (manpower, equipment, logistics) as well as their abilities to obtain raw testing supplies,” according to the CHC press release. “That issue continues, see the latest from Quest Diagnostics, who has processed more than 100 million tests to date. https://newsroom.questdiagnostics.com/COVIDTestingUpdates”
“General tips:
For people with medical conditions and older adults
Older adults and people of any age with medical conditions like lung disease, heart disease, or diabetes are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 and should seek care as soon as symptoms start.
Separate yourself from other people in your home.
Stay in a specific room away from others and use a separate bathroom if you can. Do not share personal household items. Wear a mask and maintain 6ft. distance if you need to interact with others.
Stay home except to get medical care.
People who are mildly ill are able to isolate at home. Rest, stay hydrated andmonitor your symptoms carefully. If your symptoms get worse, seek medical care. Call before you go to prevent others from being exposed.
Wash your hands often & avoid touching your face.
Wash frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, and before eating or preparing food. If soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your face.
Designate someone to clean high-touch surfaces every day.
Clean counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, phones, keyboards and bedside tables. Use diluted bleach solutions (4 teaspoons per quart of water), alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol or most common EPA-registered household disinfectants.”
Nevada Regional Medical Center
Holly Bush, Chief Quality Officer, Quality and Compliance at NRMC, Nevada MO provided the following:
Requirements:
* a doctor’s order sent to NRMC lab or
*participate in workplace screening if workplace has made the decision to screen.
Cost?
*”No cost…insurance or if uninsured, through…. recent legislative acts.”
How long for results?
* 3-5 days, in a few instances up to 8 days.
“Right now … within 48 hours but there is not a guarantee of this. If you sign up for the patient portal, you will get your results at the moment we have them.”
How long are the results good for?
“That is a good question with a long answer.
The CDC states if you test negative for COVID 19 by a viral test, you probably were not infected at the time your sample was collected.
However, that does not mean you will not get sick.
The test result only means that you did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing.
You might test negative if the sample was collected early in your infection and test positive later during your illness.
You could also be exposed to COVID-19 after the test and get infected then.
Technically a negative test ONLY means you aren’t actively shedding virus at the time you were swabbed. It’s possible you were infected but not far enough into the infection to be shedding virus, which is why guidelines for asymptomatic patients call for waiting at least 72 hours after known exposures before testing.
And of course, any exposure after being tested means you could be infected.”
From Kayla Stewart, RN, Manager of Ascension Via Christi Emergency Department in Fort Scott.
Requirements:
* a physician’s order
Testing dates and times are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10-11 a.m. The order for testing must be received before 9:30 a.m. to get tested the same day.
Cost?
*insurance
How long before test results?
* 24-72 hours. “Most of ours have been coming back within a day.”
While waiting for the results what are people to do?
“POST EXPOSURE to COVID-19 TESTING
If you have been tested for COVID-19 because you were directly exposed to someone with COVID-19 you will need to continue to quarantine for the 14 days from last exposure even if your initial test is negative. (Definition to Quarantine is below) Those with symptoms and are tested, they should isolate for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms and fever free for 72 hours without fever-reducing medication even if their test is negative.
COVID-19 TESTING NO KNOWN EXPOSURE
If you have not been exposed and have not traveled to an area that is a high risk according to CDC.gov and you are negative you will not need to continue to quarantine. This however does not mean you cannot get COVID-19 and you will still need to take precautions against this illness. See cdc.gov for how to prevent COVID-19. Those with symptoms and are tested, they should isolate for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms and fever free for 72 hours without fever-reducing medication even if their test is negative
COVID-19 TESTING POST TRAVEL EXPOSURE
If you travel to an area that is a high risk for COVID-19 per cdc.gov listing and you are an essential employee, you may go to work only per your workplace regulation and with a mask on and monitoring symptoms per KDHE recommendations. (these recommendations are subject to change) If you are not an essential employee a 14-day quarantine after a return is required by KDHE. Those with symptoms and are tested, they should isolate for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms and fever free for 72 hours without fever-reducing medication even if their test is negative.
PRE-SURGICAL TESTING
If you were tested for COVID-19 Pre-op you will Quarantine up to your surgery day to prepare for surgery and limit the risk of exposure to COVID prior to surgery. If you are positive you will be notified, and all non-emergent surgeries may be postponed until COVID-19 is cleared. Those with symptoms and are tested, they should isolate for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms and fever free for 72 hours without fever-reducing medication even if their test is negative and let your provider know.
Testing can take up to 2-3 days for completion or longer depending on lab volumes.”
For more informationon how to care at home and clean:
Rebecca Johnson, administrator of Bourbon County Health Department sent the following info.
To clarify terms:
Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick.
Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick.
“WHEN SHOULD I STAY HOME?
After you have been tested for COVID-19, until told otherwise by the County Health Department
If you have been in close contact with a confirmed positive COVID-19 case, until told otherwise by the County Health Department
If you are feeling sick
If your Doctor or the County Health Department has instructed you to do so
WHEN SHOULD I GO BACK OUT IN PUBLIC AFTER ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE?
When you have been instructed to do so by your County Health Department
HOW LONG COULD MY ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE LAST?
If you are in isolation because you were tested POSITIVE for COVID-19, your isolation time is a minimum of 10 days after onset of symptoms or testing date (if onset unclear or asymptomatic). You can be released from isolation after fever free and asymptomatic for at least 72 hours. Release from isolation is up to the County Health Department.
If you are a household contact of a positive COVID-19 case, you must quarantine for a minimum of 24 days. Release from quarantine is up to the County Health Department.
If you are a non-household contact of a positive COVID-19 case, you must quarantine for 14 days from the date of last contact with the positive case. Release from quarantine is up to the County Health Department.
You may contact your County Health Department by calling:
Torrie Singmaster, 24, is a new first-grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.
She earned her Bachelor of Art in Elementary Education from Ottawa University.
She has bee a paraprofessional educator and substitute teacher for USD 234 for three years.
Singmaster’s hometown is Fort Scott.
Her family includes her husband, Dakota, and two sons, William, 3, and Tyson, 1.
In her free time, Singmaster likes going on vacation to Branson, golfing, and taking their boys new places.
“I also coach girls basketball at Fort Scott Middle School,” she said.
How did you become an educator?
“I started subbing at Winfield Scott and fell in love with the school and students. I completed my degree this past May thru Ottawa University while working for the school district as a paraprofessional and coach.”
Is there someone who inspired you to teach?
“I honestly can say the students I started working with inspired me to teach. I always loved school and had many great teachers that I can look up to. I also wanted a career that I could make a difference in children’s lives and be able to be there for my little family.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“I love being able to make connections with students. I have worked with many different ages over the last three years. Elementary-aged students are so full of life and joy. Seeing them so excited about learning makes me excited every day to walk into my classroom. I can’t wait to see each student get to the point where they are growing in their confidence as a student and as a person.”
What are the greatest challenges?
“The greatest challenge as a first-year teacher this year is definitely the unknowns. Being a first-year teacher during a pandemic is not something you learn during college. I am so blessed to have the support from my family and my school family. The staff at Winfield Scott and USD 234 are amazing and I cannot wait to start and continue my journey as an educator in Fort Scott.”
The local fire department is looking for a few good men….or women.
The Fort Scott Fire Department is currently looking for men or women who are interested in serving in the fire department as a reserve firefighter, said FS Deputy Chief Mike Miles, who is also the fire marshal.
“We prefer ones with experience or past training but we will recruit and train the right candidate,” he said.
“Currently, Fort Scott Fire has 14 full-time members and three reserves,” Miles said. “That consists of Fire Chief Bruner, Deputy Chief Miles and three shifts of four crew members that work 24 hours on and 48 hours off, revolving.”
“Our reserve program is essentially a part-time job,” he said. “They can pick up open shifts from full-time guys needing off for vacation or sick leave. We do allow them to work as a fifth man on any shift to get training and comfortable with the job and skills.”
” We are needing reserves because our roster is very limited right now,” Miles said. “We need candidates that are available to work to cut down on the overtime. When a reserve can’t work, a full-time member is required to stay and work another 24-hour shift causing overtime.”
The new reserve firefighters are needed to help cut operating costs throughout the year, he said.
” Also a bonus about being a reserve firefighter, you kind of get to pick and choose what days you can and can’t work,” Miles said. “This is also a great program to get your foot in the door to the fire service and work your way into a full-time spot and career.”
The reserve firefighter position is just a title, he said.
“You are a firefighter just not full-time status,” Miles said. “That does not take away from the job required. They do everything a full-time firefighter would do on a daily basis. Run rescue, ambulance calls. Work all fire calls involving hazmat (hazardous materials), fire alarms, vehicle, and structure fires. During the daytime when not running calls this time of year we are currently flowing hydrants. Our crews stay busy throughout the days performing assignments required.”
A job description for the position can be seen on the Fort Scott Fire Department’s Facebook page.
The requirements of the job:
“We do require candidates to hold Firefighter 1 certification,” Miles said. “Along with Hazmat Ops and Awareness. Those are the basic requirements to legally be able to work as a city employee in the fire department. We look for candidates with prior experience and many more certifications. EMT is a plus. We will recruit the right candidate we believe may be a good fit for our department and provide them the proper training or academy to become certified.”
Candidates can contact Miles directly at the firehouse. 620-223-2140. Lieutenant Clint Lawrence can also assist callers.
Voters took advantage of advance voting Monday morning at the Bourbon County Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by the Bourbon County Clerks office:
2020 PRIMARY ELECTION UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
AUGUST 4, 2020
Editor’s note: the clerk does not list the winners in each position for both the Republicans and Democrats together.
Republicans:
United States Senate
Vote for One 1
Lance Berland . . . . . . . . . 41 1
John L. Berman. . . . . . . . . 10
Derek C. Ellis. . . . . . . . . 31 1
Bob Hamilton . . . . . . . . . 579
Kris Kobach. . . . . . . . . . 1,029
David Alan Lindstrom. . . . . . . 85
Roger Marshall. . . . . . . . . 537
Brian Matlock . . . . . . . . . 38
John Miller. . . . . . . . . . 41
Steve Roberts . . . . . . . . . 101
Gabriel Mark Robles . . . . . . . 10
United States House of Representative
Vote for One 1
Jake LaTurner . . . . . . . . . 1,256
Dennis Taylor . . . . . . . . . 283
Steve Watkins . . . . . . . . . 948
Kansas Senate, 13th District DISTRICT 13
Vote for One 1
Richard Hilderbrand . . . . . . . 1,451
Kansas Senate, 12th District DISTRICT 12
Vote for One 1
Caryn Tyson. . . . . . . . . . 819
Kansas House of Representatives, 2nd DISTRICT 2
Vote for One 1
Kenneth Collins . . . . . . . . 202
Kansas House of Representatives, 4th DISTRICT 4
Vote for One 1
Arlyn Briggs . . . . . . . . . 205
Trevor Jacobs . . . . . . . . . 2,030
Kaitlyn Arnold, 26, is a new Winfield Scott Elementary School first-grade teacher.
She earned her bachelor of science in education from Pittsburg State University, and has taught in first and second grades.
” I was born and raised in the best town in the country! Fort Scott, Kansas!,” Arnold said.
In her spare time, Arnold likes to garden, raise cattle and chickens, sew, crochet, “go junking” and redo antiques, attend concerts, work out (especially yoga), travel, hike, and spend time with family and friends, she said.
Kaitlyn Arnold. Submitted photo.
How did you become an educator?
“I decided at age eight that I wanted to become a teacher. Even at the age of three, I was saying I wanted to be a teacher. “
Is there someone who inspired you to teach?
“I became an elementary teacher for many reasons. The one who inspired the most would be my mom who has taught for over 30 years. Her care and love she shows her students inspires me daily to become a better teacher. I also have had many aunts, uncles, cousins and a grandma who have been in education and inspired me as well.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“The students. I dearly treasure each day with my students. I love getting to know them and building good teacher-students relationships. Watching them grow positively in social, emotional and educational skills gives me so much joy. I love hearing about the new dog they got over the weekend, the tooth that got yanked out by a string and a door or the flat tire they had while going to see their grandparents.”
What are the greatest challenges?
“Saying goodbye to the students at the end of the year is hardest for me. I’m so excited and celebrate their success of accomplishing a year of growth but the goodbyes are hard.”
“I treasure each moment I get to have with my students and do my very best to help them grow positively in every way,” Arnold said.” I am so ready to get this school year started and meet my awesome future students!”
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… Jason Silvers with the Fort Scott Tribune, Angel Wilson and Lora Holdridge.
Lynne made a motion to go into a 10 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel, Jeff seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Appraiser Clint Anderson). After the session, Jeff made a motion to approve hiring a field appraiser due to future vacancy that will occur over the next few weeks, Nick seconded and all approved.
Jeff Fischer questioned a service charge that the Consolidated Rural Water District is charging; the Commissioners told him they had a board that should be contacted regarding their charges.
Lynne discussed a resolution for possible approval requiring that any grant applied for or accepted must be approved by the Commissioners; he thought it would be a good resolution for the County. Lynne made a motion to approve Resolution 24-20, there was not a second for his motion. Jeff asked if they were trying to solve a problem with the current granting process, Lynne said yes, Justin said it was a procedural issue which caused problems that the resolution could resolve for future grants. Jeff said that the wellness grants didn’t have the Commissioners approval for the application and said that last year they considered (but didn’t follow through with) a cost share grant from the Department of Transportation for an iron bridge in Garland. Jeff questioned if the resolution would be another barrier for obtaining grants. Justin said it would be putting a layer of protection in the grant process. Jeff questioned if the resolution would be reacting to a situation and said he didn’t think that was the right thing to do. Jeff made a motion to go into a 5 minute executive session for consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship, Nick seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Justin Meeks). After the session Lynne made a motion to table the resolution until a later date and Nick seconded.
Jeff made a motion to go into a 3 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel, Nick seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Bobby Reed and Kendell Mason). Lynne made a motion to go into a 3 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel, Jeff seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Bobby Reed and Kendell Mason). After the session Jeff made a motion authorizing an employee in the Correctional Center to use donated vacation time in the community pool for sick leave (an employee can donate vacation time to an employee to use for sick leave), Nick seconded and all approved.
Jeff said the deadline is in August for submitting an application for KDOT funding for off system bridges, he asked it was the intent of the Commissioners to explore funding for the Jefferson bridge, Lynne said they still need to determine if they want to repair or replace the bridge. Jeff questioned if he should get the authority to write a proposal to fix the bridge, Lynne said they could direct public works to get a proposal. Jeff questioned if the bridge north of Fort Scott could have an at-grade crossing installed to eliminate the need for a bridge. Jeff made a motion to direct public works to complete an application for the two fracture critical bridges (Jefferson bridge and the bridge north of Fort Scott on old 69 Highway), Nick seconded and all approved.
Lynne said they should be more involved in the application process so they weren’t blindsided.
The Commissioners reviewed the 1st draft of the 2021 budget. Jeff said the draft didn’t include a budget for the medical mall or the PILOT money. The current mill levy for Bourbon County is 66.613, the estimated mill levy on the 1st draft of the budget is 67.131. Lynne said in 2019 Road & Bridge had spent more than they thought they had due to deposits not being correct. Lora Holdridge questioned if the draft of the budget included raises for non-elected employees, Lynne said Terry was instructed to enter the amount the department head requested, Jeff questioned if it was possible to encourage all of the departments to save money for a carryover to help fund a raise.
The Commissioners will have a budget work session on July 28th at 9:00 am. Lynne said the Commissioners will work with the department heads regarding the budgets.
Jeff made a motion to adjourn at 3:12, Nick seconded and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman
(ss) Jeff Fischer, Commissioner
(ss) Nick Ruhl, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk
July 24, 2020, Approved Date
G-N-R Healthy Living, an essential oils business, will open soon in downtown Fort Scott. The initials stand for Great Natural Relief.
The new business is located at 13 North Main Street.
13 N. Main, Fort Scott.
Stacy Gooderl is the owner and will sell essential oils and CDB hemp oils.
The business is set to open today, August 3, 2020.
The hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The store is closed on Sunday.
“We have used the oils,” Gooderl said. “We truly know that they help. Plus work for all issues like asthma, anxiety. The pain cream has helped out all on our softball team.”
“It’s not harmful in any way, it’s safe for adults to use,” she said. “Essential oils help many ways too, with sleep issues, plus so many more. I love helping people.”
