Fort Scott Police Officer Jon Carpenter. Submitted photo.
Jon T. Carpenter, 24, is a new police officer with the Fort Scott Police Department, having started on August 31, 2020.
Carpenter is a 2015 graduate of Fort Scott High School, has an associate of science degree from Fort Scott Community College, and police certification from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.
Before training in law enforcement, he worked at Walmart for three years.
His family is comprised of his wife, Rachel, and father, Jon D., and mom, Kim Carpenter.
Carpenter is involved in the community through his church, Faith Church, as a bassist, an online church manager, and as a leader with the middle school group.
“I got into law enforcement to gain law enforcement experience to possibly transfer to a larger agency in the future,” Carpenter said. “I hope to specialize in identifying, stopping, and investigating human trafficking, but mainly the combative side of stopping it.”
” While in local law enforcement, I would like to find a specialized area to own and develop my skills further in such as DUI enforcement or an armorer capacity.”
Peter Earles is the CEO of Earles Engineering. Photo was taken from Earle Engineering Facebook page.
Earles Engineering and Inspection, headquartered in McPherson, KS, was hired on April 1 to assume the positions of project manager and public works director for the City of Fort Scott.
“They were approved last night ( at the April 6 city commission meeting),” Fort Scott City Manager Jeremy Frazier, said. “We are going to be doing some good things. They will be helping us prepare, by having shovel-ready projects.”
“They have 30 employees,” Frazier said. “We feel like we are in good hands, and will move the city forward.”
As a project manager, the scope of work will be working with the city on various projects, according to the contract with the engineering firm, provided by the city.
They will meet with city staff once a week, a maximum of four hours, to review active maintenance projects, review future maintenance projects, answer questions and look at long-term projects, according to the contract.
Dave Blessant will be the lead project manager, with Jason Dickman available for engineering questions. Fees for this will be $85 an hour, billed on a monthly basis.
Rates will increase 3% automatically, beginning January 2022, according to the contract.
All services will be from Earles Engineering office in Pittsburg and therefore will be no travel charges.
The contract period is for one year from April 6, and will automatically be renewed unless notice to terminate is provided.
At the Bourbon County Commission meeting on Tuesday, April 6, the commissioners decided to continue following the federal Center for Disease Control guidelines requiring masks.
The community’s businesses, churches, and other entities can decide for themselves.
“We will continue requiring masks at the courthouse,” Commission Chairman Lynne Oharah said. “As far as the rest of the county, the (Kansas) legislators overrode the governor’s (mask) mandate. It would be up to individual businesses and entities to determine whether or not they want to follow CDC guidelines.”
Lynne Oharah
In county operations other than the courthouse, it will be up to individual elected officials to determine if they will follow the CDC guidelines, he said.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the CDC are still recommending people wearing masks when in public, practicing social distancing, practicing good hygiene, and staying home when sick, Rebecca Johnson, administrator at the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department, said.
Rebecca Johnson, SEKMCHD Director.
Governor Kelly reissued the mandate until May 28, but the legislative council overturned the mandate, Johnson said.
The governor has not reissued mitigation protocols for schools, she said.
“But USD 234 had decided to continue to require masks,” Johnson said. “USD 235 has stopped requiring masks.”
Vaccines
The health department is continuing with offering COVID 19 vaccines in its’ office in Fort Scott.
“We do have the Johnson and Johnson vaccine available now,” she said. This vaccine is a one-dose.
As of Monday, April 5, the county health department has administered 2,022 doses of the Moderna vaccine.
Community Health Center and Walmart are also administering vaccines to the community, she said.
If interested in a vaccine, call the health department at 620-223-4464.
County Statistics of COVID-19
Johnson said there have been twenty-five COVID-19 deaths in Bourbon County, statewide-4,927 deaths.
Bourbon County has had 1,347 cases of the virus, 303,227 in the state, she said.
According to the CDC website, there were no deaths from influenza in 2020-2021 in Kansas, Johnson said.
“I believe that is from wearing masks,” Johnson said.
“Flu season runs from September 1-May 31,” she said. “According to CDC, 0 cases reported in Kansas, but I don’t believe all data has been submitted yet. ”
In 2019-2020, there were 118 deaths from influenza, she said.
Greg Motley. President of the Bourbon County Economic Development Council. Submitted photo.
Bourbon County Economic Development Council is working to find a full-time economic development director, facilitate the starting of the new meat process plant, facilitate a new multi-purpose arena, and expanding housing in the area, according to Greg Motley, president.
Eco Devo
BEDCO began a search for an economic development director a few months ago and had one narrowed down, but that person has declined the position, Greg Motley, president of BEDCO said.
“The process was restarted,” Motley said. “In the meantime, I will be acting director.”
“We will continue interviews until the position is filled,”he said.
“Since 1992, BEDCO has been at the center of Economic Development in Bourbon County, and under the guidance of a reconstituted board that represents the whole county, we are stronger than ever,” Motley said in a press release.
Economic development services provided by BEDCO are primarily matching resources to the economic needs of county entities and businesses, he said.
Motley gave some details of three other projects on the horizon.
Meat Processing Plant
The proposed entry to the micro meat processing plant south of the KDOT building on Hwy. 69, just off Hickory Road. The road will be extended to the south for access to the plant.The KDOT building located on Hwy. 69.
“Since the Micro-meat processing plant was approved, we are moving forward with facilitating the land/lots swap between KW Cattle, Billy Madison and BEDCO,” he said.
The 7 acres owned by BEDCO is being traded with WK Cattle company for the site on Hwy. 69, south of the KDOT building. The parcel of land is at the corner of Jayhawk Road and Liberty Bell Road in Fort Scott Industrial Park.
“KW Cattle is swapping 46 acres south of the (KDOT )State Highway facility on the east side of 69 Highway for two industrial park tracts,” Motley said. “One is about seven acres, the other is about 18 acres, currently owned by BEDCO. They are located on either side of the Christian Learning Center. The new micro-meat processing facility will pay BEDCO some cash considerations, approximately equal to BEDCO’s expenses in the transaction.”
KW Cattle is doing a trade with BEDCO that is advantageous to the community, Motley said.
“They are trading 46 acres, a nice piece of flat ground, for less valuable property of rough ground of 25 acres,” he said. “They wanted to help Fort Scott and Bourbon County. In addition, they can expand the property they own, Christian Learning Center, in the future.”
“BEDCO will take possession (of the land parcel), then sell to the meat processing plant,” he said. “It should be finalized this month.”
Pictured is the other business adjacent to Christian Learning Center, Reprologix, located at 3200 Liberty Bell Road in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park. Behind the sign, to the south of the parking lot, is the land that will be traded. These 18 acres currently owned by BEDCO are being traded by WK Cattle company for land on Hwy. 69.
Multipurpose Arena
“We are also working with local investors on a potential STAR Bonds project for Bourbon County,” he said. “Some Bourbon County citizens are proposing the issuance of Star Bonds to partially finance a new multipurpose arena in Bourbon County, along with improvements to the downtown central business district.”
“The bonds are paid off through the sales tax revenue generated by the development.”
“The intent is to increase regional and national visitation to Kansas.”
“The bonds would cover about 50% of the project, and private investment, along with bank financing would cover the balance, he said. ” The Star Bonds would be repaid by the increase in sales tax collections in a Star Bond District, whose boundaries are yet to be determined.”
“Atchison, KS, a similar-sized community to Fort Scott and Bourbon County, issued $2.3 million in Star Bonds in 2019 to build a museum,” he said. “Attached is a chart of all Star Bonds approved by the State of Kansas. Preliminary estimates of the size of the Bourbon County project range from $3 million to $6 million.”
City
2019 Pop.
Project
Start Date
Orig. Amt (000)
2019 Out. (000)
Dist. Sales Tax (000)
2019 CO. Pop
10-yr Pop. Trend
2019 CO. Sales Tax (000)
2018-19 % increase
2019 Sales Tax Per Capita
2019 Pull Fact.
Atchison- AT
10,476
Aviation Museum
May-18
$2,370
$2,190
$210
16,073
-5.03%
$12,939
6.30%
819
0.70
Derby- SG
24,943
Dino/Sports Zone
Mar-17
$20,465
$13,230
$5,701
516,042
3.55%
$628,714
4.50%
1,234
1.14
Dodge City- FO
27,104
Power Center
Dec-15
$28,481
$26,395
$1,512
33,619
-0.68%
$37,999
5.10%
1,086
0.99
Garden City- FY
26,408
Mixed Use
Mar-19
$29,540
$29,540
$2,117
36,467
-0.84%
$58,841
10.40%
1,507
1.41
Kansas City- WY
152,960
Youth Soccer
Aug-15
$65,138
$83,138
$1,293
165,429
5.03%
$192,921
4.50%
1,119
0.96
Kansas City- WY
152,960
Mercy Park (SKC)
May-10
$150,289
$0
n/a
165,429
5.03%
$192,921
4.50%
1,119
0.96
Kansas City- WY
152,960
Kansas Speedway
Jan-99
$24,300
$16,835
$1,326
165,429
5.03%
$192,921
4.50%
1,119
0.96
Kansas City- WY
152,960
Schlitterbahn
Oct-13
$85,200
$65,755
$6,514
165,429
5.03%
$192,921
4.50%
1,119
0.96
Manhattan- RL
54,604
Flint Hills Discovery
Dec-09
$50,000
$10,905
$5,586
74,232
4.38%
$61,112
-0.20%
814
0.76
Overland Park- JO
195,494
Prairiefire
Dec-12
$64,990
$64,860
$3,059
602,401
10.70%
$917,056
2.50%
1,485
1.28
Overland Park- JO
195,494
BluHawk Mixed Use
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
602,401
10.70%
$917,056
2.50%
1,485
1.28
Salina- SA
46,550
Fieldhouse
Dec-18
$18,250
$18,250
$862
54,224
-2.49%
$77,717
3.50%
1,380
1.31
Topeka- SH
125,310
Heartland Park
Apr-07
$10,405
$5,025
$334
176,875
-0.60%
$211,893
1.00%
1,178
1.06
Wichita- SG
389,938
River District
Jul-15
$46,980
$42,140
$2,097
516,042
3.55%
$628,714
4.50%
1,234
1.14
Wichita- SG
389,938
Greenwich
Dec-13
$107,631
$59,290
$8,251
516,042
3.55%
$628,714
4.50%
1,234
1.14
Fort Scott- BB
7,697
Arena
Jan-22
n/a
n/a
n/a
14,534
-4.21%
$11,778
-2.20%
795
0.70
“Bottom line, we are looking at what has been successful elsewhere,” Motley said.
Housing
“We are examining possibilities to expand housing in Bourbon County,” Motley said. “BEDCO is in the research and discussions phase. Common sense would dictate that we first examine where the market is hot and see what can be done about enhancing the market in those areas.”
“Many jurisdictions in Kansas have a property improvement tax rebate of some sort, that rebate the increase in taxes property experiences, because of a new build or significant addition,” he said. “Many are reluctant to improve their property because of inherent tax increases…a program like this would rebate the first five years of the increase.”
Patty Love, Bourbon County Treasurer, responded to a request for an update on the future property tax sale.
Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks mailed out the delinquent property tax letter late last year, she said.
“The tax sale preparation report I sent him had about 425 properties on it,” Love said. ” We have had about 50 properties paid.”
So far, over $308,000 has come back into the county from taxes that were delinquent, she said.
“The original report had $1,432,285.43 outstanding taxes, 2016 and prior,” Love said. “We have collected $308,216.92 of these since November 1, 2020.”
There is still an opportunity for those with back taxes due, to keep their property off the tax sale.
“2016 and prior taxes can be paid to keep the property off of the tax sale, up until the date they are filed in court,” she said. “Once they have been filed in court, all delinquent taxes plus a court fee must be paid to keep it from selling. The taxpayer has up until 10:00 a.m. the day of the tax sale to redeem the property.”
The tax sale date is unknown currently.
“The date of the tax sale won’t be set until cases are filed in court,” she said. “At that time we will release a list of all properties on the tax sale.”
“Security 1st Title has completed title work on about 90 of the cases to date,” Love said. “They are working them in, along with being very busy at this time.”
Three Cord Justice performs tonight at the Boiler Room Brewhaus. Submitted photo. From left Jason Richison, Mark Markowitz, Liz Grace and Rick Alumbaugh.
The Boiler Room Brewhaus, 2 S. National Avenue, in historic Fort Scott’s downtown, offers live music throughout the year.
Tonight, Three Chord Justice will be playing classic country music from 7-9 p.m. with a suggested donation of $10.
The original group formed in March 2008 by Liz Grace in San Diego, CA.
Liz Grace. Submitted photo.
“TCJ quickly gained a following of two-steppers and lovers of country music in Southern California,” according to information provided by Liz Grace.
“The short of it is, for Mark ( Markowitz )and I, gigging is what we do,” Grace said. “It’s what we love best and we can’t help but do it as much as possible. It’s church.”
Mark Markowitz and Liz Grace. Submitted photo.
“We met when he came to audition for the band in 2008,” Grace said. “He played the heck out of a train beat!”
“On New Years Eve 2012 he proposed onstage, in front of all our family, friends and fans,” she said. “April 2021 will be our 7th anniversary. Love and music keep us together!”
Mark and Liz. Submitted photo.
“In May of 2020, Mark and I moved the band to Grove, Oklahoma, reformed with guitarist Jason Richison and bassist Rick Alumbaugh just a couple months later,” she said. “We couldn’t be more blessed to have our health and a busy calendar in 2021.”
The band features LeeRoy Whisenhunt on pedal steel, she said.
Hailing from Missoula Montana singer/songwriter Grace leads the group through a mix of classic country-influenced originals and handpicked covers from the likes of Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, Patsy Cline and other country greats, she said.
“I got an early start singing in bars and honky-tonks, far before legal age, having to wait in alleys during band breaks,” Grace said.
Here is the entertainment/food truck schedule for the Boiler Room Brewhaus:
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 403 Woodland Hills Blvd.
New buildings/expansions are on the horizon for the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.
CHC is working on the purchase plan for moving from its’ Fort Scott present site to the former Price Chopper building on Main Street at 23rd Street.
The present site is the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills.
“We are… closing on our purchase of the 40,000 sq. ft. Price Chopper Building in Fort Scott on April 9,” Postai said. “The plan is to combine our walk-in care and main clinic together. The renovation will start as soon as possible, with a goal of completion prior to the expiration of our current lease with Mercy in December 2022.”
Krista Postai. Submitted photo.
There is also a new CHC building in Pittsburg.
“We have scheduled our groundbreaking for our new Medical Education Building in Pittsburg which will be home to all the students we are/will be training,” Postai said.
The groundbreaking will be May 3 at 12:30 p.m. at the John Parolo Education Building, south of the CHC/SEK System Office.
“About $5.6 million in donations have been raised to cover the full cost of the building and its furnishings scheduled for completion in the summer of 2022,” she said. “In the meantime, work continues on the establishment of a family practice residency program in Pittsburg in collaboration with Kansas University Medical Center and Via Christi/Ascension; the application for accreditation has been submitted with a ‘virtual’ survey planned this fall.”
CHC is planning a clinic in Chanute in the near future.
“We also bought 10 acres of land in Chanute on which to build a clinic in Neosho County,” she said. “Given all our other projects, it will probably take us 3-5 years to get this done.”
Standing at the bottom of a wind turbine looking up at the clear Kansas sky.
The Jayhawk Wind Project in Bourbon County is in construction.
“We are moving forward,” said Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah. “They are out there now, putting gravel on roads and widening access on the roads.”
“They are east and north of Porterville, in southwest Bourbon County, around 40th and Eagle Road,” Frank Young, an engineer with Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, said. “I have looked at a couple of culverts for them to see if they will hold up traffic for them.”
Frank Young. From the Agricultural Engineering Associates website.
“They are upgrading some of the roads to be able to get some big rigs down them,” Young said.
Bourbon County Public Works Director Eric Bailey said I.E.A. , the contractor, sends him a plan of the day, every day and yesterday they worked on Eagle Road between 40th and 50th Streets, capping over 2100 linear feet and additionally, 50th from Eagle Road to Hwy. 3 putting over 4200 linear feet.
Eric Bailey. Submitted photo.
“They put on 4-6 inches of gravel,” Bailey said.
Today they are working on 50th from Eagle to Hwy. 39 and 30th from Hwy. 39 going south, he said.
“They have a lay-down yard at (the junction of) Hwy. 39 and Hwy. 3,” Bailey said. “This is where they will have all their job trailers, their starting point every day, where the contractors will report in.”
Young said the area is about 10 acres and is the delivery area as well.
The Jayhawk Wind project will have a capacity of 193.2 Megawatts and can power 65,000 homes, according to the Apex website.
According to the March 3 press release from Apex Clean Energy
“The Jayhawk facility… is expected to be operational later this year, will consist of 70 GE wind turbines totaling an installed capacity of more than 190 MW. The project will provide significant economic benefits for the local and state economies—including the creation of more than 115 construction jobs and 7 long-term operations positions—and will generate over $20 million in landowner payments and $27.2 million in tax revenue.”
Fort Scott Community College President Alysia Johnston.
The federal government has created a relief fund to help college students attain their goal of higher education.
Fort Scott Community College is a recipient of the fund.
The college administration will not charge per credit hour fees for the fall semester, 2021.
Following is an email interview with FSCC President Alysia Johnston.
“The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-IHE/Student Aid provides funding to institutions to provide students with financial assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We feel not charging general fees of $55 per credit hour will financially benefit the most students.”
How much will this save the average student with say 9-12 hours per semester?
“If a student was enrolled in 12 hours they would save $660 for the semester ($55 x number of credit hours).”
How does a student get started on the process of enrolling with this program?
“We just released the information last week and I have not heard much feedback yet.”
Any changes in curriculum for next year?
“This past year we had protocols in place to mitigate COVID-19, such as masks and social distancing; however, we did not alter our schedule much, and remained face-to-face for the majority of our classes. Due to the fact we did not change our schedule it will look very similar to past semesters and the majority of classes are ‘in-person.'”
According to the college website:
“The mission statement Fort Scott Community College is an institution of higher learning with a long history of culture and diversity that provides affordable academic, technical, and occupational programs to meet student needs while fostering a mutually supportive relationship between the college and its communities.”
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Expanding the VA’s Vaccination Efforts to Spouses and Caregivers
This week, President Biden signed into law my legislation to expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to veterans, their spouses and their caregivers under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). I introduced the Strengthening and Amplifying Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize All Veterans and Every Spouse (SAVE LIVES) Act with my colleagues on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on March 11 and am pleased President Biden quickly signed this critical legislation into law to protect veterans, their spouses and caregivers.
Prior to passage of the SAVES LIVES Act, the VA was only able to vaccinate VHA enrollees. While the VA will continue to prioritize vaccinating VHA enrolled veterans with its allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine, the new law authorizes the VA to vaccinate non-enrolled veterans, veteran spouses, caregivers, overseas veterans and CHAMPVA beneficiaries with excess COVID-19 vaccine supply. The law also urges the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to adjust VA’s vaccine allocation based on this increased eligibility pool, as much as the supply chain allows.
Military service is family service, and that is why the VA and our House and Senate VA Committees aim to care for both veterans and their families—especially as we navigate this unprecedented crisis. Veterans, caregivers, spouses, and CHAMPVA beneficiaries made eligible for VA vaccination under the new law should click here to register their interest in receiving the vaccine at the VA. Registered users will also receive regular updates on the VA’s vaccine rollout process and on the timing of when the VA will begin to offer vaccines to these newly authorized groups.
If you are a veteran, you can click here for more information about the VA’s COVID-19 testing and treatment resources. You can also sign up for updates about vaccine availability here.
Honoring Deputy Robert Kunze III
On Friday morning, I had the honor of presenting the Congressional Badge of Bravery to the family of Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Kunze III, who died in the line of duty on September 18, 2018.
There is no higher calling than to devote yourself to the protection of others. Deputy Robert Kunze wasted no time before stepping up to serve his community. He joined the Shawnee Sheriff’s department immediately after graduating from Washburn University with a degree in criminal justice – the perfect example of a committed individual that law enforcement needs. As a six-year veteran of the Shawnee Sheriff’s Department and a 12-year veteran in Sedgwick County, he was an exceptional deputy who dedicated his life to public service.
The Congressional Badge of Bravery was established by Congress in 2008 to honor exceptional acts of bravery performed by federal, state and local law enforcement officers in the line of duty. It deeply reflects the courage and heroism of those who receive it. Deputy Kunze made the ultimate sacrifice to protect his community, and his actions personify bravery. He was a man committed to making a difference in Sedgewick County, and I was honored to be a part of this ceremony.
Bob Farmer has returned as the Fort Scott City Attorney.
He previously served for 45 years in the position and started again on March 23, 2021.
“Since joining our office Mr. Farmer has been extremely accessible and responsive,” Fort Scott City Manager Jeremy Frazier said. “I feel that our relationship will strengthen over time as we work on behalf of the community and I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Mr. Farmer.”
“The city attorney is a position by statute,” Farmer said. “The position is an officer, you have to sign an oath because it’s additional obligations above and beyond an employee. The general responsibilities are to give advice and protect the city in that capacity.”
In the agreement between Farmer and the city manager provided by the city, it states that “the city attorney will represent the city in civil actions, prosecute violations of the city ordinances, give legal advice to city officials and employees on city matters, prepare ordinances, legal papers, and documents, assist with public improvement proceedings and assist the governing body and other city agencies in the conduct of city meetings.”
“For service in addition to normal duties, the city will pay the attorney his hourly billing rate on a per hour basis, plus all out of pocket expenses incurred…in areas such as litigation, economic development, claims filed with the city as an adjunct to litigation and out-of-city services,” according to the agreement.
The agreement is for one year, at $4,000 per month.
His office, the firm of Nuss and Farmer PA, is located at 323 Judson in the Security Professional Building and he can be reached at 620-223-0150.
Bob Farmer.
City Manager Frazier, who came to the position in February 2021, said he had the pleasure of meeting Farmer prior to the commission approving his contract, at Crooner’s Restaurant by chance, while at dinner one evening.
“He struck me as someone who cared about the community and offered, if ever I needed, to assist me with anything that would help me be more successful on behalf of the community,” Frazier said. “I walked away from our initial encounter with a positive impression of Bob. Again, at this time, I had no idea that he would soon become our new city attorney, but I am glad that he submitted his name for consideration and was selected by the council.”
“It was undoubtedly a difficult decision by the council as there were many great candidates to consider,” Frazier said. “However, Bob is very knowledgeable and has held the city attorney position before, so I consider myself lucky to have his legal guidance. For a new city manager, it is great to have a city attorney of his caliber to lean on as we strive to move the city forward.”
In the community, Farmer has served previously in Fort Scott Kiwanis, as United Way Chairman, and the Fort Scott Planning Commission.
Farmer earned his Juris Doctorate in 1972 from the University of Kansas.
Farmer takes over from Jeffrey Deane, Lauber Municipal Law, LLC, Lee’s Summit, MO.
“Mr. Deane has assisted in the transition,” Farmer said. “He has been very courteous and professional.”
Deane served from 2019 to 2021 as the Fort Scott City Attorney.
