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Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda for June 2

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: June 2, 2020

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

WEATHER PERMITTING MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THE EAST FRONT STEPS OF THE COURTHOUSE. THERE WILL BE A LINK ON FACEBOOK TO YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE MEETING IF MEETING HAS TO BE HELD INSIDE.

9:00 – 9:45 Jim Harris

9:45 – 10:00 Rebecca Johnson, SEK Multi County Health Dept 2021 Budget

10:00 – 10:30 Terry Sercer, 2019 Audit

10:30 – 10:45 Jody Hoener, Executive Session, Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

10:45 – 11:00 Commissioners to review 2019 Annual Summaries

11:00 – 11:05 Kendell Mason, Real Property Relief Application

11:15 – 11:20 Justin Meeks, Interlocal Agreement

11:30 – 11:35 Mary Pemberton, Commission Meeting Procedures

Area News, Government, Kansas

Section of K-31 Section Closes May 8 in Linn County

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Section of K-31 to close for pipe replacement project

 

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will close a section of K-31 in Linn County to replace two crossroad pipes on Monday, June 8, weather permitting.

 

K-31 will be closed approximately three miles east of Blue Mound, between Flint and Gorman roads. The closure will start after 8 a.m. and remain in effect until late Monday. Traffic should use alternate routes.

 

Persons with questions may contact KDOT Area Engineer Donna Schmit, (785) 433-6107, or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen, (620) 902-6433.

 

A picture containing outdoor, grass, holding, woman Description automatically generated

Closure shown in red

 

Government, Kansas

Final Bills of Kansas Legislature 2020

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Governor Laura Kelly takes action on final bills of regular 2020 session

 

TOPEKA – Today Governor Laura Kelly took action on the remaining eight bills passed by the Kansas Legislature during the 2020 regular session. She signed five pieces of legislation and vetoed three bills.

 

The bills Governor Kelly signed are as follows:

 

House Bill 2018

 

Amends the Video Competition Act (Act) to prohibit municipalities from imposing additional requirements for the deployment of micro wireless facilities in the public right-of-way and to allow a municipality to require compliance with certain standards.

 

House Bill 2034

 

Amends law related to court orders for restitution by criminal defendants. This legislation will become effective upon its publication in the Kansas Register.

 

House Bill 2137

 

Amends the Scrap Metal Theft Reduction Act to remove the requirement that scrap metal dealers photograph the vehicle in which a junk vehicle or other regulated scrap metal property is delivered. The bill also continues in existence certain exceptions to the Kansas Open Records Act.

 

House Bill 2246

 

Amends and enacts new law pertaining to the oversight, regulation, programming, and authority of various state agencies.

 

House Bill 2585

 

Creates and amends law relating to a tax exemption for the tracking and collection of state and federal income tax by certain public utilities and creates law related to the authority of the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) to regulate electric public utility rates to allow contract and discounted rates for certain facilities. The KCC is authorized to approve such rates notwithstanding provisions governing its power to require utilities to establish just and reasonable rates to maintain efficient and sufficient electric service and to prohibit variations from established rate schedules.

 

Vetoes

 

Additionally, as part of her administration’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and to leading Kansas forward during the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Kelly vetoed House Bills 2510, 2619 and 2702. Her veto messages are as follows:

 

House Bill 2510

 

“House Bill 2510 includes valuable provisions—such as free ACT exams for high school students and a foster care report card—that I would sign into law if they were presented in a standalone bill. The Kansas Promise Scholarship is also a laudable effort to make higher education more accessible to vulnerable Kansans who come of age in the foster care system, and to incentivize Kansas graduates to establish their careers here.

 

“Although well-intentioned, House Bill 2510 as a whole would annually deplete millions from state funds at a time when Kansas faces a $1.3 billion budget shortfall. I cannot in good conscience sign a bill establishing a new discretionary spending program that is unrelated to Kansas COVID-19 response efforts when such severe financial strain looms in the months ahead. I have made Kansas children in foster care one of the top priorities of my administration. At this time of fiscal crisis we must focus on preserving the foster care programs and services already in place.

 

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2510.”

 

House Bill 2619

 

House Bill 2619 establishes a new Economic Recovery Linked Deposit Loan Program for businesses in response to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This 10-year program would make up to $60 million available for low-interest loans to businesses and agricultural producers through the Pooled Money Investment Board. 

 

“I support efforts to provide economic relief to Kansas small businesses and agricultural producers who have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, federal funding made available to Kansas through the CARES Act is a more appropriate funding source for this effort. With a $1.3 billion budget shortfall looming, we must protect every state resource at our disposal to make ends meet in the months ahead, including earnings from the state’s investment portfolio.

 

“House Bill 2619 also grants authority to the Kansas State Treasurer to administer the loan program. These programs have historically been administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, and that should continue in our COVID-19 response effort.

 

“Finally, this bill includes a problematic income tax exemption for for-profit banks. While the efforts of Kansas banks and credit unions to reach a compromise on this legislation are laudable, I cannot in good conscience agree to providing tax breaks for banks in light of the looming budget shortfall. Additionally, the CARES Act already provides relief for banks that will far exceed the benefits of this legislation. 

 

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2619.”

 

House Bill 2702

 

“During the COVID-19 pandemic our local governments have risen to the challenge of providing services to citizens when COVID-19 threatens the normal operations of businesses and government agencies alike. I am keenly aware of the challenges facing Kansas taxpayers, especially those facing unemployment or decreased income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“However, the COVID-19 pandemic has also required our local governments to do more with less. Local governments rely heavily on property taxes to fund essential programs and services, but by allowing property tax payments to be made as late as August 10, 2020, with no penalties or interest, House Bill 2702 would potentially deprive local governments of essential funding at a time it is needed the most. Local governments cannot meet increased demand for police, fire, emergency medical, and other services if a primary funding source for local governments is withdrawn. Additionally, HB 2702 places significant administrative burdens on local governments when local officials should be focused on addressing the threats and challenges of COVID-19 in their communities.

 

“I have long supported responsible property tax relief, but the provisions of HB 2702 cause more problems than they solve. Now is not the time to create more problems and burdens for local governments.

 

“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2702.”

Business, Government, Kansas

Kansas Tax Collection Sees Growth For April

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State sees total tax collection growth over April Consensus Revenue Estimates; attributes to online sales and withholding taxes

 

TOPEKA –The State of Kansas saw total tax collections for May Fiscal Year 2020 at $448.7 million; 6.6% or $27.8 million above the estimate. That is down 20.3% or $114.4 million compared to the same month last fiscal year.

 

Individual income tax collections were up $5.9 million or 2.8% compared to the estimate with $215.9 million collected. That is 22.3% or $62.0 million less than last May. The increase from the estimate can be attributed to reduced bond payments from withholding and an extra payroll period for the semi-monthly withholding tax filings. Corporate income tax collection receipts were down 167.9% or $8.4 million from the estimate at negative $3.4 million. This is due to the state processing more refunds than it received in corporate income tax collections. When compared to the same month last fiscal year, those collections are down $14.4 million.

 

Retail sales tax collections were $18.9 million or 12.2% more than estimated with $173.9 million collected.

Compared to May of last fiscal year, collections are down $27.3 million or 13.6%.

Compensating use tax collections are 25.5% or $7.7 million more than expected at $37.7 million.

When looking at last year’s numbers, these collections are $1.2 million or 3.2% more than May of last fiscal year.

This can be attributed to the increased registration of online retailers to collect and remit Kansas taxes.

On average, the state is seeing 300 new registrations per month.

 

For detailed info:

11_May_Revenue_FY2020_06-01-2020_Final

 

 

Obituary

Obituary of Vicky Hawkins

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Vicky Sue Hawkins, age 56, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Saturday, May 30, 2020, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.  She was born July 3, 1963, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Albert Richard Hawkins and Clara May Love Hawkins.  Vicki graduated from the Ft. Scott High School and received training as a CNA.  She had worked for over thirty years at Mercy Hospital in Ft. Scott.  She loved taking care of people and her family.  She often babysat for family and friends.  She also cared for all kinds of animals.  Vicky enjoyed watching the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs and the KU Jayhawks.

 

Survivors include her son, Dustin Hawkins, of Ft. Scott and a brother, Tim Hawkins, Sr. and wife, Cheryl also of Ft. Scott.  Also surviving are three nieces, Kayla Hill, Darcy Hawkins, and Shelby Hawkins and two nephews, Tim Hawkins, Jr. and Donathan Hawkins; and great-nieces and great-nephews, Landon, Donavan, Maylynn, Morgyn, Laney, Lane, Sadie Sebastian, Izzy and Annistyn.  She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Rick Hawkins.

 

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, June 4th at the Maple Grove Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.

Entertainment, Fort Scott

Fort Scott Public Library Newsletter June 2020

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Kids Summer Reading

Upcoming Virtual Events:  
 
June 2: 
10 am: Zoom Princesses & Princes Preschool Story hour with
Miss Val & stories read by educator Jeff Pommier
11 am: Zoom Princesses & Princes Elementary Story hour, with Miss Val & stories read by educator Angie Bin
2 pm: Pre-recorded video of the preschool stories will release on Facebook and YouTube
2:15 pm: story video for elementary students releasing on the same platforms.
3 pm: Scouts Leader Cyndi Goebel will demonstrate how to make the week’s craft in a pre-recorded video released on Facebook and YouTube. All Zoom meetings will require a password which you can obtain by messaging the library or emailing Miss Val at [email protected].
The above schedule should remain our normal schedule throughout the summer, with only themes, guest readers, and craft demonstrators changing from week to week. Craft supplies to go along with the demonstration videos have been distributed in summer reading packets.
June 9: Educator Ashley Morris will be our guest reader and the theme will be Grumpy Creatures for Preschool and Fantasy Creatures for Elementary. Melinda Seaver will be our craft demonstrator.
More topics and guest readers to be announced soon.

Weekly reading reward and frequent craft packet pickups will be available on Fridays, starting on June 5, from 9-11 or 1-3. You will need to call 223-2882 or email Miss Val to schedule an appointment for pickup.
We need more readers and crafters! Please consider signing up here to do a video for our community’s youth.
See Magician Jeff Quinn online! The library will present a magician’s performance tailored to our library online from June 13 – 21. We will share the link to the video through our website and Facebook page, with possible links through other social media. Stay tuned!
                                 
   Magician
Jeff Quinn
Online
                                    June 13 – 21

Tween and Teen Summer Reading

Events for Middle & High School Students  
Wednesdays at 4 pm, Join Miss Valetta on Zoom for the Teen Summer Reading Program! All Zoom meetings will require a password which you can obtain by messaging the library or emailing Miss Valetta at
[email protected].

Zoom can be accessed on any pc with a camera and headset, smartphone, or tablet with online access. The full application will allow participants to see and interact with one another, in addition to being a part of summer reading. You will have the option of turning your video and audio on and off anytime during the meeting.
After each meeting, Miss Valetta will go on the House Party app to play games with any teens who want to join her (with parental permission).
This week’s activity: Painting on mini canvas & Discussing upcoming meetings

You may pick up your painting supplies prior to this meeting in your summer reading packet, which may now only be received during curbside pickup. Call the library between the hours of 9-12 or 1-3, Mon. – Fri. or 9-12 Sat. and request a packet. You must be a middle or high school student to participate. Your grade is the one you will start in the fall.
Weekly reading reward and frequent craft packet pickups will be available on Fridays, starting on June 5, from 9-11 or 1-3. Rewards are only for the week prior, not the current week. You will need to call 223-2882 or email Miss Val to schedule an appointment for pickup.
More opportunities for pre-released videos and screen-free activities for local teens are in the works, so stay tuned.

Adult Summer Reading

 

June 1-August 31, 2020
No assigned reading, just read one book and tell us that you read it!
  • We’ve simplified our Adult Summer Reading Challenge this year.
  • Read one book.
  • While supplies last you will receive a goodie bag for reading the book.
  • We encourage you to read more than one book for the summer, but you only need to tell us that you’ve read one.

Circulation Information about Physical Items

Holds/Interlibrary Loan
Items coming to us from other libraries should begin arriving the second week of June. Everything has to be quarantined for at least 72 hours, so transfers will take longer than usual. We will notify you when items are ready to be checked out.

Returns
All returned items are quarantined for a minimum of 72 hours before being checked in. Don’t worry if items that you put in the bookdrop are still showing on your account.

New Books
We’ve added many new items in the past few months. Here are some links to lists in the catalog. You may place holds on any of these, and we will schedule you for curbside checkout.

Circulation Information about Digital Resources

Digital Only Accounts/I don’t have a library card

We have created a new type of account for people who don’t already have library cards. Go to our catalog www.seknfind.org and create a new account under the “Log in to your account” prompt. Be sure to pay attention to the password you are assigned. (We encourage you to log in and change the password to something more easily remembered.)

We will adjust these accounts daily so that you will have access to digital resources. If you would like access sooner, first create the account, then send an email to either [email protected] or [email protected] with your name and email address.
When we adjust the accounts, we will send you an email with your account number and information about setting up your accounts with hoopla and Sunflower eLibrary.

I have a library card but I need help with digital resources

First look below and see if anything here helps. If you still have any problems getting set up, please email me at either [email protected] or [email protected]. Include your name and account number plus a description of the problem.
You’ll need your library card number, your pin/password, and the email address you used when you signed up for your library card.
Anytime a site asks for your card number or account number, it means the entire 14 digit number. Ignore the spaces when entering it.
When you first set up an account with hoopla, it will ask you for your email and a password. Use the email you used for your FSPL account and create your own password. The next screen will ask for your library, library card number, and pin/password; your pin/password is the last 4 digits of your card number, or if you’ve changed it, use the pin/password that you changed it to. Hoopla has a limit of 5 items checked out per month. Usually it will send you an email near the end of the month if you have checkouts remaining.

When you first set up an account with Sunflower eLibrary, you will need to choose Fort Scott Public Library and enter your FSPL account number and your pin/password. If you have an Amazon account, you can link eligible checkouts to it and read them on an Amazon Kindle reader enabled device.

Hoopla and Sunflower eLibrary (Overdrive) both have apps that you can download to a mobile device. The websites should direct you to the apps.

What if I want a Kansas Library eCard?
Kansas Library eCards provide access to ebooks, databases, and other resources through the State Library of Kansas. If you need us to set you up, send an email with your name, including middle initial, and your birthdate to [email protected] or [email protected], and we will get your account created for you.
You will need the Kansas Library eCard to access ebooks, but many of the databases are available without logging in if you are using the Internet in Kansas. You can experiment by going to https://kslib.info/ and clicking the “Online Resources” link.

Links to Digital Resources

Download ebooks, audiobooks, comics, TV episodes, movies, music, and more. You will need your library card login and the email address associated with it.

Download ebooks and audiobooks. You will need your library card login.

 
 
 
Download ebooks and audiobooks from the State Library of Kansas. You will need a Kansas Library eCard.
Obituary

Obituary of Linda Chambers

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Linda Maxine Chambers, a resident of Fort Scott, died Monday, May 25 at the hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Linda was born June 18, 1947 in Corvallis, Oregon, the oldest child of Earl and Maxine Wagner Priest. Linda attended most of her school years at Pleasanton, Kansas and graduated in 1965 at Arvada West High School in Arvada, Colorado.
She married Gerald “Jerry” Chambers in 1971 in Denver, Colorado. They have one son, Eric, who lives in Oswego, New York.
The family moved to Fort Scott from Denver in 1980  and have remained in Bourbon County most of the time since, except for a couple of years in Ely, Nevada.
  Linda worked hard all her life, obtaining her first job when only 13 years old at the drugstore in Pleasanton, making 35 cents an hour. Linda loved crocheting and reading.  Her family was very important to her. Linda cared for her mother in her later years. She helped raise her nephews, Levi and Daniel Priest. She also babysat for great-nieces and a great-nephew.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Earl Dean Priest and Maxine Wagner Engle, her step-father, James McKinney, and a brother, Anthony “Tony” Priest.
She is survived by her husband, Jerry, her son, Eric Chambers and his wife, Jennifer and two grandchildren, Kaitlynn and Trevor Chambers of Oswego/Mexico, New York, a step-son, Mike Chambers and wife Amy of Denver, Colorado, a step-daughter, Susan Harris of Boise, Idaho, two step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren, her sister Judy Hall of Mineola, Iowa, brothers, Earl Dee Priest of Iola, Kansas and Mark McKinney and his wife, Jane, of Fort Shaw, Montana, an uncle, J V Wagner and wife Ila, of Moran, and aunts, Eva Wagner of LaHarpe, Audrey Wagner of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Delana Wagner of Hepler, Kansas, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 from 3:00 – 5:00 P.M.at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Private burial will take place in the U. S. National Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Hospital and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Opinion

Don’t Be Deceived By Lies by Pastor Jimmy Tucker

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The Bottom Line

 

Don’t be deceived by lies

We can learn a lot from horses. Have you heard someone say, “He’s got plenty of common horse sense”? If so, you know they’ve given that individual a compliment. Horses are herd animals, which means they always stick together. And there’s always a leader in the herd.

As believers in the Body of Christ (the Church), we need each other. We should stick together to help carry one another’s burdens. And we should follow Jesus and do everything He did. “I [Jesus] tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does (John 5:19).

The same God that created the horse also created the human. I can see definite similarities in the way a horse and rider relate and the way God and His children relate. A horse and rider must learn to trust each other, and the horse must learn to yield to his master’s commands. We believers need to trust God and yield our will to His. “Not everyone who calls out to Me, ’Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter” (Matthew 7:21). Jesus is our example, leader, and trainer and we need to be like Jesus. We should want His thoughts to be our thoughts, and His ways to become our ways.

When a trainer is teaching a horse a certain behavior, he applies and holds pressure to the horse until the animal responds with the appropriate behavior. Have you ever had God apply pressure to you in order to get you to do something? I have. When I yielded to what God was asking me to do, I obtained His peace.

Receiving peace from God when we obey Him changes us from glory to glory. When we like something we want more of it. Since trusting, yielding, and pleasing God results in peace, we should learn to obey Him right away — just like a horse yields to the rider because he wants release (or peace) from the pressure.

Sometimes we get confused and don’t realize where the pressure is coming from. The pressure may seem to be a result of our sin, stubborn pride, or foolish mistakes. This uncomfortable pressure may come to us in the form of depression, anger, anxiety, or guilt.

The devil is a master deceiver who whispers lies to us to try to keep us from seeing the truth. He wants us to focus on the problem instead of trusting Jesus our Savior. Christ Jesus has more than enough grace available for every need. He will help us be victorious even in our most-difficult situations. Absolutely nothing is impossible with God.

The Bottom Line: If you have pressure in your life, use common horse sense. Trust your all-wise and loving Heavenly Father and do what He wants you to do.

Pastor Jimmy Tucker

Diamond Community Church

Obituary

Why Me, Lord? By Pastor James Collins

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“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

“Why me?” is the first question we ask when tragedy strikes. “Why me, Lord? Why did my loved one have to die?”

Some of us have the same question when we have a flat tire. “Why me, Lord? My car broke down and it cost $600 to get fixed… $600 that I don’t have. Why me? After all, I am as good as most people. In fact, I’ve been better than most. Why are You treating me this way? Why are You punishing me this way?”

Some of us have the same question when the internet goes out, or when the dishwasher quits working, or when the weed eater string gets tangled, or when the bathroom sink is clogged. “Why me, Lord? Why am I wasting time trying to fix this stupid thing? This is going to cost me more money to get this fixed. Jesus, You know I don’t have any money. By the way, why, at my age, should I still be having financial problems? Why have You denied me opportunities for fame and fortune that You have given to others? Why me, Lord?”

I don’t know about you, but when I find myself starting to think like this, which I often do, it sometimes helps for me to ask the same question about other aspects of my life. “Why me, Lord? What have I done that’s so great that You should have blessed me with a car, internet, a dishwasher, a weed eater, and a home? Why did You give me all these things anyway?”

Sometimes, it helps for me to ask, “Why me, Lord? Why did You permit me to be born in America with all its wealth? I could have been born in a poverty-stricken country like Ethiopia, or Haiti, or Afghanistan. Why was I born in rich America? Why me, Lord? Why did You allow me to have a job when so many, who are just as deserving as I am, are without work?”

Sometimes, it helps for me to ask, “Why me, Lord? Why am I in good health? Others my age have died of heart attacks. Others were crippled by accidents or disease. Others have cancer. Why should I escape sickness and injury when other people who believe in You are either suffering or dead?”

Sometimes, it helps for me to ask, “Why me, Lord? Why have You spared me from the heartaches that assault other families? Others, wonderful people, are seeing their families torn apart, but you have blessed me.”

The point is: Life is about perspective. If you would just stop and remember all the ways the Lord has blessed you, even though you don’t deserve it, I wonder how you could complain about the relatively insignificant things that go wrong in your life from time to time. If you and I could only remember to count our blessings.

Furthermore, if you are a Christian, it helps to ask, “Why me, Lord? Why would You go to a cross and die for me? Jesus, why would You love me so much when I am so unlovable?”

Years ago, the great songwriter, Kris Kristofferson, wrote a song titled, “Why me, Lord?” The song begins with Kristofferson pouring his soul out to God:

Why me Lord, what have I ever done
To deserve even one
Of the pleasures I’ve known
Tell me Lord, what did I ever do
That was worth loving You
Or the kindness You’ve shown.

Jesus showed kindness, grace, and love for us by dying for us. Even though, we are sinners, even though we don’t deserve it, even though we are ungrateful, Jesus died for us.

Why? Why me, Lord? Why would You love me? Why would you die for me?

Why me, indeed…

James Collins is the senior pastor at First Southern Baptist Church. For more information on his ministry, go to the website www.fortscottfsbc.com.