The remainder of the Bourbon County Commissioner meeting of June 2 included  discussion of repairs to the courthouse and the awarding of opioid fund money to Path of Ease for the purchase of a vehicle.

Mission Statement

Commissioner Mika Milburn read two sample mission statements and asked for feedback from the community. The commission will revisit a county mission statement on June 16.

Worker’s Compensation

Commissioner David Beerbower moved to withdraw a motion from a previous meeting to consider additional pay with workmen’s compensation claims. Moved to add it to the next budget work session.

Zoning Discussion

Beerbower moved to give the zoning advisory committee a one-week extension, at their request, to present their recommendations to the committee at the June 9 meeting. Commission approved.

Public Comments for Items Not on The Agenda

June Bench, Bourbon County resident, spoke to the commission about a member of the sheriff’s department that she claimed lied about her in a police report, leading to her arrest. She expressed concern that this person is still in the employ of the sheriff’s department, “Just because you have a badge, you shouldn’t be allowed to break the law,” she said.

Bench is not in a lawsuit with the sheriff’s department, she took a $75,000 settlement to drop it. She doesn’t want any more money. She claimed she went to the sheriff for help before litigation, and he wouldn’t help her, she said through tears. She is concerned and feels that the person who did that to her is dishonest, and others are suffering as she did. She asked the commissioners to investigate the situation.

“You guys have the right to know that there’s some unethical things going on,” she said.

Bob Johnson, the county attorney, said her lawsuit was her form of redress, and the commissioners aren’t the right place to come with this issue.

Clint Walker publicly thanked the public works department for their good work after the storms and said the assessor’s office staff was very professional when they came to his home.

New Business

Path of Ease Association

Jennifer Simhiser, the founder of Path of Ease Association, a women’s and children’s recovery house came to ask the commissioners to award her organization some of the opioid settlement fund allocated to Bourbon County to purchase a van. Simhiser gave her personal history of depression and addiction. After rehab in Lawrence, KS she learned about transitional housing and was then able to live on her own.

“The recovery community is almost non-existent [in Fort Scott]. The drug problem, on the other hand, is horrible,” she said.

She asked fro $30,000 from the Municipal Kansas Fights Addiction Fund to purchase a recovery transportation van to get the women to their recovery meetings, as well as to and from work, church and events that build the recovery community.

The county has $81,000 in that fund currently, earmarked for addiction recovery purposes. None of Bourbon County’s fund is allocated at this time.

Several members of the board for the Path of Ease home spoke to the commission, commending Simhiser and the home, and attesting that it is meeting a need in Bourbon County.

Beerbower moved to allocate $50,000 from the opioid settlement fund to the Path of Ease (End Addiction Stigma Everywhere) for travel expenses and other expenses through the clerk’s office.

Motion carried.

Tri-Valley Developmental Services 2026 Budget Request

Bill Fiscuss CEO of Trivalley Developmental Services said his organization is requesting $55,000 from the county, which has been their budget request for the last several years. They provide services to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities in eight counties, at their centers, as well as services in homes.

Courthouse Repairs

Two county employees spoke to the commission about the courthouse’s need for serious repairs over last 18 years. “It’s deferred maintenance,” said one.

The building needs washing, tuck pointing, waterproofing, window sealing, and elevator repair. It is a contributing building to the national historic district of Fort Scott, therefore, it has to meet certain standards.

Jason Dickman from Earl’s Engineering created the current bid document and will come discuss it with commission in the June 23rd meeting.

“We’re not going to kick the can down the road,” said Beerbower.

Commissioner Comments

Beerbower said, “It’s unfortunate that we’ve lost another member.” He then mentioned that citizens in the old first district are eligible to serve as the next commissioner.

Milburn read a statement:”It was recently brought to my attention that the position of commissioner is ever-changing in our county…what can we do to gain some stability?” She went on to point out that the county many have to strategically spend a little bit of money to save money, referring to Dr. Cohen’s Human Resources services mentioned in yesterday’s county commission story.