September 3, 2019 Tuesday 9:00 am
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners, the County Counselor and the County Clerk present.
Tammy Helm with the Fort Scott Tribune and Nancy Van Etten were present for a portion of the meeting.
Jerad Heckman with Road & Bridge met with the Commissioners; Jeff discussed possibly making the 7 mile loop a shared road with bikes and adding signs.
Jerad said they are making chips at the Beth Quarry. He said they plan to start overlaying on 245th next week. They are mowing around the County.
Jerad said they are patching on 125th going south. Lynne asked that they do some patching west of Uniontown.
Lynne asked that it get cleaned up where the County did ditch work on 115th going north off of 54 Hwy. Lynne reported that Osage west of 125th needs gravel. Lynne reported that the blacktop is sinking at 125th & Range on 125th.
Nick reported that 260th & Limestone to Locust needs rock.
Jeff said that Mr. Rourk reported a plugged concrete culvert on Fern Road.
Lynne discussed a grader that the County purchased 4 years ago to use for ditching; this grader had to instead be used for grading. The County is behind on ditching. Lynne said that Road & Bridge and the Road & Bridge Sales Tax fund has lost over $551,000 in funding since 2013.
Jerad reported that they will be installing culverts at Poplar and 235th. Nick asked Jerad to view a culvert & ditch going north on Condensory.
There was a brief discussion over the Landfill; the Landfill does not make any money. The Landfill will be discussed again next week.
Richard & Retha Clark met with the Commissioners; they reported that the gravel on Indian is rutting in areas. They also reported potholes from 215th to the Fort Scott Lake.
Nancy Van Etten, Richard & Retha Clark and Tom Graham discussed the Fort Scott Lake; last week Nancy gave the Commissioners older documents regarding consideration of a lot split made by Mel Cummings. There is a person that has been considering trying to split their lake lot into several lots to add condos. She said some of the City ordinances for the Lake have been repealed. Nancy said it appears that it is the City of Fort Scott’s responsibility to monitor if the lots are conforming to rules and ordinances. Lynne said there are no codes in the County (only septic tank regulations) and said the County can’t spot code. Nancy said there needs to be an understanding between the County and City regarding Fort Scott Lake. Justin Meeks said that a Home Owners Association is the best way to handle Fort Scott Lake issues. The Commissioners said if the County is zoned it would affect everyone in the County, not just the Fort Scott Lake. Tom Graham questioned if the sewer lines there could handle the additional sewage from the additional homes. Justin Meeks said the Commissioners are taking this area seriously. Nancy said they want to protect the Lake.
The Commissioners held the 2020 budget hearing; present for the hearing were Terry Sercer, Bill Martin, Ben Cole, Bobby Reed and Jody Hoener. Justin Meeks questioned if carryover money could be moved from a fund without publishing; Terry said if they had the budget authority they could, but the Commissioners would have to approve the transfers. The 2020 proposed budget has an estimated mill levy of 66.602, which is the actual tax rate from the 2019 budget. At 10:30, Jeff made a motion to approve the 2020 budget, Nick seconded and all approved and signed the budget.
Lynne made a motion to go into a 10 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel, Nick seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Matt Quick). No action was taken.
Rachel Pruitt and Robert Uhler with the City of Fort Scott met with the Commissioners, Jody Hoener and Matt Quick regarding the proposed Property Tax Relief program. Lynne said that Appraiser Clint Anderson was not available for the meeting, but should have figures that they need regarding this program. Jeff Fischer said that they needed to identify properties that could benefit the program; he said he thought there could be a lot of people that could benefit from the program. Jeff said they needed to get an estimated cost impact of the program. Rachel said the IRB program has restrictions which creates the need for the Property Tax Relief Program. The Commissioners plan to discuss the program with Clint Anderson.
Justin Meeks presented the annual contract for Computer Information Concepts, with an annual rate of $54,635. Jeff made a motion to sign the contract, Nick seconded and all approved and Lynne signed the contract.
Lynne made a motion to go into a 5 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel, Nick seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Justin Meeks and Kendell Mason). No action was taken.
Jeff made a motion to go into a 10 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). No action was taken.
Lynne made a motion to go into a 5 minute executive session personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel, Jeff seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Justin Meeks). No action was taken.
Jeff made a motion to give Lynne permission to sign a letter to the Fort Scott City Commissioners concerning an employee matter, Nick seconded and all approved, Lynne signed the letter and Kendell mailed it to each of the City Commissioners.
Lynne made a motion to allow Nick Ruhl to represent Bourbon County during the Fort Scott Community College centennial celebration, Jeff seconded and all approved.
At noon, Lynne made a motion to break for lunch and reconvene at 1:30, Jeff seconded and all approved.
Matt Crystal met with the Commissioners to discuss the County-wide NRP program; the Commissioners told him to meet with the Appraisers office.
Bourbon County Economic Development Jody Hoener met with the Commissioners; she discussed a possible local indoor sporting arena. The arena could possibly be economic development for Bourbon County. If the arena was built it would be privately owned arena. Jody said the next step for the arena would be a feasibility study of the proposed arena; the study would show the market demand as well as the economic impact; Markin Consulting LLC, has agreed to do a feasibility study. Jody said this project could strengthen the local tax base. Jody said that two property owners have agreed to help fund the study, but asked if the Commissioners would vote to support up to $23,000 for the financing of the feasibility study. Jody said the arena could be a Starbond project. The groups surveyed for the study will be equestrian and livestock groups, consumer and trade show promoters, agriculture groups and organizations, rodeo, concert circus, motorsports, and other sports and spectator and entertainment promoters, local businesses and service organizations, educational schools and organizations and others identified by the client and Markin consulting. Jeff questioned if there were any grant funds available for the study. Jody said she thought the County could get a huge return for their investment. Jody said this is an investment into the future of Bourbon County. Jeff made a motion that Bourbon County Economic Development underwrites a feasibility study up to $23,000 for a Bourbon County event center, Nick seconded and all approved.
Jody Hoener discussed a tobacco free workplace policy for Bourbon County; she said the departments helped develop the policy and that it was a Workwell Kansas approved policy. She said if the Commissioners adopt and implement it then it would be part of the employee handbook. Jeff made a motion to adopt Resolution 21-19, a Tobacco Free Workplace Policy, Nick seconded and all approved.
Jeff made a motion to give Lynne permission to sign the Pathways grant application to receive $12,500 for worksite wellness, Nick seconded and all approved.
Jerad Heckman met with the Commissioners; he said that the 2nd Freightliner needs approximately $10,000-$12,000 in repairs. He said Jim Harris asked that the Commissioners re-visit the truck quotes. The Commissioners told Jerad to review the quotes they have to make sure they are still applicable, with financing for five years, with an extended warranty.
Kate Emmett-Sweetser met with the Commissioners to discuss Zebulon Pike, (Pikes Peak is named after Zebulon Pike). He was an Army officer on a military expedition who kept a journal of his trips, maintained a hand drawn map and he crossed into Bourbon County, Kansas on September 3, 1806. He spent the night in Bourbon County on September 3 and spent September 4th in Bourbon County before leaving to go to Nebraska. He was best known for this trip because of Pikes Peak. Kate felt that it was important for Bourbon County to recognize Zebulon Pike’s trip through Bourbon County. Jeff made a motion for Lynne to sign a proclamation declaring September 4th as “Zebulon Pike Day”, Nick seconded and all approved and Lynne signed the Proclamation. Kate Emmett-Sweetser also discussed the history of the Jefferson Highway. She discussed Laura Ingalls Wilder; in 1894, Laura spent the night between Mound City and Prescott and then came to Fort Scott and picked up mail here.
At 3:58, Lynne made a motion to adjourn, 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
09/10/2019, Approved Date