A Self-Care Fair is being held tomorrow, Saturday, January 17th from 10 am to 3 pm in the Cloverleaf Event Center at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds on South Horton Street.
Eclectic Soul out of Pittsburg, KS will be having Qi Gong classes at 11 am and 1 pm for $5.
The Muscle Whisperer will be offering 10-minute chair massages for $10, and Locust Hill Lamanchas will be hosting a Free Soap-Making Demonstration. The Carrell Collective will have KETO Cookies available for purchase.
Vendors will be selling health and wellness products that range from skin care, herbal teas, and essential oils.
Emma Carpenter will also be available to answer Medicare questions.
Vendors include:
Eclectic Soul, Pittsburg, KS
Sisters 3 Essential Oils for Wellness, Nevada, MO
Locust Hill Lamanchas, Fort Scott, KS
Mary Kay, Karen Wagoner, Fort Scott, KS
The Muscle Whisperer, Fort Scott, KS
The Carrell Collective, Fort Scott, KS
Emma Carpenter, Carpenter Homestead, Fort Scott, KS
The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.
Bourbon County
Official Publication
January 15, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Special Meeting
1. Call Meeting To Order
2. Roll Call
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Prayer
5. Executive Session Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body of
agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
6. Handbook Discussion
7. Create Agenda for Next Meeting
8. Adjournment
I have great news! The Rural Community Partners Website is officially live!
Thanks to our Pittsburg State University Micro-Intern (funded through the Parker Dewey and the Kansas Department of Commerce), we have a BEAUTIFUL, user friendly website that clearly showcases our work and makes it easy for people to sign up for services, get involved, and connect with us. It’s all part of our effort to find, connect, and engage across our rural communities!!
A few of the services offer to our rural communities:
General community support,
Small Business Mentorship Program (funded through HBCAT’s Social Entrepreneurship BCBS Pathways Grant),
Coalition and community technical assistance and community investment in partnership with KUMC COPE,
Small business micro grant program (a project we spearheaded with the support of our KFAN grant, funded by KHF)
Feasibility Studies and Cost Benefit Analysis
We’re incredibly proud of this milestone and grateful to the partners who helped make it happen. Please take a look, share the site, and encourage individuals, businesses, and community partners to explore how they can connect with Rural Community Partners.
Thank you to everyone involved in making this happen!!
The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.
The Bourbon County Commission gained one new member this week, with another on the way. Citizens of Bourbon County had voted to change the county from a three-commissioner district to a five-commissioner one. In the fall of 2025, Greg Motley was elected to district 4 and Mika Milburn to district 5. Milburn was already serving as the old district 3 commissioner, which lead to an interesting situation.
Oaths of Office
Prior to taking the oath of office to serve as commission of the new fifth district, Commission Mika Milburn officially resigned her position as commissioner of the third district of Bourbon County.
County Clerk Susan Walker administered the oath of office to Greg Motley as commissioner for district 4, and Mika Milburn for district 5.
Chair of the Bourbon County Republican party, Kaety Bowers thanked Motley for his willingness to serve and Milburn for her service in 2025. She then read an excerpt from President Theodore Roosevelt’s “The Man in the Arena” speech.
The Republican Party will appoint another commissioner to serve for district 3. Those who live in the district and want to serve in this way should contact Bowers.
Reorganization of Board
Appoint Chairman: 2025 Chair David Beerbower nominated Samuel Tran. Milburn seconded and the nomination passed, Tran abstaining.
After discussion the commissioners will serve as follows:
Beerbower serves on the SEK Mental Health and SEK Health Department boards.
Milburn serves on the Fair Board and Soil Conservation Board.
Motley will serve on the SEK Regional Planning Commission and the Juvenile Detention Center board.
Tran serves on the SEK Mental Health Board, Bourbon County Senior Citizens, and SEK Area on Aging.
When the new commissioner is appointed for district 3, he or she will take board positions as well.
Liaison Assignments
David Beerbower: Public Safety including EMS, Sheriff/Corrections, Emergency Management
Samuel Tran: Public Works
Mika Milburn: Courthouse
Greg Motley: Finance
Motley said his vision is to get the commission off to an early start and keep them on schedule regarding creating a budget for 2027. He said he would want to identify the county’s priorities via work sessions early in the year and then put numbers to them closer to the end of the year.
Motley pointed out that tying the county’s priorities to its budget helps keep continuity of purpose within the county.
Beerbower suggested putting the fifth commissioner onto an economic development and grant writing liaison possition.
Motley then suggested that he work on the grant writing and economic development and the courthouse liaison position get split into two parts, one to deal with the building and the departments it contains and the other to liaise with the vendors who serve the county.
Milburn said she isn’t clear how to divide those positions out right now.
Tran suggested they keep everything the same for now, adding economic development with the new commission.
Milburn formalized the decision with a motion and the motion carried.
Public Comments
Mark McCoy is the community emergency response team (CERT) leader in Bourbon County. He spoke with the commission about the importance of having an Emergency Manager in place. Reasons a manager is needed include: emergencies don’t happen on a shared schedule; preparedness is a full-time mindset, not an occasional task; liabilities and legal exposure; the manager has the ability to lead, guide, follow, and assist throughout the county. Disasters don’t wait. Volunteers need official plans and connections with entities facilitated by the Emergency Manager.
Beerbower said that the part-time position of Bourbon County Emergency Manager is posted on the county website.
County Clerk Susan Walker showed the commission the program HeyGov for making meeting agendas. She demonstrated it for the commission. It creates the minutes from the YouTube video as well as linking to the county’s website. The program allows the commissioners to work on the agenda without violating the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA). It can also be used by other boards in the county such as the building commission. The cost is about $1,100 per year.The commission voted to purchase the program.
Old Business Handbook Review
Beerbower said he received his copy of the revised handbook the day of the meeting at noon. Motley said he hadn’t received a copy yet.
Jennifer Hawkins, County Treasurer, spoke to the commission, expressing concerns with several parts of the handbook including the handling of complaints, who qualifies as full-time, definitions of longevity, vacation and leave policy, and dress code.
Tran said he wanted to have another work session before approving the handbook. Milburn said they received the changes everyone requested last week.
Sheriff Bill Martin joined the conversation, saying elected officials should have an opportunity to see the changes before the commission votes on the new handbook. He said that military leave and take-home cars aren’t addressed. He was concerned with the time crunch the commissioners put on the other elected officials regarding their feedback on the proposed new handbook.
Milburn said that the process of updating the handbook was started in 2022 and never completed.
Terry with EMS said that the department heads haven’t seen the updated copy yet.
Susan Walker, County Clerk, said that the department heads should be in on the discussion to make changes to the handbook. “Right now, I don’t feel like we have a voice,” she said.
Beerbower and Motley both said that a work session with the other elected officials and department heads seemed like a good idea.
Tran said that a meeting will not lead to a 100% consensus, as we don’t live in a perfect world. The handbook is intended to be a guide, but is not written in stone.
“You’re not going to get everything you want,” he said.
He then moved to have a special meeting to include elected officials and department heads on Jan. 13 at 4:30 with a 2 hour limit.
“It’s going to be better than what we had and we’re going to keep improving upon it,” said Tran of the upcoming new handbook.
New Business
Kansas Public Employees Retirement System
The commission appointed its executive assistant, Laura Krom, as the KPRS designated agent, with Mika Milburn as her alternate.
Kansas Department of Labor and Unemployment
Milburn said that the unemployment claims need to go to the HR department, Dr. Cohen, who will contact their department heads. This only applies to employees of the county working for the commission, not those working for other elected officials.
Disposition of Body K.S.A. 22a-215
Susan Walker, County Clerk, said that no next of kin could be found for an individual who died in Bourbon County last summer, so the county paid for the body’s cremation. Next of kin have since been found, but are on a fixed income and have asked for a waiver of the policy that they should pay cremation costs in order to recover the body.
The commission was in favor of waiving the fee.
November 2025 Financials
Susan Walker said she and the county treasurer have run into issues with past entries that were made in the county’s books. They will have a quarterly report ready at the end of Jan. The county’s audit is the last week of February.
Build Agenda for Following Meeting
Motley asked to plan to set work sessions for the budget and strategic planning in the first quarter of the year.
Milburn also asked to add a first quarter meeting with the City of Fort Scott.
Commission Comments
“I’m going to need each and every one of you to assist me as I chair the helm,” said Tran. He then thanked Beerbower for his work as chairman in 2025 and Milburn for her work on the commission as well. He welcomed Greg Motley aboard and adjourned the meeting.
Rebecca Sutterby and our digital media kids have put together their second magazine of the school year. As people of the press, I thought you might enjoy their efforts.
The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) can help eligible households pay a portion of their primary home heating costs by providing a one-time per year benefit. LIEAP can help restore or maintain electricity, natural gas, propane and other home heating bills.
The application period begins
Jan. 20, 2026, at 8 a.m. and ends March 31, 2026 at 5 p.m.
Apply online at dcfapp.kees.ks.gov or get help in-person at an upcoming LIEAP event:
January 29 from 1-6 p.m. at the Fort Scott Public Library, at 2nd and National Avenue.
See the full schedule of LIEAP events at LIEAP.dcf.ks.gov
Please bring copies of the following information:
• Proof of income (earned and unearned) for anyone living in
the residence.
• Copy of all fuel bills (gas, electric, propane, etc.)
• Proof of child support payments received or the court order.
• If in subsidized housing, provide a copy of your rental
agreement.
• If your primary heating costs are included in your rent, provide
a copy of your rental agreement.
*Other information may be requested as needed.
LIEAP
**If your utility bills are in the landlord’s name, a copy of the lease
agreement must be provided.
LIEAP
a. Public Safety (EMS, Sheriff/Corrections, Emergency Management)
b. Public Works
c. Courthouse
d. Finance
9. Approval of Agenda (Page 1)
10. Approval of Minutes (Page 1)
11. Approval of Consent Agenda (Page 1)
a. Tax Corrections
b. Accounts Payable (01.09.26) – $102,704.29
12. Public Comments (Page 1)
13. Executive Session (Page 2)
a. Personnel matters (K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(1))
14. Old Business (Page 2)
a. Handbook Review
15. New Business (Page 2)
a. Disposition of Body (K.S.A. 22a-215) – Susan Walker, County Clerk
b. November 2025 Financials
16. Build Agenda for Following Meeting (Page 2)
17. Commission Comments (Page 2)
18. Adjournment (Page 2)
Detailed Information Packet Summary
Commissioner Board Memberships (Page 3)
This section lists current Bourbon County representatives for various boards, including Samuel Tran for Senior Citizens and Mika Milburn for the Fair Board. These memberships are reviewed annually during the board reorganization.
Minutes from January 5, 2026 Meeting (Pages 4–9)
Introductions & Attendance: The meeting included a roll call of commissioners and a significant list of attending citizens.
Public Comments: * David Ranes submitted a noise complaint regarding Evolution Technology with supporting decibel readings.
Lora Holdridge (Register of Deeds) reported securing a deed from Legacy Health for the EMS building and expressed concerns regarding courthouse space allocation and an unresolved judgment against Waldrop Wireless.
Ben Hall discussed issues regarding a gas well on his property and alleged bullying/harassment by Evotech.
Executive Sessions: Several sessions were held to discuss attorney-client privileged information and non-elected personnel matters. No action was taken during most sessions, though one resulted in a motion to allow Commissioner Milburn to work with the new executive assistant.
Old Business:
Handbook Review: Discussion focused on Public Works policies regarding wearing shorts and taking vehicles home.
Sanitation & Moratorium: The Counselor provided updates on a sanitation violation and presented a draft resolution for a 180-day moratorium on new utility-scale power generation and data centers.
Resolutions Passed:
Res. 01-26: Adopted the Section 125 Plan (including retirees) and named Laura Krom as administrator.
Res. 02-26: Established 2026 holidays and paydays (passed 2-1).
Res. 03-26: Annual waiver of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles).
Res. 04-26: Designated official depositories and publications.
Res. 05-26: Participation in the Rural Opportunity Zone student loan program.
Res. 06-26: Set weekly meeting times for Mondays at 5:30 PM.
Res. 07-26: Established a temporary 180-day moratorium on crypto mining, data centers, and specific power generation.
Financial Reports (Pages 10–136)
The packet contains extensive financial documentation for November 2025 and early January 2026:
Accounts Payable: Detailed lists of expenditures by department (e.g., Appraiser, Treasurer).
Fund Status Reports: Summaries of beginning balances, receipts, and disbursements for various county funds (General, Diversion, Employee Benefits).
Revenue and Expense Reports: A line-by-line breakdown of current budget versus actual year-to-date spending for all county departments and taxing districts (USD 234, local libraries, and townships).
New Grant Opportunities Available Through Revised SIGNS Program
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced a new round of Supporting Innovative Growth through New Signage (SIGNS) grant opportunities, building on the program’s inaugural year in 2025 with several updates designed to further increase foot traffic, strengthen business visibility, and drive sales in downtown commercial districts.
“Prominent and visually pleasing signage can have dramatic impact — helping people notice a business and get new customers through the door to make a purchase,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “By re-establishing the SIGNS program, we’re doubling down on design quality, supporting local artists and driving further economic growth in small businesses throughout our downtown communities.”
The SIGNS program is designed to support communities by upgrading storefronts for multiple businesses at once, recognizing that clear, attractive and strategically designed signage plays a critical role in helping customers spend more money locally.
Updates to the program require communities to work with approved artists from the Kansas Arts Commission’s Roster of Artists to help strengthen the design process, support Kansas-based creatives, and ensure signage projects are both visually compelling and responsive to local character.
“Pairing businesses with professional artists and designers establishes a collaborative effort to create signage that not only looks better but also is more effective,” Commerce Assistant Secretary of Quality Places Matt Godinez said. “Well-designed signs capture attention, increase foot traffic and contribute to stronger and long-term business stability — which is crucial to companies of all sizes.”
A total of $125,000 is available statewide, with communities eligible to receive up to $25,000 per application. Each funded community must complete signage improvements on at least three separate retail or restaurant businesses as part of a coordinated district-level effort. Eligible expenses include design, fabrication, lighting, installation and artist fees.
Eligible applicants include municipalities, Main Street organizations, local Chambers of Commerce, economic development organizations, foundations and other non-profit or community-based entities. Businesses that are interested must be consumer-facing establishments located in qualifying downtown or walkable commercial districts.
The application period will close February 28, 2026, with award notifications expected in April 2026. An informational webinar for interested applicants will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 15. To register for the webinar, visit here.
For more information about the SIGNS grant program, including updated guidelines and application materials, visit the webpage here. Interested parties can also contact Sara Bloom, Quality Places Director, at (785) 506-9278 or [email protected].
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
About the Quality Places Division:
Established in 2024, the Quality Places Division at the Kansas Department of Commerce exists to improve quality of life in communities across the state through various programs and services. The Kansas Department of Commerce understands the immense role played by strong communities in economic development and prioritizes investments in people and communities as major contributors to the overall strength of the Kansas economy. To learn more, click here.
Designate Fort Scott Tribune as official newspaper
Resolution 2026-0112-01 GAAP Waiver
Destruction of records for 2015 and prior
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Superintendent: Bobby Rich
Utility Meters
Clerk Report: Haley Arnold
Rabies Clinic?
SOS Donation
Court Clerk Conference
CCMFOA Conference
COUNCIL & COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilman Ervin –
Councilman Kelly –
Councilwoman Pemberton –
Councilwoman Pritchett –
Councilman Stewart–
Mayor Jurgensen –
OLD BUSINESS
FEMA Flooding–
NEW BUSINESS
Motion by _____________, Second by __________, Approved ______, to enter into executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel exception, KSA 75-4319(b)(1), in order to discuss performance of non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at ____________.
A scene from Holy Mother of Bingo, a murder mystery from Bourbon County Community Theatre’s Facebook page.
Do you have an interest in portraying characters and using vocal expression in imaginary circumstances with others…also known as acting?
Consider the Bourbon County Community Theatre as an outlet.
“BCCT membership is open to anyone who is interested,” Angie Bin, publicity chairman for the group, said. “Anyone 18 and over can become a member by completing the form at https://forms.gle/HkrjceuxqoP1biQk7 and paying a $5 yearly fee. The entire general membership assembly meets in May of each year, and any other time a general assembly is called by the president. The board meets once a month.”
“The board plans all of the upcoming productions, events, and fundraisers; reports on all income and payments for the month; and analyzes past events,” she said.
There is an upcoming fundraiser on February 21: Adult Prom.
Melodrama auditions are April 27 and 28, and performances are June 5 and 6, a community musical with auditions in June and a performance in August, and the Voices from the Grave Tour on Oct. 24.
On October 24, the group will lead the Voice from the Grave Tour.
Bourbon County Community Theatre in Fort Scott hosts Mardi Gras Masquerade, an Adult Prom, as a fundraiser for future events and performances.
About Adult Prom
BCCT formed in 2023 and is holding its third annual prom for adults (age 18 and over), a night of fun, dancing, and community support, according to a press release.
This formal dance is from 8 p.m. to midnight on Feb. 21, 2026 on the upper floor of Sharky’s Pub and Grub, 16 N. National in Fort Scott. In addition to dancing to a live DJ, there will be non-alcoholic drinks and snacks included in the ticket price, as well as alcoholic beverages and meals available for purchase from the bar.
They hope to add to the fun (and success) of the night with some lighthearted music dueling. Attendees can pay $1.00 to request and/or dedicate a song, $5.00 to request a song NOT be played for an hour, or $10.00 for a song to be banned for the night.
Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at bcct.ludus.com or at the door on Feb. 21. Tickets are $40 per couple or $25 for a single ticket. Participants are encouraged to dress in their best formal or masquerade attire.
BCCT is accepting members. If you’d like to be a part of bringing community theatre back to Bourbon County, visit the Bourbon County Community Theatre Facebook page and complete the form to become a new member.
Currently, the group is made up of:
President: Matthew Wells
Vice President: Mark Bergmann
Secretary: Abby Starkey
Treasurer: Danette Popp
Publicity: Angie Bin
Production Coordinator: Katie Wells
At-large members: Eric Popp, Ben Self, Regen Wells
A scene from the Bourbon County Community Theatre’s “Holy Mother of Bingo” from its Facebook page.
