The Bourbon County Courthouse and Transfer Station will be closed on Monday, October 9th in observance of Columbus Day.
Category Archives: Bourbon County
HBCAT Newsletter for October
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Bo Co Commission Minutes of Sept. 25
September 25, 2023 Monday, 5:30 p.m.
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners and the County Clerk present.
Mark McCoy, Emily Franks, Anne Dare, Kevin Davidson, Clint Walker, and Rachel Walker were present for some or all of the meeting.
Jim Harris opened the meeting with the flag salute followed by a prayer led by Mark McCoy.
Nelson made a motion to approve the consent agenda which includes approval of minutes from 9/18/23, approval of payroll totaling $338,719.44, and approval of accounts payable totaling $576,872.46. Jim seconded the motion, and all approved.
Clint Walker spoke of the recent passing of Bob Marshall and suggested the Commissioners lower the flag on Thursday to show respect for Mr. Marshall’s many years of service starting in the Marine Corps, serving the community and on various boards including FSCC, and his time as a Senator. Clint said Mr. Marshall would always talk to you no matter where you were and treated everybody with respect. Jim said they would take that into consideration.
Emily Franks, with Jarred, Gilmore, and Phillips, PA, presented the 2022 fiscal year audit. Emily went page by page explaining the information contained in the audit. Since the county spent more than $750,000 in federal funds there were federal requirements that they were obligated to follow to report and test for the single federal audit. Emily said the county has implemented changes and now reconciles and balances the accounts monthly to be in compliance which was an issue listed in prior audits.
Susan Walker requested a 10-minute executive session. Clifton made a motion to go into a 10-minute executive session under KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy to include all three Commissioners, Susan Walker, Jennifer Hawkins, and Justin Meeks and will return at 6:00. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Clifton made a motion to resume normal session at 6:00 with no action. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
Justin asked to amend the agenda for an executive session for attorney client privilege.
Clifton made a motion to amend the agenda to allow for an executive session for attorney client privilege. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to go into a 5-minute executive session under KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship to include all three Commissioners, and Justin Meeks and will return at 6:07. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Clifton made a motion to resume normal session at 6:07 with no action. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
The Commissioners discussed the health insurance benefits information that was presented last week while Nelson was out of town. Susan stated if they are going to leave the state pool they have to do so by October 1st. Jim asked if the opportunity to leave the state pool come up again next year and Susan said yes. Clifton said they will save more money in a year because we won’t have the penalty but they had a goal of having someone trained by now and $30,000-$40,000 would be burnt up quickly to hire a consultant to administer the plan. Clifton said personally he is in favor of leaving the state plan but it wouldn’t be much savings this year so we will probably have to keep what we have. Susan said the premiums for the state plan will not be changing next year. Nelson said it sounded like we don’t know enough to upset the apple cart with something as important as insurance. Clifton said the plan we would be going to is almost identical to what we have and after the penalty we would have approximately $58,000 in savings but we have no staff to administer at this point. Clifton said his goal would be to have the staff ready next year to administer. Jim said they have been talking of leaving the state plan for three years and asked why aren’t we ready after three years. Jim made a motion to leave the state employee health plan and go with a private carrier. Nelson seconded the motion with discussion. Nelson said our staff has indicated they can’t do it right now without hiring someone else and if we could do it without hiring someone else, he would be all for it. Clifton said we can point fingers but at the end of the day it would fall on Jennifer and Susan and in his opinion they have so much on their plate already they have been unable to do it. Clifton said it is not their fault why we are not ready. Jim said he is not blaming anybody but we should have done a better job in planning. Clifton said in his opinion they are doing everything they can in their power, we just had a good audit so thank you to Patty, Susan, and Jennifer. Clifton said the problems from they are dealing with from the past has kept them from other priorities that would benefit this county. Jim asked all in favor of his motion to leave the state employee health plan with the motion failing 1-2.
Eric Bailey, Public Works Director, said they lost a fence at the shop due to the windstorm over the weekend and there were several trees downed near the shop. Yale Road has been milled with only a one-foot strip left to be completed. Nelson said he heard about it all the way in South Korea. Eric said the company doing the work had a cancellation which is why the work was done on short notice. Eric said he has spoken to and emailed several residents in the area. Nelson said the concern of the residents is that we won’t get one mile of asphalt laid there next year. Eric said he can propose it and it is up to the Commissioners to make it happen during the hard surface road work session but he hopes to get to Eagle Road and one mile on Yale Road. Jim asked if it would be the east or west mile and Nelson said he would have to see what the residents want. Nelson asked when the work session would be for the hard surface roads and Eric said it is usually held in February or March. Nelson thanked Eric for responding to all the emails from the residents of Yale Road.
Justin Meeks asked for a 7-minute executive session for contracts. Clifton made a motion to go into a 10-minute executive session under KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual proprietorships to include all three Commissioners, Eric Bailey, and Justin Meeks and will return at 6:32. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Nelson made a motion to resume normal session at 6:32 with action. Jim seconded the motion and all approved.
Nelson made a motion to allow the County Counselor to re-write the contract at Beth Quarry. Jim seconded the motion. Clifton abstained. The motion passed 2-1. Clifton stated he has no benefit from this as it is his mother’s land and contract. Jim said we ran out of room to do more blasts and that is why we have to do this.
Justin Meeks asked for a 20-minute executive session. Clifton made a motion to go into a 20-minute executive session under KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship to include all three Commissioners, and Justin Meeks and will return at 6:55. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Clifton made a motion to resume normal session at 6:55 with no action. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to go into executive session for 10 minutes under KSA 75-4319(b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship and will return at 7:07. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. The County Clerk asked who would be included in the executive session so Clifton made an amendment to the motion to go into executive session to include all three Commissioners and County Counselor Justin Meeks. Nelson seconded the motion stating the 10-minutes would end at 6:08 now and all approved. Nelson made a motion to resume normal session at 7:08 with no action. Clifton seconded the motion and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:08. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
___________________, Chairman
___________________, Commissioner
ATTEST: ___________________, Commissioner
Jennifer Hawkins, Bourbon County Deputy Clerk
10-2-2023 Approved Date
Perry’s Open an RV Campground in Bronson
Thaddeus and Kelly Perry have added another business in Bronson.
Perry’s Park RV & Campground, opened October 1 at 702 Pine Street in Bronson, which is on Hwy. 54 that runs through the small town in western Bourbon County.
“We purchased a big chunk of land here in Bronson from the corner of Pine Street to the city limit signs on the west side of town, it’s a lot,” she said. “We can mow it for the rest of our lives and do nothing; instead, we wanted to do something to use the land.”
So they devised a plan.
“A few RV hookups made sense to us,” she said. “It will hopefully give back to our business for several years and generate tax revenue for the city and county and hopefully more visitors to the area.”
“We can only hope campers will stay here, buy their grocery goods here, and eat at our local Chicken Shak while in town, and for the hunters they can easily get their deer processed a block away at the Bronson Locker! It’s a win for all of us in my opinion.”
“We have a great little community that has good-hearted people,” she said. “Those people have friends and family that often visit the area for hunting, fishing, ATV or rock climbing, and with the new state park announcement in Iola and the construction on Hwy. 7 and of course the Wolfe Creek project, we anticipate the four little spots we have staying full… or at least that’s our hope.”
“We currently have 4 hookups for RV’s,” Kelly said. “Each hook-up has a sewer, water, and electric 30amp/50amp/110v at each site. Wi-Fi within walking distance. Trash pick up. Full grocery, beer, ice, deli, and diner on-site. Pull through parking. We are still in the process of adding the firepits, and picnic tables per site as well. The last portion will be the playground and BBQ Grill area for the campers.”
“We have nightly and monthly rates available,” she said.
The cost is $40 per night, $175 per week, and $475 per month.
“We have an ADA-compliant unisex bathroom inside of our storefront 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday for the visitors to use if needed,” she said. We will eventually have a full coin laundry facility on-site for campers and the community. However, that will be a few years because we simply have a lot on our plate at this time.”
“We specifically worked with small businesses to build the RV Park to feed back into the local economy using Bandara Stone for our rock; Brandon Krebs with Rocking K Construction for groundwork, Matt Kelly with Kelly Electric for the hookups, Eric Stewart with C&S Contracting for our plumbing, and Adam Arnold and Cory Chandra with Deep Roots Lawn Care for all the final touches.”
To reserve a spot, contact the Kelly’s at: 620.939.4300.
Bo Co Commission Agenda for Oct. 2
Bourbon County Courthouse
210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800
Fax: 620-223-5832
Bourbon County, Kansas
Nelson Blythe
1st District Commissioner
Jim Harris, Chairman
2nd District Commissioner
Clifton Beth
3rd District Commissioner
Bourbon County Commission Agenda 210 S. National Ave.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
October 2, 2023 5:30 p.m.
- Call Meeting to Order
- Flag Salute Followed by Prayer
- Consent Agenda
- Approval of Minutes from 9-25-2023
- Approval of Payroll Totaling $416.24
- Public Comments
- Department Updates
- Public Works
- County Clerk
- Jennifer Hawkins, County Clerk-Real Property Relief Application-202 Holbrook
- Susan Walker, CFO
- Approval of Open Enrollment Letter
- Approval of Disability Insurance-Assurity
- Approval of Cancer Insurance-Prosperity
- Approval of Northwestern Mutual Life Options
- Jim Harris-Executive Session KSA 75-4319 (b)(4)
- Commission Comments
- Adjourn Meeting
Executive Session Justifications:
KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual proprietorships
KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.
KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.
Attachment:
Bourbon County Approved for Bridge Replacement Over Pawnee Creek and Hwy. 69 at Crawford County Line
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Bourbon County Coalition Meets Oct. 4 at Scottview Apartments
Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition will meet Wednesday, October 4, 1:00 p.m., in the Conference Room at the Scottview Apartments, 315 S. Scott.
General Membership Meeting Agenda
October 4, 2023
- Welcome:
- Member Introductions and Announcements:
- Program: Alisha Turner, Kansas Children’s Service League
- Open Forum: November 1 we will hear from Travis Wilcoxsen and Kathy Romero, Angel Care Home Health; and in December we will hear more about Maggie Young’s work with tobacco cessation.
- Adjournment: The next General Membership meeting will be November
Rock Creek and Lake Fort Scott Valves Are Closed
As of right now the Rock Creek and Lake Fort Scott valves have been closed.
This is thanks to not only the weekend rains but also to the citizens of Fort Scott doing their part in conserving water. Thank you!
We will have to continue monitoring the river levels and will open the valves if needed. We will communicate this.
Please continue watching unneeded water usage.
We are still under a Water Warning.
Submitted by Brad Matkin, City Manager, City of Fort Scott
620-223-0550 ext. 210
Local Health Center Offers Public Transportation in Bourbon County
Since August, the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas has offered CareVan, which provides transportation for all people in Bourbon County.
“We started rides the beginning of August taking a few people, then September our new driver completed training and we moved them to be Bourbon County only,” said Dee Yount, CareVan Program Manager, said.
They are storing the vehicle at Fort Scott CHC clinic, located at 2322 S. Main. The dispatch is in Pittsburg.
“Riders can go anyplace in the county, this is not a CHC-only service,” Yount said. “It is first-come-first-served, and we take same-day appointments. Our dispatchers answer and take trips when people call in, we try to find a way for everyone to get a ride.”
“We are trying to cover the entire county, Fort Scott is the point that most rides are from,” she said.
Highlights of the service:
- Anyone can use this service
- Their rides can go anyplace in the county
- Last minute scheduling is available
- Dispatch answers all calls or returns them within 20 minutes
- It is free
- The service is wheelchair accessible.
Transportation hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with dispatch hours of Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Services are based on availability, including same-day scheduling.
To schedule an appointment call 833-228-7433.
The project is funded in part by the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Public Transit Program and the Federal Transit Administration.
Contact info:
Dee Yount Program Manager’s phone number is 620. 215. 9626 or email [email protected]
Dispatch is 833. 228. 7433
Gordon Parks Celebration Dance: October 6
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Award for Breastfeeding Support Received by SEKMCHD
Submitted by Becky Johnson, Administrator/Director of the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department.
The Bourbon County office is located at 524 S. Lowman and can be reached at 620.223.4464 or [email protected]
Recently all four of the offices of SEK Multi-County Health Department (SEKMCHD) (Allen, Anderson, Bourbon and Woodson Counties) have received the Gold Level “Breastfeeding Employees Support Award” from the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition and its Business Case for Breastfeeding program.
We have worked very hard to get this award for our offices and are pleased with the continual growth we are having for employee support, recruitment and retention. It is the goal of SEK Multi-County Health Department to become and remain a family-forward workplace, to provide resources and education for our employees and to normalize breastfeeding, as it is a healthy and natural way to feed your baby and is essential to maintaining the workforce.
SEKMCHD benefits not only from staff retention but also from turnover costs, healthcare costs savings and reduction of absenteeism. Child care is difficult to find, as most parents know, so we allow new moms to bring their baby to work with them for the first 6 months. We also benefit from staff satisfaction and these days, that it not an easy thing to maintain. My motto is “Take care of your employees and they’ll take care of you”. I am blessed with a great group of employees that want to work in public health and I spend a lot of time making sure their needs are met and finding new ways to retain them.
We have taken on several new services in the last couple of years, one being our Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program and have been able to hire new employees to provide this service to our communities. Our clientele has grown so much that we now have 2 Breastfeeding Peer Counselors (Holly Fritter, who covers Bourbon and Woodson Counties and Khloe Utley, who covers Allen and Anderson Counties) and a supervisor for this program (Brittany Frishman, who is our Designated Breastfeeding Expert and covers all 4 counties). This ties right in with the support we offer our employees. Also, our staff have taken several levels of courses on breastfeeding, we’ve remodeled/updated areas in each of our offices for lactation rooms and can offer professional lactation support to our communities.
I am so very proud of our team and the accomplishments we’ve made through the turmoil that has been faced in public health in recent years. It’s nice to see something positive take off so well!
Bo Co Commission Minutes of Sept. 18
September 18, 2023 Monday, 5:30 p.m.
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with Commissioners Jim Harris and Clifton Beth and the County Clerk present.
Clint Walker, Rachel Walker, Dale Griffiths, Mark McCoy, and Jason Silvers were present for some or all of the meeting.
Jim Harris opened the meeting with the flag salute followed by a prayer led by Mark McCoy.
Clifton made a motion to approve the consent agenda which includes approval of minutes from 9/11/23. Jim seconded the motion, and all approved.
Clint Walker informed the Commissioners of an upcoming meeting he read about in the newspaper. KDOT will host a meeting on October 12th at the Bowlus Fine arts Center in Iola to discuss highway projects, the IKE project, and grant opportunities. Mr. Walker also spoke about ambulance transport reimbursements to VA facilities and question why can’t local transports be reimbursed in that manner.
Bill Michaud of CORE Communities updated the Commissioners on the progress the program has made. An advisory board has been formed and includes Amy Harper with Fort Scott Nazarene, Carrie Fess with Faith Church, David Shephard, Destry Brown with USD 234, Jennifer Michaud, Jodi Davis, Josh Jones, Patty Simpson with the Housing Authority, Rachel Carpenter with Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, David Goodyear, David Gillen with the Beacon, Clifton Beth, and Bill Michaud. Bill thanked Jim for attending the poverty simulation that was recently held with approximately 45 people in attendance. Sherry Walrod has been hired as the Community Liaison and Janice Lamb as the CORE Coach. Sherry Walrod stated that she grew up in Bourbon County, the daughter of Charles and Willa Cable, and resided here for 30 years and recently returned. Sherry thanked the Commissioners investing in CORE Communities and stated part of the financial investment has allowed them to harness into Youth CORE Ministries and stated they have the administration and coaching they need. Sherry stated she has a personal coach that she has weekly meetings with who coaches and advises her through all the processes. The need to involve the entire community was discussed with Sherry inviting all who have lived or experienced poverty to help solve the problem. A launch date of November 13th is set for the first of the 20-week classes. The classes will be held on Monday nights at the United Methodist Church. There are two phases for the attendees who are called CORE Leaders. Phase 1 is the 20-week classes and upon graduation from that they will enter into Phase 2 which is when the CORE Coach will help them negotiate through things such as obtaining a driver’s license or arranging transportation. Sherry stated they will come to future meetings and offer updates. Jim thanked everyone for what they are doing and spoke about how the benefits of the work done today will be reaped 20 years down the road. Clifton stated he is excited about the program and that he felt, aside from regular county business, this is the first or second most important thing he has sent money towards as a Commissioner and feels it is a phenomenal program.
Eric Bailey, Public Works Director, stated they are finishing chip and seal on Jayhawk Road tomorrow and that will be the end of the chip and seal program for the year. Eric said they are going to move to asphalting and will start on 233rd Street then move to Garland east of the railroad tracks and on to Eagle Road. After those projects they will look at their budget to see what it and mother nature will allow them to do next. Jim said the chip and seal on Jayhawk looks good and Eric said he would tell the crew. Eric said he wanted to thank Linn County again for allowing us to use their chip spreader to complete our chip and seal projects. Eric presented paperwork to be signed for the grant we received for a bridge project on 60th and Grand Road. Clifton made a motion to accept the bridge project to replace LPA bridge 5.0-S.9 NBI structure #000061075006069 located at 60th and Grand Road. Our portion is approximately $75,000 of the $916,000 total cost of the project. Jim seconded the motion and all approved. Eric said they have the rock crusher and cone crusher going and are hauling rock in the Hiattville area as well as mowing ditches and side arm mowing. Eric said a retirement celebration will be held on October 6th for Charlie Elliott who has worked for the county for 32 years. Eric said they have to do some decking work on a bridge at 175th and Valley Road so they have a cone up.
Jennifer Hawkins, County Clerk, notified the Commissioners that Emily Franks of Jarred, Gilmore, and Phillips PA will be here next week to present the 2022 audit.
Jim requested a 10-minute executive session. Clifton made a motion to go into a 10-minute executive session under KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual proprietorships to include both Commissioners, Justin Meeks, and Eric Bailey and will return at 6:04. Jim seconded the motion and all approved. Clifton made a motion to resume normal session at 6:04 with no action. Jim seconded the motion and all approved.
Jim said the City Manager contacted him this morning concerning water. Jim stated he called Brian Allen, Bourbon County Emergency Manager and local historian, about 12 wells located in Fort Scott that they are having trouble finding. Jim said they are looking at a lot of options and there are discussions being held about our water situation.
Clifton made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:07. Jim seconded the motion and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
___________________, Chairman
___________________, Commissioner
ATTEST: ___________________, Commissioner
Jennifer Hawkins, Bourbon County Deputy Clerk
9/25/2023 Approved Date