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Category Archives: Bourbon County
Pandemic Assistance For Ag Producers
USDA Announces Funding Available to Organizations to Assist Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers under Pandemic Assistance for Producers Initiative
FSA Accepting CFAP 2 Applications Beginning April 5
WASHINGTON, April 5, 2021— The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced the availability of $2 million to establish partnerships with organizations to provide outreach and technical assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. The funding was made possible by USDA’s new Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative, an effort to distribute resources more broadly and to put greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers impacted by the pandemic. Today also marks the reopening of FSA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) signup as part of the Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Farmers and ranchers will have at least 60 days to apply or make modifications to existing CFAP 2 applications.
Cooperative Agreements
The cooperative agreements will support participation in programs offered by FSA, including those that are part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Interested organizations must submit proposals by May 5, 2021.
“USDA is committed to making financial assistance available to a broader set of producers, including to socially disadvantaged communities, and we know that we need partners to help make that happen,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “This funding will support grassroots organizations and public institutions as we support their producers. I am excited to see their innovative, results-driven proposals to help us reach our producers, especially those who have not taken full advantage of the available assistance.”
St. Mary’s Kindergarten Roundup April 21
St. Mary’s Catholic School Kindergarten Roundup will be held Wednesday, April 21 by appointment from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
To enter kindergarten, a child must be 5 years of age on or before August 31.
If you would like for your child to attend kindergarten at St. Mary’s next year, please contact the school office at 620-223-6060 to schedule an appointment to be screened on April 21.
On the day of the screening, please bring your child’s social security card, birth certificate, immunization record/physical form, and if Catholic their baptism certificate.
A Kansas Certification of Immunization and/or a Kansas Child Health assessment must be filled out and submitted to the school before admission in the fall of 2021.
Due to Covid restrictions, we cannot allow parents to wait inside the building this year.
Upon arrival at your appointment time, a school staff member will come outside and escort your child into the building. Parents will be asked to wait in their car until the screening is completed. At that point, a staff member will bring the child back out to the car and discuss the results of the screening.
St. Mary’s Catholic School is fully accredited by the state of Kansas and welcomes students of all faiths.
County Property Tax Sale Update
Patty Love, Bourbon County Treasurer, responded to a request for an update on the future property tax sale.
Bourbon County Counselor Justin Meeks mailed out the delinquent property tax letter late last year, she said.
“The tax sale preparation report I sent him had about 425 properties on it,” Love said. ” We have had about 50 properties paid.”
So far, over $308,000 has come back into the county from taxes that were delinquent, she said.
“The original report had $1,432,285.43 outstanding taxes, 2016 and prior,” Love said. “We have collected $308,216.92 of these since November 1, 2020.”
There is still an opportunity for those with back taxes due, to keep their property off the tax sale.
“2016 and prior taxes can be paid to keep the property off of the tax sale, up until the date they are filed in court,” she said. “Once they have been filed in court, all delinquent taxes plus a court fee must be paid to keep it from selling. The taxpayer has up until 10:00 a.m. the day of the tax sale to redeem the property.”
The tax sale date is unknown currently.
“The date of the tax sale won’t be set until cases are filed in court,” she said. “At that time we will release a list of all properties on the tax sale.”
“Security 1st Title has completed title work on about 90 of the cases to date,” Love said. “They are working them in, along with being very busy at this time.”
March Uniontown 4-H Report
March Uniontown 4-H Report
The Uniontown 4-H club met on Sunday, March 14th, 2021. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 by President, Bareigh Farrell. The flag salute was lead by Maley Sutton and the 4-H pledge was lead by Seth Shadden. Roll call was “What is your favorite Disney character?” There were 18 members, 3 leaders and 6 guests present.
The club recognized the Regional 4-H Day participants.
Bareigh Farrell – Senior novelty, top blue; Senior instrumental solo, blue; Senior vocal solo, top blue; Senior reading, top blue.
Kendyl Bloesser – Intermediate reading, top blue
Austin Maycumber – Intermediate demo/ talk, blue
Tag in for sheep, meat goat, and swine are Wednesday, April 28 at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, Fort Scott 4pm- 6pm and Friday, April 30 at Uniontown Saddle Club Arena at 4pm- 6pm.
For the communication project, Deidra Maycumber and Jackie Shadden discussed cultural differences and traditions. Club members shared their family backgrounds and traditions. Cin Walker led the club in the song BINGO. The evening recreation was 4 corners, led by Tucker Sutton. The next Club 4-H meeting will be Sunday, April 11th, 2021 at 6:00.
In addition to the club meeting in March, the club had several members participate in FSCC Aggie Days held on Friday, March 26th. Livestock Judging participants included: Hailey Shadden, Kendyl Bloesser, MaKinlee Bloesser, Zeb Barbour. Meat Judging participants included: Marley Sutton, McKinley Sutton, Seth Shadden, Austin Maycumber.
Kendyl Bloesser, Uniontown 4-H club reporter
Wallet Wisdom: Focus On Your Finances
Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent
Adult Development and Aging
Family Resource Management
K-State Research and Extension
Southwind Extension District
210 S. National
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Office: 620-223-3720
Fax: 620-223-0332
[email protected]
Let’s face it, discipline when it comes to managing our money isn’t always easy. And saving? Another challenge.
To help boost money management skills, including ways to save, manage debt, and handle credit, K-State Research and Extension is offering the Wallet Wisdom program, which are six free webinars in April and May.
The webinars will be presented Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m. CDT via Zoom, beginning April 22. With just one registration, you can access just one or all six webinars. Time is allowed for questions and answers. For privacy reasons, only the host will be able to see who is asking the questions. All sessions will be recorded for participants to view at their convenience any time.
Dates and topics include:
- April 22 – A Financial Checkup – A regular check of financial health can identify problems, chart progress, and outline steps to achieve financial goals.
- April 29 – Emotions and Money – Your relationship with money can be based on years of emotion. Learn more to better understand your financial habits.
- May 6 – Spending Plans – A spending plan can track your income and expenses and support you as you manage your money and work towards your goals.
- May 13 – Increasing Savings – We save for many reasons, including emergencies, insurance deductibles, retirement, and more. Learn ways to increase your savings.
- May 20 – Debt Management – Especially in our current economy, debt can get out of control. Join us to learn ways to manage and pay down your debt.
- May 27 – All about Credit – From credit reports to credit scores, credit can affect many areas of your life. Learn to make credit work for you.
The webinars are presented by K-State Research and Extension educators who specialize in family resource management. Program details and registration available at www.southwind.ksu.edu/events For more information, contact Joy Miller at [email protected] or by calling 620.223.3720
Bourbon County Commission Agenda For April 6
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: April 6, 2021
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
MEETING WILL BE HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM. ANYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK. MUST MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.
Call to Order
-
- Flag Salute
- Approval of Minutes from previous meeting
- Eric Bailey – Road and Bridge Report
- Haybids – Elm Creek & Native Road
- Breakdown of Dispatch Budget
- City/County Lease Agreement
- County Counselor Comment
- Public Comment
- Commission Comment
Justifications for Executive Session:
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 security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures.
CHC Closing On Price Chopper Building April 9
New buildings/expansions are on the horizon for the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.
CHC is working on the purchase plan for moving from its’ Fort Scott present site to the former Price Chopper building on Main Street at 23rd Street.
The present site is the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills.
“We are… closing on our purchase of the 40,000 sq. ft. Price Chopper Building in Fort Scott on April 9,” Postai said. “The plan is to combine our walk-in care and main clinic together. The renovation will start as soon as possible, with a goal of completion prior to the expiration of our current lease with Mercy in December 2022.”
There is also a new CHC building in Pittsburg.
“We have scheduled our groundbreaking for our new Medical Education Building in Pittsburg which will be home to all the students we are/will be training,” Postai said.
The groundbreaking will be May 3 at 12:30 p.m. at the John Parolo Education Building, south of the CHC/SEK System Office.
“About $5.6 million in donations have been raised to cover the full cost of the building and its furnishings scheduled for completion in the summer of 2022,” she said. “In the meantime, work continues on the establishment of a family practice residency program in Pittsburg in collaboration with Kansas University Medical Center and Via Christi/Ascension; the application for accreditation has been submitted with a ‘virtual’ survey planned this fall.”
CHC is planning a clinic in Chanute in the near future.
“We also bought 10 acres of land in Chanute on which to build a clinic in Neosho County,” she said. “Given all our other projects, it will probably take us 3-5 years to get this done.”
Continue reading CHC Closing On Price Chopper Building April 9
K-39 bridge replacement project starts in Bourbon County
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to start work Thursday, April 1, on a project to replace a bridge on K-39 in Bourbon County. The bridge spans Pawnee Creek and is located approximately 7½ miles east of the east K-3/K-39 junction.
K-39 traffic will be placed on a state route detour around the work zone. Eastbound traffic, from the K-3/K-39 east junction, will travel south on K-3 to K-47, east on K-47 to K-7, and north on K-7 to K-39. Westbound K-39 traffic should follow the same route in the opposite direction.
KDOT awarded the $1.4 million construction contract to B&B Bridge Company of St. Paul. Weather permitting, the project should be completed by November 2021. Persons with questions may contact Iola Area Engineer Troy Howard, (620) 901-6557, or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen, (620) 902-6433.
Jayhawk Wind Project in Construction in Southwest Bourbon County
The Jayhawk Wind Project in Bourbon County is in construction.
“We are moving forward,” said Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah. “They are out there now, putting gravel on roads and widening access on the roads.”
To view the map of the wind farm site: JAY_Final_Facilities_Map_20210308
“They are east and north of Porterville, in southwest Bourbon County, around 40th and Eagle Road,” Frank Young, an engineer with Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, said. “I have looked at a couple of culverts for them to see if they will hold up traffic for them.”
“They are upgrading some of the roads to be able to get some big rigs down them,” Young said.
Bourbon County Public Works Director Eric Bailey said I.E.A. , the contractor, sends him a plan of the day, every day and yesterday they worked on Eagle Road between 40th and 50th Streets, capping over 2100 linear feet and additionally, 50th from Eagle Road to Hwy. 3 putting over 4200 linear feet.
“They put on 4-6 inches of gravel,” Bailey said.
Today they are working on 50th from Eagle to Hwy. 39 and 30th from Hwy. 39 going south, he said.
“They have a lay-down yard at (the junction of) Hwy. 39 and Hwy. 3,” Bailey said. “This is where they will have all their job trailers, their starting point every day, where the contractors will report in.”
Young said the area is about 10 acres and is the delivery area as well.
The Jayhawk Wind project will have a capacity of 193.2 Megawatts and can power 65,000 homes, according to the Apex website.
According to the March 3 press release from Apex Clean Energy
“The Jayhawk facility… is expected to be operational later this year, will consist of 70 GE wind turbines totaling an installed capacity of more than 190 MW. The project will provide significant economic benefits for the local and state economies—including the creation of more than 115 construction jobs and 7 long-term operations positions—and will generate over $20 million in landowner payments and $27.2 million in tax revenue.”
To view the press release:
Jayhawk Wind Sold to WEC Energy Group
To see a prior feature:
Bourbon County Commission Minutes of March 23
March 23, 2021 9:00 am
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners, the County Counselor and the County Clerk present.
Also present were the following; (some were present for a portion of the meeting and some were present for the entire meeting), Jason Silvers with the Fort Scott Tribune, Susan Bancroft, Kim Simons, Anne Dare, Mr. & Mrs. Clint Walker, Michael Hoyt and Mark McCoy.
Jim made a motion to approve the minutes from the prior meeting, Clifton seconded and all approved and signed the minutes.
Eric Bailey met with the Commissioners; he had a moving permit from Mr. Borntrager to move a 50 X 30 X 15’6” home from an area near Xavier to Wagon Road, Eric suggested that they wait to make a decision on this permit until the required insurance had been submitted, Lynne suggested that Eric talk to Justin Meeks regarding any bond requirement.
Eric reported they did work to a crossroad at 245th & Hackberry.
Eric said they are patching potholes with cold patch mix.
Eric said they removed a large tree from the road near 240th & Birch & Cavalry, but said someone took the County barricades from this site.
Eric said they finished the blast at the Beth Quarry last week and hope to be crushing soon.
Eric said KCAMP is finalizing the details on the belly dump trailer to agree on a settlement for the belly dump trailer and truck that was involved in an accident, for the truck and trailer the KCAMP offers are $39,036 & $35,616; the Commissioners felt this was a fair offer. Lynne suggested putting the money in the Special Machinery fund when the County receives it, but Susan Bancroft said the money needed to be put in the insurance proceeds account.
Lynne reported that a low water crossing East of Fulton on Xavier doesn’t have any signs posted saying that it isn’t passable during high water.
Eric Bailey presented a map showing the site of the windmills that will be in Bourbon County, the Commissioners asked that this map be posted in the hallway. Eric said he had a meeting with APEX regarding the road use agreement to make sure everything is followed; he said Todd Foxx will be doing the inspections. He said the company did boring yesterday to see the depth of the gravel on the roads. Eric said he has been working with engineer Frank Young and said everyone is working well together.
Eric Bailey and Emergency Manager William Wallis met with the Commissioners regarding the 2019 floods; Will said this is FEMA disaster DR-4449-KS. Will said he has been working for almost 2 years gathering and submitting the data of the damage for reimbursement. The heavy rain began in April of 2019 and continued through July of 2019, with the heaviest rain occurring on the July 4th weekend. The State declared the flooding a disaster. Will said after PDA’s were done the initial estimate of damage was $366,592. Will said the Cat. A (debris removal) total was $13,600, Cat. B (emergency protective measures) total was $5,739.22, Cat. C (roads) $355,221.38 total (the County will get reimbursed 85% of this for a total of $301,938.17), Cat. Z administrative costs $18,000 (the maximum the County will get is $18,000). Will said he is still getting the cost of the culvert projects. Will said the grand total that the County will get from FEMA is $392,560. Will said Road & Bridge has already started tabulating expenses from the recent ice storm and suggested that for future disasters that once the damage starts to occur that the process starts on gathering data to make it easier and faster to report to FEMA. Eric said that Jennifer Hawkins deserved a big “Thank You” for collecting the data to submit for the flooding disaster. Lynne asked Eric what he felt they should use the FEMA money for; Eric suggested setting the money back for bridges and going after grant funds and using the money for the matching grant funds for bridges.
Register of Deeds Lora Holdridge met with the Commissioners; she said the map she present to them a few weeks ago was not the reappraisal map, but said she has since found the 1989 reappraisal map (she gave the Commissioners and Eric Bailey a copy of the map). She said this map is the latest map since the reappraisals. She said they would need to use this map to update the road record map. Justin Meeks said based on the new map he would be working with Lora to research properties. Jim questioned Lora on why she was confident the 1989 map was the correct map; Justin said this was done for 911 and said hearings were held and said they went through the process to find out what was an open road. Justin said people can petition to open or close a road.
Greg Vahrenberg with Raymond James met with the Commissioners (via telephone) regarding refinancing the 2012A and 2012B sewer district bonds. He said refinancing the bonds could result in an estimated savings of $136,500 and would lower the interest rate from 2.75% to 2.19%. He said this would be a 20 year issue. Susan Bancroft asked what the new annual payment would be; Greg estimated it to be $40,000 annually, Susan said the City is currently only collecting $30,000 a year and suggested that Greg look at a 25 year financing option. Susan said since the County just did a bond rating could they just use that bond rating; Greg said Standard and Poor’s is willing to simplify the process and said the County will have a lower rating expense because of this. Clifton made a motion to adopt Resolution 15-21, A resolution authorizing the offering for sale of general obligation refunding bonds, series 2021, of Bourbon County, Kansas, Jim seconded and all approved and signed the Resolution. Clifton made a motion to respond to S&P that the engagement letter is received and we are ready to proceed with the rating engagement, Jim seconded and all approved.
Patrick Clift with Nelson Quarries met with the Commissioner regarding the rock to be used for the Jayhawk Windfarm project. Patrick said they have built up a surplus of AB1, (he said it is pure limestone and said no fines have been added). He said Eric Bailey requested rock for the roads with less fines. Eric said Frank Young recommended using SS5, Jim Harris said if Eric and the engineer recommend using SS5, then that is what needs to be used. Eric said the windfarm company can use a different rock on private roads, but said SS5 needs to be used on the County roads. Eric said the roads (when finished) will be 4-6” thick. Patrick said they have 6,000 ton of clean 1/2” chips if the County needs to purchase any.
Lynne made a motion to go into a 7 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b)(1)to discuss personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy regarding medical issues with an employee, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 10:08, Clifton seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Justin Meeks and Susan Bancroft). At 10:08, Lynne made a motion to come out of executive session, back into open session and said no action, Clifton seconded and all approved.
Justin Meeks briefly discussed the tax sale, he said the title company has been busy and said there are 30 parcels ready (1 of the properties was recently destroyed in a fire), but said he wanted to wait until there are at least 50 properties ready before they publish.
Justin said he would have a new contract for the sewer district in the coming weeks.
Justin said that the Attorney General’s office moved the scheduled KOMA training from today to April 13th @ 10:30.
Public Comment: Anne Dare asked where the exact placement would be for the wind turbine map, the Commissioners said it would be in the hallway. She asked if the Commissioners would have an updated 2021 map, Lynne said he hopes to have an accurate map in the future.
Commissioner Comment: Jim said a recent post on Facebook said that a ball tournament generated $200,000; he said as a private citizen or as a Commissioner in the future he would like to meet with the City and School Board regarding getting more ball diamonds in order to host more tournaments.
Clifton said he had received several comments from property owners regarding their property valuations going up; he said he wanted people to know the Commissioners were aware of this. Justin said raising the valuation was a goal of the Commissioners and said as the valuation goes up the Commissioners could lower the mill.
Justin said the topic of the Multi County Health Board needed to be added to next week’s agenda.
Jim said he has heard questions asking why the Commissioners aren’t staying until noon on meeting days; Justin said the new structure of the meetings makes the meetings go faster.
At 10:26 am, Clifton made a motion to adjourn, Jim seconded and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman
(ss) Jim Harris, Commissioner
(ss) Clifton Beth, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk
March 30, 2021, Approved Date
Bourbon County Commission Minutes of March 24
March 24, 2021 Wednesday 3:30 pm
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners, the County Counselor and the County Clerk present.
Also present were the following: Shane Walker, Brian Allen, Anne Dare and Kim Simons.
Justin Meeks said there would be action after the session and said there may be a need to discuss the option of an additional administrator.
Jim made a motion to go into a 15 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b) (2) for consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 2:47 pm, Clifton seconded and all approved (the session included the Commissioners and Justin Meeks). After the session, at 2:47, Lynne made a motion to come out of executive session and resume the special meeting, Clifton seconded and all approved.
Justin Meeks said he needed the authority to respond to legal counsel regarding issues with BWERC; Jim made a motion to allow Justin to respond to legal counsel regarding issues with BWERC, Clifton seconded and all approved.
Jim made a motion to allow Commissioner Beth to be the point person to talk to the Clerk’s office regarding HR functions, Lynne seconded and all approved.
Justin said he needed a Commissioner to take on HR functions and investigate an HR issue along with the Clerk’s office. Justin said that Lynne already had the ability to deal with all of the Spark’s issues. Clifton made a motion to allow Lynne to continue to be the lead on any Spark’s issues and to take on HR functions, Jim seconded and all approved.
Justin suggested that the Commissioners consider getting help for HR functions, (such as exit interviews, pre-screening for new employees and dealing with HR problems). Lynne suggested allowing the Commissioners to call Justin to discuss an HR director; Justin suggested the discussion be held in open session. Justin said there is a potential for shared services regarding getting someone to handle HR issues. The Commissioners asked that the last item on the March 30th agenda be for them to discuss an HR director. Justin said they wouldn’t have to pay any extra money for this function because they felt there were already areas where the money is being spent.
Justin said he needed someone to help with an employment matter right now; Lynne made a motion to allow Justin to seek outside legal counsel for input (for 3-5 hours) on an employment issue, Clifton seconded and all approved. Justin said he is a potential witness in this matter, he said in the past the one thing that has created conflict is when he is doing HR work and County Counselor work.
At 2:57, Jim made a motion to adjourn, Clifton seconded and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman
(ss) Jim Harris, Commissioner
(ss) Clifton Beth, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk
March 30, 2021, Approved Date