Category Archives: Bourbon County

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda For April 6

Leave a comment

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.

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Health Care

CHC Closing On Price Chopper Building April 9

2 Comments
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 403 Woodland Hills Blvd.

 

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.”

Krista Postai. Submitted photo.

 

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 →

Bourbon County, Government

K-39 bridge replacement project starts in Bourbon County

Leave a comment

 

 

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.

Bourbon County, Business, Government

Jayhawk Wind Project in Construction in Southwest Bourbon County

1 Comment
Standing at the bottom of a wind turbine looking up at the clear Kansas sky.

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.”

Lynne Oharah. Submitted photo.

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.”

Frank Young. From the Agricultural Engineering Associates website.

“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.

Eric Bailey. Submitted photo.

“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:

Jayhawk Wind Project Breaks Ground This Week

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Minutes of March 23

Leave a comment

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, Government

Bourbon County Commission Minutes of March 24

Leave a comment

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

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda For March 30

Leave a comment

Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

 

Date: March 30, 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
  • David Luke – KCAMP Overview (785) 338-1504
  • Clint Anderson – Ratio for Last Year
  • Lynne Oharah – Radio Spot
  • County Counselor Comment

Multi-County Health Board

    • Public Comment
  • Commission Comment
  • Lynne Oharah – HR Director

Bourbon County, Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

What’s Happening In Fort Scott March 26th Edition

Leave a comment
What’s Happening
in Fort Scott
MARCH 26th
Weekly Edition
UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS
________________
3/26 & – Karaoke Friday Nights at The Boiler Room Brewhaus! Experience or beginners, it does not matter! Let’s have some fun with music & drinks! Click here for their FB page.
Fort Scott Cinema Showtimes 3/26 thru 4/1 Now Raya and the Last Dragon, Tom & Jerry, Chaos Walking. Click here to view showtimes.
3/22 thru 4/2- Art is Ageless Exhibit Fort Scott Presbyterian Village showing!
Seniors of the Fort Scott Community 65 + submitted art to be on display. Artists compete in nine categories, including painting, drawing, photography, quilting, and sculpture, and maybe designated as amateur or professional. Questions on viewing call 620.223.5550 and talk to Megan Brillhart. Located at 2401 S. Horton
3/26 & 3/27- Livestock Sale at the Fort Scott Livestock Market, both Friday & Saturday, click here for their FB page.
3/26 ~ FSCC Aggie Days sponsored by ReproLogixNo Class on Campus
3/26 ~ Bourbon County Senior Citizens FOOD BANK, 9 am-Noon for Seniors, Low-Income Families are from 12 – 3 pm. Click here for more information.
3/27 ~ Care to Share Garage Sale 8 am-Noon 106 S. Washington St., Fort Scott. Garage doors open in the back alley. Misc. Items from Donnie & Barbara Marsh to donate to Care to Share. Click here for details
3/27 ~ Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Gunn Park
10 am by the Kiwanis Club. Click here for details.
3/27 ~ Eggstravaganza Crafts at Buck Run Community Center ~ 9 – 10:30 am. Click here.
3/27 ~ Spring Pop Up Event featuring Perry’s
Pork Rinds & Blue Spoon | Tractor Supply
from 10:30 am until 4 pm. Click here for info.
3/27 ~ FSCC Basketball @ Home vs. Hesston
College 4 pm to 6:30 pm
3/27 ~ Kansas Rocks Riding a Night of Fun
7 am until Midnight. Click here for the schedule.
4/1- Chamber Coffee hosted by New Chamber Member Old 54 Cycles at 223 N. National Ave. 8 am
4/2 – Three Chord Justice Live Music at The Boiler Room Brewhaus! Let’s have some fun with music & drinks! Click here for their FB page.
4/3 – Car & Bike Show hosted by Old 54 Cycles Noon until 2 pm. No registration or entry fee. Call Jessee Hazen (928) 230-0642 or Click here for their FB page.
4/3- Pickleball tournament to benefit the FSHS Swim Team, click here for registration form.
4/3 – Kansas Conceal Carry Course, 8am-4pm, click here for FB event with details.
4/3 & 4/4 – Hollister Shooting Range, Open the 1st & 3rd weekends of the month, Sat 1-4pm, Sun Noon-5pm.
4/3 – Mark Nutsch Bottle Signing & Horse Soldier Bourbon Tasting, Hole in the Wall Liquor Store, 4 to 5pm, click here for FB event.
4/4 – Happy Easter!
SAVE THE DATE!
“FORT GAMES” 2-Day Event at Smallville Athletics ~ April 9th & 10th!
Timken 2-Day Job Fair! April 9th from 1 – 5 pm & April 10th from 10 am until 3 pm.
Care to Share Rummage Sale at Buck Run Community Center April 10th – Open spots for more sales, call 620.224.8070 (donations accepted as well for the Sharing Bucket)
SHOPPING ~ SUPPORT LOCAL!
Downtown Fort Scott is booming!
Click here for Chamber member
specialty shopping & other retail in
Downtown & other areas of the community.
Fort Scott Area
Chamber of Commerce
620-223-3566
In This Issue
Chamber Highlights
Click here for our
Membership Directory.
We THANK our members for their support! Interested in joining the Chamber?
Click here for info.
Thinking of doing business in or relocating to Fort Scott?
Contact us for a relocation packet, information on grants & incentives, and more!
Seeking a job/career?
We post a Job of the Day daily on our Facebook page, distribute a monthly job openings flyer, and post jobs on our website.
Many opportunities available!
Housing needs?
Click here for a listing of our Chamber member realtors.
Click here for our rental listing.
FITNESS FOR EVERYONE IN FS!
Many fitness options are available…
SPIN classesnow offered bySmallville Athletics, every Mon & Wed at 5:15 pm, and Tu & Thurs at 6 pm. $5/class or $50/mo. unlimited.
Total Body Fitness ~ M & W Karen Reinbolt at BRCC@
8:15 am $20/8 week session.
Zumba~ M,W, F @ 6pm Monalynn Decker at BRCC $40 for a 12-week session.
Indoor Fitness/Gyms at
I AM Rehab + Fitness, Smallville Athletics, and Buck Run!

Continue reading What’s Happening In Fort Scott March 26th Edition →

Bourbon County, Food, Government, Kansas

U.S. Hwy. 69 Improvement Begins in Fort Scott March 29

1 Comment

 

Submitted by KDOT.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to begin work on a U.S. 69 resurfacing project at Fort Scott on Monday, March 29, according to a KDOT press release. The project starts at the south U.S. 54 junction and continues south for six miles, ending ½ mile south of K-7.

 

Project activity includes a cold mill, concrete patching, and a three-inch asphalt overlay, according to the press release. The contractor will start at Wall Street and work south. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction at the work zone, with a width restriction of 12 feet. Flaggers will direct traffic on side roads.

 

Fort Scott City ManagerJeremy Frazier couldn’t be more excited about this street resurfacing project, he said.

Jeremy Frazier. Submitted photo.

 

“I believe that passers-through, whether right or wrong, assume that the condition of this highway embodies an accurate depiction of the City of Fort Scott,” Frazier said.  “Although this highway is a KDOT Highway, there may be an assumption that it is a city-maintained highway. This of course is not the case.”

“To have this highway repaired is great news for Fort Scott,” he said.

 

” I am ecstatic and believe that this highway repair project lays the groundwork for future plans that we believe will come together with perfect timing,” Frazier said.  “We are a long way away from changing the image of this community, but I feel, as I hope that everyone does, that the energy and enthusiasm present in the community will result in turning the corner not only in the downtown area but throughout the community. I am also optimistic that years from now, the community will have progressed in many ways for the better. Thank you KDOT. Thanks to the citizens, Fort Scott City Commission, non-profits, and business community!

 

KDOT awarded the $2.9 million construction contract to Bettis Asphalt & Construction, Inc., Topeka, according to the press release. Weather permitting, the road work should be finished this summer.

Check KDOT’s updated traveler information website, www.Kandrive.org, for more road conditions and construction details. KDOT urges all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a work zone.

 

Persons with questions may contact Iola Area Engineer Troy Howard, (620) 901-6557, or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen, (620) 902-6433.

 

Possible Streetscape

“I am additionally excited as I recently began discussions with KDOT to explore resources that might assist in a possible streetscape of HWY 69,” Frazier said.  “If this streetscape were designed and constructed after the highway was repaired, it would mean that HWY 69 could become one of the most attractive routes through the community.”

 

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Pandemic Disaster Emergency Declaration Extended

Leave a comment

Submitted by Rebecca Johnson, Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department Administrator.

 

The state of disaster emergency declaration will be extended to May 28, 2021. Governor Kelly will re-issue the following order (among several others) and it will remain in effect until rescinded or until the statewide state of disaster emergency expires, whichever is earlier:

 

Also, Governor Kelly will not be re-issuing the order below and it will allow it to expire:

 

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Health Care

NPR Interviews Fort Scott Residents

1 Comment

Rural Americans, Who Doubted The Pandemic, Now Hesitant To Get Vaccinated

 

March 14, 20217:52 AM ET
Heard on Weekend Edition Sunday

Sarah Jane Tribble

4-Minute Listen

 

Along with skepticism about the pandemic’s seriousness, some rural Americans aren’t interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST:

As the massive coronavirus vaccination effort has gotten underway, we’ve talked a lot about vaccine hesitancy, people who do not plan to take the coronavirus vaccine. Roughly a quarter of both white and Black Americans don’t plan to get the vaccine, according to the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey. Thirty-seven percent of Latino respondents said they would not get the shot. White Republicans, though, are more vaccine-hesitant than any other group, with 49% of Republican men saying they do not plan on getting vaccinated. And rural residents were more likely to say that they don’t want the vaccine, too.

In the small town of Fort Scott, Kan., 1 in 11 people has been infected by the coronavirus. Even so, reporter Sarah Jane Tribble found some are still questioning how severe the virus really is.

SARAH JANE TRIBBLE, BYLINE: Seventy-year-old Linda Findley lives just outside of Fort Scott. She’s always been active in the community, helping with the Elks and fundraising. Like a lot of people here, she doesn’t think COVID-19 is that dangerous.

LINDA FINDLEY: I don’t even know what I think about it. I don’t know if I trust the testing if – because it’s so messed up or – I’ve had nieces and nephews that have it. I’ve lost good friends to it, or supposedly it’s to that. It seems like no matter what is…

TRIBBLE: Findley pauses to calm her two little dachshund dogs. They get excited when she’s on the phone.

FINDLEY: Everything seems to be coronavirus. I mean, it’s just – no matter what somebody has, it’s coronavirus. I don’t know whether it is or isn’t.

TRIBBLE: Her husband died about two years ago. Robert ran a popular auto body shop. He slipped on the ice and hit his head hard at the end of a workday. The emergency room, along with the hospital, had closed days before. Fort Scott is one of nearly 140 rural communities that have lost a hospital in the past decade. But not having a hospital doesn’t really come up when people here talk about COVID.

DAVE MARTIN: You know, when I got it, I was in good health, and it did take me a while to recover.

TRIBBLE: That’s Dave Martin. He’s the former city manager, and he’s pretty sure he caught COVID-19 at work last August.

MARTIN: I do remember waking up one of my bad nights and thinking – when I was running a temperature and not feeling very well. And I’m thinking, oh, wow, this could kill me – that I can get killed the next day, too. So it didn’t really stick with me.

TRIBBLE: After recovering, Martin went ahead with his retirement. He took his wife to Disney, and then they hiked Yellowstone. That casual disregard for the dangers of COVID worries health care leaders here.

Jason Wesco helps lead the regional clinic that took over primary care services when the hospital closed.

JASON WESCO: Me, my family – I think we are a significant minority. I think most people just keep doing – have maybe modified a little bit. Maybe they put on a mask in public. But I – the way I see it is I think life here has changed a lot less than it’s changed in D.C. And I think we’re seeing the impact of that, right?

TRIBBLE: Like much of rural America, the coronavirus skipped over Fort Scott last spring. But the pandemic hit hard in the fall, peaking in December. Across the county, two dozen have died from COVID, and most people know someone who had the virus and survived. But residents just seem tired of talking about it. And Findley says she won’t get the vaccine.

FINDLEY: How did they come up with a vaccine that quickly? And how do they even know for sure that it’s working?

TRIBBLE: The three vaccines approved by federal regulators in the U.S. are being given out to millions, and their efficacy has been shown through massive clinical trials in the U.S. and globally. But Linda’s skepticism isn’t unusual in southeastern Kansas, and that also concerns health leaders like Wesco of the Community Health Center.

WESCO: Yeah, I mean, yeah, there’s hesitancy. I’m sensing that it’s less. But I guess my point is when directly provided the opportunity to get it, it’s probably a different discussion when the vaccine is widely available.

TRIBBLE: Wesco says he’s hopeful attitudes are changing. His clinic has a waitlist for vaccines and is giving out as many doses as they can get their hands on.

I’m Sarah Jane Tribble.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: That reporting came from NPR’s partnership with Kaiser Health News.

Copyright © 2021 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

By subscribing, you agree to NPR’s terms of use and privacy policy. NPR may share your name and email address with your NPR station. See Details. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply

Bourbon County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, COVID-19, Health Care

CHC Fort Scott Offers COVID-19 Vaccine This Saturday By Appointment

Leave a comment
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas/Fort Scott will be vaccinating against COVID-19 using Moderna vaccine on Saturday, March 27 at the 401 Woodland Hills Blvd. clinic.  All vaccinations are by appointment.

 

Individuals age 18 and older qualifying under KS Phase 3-4 include  persons with conditions that increase the risk for severe illness from COVID-19, including: Cancer; Down Syndrome; heart conditions; Type 1 & 2 diabetes; Pregnancy; Asthma; Cystic fibrosis; Liver disease; Neurological conditions like dementia; and other medical risks.  Non-health care workers in critical infrastructure who cannot work remotely, including: Agricultural and food workers not included in previous phases; workers performing in-person activities indoors; Utility workers; Social service and government workers not included in previous phases; Logistics workers, such as truck transportation workers and couriers; Water and wastewater workers; Shelter, housing, and finance workers; information technology and communication workers. Persons from previous phases are also eligible to be vaccinated.

 

Request an appointment by clicking the get-my-shot button at www.chcsek.org,  or by calling 866.888.8650.

 

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in reducing sickness and death from the virus. It is up to each of us to do our part to get life back to normal, schedule your COVID-19 vaccination today with CHC/SEK.