Category Archives: Bourbon County

Bourbon County, Government

BO CO Commission Minutes of Feb. 23

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February 23, 2021                                          Tuesday 9:00 am

 

The Bourbon County Commission met in open session at Fort Scott City Hall with all three Commissioners and the County Counselor present, the County Clerk was able to watch the meeting live on YouTube.

 

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, Jody Hoener, Mr. &  Mrs. Clint Walker, Anne Dare, Susan Bancroft and Steve Hill.

 

Lynne made a motion to amend the agenda to meet with Eric Bailey before approving the prior meeting minutes, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Eric Bailey presented a culvert application for Clifton Beth for a location at 2236 215th St, he said Clifton has the culvert and rock and wants the County to install the culvert; Jim Harris said to his knowledge they have never allowed this, after discussion, Jim made a motion to approve the application, Lynne seconded and all approved and signed the application.

 

Eric said they needed to place an order for culverts and said Bo’s 1 Stop bid was lower than Wellborn Sales; Clifton made a motion to approve the quote for $42,750 from Bo’s 1 Stop, Jim seconded and all approved the motion.

 

Eric said the crusher is now working again and will be crushing rock soon.  They are finishing removing the overburden at the Beth Quarry.  Eric said they took the Mack truck for hydraulic valve repairs to be made.  He said they are testing the Sterling Truck for issues and are still waiting on quotes for repairs to the trailer that was recently involved in an accident.

 

Lynne made a motion to amend the agenda to move Jessie Walker up on the agenda, Clifton seconded and all approved.  Jessie questioned the road closures the County has been discussing; he asked if the County would be having public meetings when doing the road closures and asked how the landowners would be notified, Lynne said the people involved would be notified by the County Clerk and said if there are any road closings/openings the Commission want to do they will go through the landowners and there will be public hearings.  Jessie asked what type of input the Commissioners expected from the public, Lynne said there is a set procedure for road closings/openings and they will go through that procedure.  Jessie questioned if closing roads would discourage others from coming to the area to build homes, Jim said if it’s a private road, they will close the road by following procedure.  Jessie questioned if the Commissioners have the control over the amount of maintenance a road requires what is the point of closing the road.  Justin Meeks said the issue they have been researching is whether a road is closed or not, Jessie questioned the County closing roads that they have been maintaining; Justin said it is not an issue of closing or opening a road, the issue is if they are already opened on closed roads.  Justin said just because the County has been maintaining a road does not mean it is an open road.  Justin said if a road was legally closed and a landowner wanted to open the road the landowner would have to petition to re-open the road.  Justin said they have been reviewing Jessie’s road, but still don’t know if his road is an open or closed road.

 

Jim made a motion to amend the agenda to move the scheduled meeting with Hubert Thomas since Hubert was at the meeting, Clifton seconded and all approved.  Hubert said he wanted to inform the Commissioners that the water district was installing a water meter at the Landfill.  Hubert questioned if it was true that the County was going to hire an assistant to the road supervisor; Lynne said a motion was made in August of 2020 to hire both a public works director and an assistant.  Hubert questioned if our County was so big we needed two people for this job.  After a brief discussion Lynne made a motion to amend the agenda to allow for 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 a job performance issue, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 9:41, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Hubert Thomas, Susan Bancroft and Justin Meeks).  Lynne made a motion to come out of executive session and resume the meeting, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Lynne had scheduled an executive session regarding non-elected personnel, but made a motion to replace the scheduled executive session with an open discussion regarding personnel and the economic development position, Clifton seconded and all approved.  Lynne said it had been quite a journey since Jody Hoener was hired part time in 2018 for economic development.  He said her first day on the job is when the hospital announced its closing, the County was then tasked with taking on the ambulance by March 1st and met that goal, he said other issues she has helped with were the windmills coming to Bourbon County, the Neighborhood Revitalization Program, grant funds, BWERK program and dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.  Lynne said the County had moved economic development to BEDCO; he said BEDCO has a board that includes all cities in Bourbon County, the Chamber and the Commissioners.  He said BEDCO has been going through a hiring process for the economic development position.  Lynne said he felt it is a sad day since they are coming to an end of an era with the County Economic Development position. Lynne said Jody had done a lot for Bourbon County and presented her with a Certificate of Appreciation.  Lynne said they were giving Jody a two week notice due to a reduction in force.  Jody said she was excited to be at this point, she said she has applied for the BEDCO economic development position.  Clifton told Jody she had done a phenomenal job.

 

Jody Hoener said she had been the contact regarding the ambulance service; she said Susan Bancroft will now be the contact person.  She said the County needed a policy in place regarding taking payments for ambulance service.  Lynne asked Susan to make a recommendation to the Commissioners next week regarding OMNI and the collection process.

 

The Commissioners reviewed and approved some vouchers for payment.

 

Lynne made a motion to amend the agenda for a 12 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 regarding possible litigation, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 10:05, Clifton seconded the motion and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Justin Meeks).  At 10:05, Lynne made a motion to come out of the executive session and resume the meeting, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Jim made a motion to amend the agenda to have a 10 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b)(1)to discuss personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 10:16, Clifton seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners).  Lynne made a motion to come out of executive session and resume the meeting, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Justin Meeks said he had the Commissioners KOMA Zoom training scheduled for March 23rd at 10:30 during the Commission meeting.

 

Justin discussed the tax sale; he said once the petition is filed all of the back taxes would have to be paid on a property in order for someone to redeem their property.  He said the Treasurer had collected over $300,000 in back taxes since the demand letters were sent.

 

Justin said he would be meeting with the Register of Deeds regarding a road vacation issue.

 

The Commissioners opened the meeting up for public comment; Anne Dare thanked the Commissioners for having an evening meeting last week and said she would appreciate the Commissioners doing this again.

 

Clifton thanked the City for allowing the County to use their Commission meeting to hold their Commission meeting since the County Commission room was being used for advance voting.

 

At 10:21 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 9, 2021, Approved Date

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Spring Hill Meat Processors To Break Ground

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A rendering of the Spring Hill Pork Processor’s plant to be located south of Fort Scott. Submitted.

Billy Madison will soon open his new business venture in Bourbon County, Spring Hill Pork Processors.

The pork processing plant will be located on 47 acres south of the Kansas Department of Transportation facility on Hwy. 69 south of the LaRoche Ball Park.

The business will manufacture pork for the Asian and Hispanic markets, Madison said.

The business will employ 15-30 people, and depending on experience, wages will start at $14 an hour.

“If you can bone meat, $18-20 an hour, depending on experience is our starting wage,” Madison said.

A  U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector will be on-site every day, as required by law.

“The U.S. government provides their pay (for the inspector), we pay overtime if we have overtime,” he said.

“There are places in big towns where there are Asian and Hispanic markets,” he said. “It’s all in how you cut the pig up. Both like the skin left of the pig.” He said the meat cuts are a little different as well.

“We box a lot of meat and send it to meat markets, like Fanestil Meats in Emporia,” he said.

Madison is not sure how long the process will take to break ground at the site but estimates approximately three months.

The plant will not be a smell to the surrounding area, he said.

“There is no smell,” he said. “People don’t understand the process. We are not raising hogs (at the site).”

“All the (Bourbon County) commissioners came to our plant in Spring Hill,” he said. “They found out it doesn’t smell.”

The estimated investment in the plant will be over $2 million dollars by Madison, he said.

“We don’t have the numbers yet,” he said. “The bidding process is quite in-depth.”

Billy and his wife, Becky are the sole owners of the processing plant.

Billy and Becky Madison are the sole owners of Spring Hill Pork Processors. Submitted photo.

They live five miles south of Louisburg, but Billy lived in Fort Scott for a period of his early life.

He still has family who lives here.

“My dad, Warren, still lives there and my Uncle Frank Madison is a cattle rancher there.”

 

Area News, Bourbon County, Business, Food, Fort Scott

Spring Pop Up Event: Lots of Goodies For Foodies

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Two area food vendors are planning an event on March 27 at the Tractor Supply parking lot, on South Main Street in Fort Scott.

The Blue Spoon, Pittsburg, and Perry’s Pork Rinds, Bronson, are partnering for a second annual Spring Pop Up Event.

Blue Spoon

 

Christina Oberle and Brenda Davis are the owners of The Blue Spoon Food Truck. Submitted photo.
From left are Christina Oberle and Brenda Davis. Submitted photo.

The Blue Spoon is a food truck whose specialty is a variety of macaroni and cheese dishes and was created in Pittsburg, by Brenda Davis.

Davis began her food truck venture in July 2017.  Christina Oberle is a partner in the business.

“It became very well-liked and instead of a hobby it became a success,” Oberle said.

“The name (The Blue Spoon) just came to us… we thought and thought and thought,” Oberle said. “Brenda wanted to create a memory and have our customers walking away remembering who we are. With that, the Blue Spoon was formed and the logo created,” Oberle said.   “Every dish is served with a blue spoon… if the dish needs a fork, well it’ll be white.”

“We specialize in mac ‘n cheese (dishes)… all varieties,” Oberle said. “Plain to Chicken Mac, to Chops and Cheese, which is a grilled pork chop in a bowl of mac ‘ cheese, and soon to be released, Lobster Mac.”

The Lobster Mac and Cheese bowl. Submitted photo.

“We have a great variety, eleven flavors, at big events,” she said.  “We also serve fresh-cut fries, nachos, and funnel cakes. All with varieties… nothing plain Jane here, we even put it on a sandwich!”

Oberle lived a few years in Fort Scott, working at Lifetouch and Woods Grocery.

“I came to know a lot of people there and wanted to share our awesome food with Fort Scott,” Oberle said. “A few years ago we got into the Good ‘Ol Days and last year we were able to do the wonderful pop-up with Perry’s Pork Rinds! They are wonderful people and through this journey, we have had the great honor of meeting many entrepreneurs like them!”

The food truck is currently part-time, Oberle said.

“You just never know when this can become a full-time gig,” she said.

Perry’s Pork Rinds

Kelly and Thaddeus Perry are the owners of Perry’s Pork Rinds. Submitted photo.

Perry’s Pork Rinds is a family-owned business, with the husband and wife team of Thaddeus and Kelly Perry.

Perry’s Pork Rinds sold their rinds last year at the pop-up event. Submitted photo.

They make small-batch pork rinds in the following flavors:

Original, Spicy, Ranch, BBQ, Cinnamon Sugar, Chili Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, Sour Cream & Onion, Chili Lime, Garlic Parmesan, Shoe String Cracklings, Bacon Cheddar.

They recently expanded their business with a new product: fudge.

Chocolate walnut fudge. Submitted photo.
They can make up to 350 flavors but they feature chocolate walnut, chocolate fudge, birthday cake, and peanut butter.
Birthday cake fudge. Submitted photo.
“We use real cream and butter to make our fudge,” Kelly Perry said. “We pour them directly into containers and ship them nationwide and take them into the fairs and festivals.”

 

The cost for both rinds and fudge is  $8 for 8 oz.
Fudge is poured into individual containers to sell to customers. Submitted photo.
“The company that we actually bought into is the same company that is selling inside of Bass Pro shops and Ozark Land,” Kelly Perry said.  “We had to pay a hefty price for a custom kettle, as much as a small car!”
Bourbon County, COVID-19, Fort Scott, Health Care

COVID-19 Vaccine Availability Today

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Immediate Press Release!
Fort Scott & Bourbon County!
COVID Vaccine is now Available for PHASE 1, 2, or 3!
Essential Workers
Pick up your Vaccine form at the Fort Scott Chamber!
The Bourbon County Health Department has Covid -19 Vaccines for Phase 1, 2, and 3 3!
Vaccine clinic is set up at the former
Firstsource building in the
Fort Scott Industrial Park,
4500 Campbell Dr.
until 5 pm today
Call the SEK Multi-County Health Dept.
with questions, 620-223-4464.
Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda For March 16 Updated Location

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: March 16, 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 CITY HALL 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
  • Clint Anderson – Position Opening in Appraisers Office
  • Shane Walker, Dave Bruner, Traci Reed – Moving Dispatch into Old Jail Area
  • Lynne Oharah – Opening Courthouse
  • Lynne Oharah – Blue Cross Blue Shield Grant Money
  • Lynne Oharah – Eliminating Hiring Freeze
  • County Counselor Comment
  • Public Comment
  • Commission Comment
Bourbon County, Business

THRAMS Antiques, A Picker Family

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From left: Tyler Ericson, Helen Bolling, Rayma Ridge, Amber Ericson, and Mandie Ericson. All “pickers” for THRAMS Antiques and Collectibles in Bronson. Submitted photo
Photo credits: THAM’s Antiques Facebook page.
THRAMS Antiques has been open in Bronson for about four months and was started by women because of their hobbies that turned into a business.
“We pick up antiques and furniture in our spare time,” Mandie Ericson, one of the pickers said. “This is a hobby that we started several years back and used the extra room at the Bronson Locker (same building and same family) to display our unique finds. We take passion in finding rare collectible antiques that can be repurposed and used in homes.”
According to https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Picker,

a picker is an early bird who hunts swap meets, estate sales, thrift stores, etc, and scoops up the good deals – often for resale in antique shops or on eBay.

“All antiques have a story to tell, and they become more valuable over time,” she said.  “It is our passion to make people happy and for people in our area to have the opportunity to shop for antiques and unique items.”
  “We find things (to sell)  through people selling on the marketplace and estate sales as well as people wanting us to buy from them directly,” said  Mandie Ericson.
The antique storefront is adjacent to the Bronson Locker, 504 Clay Street.
THRAM’s Antiques and Collectables is located next door to Bronson Locker in Bronson, KS. Photo credit: Facebook
“Helen Bolling is the owner of the Bronson Locker so we had room to open it in the old hardware building (adjacent to the Bronson Locker) and we think it’s a great addition to the town of Bronson,” said Mandie.
The name of the antique shop is THRAM’s Antiques, with the R for Rayma Ridge, recently added.
T is for Tyler Ericson, H is for Helen Bolling, R is for Rayma, A is for Amber Ericson, and M is for Mandie Ericson.
Helen and Mandie work at the Bronson Locker, while Amber Ericson, the main investor of the antique shop, is a 4th-grade teacher at Uniontown. Tyler Ericson is currently at Pittsburg  State University pursuing her degree in elementary education and Rayma works in insurance, helps at the locker when she can and has her own disc jockey business.
“Helen is Amber’s mom and Mandie and Tyler are Amber’s daughters-in-law and Rayma is my sister,” Mandie said. “I basically manage the Bronson locker so we take care of the antique shop through the locker while Amber teaches at school.”
Mandie and Helen work at the antique shop during the day while Rayma and Tyler help on weekends and Amber helps after school and weekends, Mandie said.
The antique store will be open every weekend in March on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 to 3 p.m.
Contact Amber (call or text) 620-363-1159 to schedule an appointment or with any questions regarding the store, according to their Facebook page.
Photo credit: THAM’s Antiques from their Facebook page.
“Our family has been collecting antiques for several years and really enjoy it,” Mandie said.  “We have very nice collectible items, household basics, as well as one-of-a-kind furniture for fantastic prices!”
Photo credit: THAM’s Antiques from their Facebook page.
Bourbon County

Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Gears Up For 2021

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Pioneer Harvest Fiesta (PHF) will have its monthly meeting on Thursday, 3-18-21, at 7:30 PM at the Yeager Building on the Bourbon County Fairgrounds.
Anyone interested in attending is welcome.  PHF is looking for increasing its membership and active members to help with our activities.  Using masks and social distancing is requested.
Monthly meetings are always on the third Thursday of each month at the Yeager Building.  If someone would like to be kept informed but can’t make the meetings please let Jim Kemmerer know and you can be added to the email list.  Jim Kemmerer can be reached at 620-224-2275 and [email protected].
Past PHF shirts and caps are still available.  $4.00 each or two for $7.50.
As the weather warms up activities such as mowing the fairgrounds, planting and raising corn on the grounds, and building repair will become necessary.  If anyone is interested in helping with these tasks (mowing on a nice day while listening to music is relaxing) please contact Jim Kemmerer.
PHF is looking for pictures and videos of past events.  If anyone has some they would like to share and have posted to the PHF YouTube channel please provide to Jim Kemmerer.
Home phone-224-2275
Office: 913-317-8812 x117
Mobile: 816-898-8068
 
Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Pruning Trees and Shrubs Like a Pro

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Krista Harding
District Extension Agent, Horticulture
Southwind Extension District
111 S. Butler
Erie, KS 66733
Office: 620-244-3826
Cell: 620-496-8786

K-State’s Garden Hour – “Pruning Like a Pro”

The K-State Garden Hour – a popular online program featuring horticulture experts from across the state – will discuss tips for pruning trees and shrubs on Wednesday, March 17th from noon to 1 p.m.

Pruning is both an art and a science, which means there are many ways to do it correctly.

Every snip, clip, or cut can affect plants in different ways.

Learn how trees and shrubs respond to pruning so that you can prune like a pro.

Garden hour programs will continue two times a month through the summer.

To register and participate in the K-State Garden Hour, visit www.ksre-learn.com/KStateGardenHour-register

For more information, please contact Krista Harding, horticulture agent, at [email protected] or 620-244-3826.

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, K-State Extension

Aging with Attitude Regional Expo

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Aging with Attitude Regional Expo

Same great information, new format!

Providing inspiration and answers to questions to make the most of life!

9 to 12 p.m. Thursday, April 29, 2021
9 to 12 p.m. Friday, April 30, 2021

Register by April 23rd, at https://tinyurl.com/agingwithattitude2021
or by calling 620-625-8620 to receive connection link and details
Find us on Facebook

www.agingexpo.ksu.edu

Keynote Speaker:
Marci Penner, Kansas Sampler Foundation
Kansas Guidebook co-authors will take you on a pictorial journey of some of the lesser-known explorer attractions in southeast Kansas. Do you know why there is a sculpture of a deer on the courthouse lawn in Girard? Have you seen the Thomas Losey Memorial in the Columbus Cemetery? Have you seen the dinosaurs in Erie? We’ll tell you all about it!

Partial funding is provided by the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station, and Cooperative Extension Service

Kansas State University is committed to making its services, activities, and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision, or hearing disability, contact Southeast K-State Research and Extension Center, 620-421-4826.

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Due to Covid-19, all sessions will be available in one, easy to access, virtual webinar.

Registration fee is waived for 2021!

Participants provided with sessions, incentives, and resources.

GOING VIRTUAL
Thursday, April 29th
9:00 am Telemedicine and You: Understanding New Healthcare Options

Shawna Wright, Clinical Psychologist/Associate Director, KU Center for Telemedicine

Living in a rural area can have healthcare challenges. The good news is, innovative care is here! This presentation will introduce and define telemedicine while assisting consumers in
understanding how telemedicine can be used as a quality and convenient health care resource.

10:00 am Fraud Awareness: Protecting Yourself from Scams
Matthew Chaplin, Bank Manager, Landmark National Bank
Participants will discuss general fraud while highlighting popular fraud schemes in detail. Join us in learning tips and tricks to avoid and protect yourself from fraud.

11:00 am Hemp Culture
Shelli Hornberger, Director of Operations
Lauren Gabriel, Admissions/Educator America’s Hemp Academy

A discussion on all things Hemp.

Topics will range from Cannabidiol and health to the past, current, and the future of Hemp. Learn the updates on what is going on in the industry, including agriculture, today.

Friday, April 30th

9:00 am Valuable Records and Advance Health Care Planning Conversation
Jessica Atherton, LMSW – Medical Social Worker, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice
This session will discuss the important documents that need to be kept in a safe place and having a conversation with your loved ones to let them know where the forms are located.

Information on advance health care planning will also be presented to ensure you have the resources and tools to state your health care preferences in writing before a health crisis occurs.

10:00 am Smart Homes: How to Make Your Home Safer and More Efficient
Mike McLeod, Director of Emergency Services, Security and Radios CDL-Electric Co., Inc.
Keeping you and your home safe is easier now thanks to technology. Learn about monitoring cameras, security systems, smart locks, and medical alerts. These technologies can save money by improving the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems.

11:00 am
Keynote Speaker
Marci Penner, Kansas Sampler Foundation
Educational sponsors of this program include:
Angels Care Home Health; Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas; Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice; Integrity Home Care + Hospice; K-State Research and Extension, Southeast Area; Medicalodges, Fort Scott; Nancy Van Etten Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging; Southeast Kansas Library System
Partial funding is provided by the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Minutes of March 2

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March 2, 2021                                                           Tuesday 9:00 am

The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners and the County Counselor present, the County Clerk was able to watch the meeting live on YouTube.  The meeting was held at the City of Fort Scott Commission room.

 

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, Jody Hoener, Susan Bancroft, Anne Dare, Nancy Van Etten, Mr. & Mrs. Clint Walker, Kim Simons, Michael Hoyt and Mark Mccoy.

 

Lynne made a motion to amend the agenda to allow Juliana to speak with the Commissioners (over the phone) regarding Apex energy, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Juliana told the Commissioners that the wind project is on track, she said they have secured the proper financial funding and they will begin building this year.  She told the Commissioners that WEC Energy Group had purchased Jayhawk Wind.  She said they would oversee the project and IEA would be the general contractor for the project.  She said a renewable power purchase agreement has been executed.  Jim Harris said he had read on the internet that the power they produce will be sent to Nebraska; Juliana said the energy will go onto the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) and the energy will flow to where the demand for it is needed.  Jim questioned if Evergy wasn’t a player anymore with the wind project; Juliana said that agreement had been mutually dissolved.  Lynne asked who the owner of the substation is for the project; Julian said the substation was an asset of Jayhawk so it is now owned by WEC.  There was a brief discussion over the recent controlled power outages due to the weather, Lynne said that outage was controlled by SPP.  Justin said the contracts for the windfarm are still valid.  Juliana said they would be starting doing grading the end of this month. She said Jeff Spangler is still a contact for this project.  Anne Dare discussed who owned the substation; she said Jeff Spangler told her it was owned by Evergy.  Juliana said there are two structures; the substation is all of the underground collection cabling that goes to the substation which then goes into the switchyard (the switchyard is owned by Evergy).  Anne Dare discussed the new weight restrictions of 20 ton from K47-K7; Lynne said the County has no control over the weight restriction on those State highways.  Apex/Jayhawk was not scheduled on the Commission agenda, Anne Dare was disappointed she didn’t know they were going to be speaking today, she asked the Commissioners when they learned they were speaking today; Lynne said he learned yesterday and Clifton said he learned today, Lynne said he received a call from Juliana and an email with the announcement of the selling to WEC.

 

The Commissioners signed culvert permits for Nick Leighty at 651 160th St., Kyle Brown at 1163 250th St. and Joyce Flanner at 2542 Locust Road.

 

Eric Bailey said the bridge crew is working in an area east of 215th & Xavier.  He said they had finished a project on Maple near the Blythe ranch.

 

Eric reported damage to signs from an accident on 240th; he said they are putting the signs back up. Eric said the rock crusher is now working and they are working 10 hour days to try and get caught up.  Eric said they are working with Buckley Powder to schedule a blast at the Beth Quarry (blast should be in 2-3 weeks).

 

Eric asked if the north door outside of the Public Works entrance could be unlocked during business hours so that customers could meet with the Public Works office, later in the meeting Jim Harris made a motion to unlock the north door of the Courthouse during business hours, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Eric said the County should receive approximately $5,700 from FEMA for the 2019 flood.  He said they are still working on this.

 

Clifton said he had been asked why the stop signs in front of the FSCC rodeo dorm had been placed there and asked if they were needed; Lynne said the signs were put up to control the speed in the area.

 

Clifton made a motion to go into a 6 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b)(1)to discuss personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy to discuss employees seeking medical leave, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 9:38 am, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Eric Bailey and Susan Bancroft).  At 9:38, Lynne made a motion to come out of executive session and resume the normal meeting and said no action, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

The Commissioners discussed unlocking the east doors of the Courthouse; the request to unlock the doors was made because law enforcement had issues getting into the Courthouse on a recent call for help.  Lynne said he asked the person letting people in the Courthouse (taking temperatures and handing out masks) if they could control people entering if the doors were unlocked, their response was they couldn’t control them and they would come in without a mask if they chose to.  Lynne suggested working with the IT department to allow access by a key fob at the north, west and south entrance.   Clifton made a motion that he be allowed to meet with the Sheriff and Police department and he make a decision regarding the northeast door of the Courthouse and that he work with Shane on this issue, Jim seconded, Bobby suggested giving every employee a key fob, Susan suggested placing a lockbox with a keypad and a key inside the building to enter the building, all approved the motion.

 

Bobby Reed said the Sheriff asked the Commissioners to clarify the stop signs and the speed limit near the college rodeo dorms, he said going one direction on the bridge is 35 mph vs. going the opposite direction which is a different speed.

 

Bobby previously met with the Commissioners to request that debris from the 4-H building roof be deposited at the Landfill for free; he clarified that the 4-H building is a 501c5, Justin said they are a not for profit organization.  Jim made a motion to allow the Fair Board to dump the roof debris from the 4-H building at no charge, Clifton seconded and all approved. Bobby will work with Eric Bailey on the dumping of the debris.  Clifton made a motion to allow Justin to work with the Fair Board (pro bono) to help them transfer from a 501c5 to a 501c3 if they want to, Jim seconded and all approved.

 

Justin Meeks told the Commissioners they had bids (Justin did not have the bids at the meeting) to make the restrooms A.D.A. compliant at the Drivers License building; Jim made a motion to accept the low bid to make the restrooms there A.D.A. compliant, Clifton seconded and all approved.

 

Justin said they are still moving forward with the tax sale.

 

Justin briefly discussed a Commissioner quorum and ways to avoid a KOMA violation.

 

Clifton made a motion to allow Jim Harris to visit a micro processing plant on March 12th in Springhill, Lynne seconded and all approved.

 

Justin said they are still emailing between St. Martens academy and trying to figure out the paperwork on how they joined the sewer district.  Susan Bancroft said they are looking at putting a meter on their lift station and said no sewer district map exists.   Nancy Van Etten asked Justin if he was still working on an interlocal sewer district agreement; she said there still isn’t an agreement in place on what someone has to pay to connect to the district.  Susan said they are still working on this.  Nancy asked if the sewer district bonds had been refinance; Lynne said they are still working on refinancing them.

 

Anne Dare asked when the Courthouse front steps were going to be done; Lynne said they are still working on them, Justin said they were waiting for the weather to dry up to apply a needed product.

 

Anne told the Commissioners that masking is a mandate and not a law.  She asked what the status was regarding the meeting Will Wallis had with the Commissioners regarding the City of Uniontown’s higher gas prices due to the recent cold weather (Uniontown purchased gas in bulk for distribution to their customers and ran out of that gas, but will now be charged a higher rate from the supplier); Lynne said the City of Uniontown is going to discuss this at an upcoming meeting.

 

Clifton commented that Jayhawk wind is a multi-billion dollar company and said companies don’t let anyone know the decisions they are making until the decision is made.  He said the windfarm has no control over how the energy they produce is dispersed; he said their energy is added to the power pool.  Jim said he was disappointed that the energy wasn’t staying in this area.

 

Jim Harris suggested the Commissioners have a work session to discuss a larger rock crusher; this will be discussed again at a later date.  Susan said the City has a work session on Tuesday evenings and said this could be incorporated with their work session.

 

At 10:48, 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 9, 2021, Approved Date

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda for March 16

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: March 16, 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 COMMISSION ROOM. ANYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY. MUST MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.

Call to Order

 

  • Flag Salute
  • Approval of Minutes from previous meeting
  • Eric Bailey – Road and Bridge Report
  • Clint Anderson – Position Opening in Appraisers Office
  • Shane Walker, Dave Bruner, Traci Reed – Moving Dispatch into Old Jail Area
  • Lynne Oharah – Opening Courthouse
  • Lynne Oharah – Blue Cross Blue Shield Grant Money
  • Lynne Oharah – Eliminating Hiring Freeze
  • 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.