June 9, 2020 Tuesday 9:00 am
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners and the County Clerk present on the front east lawn of the Courthouse.
Also present were Kim Simons and Mary Pemberton, Mark McCoy was present for a portion of the meeting.
Jim Harris met with the Commissioners; he said they have been ditching near the Fort Scott Lake and installing driveway culverts on the Lake Road. They did work on 165th and did the first two miles on Birch Road. Jim said they will overlay one block on Andrick for the City of Fort Scott, (Jim said he recommended that the City do a compaction test on the road prior to the overlaying). They finished the concrete work at the Landfill and should finish the entrance in the next few days. Jim said they have done the prep work and are getting ready to overlay Native Road (near KOA Campground). Nick asked Jim to let him know when they start putting oil down there so he can notify KOA of this. Jim said they have chemicals they can use on vehicles that get oil on them from the County roads. Jeff questioned if there was room for a bike path on this road; Jim said yes, he said he would measure the road and see what could be done.
Jim said the overlay equipment is ready for the season. He said they got chips from the Thomas Quarry and plan to blast at the Blake Quarry next week.
Jim said that the City of Bronson has a pothole that they want cold patch for; Lynne told Jim to fix the pothole and then they will see what the City and County could trade for the repairs. Jeff said they needed to establish rates for this work so that the cost is consistent for all entities.
Nick reported that Jason Allen questioned when a culvert would be done for him near Limestone and Slick Rock Road.
Lynne reported a drainage issue on Reeder hill going north to Range Road.
Jeff discussed having evening meetings and having the paving program discussions for public input during the meetings as well as having the budget hearings during the evening meetings. No date was discussed for the next evening meeting.
Jeff said he met with City officials regarding the Fort Scott Lake; he said the City maintains that the County Commissioners are the sewer board, Lynne said they needed to review this with Justin Meeks, Jeff said it would make sense to set it up with the idea of appointing or amending the board so it’s not the County’s responsibility, but transferring the board to the people that live in the Sewer District.
Lynne reported the overtime for the payroll that was paid on 6/5/2020; the County Attorney’s office had 7.50 hours, the Sheriff’s department had 26 hours and the jail had 13.25 hours.
Mark McCoy questioned (due to COVID-19) if the usual polling places would be used for the upcoming elections; Kendell said yes we plan to use the same locations, the State is providing safety equipment to be used during the elections to help keep the poll workers and the voters safe. Kendell said it may be necessary to have advance voting in the Courthouse in the Commission room (due to the need to social distance) instead of the Clerk’s office. The Commissioners were ok using the Commission room for advance voting if necessary.
Lynne made a motion to approve the 2019 annual summaries, Jeff seconded and all approved.
Jeff questioned why the transfer of funds ended between Fire District #5 and Fire District #3; Kendell and Lynne told him to discuss this with the fire districts.
Lynne made a motion to approve the 2020 firework permits for the following stands, Jake’s Fireworks at Wall and Goodlander, Jake’s Fireworks at 2322 S. Main, Crazy Debbie’s Fireworks at 2500 S. Main, Hale Fireworks at 2409 S. Main and Jubilee Fireworks LLC at 2400 S. Main, Jeff seconded and all approved, and Lynne and Kendell signed the permits.
Economic Development Director Jody Hoener met with the Commissioners to discuss the CDBG Grant; she said she had applied for $300,000 worth of funds and was rewarded $132,000 (Jody said she used the social media to help identify the needs for the grant, she included the City of Bronson and the City of Uniontown with the County’s application, but said the City of Fort Scott applied for their own funds). Jody said this is the first time the County has been a CDBG grant. She is working with the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission for them to be the grant administrator. Lynne made a motion that he be allowed to sign the direct deposit form for the funds, Nick seconded and all approved and Lynne signed the form. Lynne made a motion that he sign the contract for the CDBG grant, Nick seconded and all approved and Lynne signed the contract. Lynne made a motion that he be allowed to sign the authorized signature request for payment form, Nick seconded and all approved and Lynne signed the form. Lynne made a motion that he be allowed to sign the addendum agreement (decreasing the administrative fees since the full application amount had not been awarded), Nick seconded and all approved and Lynne signed the form. Jody presented a draft document of the point system for priority ranking she has been working on for the distribution of the grant funds; she said businesses that hadn’t been awarded other grant funds, are a part of the food system and have year round employees will receive a higher priority for the funds than others. She said that farmers and ranchers would not be eligible for this grant since there are other grants they can apply for through the USDA.
Jeff made a motion to go into a 15 minute executive session for confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships, Nick seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Jody Hoener). No action was taken.
The Commissioners discussed re-opening the Courthouse; Lynne made a motion that on 6/15/2020 the north lobby of the Courthouse be opened and business be conducted at the direction of the elected officials, Jeff seconded and all approved. The Clerk’s office will do business through a window in the office; the Treasurer’s office will do business by appointment. The lobby will be marked for social distancing. On the South side of the building the Register of Deeds and the Appraiser’s office will do business by appointment. Lynne will notify the Court’s that the north lobby will be open.
The 6/16/2020 Commission meeting will be held in the Commission room with 6’ distancing and a maximum amount of people attending.
The Commissioners received the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center’s 2021 budget request; they requested $100,786.
At 10:40, Nick made a motion to adjourn, Jeff seconded and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman
(ss) Jeff Fischer, Commissioner
(ss) Nick Ruhl, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk
June 16, 2020, Approved Date
