The Bourbon County Commission Meeting scheduled for Monday 11/24/25 has been canceled due to lack of quorum, per the County Clerk’s office.
County Commission Meeting on Monday 11/24/25 Canceled
Category Archives: Bourbon County
No Bourbon County Commission Meeting On November 24
The Commission Meeting on Monday 11/24/25 has been canceled due to lack of quorum.
Susan E. Walker
Bourbon County Clerk
Final Results of the November 4 Election
The Bourbon County election results a re finalized and some of the winners of the November 4 election are listed below:
Fort Scott City Commission Tim Van Hoecke, Julie Buchta, Kathryn Salisbury.
The Fort Scott Tax question received over 57% yes votes.
The Bourbon County Commission results are Greg Motley for District 4 and Mika Milburn Kee for District 5.
Winners of the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees are Chad Cosens, Destry Brown and Marilyn Hoyt.
To view the entire document of the election results provided by Amber Page, Bourbon County Accounts Payable/Deputy Election Clerk:
Unapproved Minutes of the Uniontown City Council on November 11
The Regular Council Meeting on November 11, 2025 at Uniontown Community Center was called to order at 7:00PM by Mayor Jurgensen. Council members present were Jess Ervin, Amber Kelly, Mary Pemberton, Savannah Pritchett, and Bradley Stewart. Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting was Michael Ramsey, Joe George, Codes Enforcement Officer Doug Coyan, City Superintendent Bobby Rich, City Treasurer Sally Johnson and City Clerk Haley Arnold.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS
Moved by Stewart, Second by Ervin, Approved 5-0, to approve Ordinance No. 207, Vacating Alley between Lots 4, 5, 12 and 13, Block 2, Well’s Addition of the City of Uniontown, Kansas.
Discussion of memorial stone design and installation. Further thought and research will be discussed at a later date.
CITIZENS REQUEST
Joe George commented of two habitual dogs running at large. Citation will be issued to the owner of the dogs at large.
Michael Ramsey asked about official election results. At this time, no final election results have been released.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Treasurer Johnson presented the October 2025 Treasurer’s Report. Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds was $226,781.89, Receipts $34,948.70, Transfers Out $3,024.00, Expenditures $38,944.50, Checking Account Closing Balance $219,762.09. Bank Statement Balance $225,361.81, including Checking Account Interest of $49.67, Outstanding Deposits $0, Outstanding Checks $5,599.72, Reconciled Balance $219,762.09. Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit $38,501.14, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $23,159.28, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $45,414.89, Total All Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $326,837.40. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $578.48, and Utility CDs $1,920.63 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $2,449.11. Also included the status of the Projects Checking Account for the month of October 2025, Beginning Balance $0, Receipts $0, Expenditures $0, Ending Balance $0. October Transfers from Sewer Utility Fund to Sewer Revolving Loan $1,402.00; from Water Utility Fund to GO Water Bond & Interest $1,622.00, for Total Transfers of $3,024.00. Net Loss for the month of October $7,019.80, Year-to-Date Net Loss $44,101.65. Budget vs Actual Gas Fund YTD Revenue $107,340.87 (79.7%), Expenditures $103,176.20 (67.6%); Sewer Fund YTD Revenue $29,485.11 (79.2%), Expenditures $35,208.17 (76.3%); Water Fund YTD Revenue $95,286.09 (76.9%), Expenditures $101,689.36 (63.8%); General Fund YTD Revenue $154,613.74 (103.3%), Expenditures $204,046.64 (95.5%); and Special Highway YTD Revenue $8,101.28 (111.6%), Expenditures $5,166.76 (71.2%). The October 2025 payables to date in the amount of $26,571.99 were presented.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0, to approve Consent Agenda:
- Minutes of October 14, 2025 Regular Meeting
- October Treasurer’s Report, Profit & Loss Report by Class & November Accounts Payables
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Codes Enforcement Officer Doug Coyan reported 301 2nd St. had been cleaned up and in compliance. 101 Washington has had no change since last meeting, a citation had previously been issued and awaiting court date. 401 Sherman not in compliance after phone call was made to property owner, citation will be issued to the individuals residing on the property and one will be mailed to property owner.
City Superintendent Bobby Rich had nothing to report.
Clerk Arnold informed the council that the 3-50amp 240 volt outlets had been installed in the park.
COUNCIL REPORT
Councilman Ervin – nothing
Councilwoman Kelly – nothing
Councilwoman Pemberton – Invited any volunteers to install Christmas lights in the park the weekend before Thanksgiving
Councilwoman Pritchett – nothing
Councilman Stewart – nothing
Mayor Jurgensen – nothing
OLD BUSINESS
SEED Grant – Close out paperwork has been submitted and accepted. Treasurer Johnson has made substantial progress on the library.
FEMA Flooding– Once an invoice from Marbery Concrete is received for the remainder of the project, it will be submitted for review. Invoice is due before mid-January.
NEW BUSINESS
Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0, to enter into executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel exception, KSA 75-4319(b)(1), in order to discuss performance of non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at 7:45PM.
No action from executive session.
Moved by
Bronson Receives $199K Grant for Sidewalks And Playground Equipment
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Bourbon County CASA Christmas Celebration is Friday, December 12th
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County Commission chooses a different health plan for county employees
After opening up the meeting with the regular exercises, the commission conducted a number of executive sessions before hearing from the county’s health insurance broker, Don Doherty about health plans for the county employees for 2026.
2026 Benefits Discussion
Commissioner Mika Milburn read aloud portions of an email from a Bourbon County citizen saying that the commission missed an opportunity to make changes in the county’s health care plan that would cause county employees to become more responsible consumers of their health care. The email cited as an example the idea of a high-deductible Health Savings Account plan. The writer also mentioned that the taxpayers bear the burden of paying the high cost of county employee health care.
Milburn said she received other messages along the same lines and that she had voter’s remorse after last week’s vote. She moved to rescind that last vote and have another vote after the discussion with Don Doherty.
Commissioner Samuel Tran seconded it, with the caveat of having an open discussion in the meeting. He said that he, too, had second thoughts after last week’s vote and received emails and phone calls about it afterwards.
“I think we may have missed the boat on that, but I hope we didn’t,” he said. He expressed concern about messing up people and the county as a whole.
The motion to rescind carried with Commissioner David Beerbower opposing.
Doherty presented to the commission regarding the county’s health plan as the county’s insurance broker. He pointed out how hard it is to choose a plan.
He mentioned focusing on helping the employees first. He also said that offering the employees a choice of four different plans allows them to choose what works in their world.
Doherty talked about the prevalence of HSAs in other businesses in the region, mentioning how those who participate get to keep their money and are incentivized to make good health decisions.
He said that 12 percent of the county’s employees made 98% of the claims. Of those remaining, 73% had less than a $1,000 claim, giving them money left-over to put towards their retirement, if they had an HSA option.
Regarding family plans, he mentioned that the plan they voted for last week would only work if the number of employees wanting family coverage doesn’t change. A few changes could blow the budget.
He distributed a document of hypothetical plans that the county could adopt.
Beerbower asked about HSAs. Doherty mentioned that it takes some getting used to for the employees, but they can become very popular because of all the tax advantages.
Tanner O’Dell spoke re. the vote the commission made last week. He was speaking on behalf of “most of the public works employees.” Several of the employees are concerned about losing their longevity pay. He called the commissioners’ failure to account for the 17% increase in insurance costs when making the 2026 budget a mistake, which results in a benefit cut for public works employees. His own example results in a 10% reduction in what he will be able to bring home each month.
He asked the commissioners to answer separately the question of what the employees have done wrong to deserve this pay cut.
Tran expressed concern that the commission take the time to digest the new information from the insurance broker before making a decision.
Beerbower said that the information hasn’t really changed and is concerned with the close of the open enrollment window placing a burden on the county’s employees.
He agreed that the 80/20 plan passed last week fails if the county has an increase in enrollees in the family plan. He also addressed the email Milburn and he both received saying that the county is actually not far off from what other companies provide.
He also said that when the county decided to leave the state plan, they put themselves in this situation, and stated that his goal is to get the county back into the state plan in the future.
Milburn expressed concern about keeping the rich family plan. The current model has proven unstable, and their pool has paid out more in claims than they contributed. She focused on the need to choose a plan that is sustainable regardless of future changes.
Beerbower proposed going to a 75/25 split on all plans except for singles at 85/15. He also mentioned that an HSA seems like a good option for some employees.
County Clerk Susan Walker reminded the commission that not having as many employees in the family plan will reduce the amount paid toward the insurance premiums by employees.
County Counsel Bob Johnson said the commission was focused on the deductible but needed to recognize that most employees are going to be focused on the premiums and their monthly cost.
An audience member who works for EMS said that if they price the employees out of insurance, they will lose employees.
“The best thing to do is we all share in the challenges of life in Bourbon County, ” said Tran. “That’s the best I can hope for, and that’s what I’m striving to do.”
He and Beerbower both stated that the money for the county to absorb the increased cost just isn’t there, and the employees will have to bear some of it.
Tran also said his call for a vote on the health insurance plan last week was a misstep.
Tran moved that the county accept Plan D given to them by Don Dougherty. The motion carried with Milburn dissenting.
Revised Agenda for the Bourbon County Commission
Christmas Party To Improve Bourbon County Fairgrounds Cloverleaf Event Center Is December 12
Local businesses are joining together for a Christmas Party to raise money for improvements to the Cloverleaf Event Center at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, on South Horton Street in Fort Scott.
Cohn’s Cafe on Main Street will cater the event. A tasting menu will include: Bourbon Maple Burger Sliders, Bacon-wrapped Chicken Bites, Meatballs in Marinara, Twice-Baked, BBQ Brisket Potato, Spinach Dip and Chips, and a Seasonal Soup.
The menu will feature locally sourced products. Blue Dog Wine Company will be providing wine samples that pair with the menu.
For those who do not prefer wine, Mmm Flavor Shop will have a Tea Bar with a variety of herbal and black teas. Mmm Flavor Shop will also have a Spiced Up Dessert Bar.
These desserts will be easy to replicate at home. Some of the offerings will be Saffron Coconut Cake, Spicy Brownies, and Chai Angel Food Cake.
Sunshine Boutique will be having a Christmas Centerpiece Class to start the evening. Attendees can also make a customized pen with WriteOn!.
This event will be Friday, December 12th starting at 6 pm. Tickets are $75 and will be available for purchase until November 30th. You can reserve your tickets at the included link.
November Parent Empowerment Circle: Family Stress, Burnout and Self-Care Through the Holidays
November Parent Empowerment Circle
This Month’s Focus:
Family Stress, Burnout and Self-Care Through the Holidays
As the holidays approach, join us to pause, breathe, and care for yourself while connecting with others who understand.
🌸 Share experiences and encouragement
🌸 Explore simple holiday self-care strategies
🌸 Learn ways to reduce family stress and find joy in the season
🌸 Connect with a supportive parent community
🌸 Explore simple holiday self-care strategies
🌸 Learn ways to reduce family stress and find joy in the season
🌸 Connect with a supportive parent community
Sunday, November 23, 2025
1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
First Southern Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 1818 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS
Children are welcome with parents. Snacks provided.
👉 RSVP or learn more: Cherri Walrod, KSTATE Community Health Worker
Cell: 620-945-908, [email protected]
Cherri Walrod
Community Health Worker
K-State Research and Extension Southwind District
WORK CELL PHONE: 620-945-9081
Bourbon County Commission Agenda Packet for November 17
The Bourbon County Agenda for their meeting on 11.17.25 at 5:30 PM at 210 S National Avenue. There will also be the final canvassing of election results at 5:15 PM.
Susan E. Walker
Bourbon County Clerk
Coat Drive December 6 at 1 E. Third
We’ll be collecting new or gently used coats (kids & adults), gloves, hats, scarves, blankets, and monetary donations. All items will go directly to local families in need.
Thank you for helping us make a difference for local families this winter.
Respectfully,
L.W. Beerbower
Squadron Commander
Sons of the American Legion Post 25
📞 620-215-1599