Gregg Motley announces that he has filed for reelection to serve as District 4 County Commissioner to serve the constituents, elected officials and employees of Bourbon County. “The Kansas Secretary of State assigned term lengths to the two new districts created by the voters of Bourbon County. The commission gave a three-year term to the 5th District winner and I received a one-year term. Accordingly, I am running for a full four-year term to begin in 2027”
When asked what his agenda is for the coming years, Motley, responded, “The hallmark of my service during my first term has been to work for fairness for employees, to respond to constituents in a timely and meaningful manner, and to steer the commission away from political in-fighting with other elected officials and return the focus to the business of the people.” Additionally, Motley will focus his attention on returning fiscal responsibility to the county balance sheet, employing his degree in accounting, years of experience banking municipalities of all sizes, and graduate degree in management.
The budget year 2026 saw a dramatic cut in the mill levy, which many applauded, but left the county in a vulnerable position, as the cuts came at the expense of exhausting the financial reserves of the county. “Right now, we are not in a position to go to the public markets with a bond issue if we are faced with a large expenditure, such as unexpectedly replacing infrastructure such as a bridge. Local banks are reluctant to lend the county money at advantaged rates given what they are seeing. My goal is to restore financial integrity to the county by building back reserves over time and resisting any growth in the mill levy by achieving operating efficiencies.”
Many candidates speak of operational efficiency, so it is natural to wonder how this situation might be different. “We have some low-hanging fruit opportunities,” Motley explained. “We have three significant contracts for venders in Johnson County, which not only engage skillsets and software packages we already possess in the building, but also takes Bourbon County money and exports it to Johnson County. Having lived there, I know that we need that money much more than they do.”
In conclusion, Motley said, “This is a difficult position for which very few want to apply. This is a spiritual calling for me, to serve the county which gave me such a wonderful send off after a 45-year career in banking and business. I am determined to bring good governance back to the county if the voters in the 4th District will give me the chance.”
The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.
There will be a planning commission meeting on 4/29/26 at 5:30 PM at 210 S National.
Bourbon County Planning Committee Agenda for Wednesday April 29th, 2026
• Pledge
• Roll
• Approval of Agenda
• Approval of minutes from April 22th
• Discuss Interview Updates
• New Business
• Public Comment
• Next Meeting and Agenda
• Adjournment
April 27, 2026 at 5:30 PMBourbon County Commission
Approval of Minutes 04.13.26 and 04.20.26
Commissioner Samuel Tran had a problem with the minutes for 4/20/26, asking for a paragraph to be removed as the event happened in recess and should not be in open records.
Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee said the minutes are becoming “subjective again,” particularly on the topic of payroll, and asked to hold the April 20th minutes until they include her own comments in a more extensive manner. County Clerk Susan Walker asked Milburn-Kee for a written copy of her comments to include in the record. Motion carried.
Tran moved that the changes they asked for be made to the minutes of the April 13 meeting. Motion carried.
Approval of Accounts Payable 04.24.26 $103,573.61
Milburn-Kee said that Baker Tilly should be charged to the finance budget, not the commission, and the TEC invoice that was charged to the IT budget should be charged to the clerk’s office tech fund.
County Clerk Susan Walker asked to speak and was ignored.
Approval of March 2026 Financials
Milburn-Kee asked what they are approving. Walker explained that the financials show the balances the county has and they are required to to publish the first quarter’s amounts.
Commissioner Gregg Motley said he doesn’t know why anyone would oppose publishing financials as that is part of a commissioner’s duties.
Motley said he had read the whole item. Commissioner Joe Allen said he looked it over and it was extensive. Milburn-Kee said she needed more time to look it over.
Walker said that the financials would be published without Tran’s signature if necessary.
“Jennifer [County Treasurer] and I will not be in violation…we will do our duty,” she said.
Tran said they had 4 days to go over the 1566 pages.
Motley pointed out that all the details don’t have to be published, just the summary of simple fund accounting and the commission had already approved the expenditures. “I’m failing to see what the problem is,” he said.
“Can we just dispense with the hostility and do our duties, please?” he asked.
Immediately, Tran asked him who was being hostile.
“Everything that the clerk has done has been opposed,” Motley responded.
Beerbower moved to approve and publish the financials. Motion passed with Tran and Milburn-Kee opposing.
Public Comments
Michael Hoyt: Executive Sessions
Hoyt pointed out that KSA 7519(b)1 (the regulation that permits executive session) pertains to individual non-elected personnel, not departmental policies and practices for those personnel, as he said the commission had been using it.
He said he would bring a script for them to go by for making proper executive session motions.
Anne Dare: PayEntry
Dare is concerned that only one admin handling CIC and PayEntry does not provide the checks and balances needed. She asked the commissioners to regularly review the processes required to use CIC and PayEntry.
Planning Commission – Milburn-Kee
Wants an all-encompassing and growth-focused package from the firm hired by the planning commission.
Tran said he read over each of the proposals of the companies under consideration by the planning commission and agreed with Milburn-Kee’s position.
Meeting Resolution – Milburn-Kee
The resolution includes keeping every other meeting minimal to allow for work sessions.
Beerbower and Motley both expressed that the workload the commission handles is too great to finish it by only holding full meetings every other week. Allen agreed.
This resolution repeals resolution 36-25 and defining meeting times, work sessions, and payroll and AP approvals.
Motion passed with Motley voting against.
City of Fulton – Milburn-Kee
Fulton had joined with Bourbon County to file with FEMA for the most recent large flood. Former public works director Eric Bailey said that FEMA is supposed to send near $1 million for the flood, but someone has to keep after it.
Fulton is asking Bourbon County to come repair some of the flood damage to their roads.
Tran asked Kenny Allen, public works director, if his team can take on the project. Allen said he can take care of it.
Dustin told Allen that Fulton would have had to do their own paperwork to obtain a FEMA reimbursement. The $1.5 million that Bailey mentioned was an estimate and the $600,000 the county received is all they are going to get. Some of what they filed for was turned down as maintenance.
Department Updates
County Clerk, Susan Walker
Walker asked that a security camera for the election equipment and postage machine be replaced as it’s a security issue and required by the Secretary of State. She said the courthouse maintenance was denied a replacement. She has a camera but it needs to be installed.
Milburn-Kee and Tran said that several cameras in the county are in need of replacement.
“We do not have a lot of money in our equipment funds,” said Walker. “If we are expected to have to start paying for telephones and internet, then we will have to come and ask for more money during this budget season.”
Walker said that previously the phones have been part of the building proper.
Milburn-Kee said they had a discussion about the cameras in the past. She also said that Stronghold’s report claims the county’s cameras are illegal.
Tran said there’s no county-wide camera protocol and it’s time for them to make a audio-visual policy. He expressed concern about a hodge-podge of electronic equipment.
Beerbower suggested consulting with Stronghold or another security agency to determine what’s needed.
Allen suggested doing a quick fix for the clerk’s need for now and create a policy going forward.
Beerbower moved to bring Stronghold to the county commission meeting next week to find out what’s needed.
Motion carried.
Old Business
Vacation & Sick Leave Resolution – Beerbower
He started the resolution when there was a full-house of employees with problems with the vacation and sick leave hours.
“I believe that our employees need the best that we can offer them,” said Beerbower.
Since the resolution was tabled last week, he has received input from the community.
One question he received just before the meeting dealt with the grandfather clause. Right now, 480 hours is the current cap on sick leave hours, but about 10 employees have more than that saved already.
Milburn-Kee asked Allen his opinion about the handbook policies. Allen said he is comparing the county policy to the one he is familiar with through the school system. The main issue he has is the number of employees who had a problems with hours going missing.
Beerbower went over his resolution.
Milburn-Kee asked about paying out sick leave at full value, suggesting they stay with the policy of paying out sick leave at 25%. Beerbower said he was in agreement with that.
Allen said he wants to hear from department heads about their concerns with the cost of adopting the resolution.
Milburn-Kee asked why they are discussing the resolution if all the problems of accrual and employment start dates have been addressed. She said it will be “a nightmare” for the payroll lady and it is unnecessary to “flip the whole thing on its head.”
Motley made a motion to carry over the leave balances as of 12/31/25 and follow resolution 51-25, which is essential the grandfather clause in Beerbower’s resolution.
Beerbower seconded.
During discussion he said that he proposed his resolution as a work in progress and welcomed input from the commission, but what he got was opposition.
Motley completely agreed with Beerbower and said his motion is a bandaid to start. He encouraged Beerbower to keep working on his resolution.
Allen said he agrees with the idea of restoring employees to the time they had as of Dec. 31, 2025.
Tran said he finds it interesting that the product isn’t finished but there’s a motion on the table. It compared it to Nancy Pelosi saying “vote for the bill and you can read it afterward.”
After reading his detailed objections and potential problem scenarios for 12 minutes, Tran said that while he believes Beerbower’s intentions and integrity are good, the problems need to be corrected correctly to avoid the same problems going forward.
Beerbower said that he had received 9 of the AI-generated pages that Tran went over prior to the meeting. However, some of the problems the document cites refer to non-existent sections of Beerbower’s resolution.
Beerbower said that the employees have been force fed the current system and his resolution fixes that.
Video feed cut out.
When it came back, Motley called for a vote on his motion to restore benefits to the Dec. 31, 2025 levels. Motion carried with Tran voting against and Milburn abstaining.
Beerbower moved to set a work session for the commission, supervisors, and department heads to discuss in more detail his resolution for 5:30, May 11. Motion carried.
2025 Kanren Invoice – County Clerk
Walker said that the bill is generally paid through tech funds. It’s a bill from 2025. The services are for Zoom. Milburn-Kee will find out if the service is still in use in the county.
Discussion on $10,000 for legal action
Motley said there was nothing new to discuss.
Milburn-Kee asked who the county will hire and who their point of contact will be.
Motley said he hasn’t been given the authority to hire anyone, but they have ordered some title work done by Security First Title, yet to be paid, and asked for a legal opinion of it.
Tran said that nobody at the table can act unilaterally.
Beerbower motioned that Motley be the point of contact on the title work. Motion passed with Tran and Milburn-Kee voting against.
New Business
Landfill Hours of Operation – Milburn-Kee
Took a call from a constituent who was turned away from the landfill during open hours.
She moved that the gates of the landfill not be closed until the official stated operating hours end: 8-4, Monday-Friday, 8-12 Saturday.
Kenny Allen, Public Works Director, explained that the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) says not to take anything on the scale until 8:15 and to close the scale at 3:45. That allows the employees time to warm up their machines and to shut down operations and move money to the courthouse at the close of the day.
Beerbower said that the SOP has already been approved by the commission, and no changes should be made based on one person’s experience.
One landfill employee spoke with the commission and said that the best solution would be to be willing to pay overtime to the landfill employees so they can stay later to unload a truck or trailer that comes in just before closing.
Beerbower suggested posting more precise hours allowing for the times needed to close down operations.
Every load that comes to the transfer station is supposed to be in a bag, secured, or tarped.
Motion carried.
Hay Bid for Native Road – Presented Late
Bid for $100 by Patrick D. Murphy was accepted.
SEK Area Agency on Aging – Tran
Tran asked for another member of the board to take on representing Bourbon County Commission at the SEKAAA as he is unable to attend the meetings.
Commission Comments
Joe Allen: Attended the Fourth Grade Conservation Day at the Extension Office was a great success.
David Beerbower: Read a statement referring to the first amendment, saying it applies to county employees too and that no elected officials have the right to stop them from speaking up. He supported open communication and said he plans to bring future motions to further strengthen open communication at the county.
Gregg Motley announces that he has filed for reelection to serve as District 4 County Commissioner to serve the constituents, elected officials, and employees of Bourbon County.
“The Kansas Secretary of State assigned term lengths to the two new districts created by the voters of Bourbon County. The commission gave a three-year term to the 5th District winner and I received a one-year term. Accordingly, I am running for a full four-year term to begin in 2027.”
When asked what his agenda is for the coming years, Motley, responded, “The hallmark of my service during my first term has been to work for fairness for employees, to respond to constituents in a timely and meaningful manner, and to steer the commission away from political in-fighting with other elected officials and return the focus to the business of the people.”
Additionally, Motley will focus his attention on returning fiscal responsibility to the county balance sheet, employing his degree in accounting, years of experience banking municipalities of all sizes, and graduate degree in management.
The budget year 2026 saw a dramatic cut in the mill levy, which many applauded, but left the county in a vulnerable position, as the cuts came at the expense of exhausting the financial reserves of the county.
“Right now, we are not in a position to go to the public markets with a bond issue if we are faced with a large expenditure, such as unexpectedly replacing infrastructure such as a bridge. Local banks are reluctant to lend the county money at advantaged rates given what they are seeing. My goal is to restore financial integrity to the county by building back reserves over time and resisting any growth in the mill levy by achieving operating efficiencies.”
Many candidates speak of operational efficiency, so it is natural to wonder how this situation might be different.
“We have some low-hanging fruit opportunities,” Motley explained. “We have three significant contracts for venders in Johnson County, which not only engage skillsets and software packages we already possess in the building, but also takes Bourbon County money and exports it to Johnson County. Having lived there, I know that we need that money much more than they do.”
In conclusion, Motley said, “This is a difficult position for which very few want to apply. This is a spiritual calling for me, to serve the county which gave me such a wonderful send off after a 45-year career in banking and business. I am determined to bring good governance back to the county if the voters in the 4th District will give me the chance.”
FORT SCOTT, KANSAS — The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team recently held two Employer Insight Collaborative sessions on February 17 and February 19 to address workforce challenges in Bourbon County. The events brought together 44 employers and partners across healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, banking, and more.
Supported by the Pathways to a Healthy Kansas initiative, the collaborative provided a dedicated space for community partners to identify practical strategies for strengthening the local workforce.
Key Workforce Insights
While industries varied, the challenges reported were remarkably consistent. Employers identified the following as the most difficult positions to fill:
Leadership and management roles
Information technology (IT)
Skilled trades
Healthcare and helping professions
Technical occupations
Addressing the “Soft Skills” Gap
A significant portion of the discussion focused on foundational workplace behaviors. While technical skills can often be taught on the job, employers noted critical gaps in:
Reliability and attendance
Professionalism and workplace expectations
Communication skills, including customer interaction and writing
Initiative and problem-solving
Teamwork and critical thinking
Leadership capacity
“While industries may differ, the workforce challenges employers are experiencing are remarkably similar. By bringing employers and community partners together, we can focus on practical solutions that support both our businesses and our workforce.” — Jody Love, President and CEO of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team
Strategic Opportunities for Improvement
The collaborative identified specific areas where different sectors can coordinate to improve workforce readiness:
For Employers: A focus on stronger onboarding, mentorship, and internal leadership development.
For Educators: Strengthening connections between students and employers while expanding real-world learning.
For Community Organizations: Improving awareness of resources and connecting education to support services.
Next Steps & Action Plan
To build on the momentum of these sessions, partners have committed to several immediate actions:
Weekly Social Media Series: Increasing the visibility of workforce resources.
Lunch & Learn Sessions: Strengthening collaboration with Fort Scott Community College.
Training Coordination: Working with Pittsburg State University’s Kelce Center for Business & Talent Development.
Strategic Initiatives: Exploring the “Work Ready Communities” initiative and pursuing pilot program funding.
About the Partners
Pathways to a Healthy KansasThe largest community grant initiative funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, providing tools to improve active living, healthy eating, and economic opportunity. Visit bcbsks.com/pathways.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of KansasAn independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and the state’s largest insurer, serving all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte. Visit bcbsks.com.
Meeting Minutes Summary: April 20, 2026 (Pages 3–8)
The Commission addressed several high-priority items during the April 20th meeting. Significant discussion surrounded the Vacation and Sick Leave Resolution, where revisions were proposed to simplify vacation scales and move to a front-loading system. A grandfather clause was included to protect current employees from benefit reductions. The main resolution was ultimately tabled for one week for further review.
Other key developments included:
Elm Creek Lake: Following citizen feedback regarding the lake’s intended use for public recreation, the Commission voted unanimously to halt current quarry operations at Elm Creek while exploring its recreational potential.
Disaster Proclamation: Resolution 20-26 was approved, declaring a local state of disaster emergency for 14 days due to storm damage occurring on April 17, 2026.
Tax Collection Updates: Extension of office hours (7 AM to 7 PM) was announced for May 7th and 8th to accommodate property tax payments. Remote collection sites were also scheduled for various cities throughout the county.
Comprehensive Plan: The Planning Commission was authorized to interview three firms (Confluence, MPC, and Foster and Associates) for the county’s comprehensive plan project.
Meeting Minutes Summary: April 13, 2026 (Pages 9–14)
The April 13th session featured significant public and employee engagement.
Payroll & Leave Policies: Approximately 40 employees attended to express concerns regarding altered hire dates and locked leave balances. The Commission voted to restore employee access to view their time entry and leave balances.
Economic Development: The City Manager of Fort Scott reported the sale of the Value Merchandisers and Timken buildings, which are expected to bring hundreds of new jobs to the area starting in 2027.
Juvenile Detention: Michael Walden from the Southeast Kansas Juvenile Detention Center discussed the impact of House Bill 2329, which is expected to increase detention stays and admissions. The Commission tabled further discussion on terminating their facility membership until a later work session.
Financial Information (Pages 15–178)
The packet includes extensive financial reports, including the Accounts Payable summary for April 24, 2026, totaling $103,573.61. Detailed revenue and expense reports are provided for various county funds, including the General Fund, Road and Bridge, and several specialized technology and service funds. These reports track current budgets, actual year-to-date spending, and remaining balances through March 31, 2026.
The Regular Council Meeting on April 14, 2026 at Uniontown Community Center was called to order at 7:00PM by Mayor Jurgensen. Council members present were Amber Kelly, Mary Pemberton, Bradley Stewart and Kyle Knight at 7:30PM. Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting was Joe George, Codes Officer Doug Coyan, City Superintendent Bobby Rich, City Treasurer Sally Johnson and City Clerk Haley Arnold.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS
CITIZENS REQUEST
FINANCIAL REPORT
Treasurer Johnson presented the March 2026 Treasurer’s Report. Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds was $221,034.39, Receipts $64,673.55, Transfers Out $12,899.25, Expenditures $23,766.67, Checking Account Closing Balance $249,042.02. Bank Statement Balance $249,478.14, including Checking Account Interest of $51.51, Outstanding Deposits $0, Outstanding Checks $436.12, Reconciled Balance $249,042.02. Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit $43,462.65, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $24,422.45, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $50,955.80, Total All Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $367,882.92. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $143.98, and Utility CDs $693.91 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $837.89. Also included the status of the Projects Checking Account for the month of March 2026, Beginning Balance $0, Receipts $0, Expenditures $0, Ending Balance $0. March Transfers from Sewer Utility Fund to Sewer Revolving Loan $1,400.25; from Water Utility Fund to GO Water Bond & Interest $1,624.00, Gas Fund to Capital Improvement-Streets $3,750.00; from Sewer Utility Fund to Capital Improvement-Streets $375.00; from Water Utility Fund to Capital Improvement-Streets $2,000; from General Fund to Capital Improvement-Streets $3,750.00, for Total Transfers of $12,899.25. Net income for the month of March $28,007.63, Year-to-Date Net Income $48,296.56. Budget vs Actual Gas Fund YTD Revenue $129,374.00 (49.0%), Expenditures $131,830.00 (21.5%); Sewer Fund YTD Revenue $36,100.00 (26.8%), Expenditures $42,698.00 (19.9%); Water Fund YTD Revenue $124,435.00 (26.1%), Expenditures $142,643.00 (14.0%); General Fund YTD Revenue $147,330.00 (34.8%), Expenditures $234,858.00 (12.9%); and Special Highway YTD Revenue $7,290.00 (27.6%), Expenditures $11,191.00 (18%). The April 2026 payables to date in the amount of $20,546.57.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Kelly, Second by Pemberton, Approved 3-0, to approve Consent Agenda:
Minutes of March 10, 2026 Regular Meeting
March Treasurer’s Report, Profit & Loss Report by Class & April Accounts Payables
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
The Codes Enforcement Officer reported a violation at 202 4th Street for trash, debris, and an inoperable vehicle in the driveway. A letter will be sent to the property owner. Mayor Jurgensen reported he had spoken with the property owner at 101 Washington regarding the pool in the front yard; the property owner plans to remove it when weather permits. The Council discussed an update on the property at 401 Sherman. Overgrown grass was reported at 405 Hill. A letter will be sent to the property owner.
Superintendent Rich was questioned by Councilmember Kelly if the Biomist order had been received so fogging could begin. Superintendent Rich confirmed it had been received.
Clerk Arnold presented the KMGA estimated gas supply schedule to the Council.
Motion by Kelly, seconded by Steward, to approve the KMGA estimated gas supply schedule for May 2026 through April 2027. Motion approved 3–0.
The Council discussed placement of trees to be provided by Kiwanis. Possible locations include one tree at the pond near the school and additional trees in the park, depending on availability. The Council reviewed and discussed the EMC 2026–2027 insurance renewal quote and coverage, including comparisons with the previous two years’ policy quotes and coverage.
COUNCIL REPORT
Councilman Knight – none
Councilwoman Kelly – none
Councilwoman Pemberton – none
Councilwoman Pritchett – absent
Councilman Stewart – none
Mayor Jurgensen – A request from a local food truck regarding setting up operations at the park. Discussion included potential approval as well as costs associated with electrical hookup, including scenarios where no hookup would be required.
OLD BUSINESS
FEMA Flooding– Mayor Jurgensen was advised that Marbery Concrete Inc. plans to begin work when weather permits but has not yet started. The City expects work to commence in the near future.
NEW BUSINESS
Moved by Kelly, Second by Stewart, Approved 4-0, to adjourn at 7:40PM.
Spring is finally here, and the Fort Scott Farmer’s Market will start May 2 at the Gathering Square Pavilion, located at 111 N. National Avenue, just across from Brickstreet BBQ.
The Gathering Pavilion is a community hub featuring a covered pavilion, splash pad, and the Glide synthetic ice rink (during the winter).
The pavilion houses the Farmer’s Market (May–October), in addition to concerts and events. It serves as a central venue for community gatherings.
The local garden club will offer plants for sale as a fundraiser, as they have done for the last several years.
The Bourbon County Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale on the opening day of the downtown Farmers’ Market, Saturday, May 2, from 8 a.m. until noon, at the north end of the pavilion.
Garden Club offerings. Submitted photo.
“Proceeds from the sale support beautification efforts throughout the community, including the city swimming pool islands, Heritage Park, the North Main area, and Riverfront Park,” according to Martha Jane Gentry, a spokeswoman for the group.
“Assistance is also provided with the plantings, at the downtown splash pad (adjacent to the pavilion). The garden club partners with Tri-Valley Developmental Services to sell a wide variety of plants, all of which are geared to our area’s challenging weather. Club members offer plants freshly dug from their own gardens.”
Submitted photos.
“Tri-Valley provides annuals, herbs, and both floral and foliage hanging baskets, all of which are ideal for Mother’s Day gifts. Other garden-related items will be available, such as pots, plant markers, tools, and books. There will also be drawings for several unique pots of flowers and herbs. Knowledgeable members and Master Gardeners will be available to offer advice and answer questions about gardening during the sale,” she said.
Submitted photos.
“This year’s plant sale has a committed focus, beyond community beautification,” she said. “The garden club has pledged $1,000 toward the replacement of the Lexan roof of the Tri- Valley greenhouse. The (greenhouse) site provides plants for civic areas, individual gardens, and fund-raising, in addition to horticultural therapy for developmentally disabled adults.”
Tri Valley Greenhouse is located in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park, south of town. From its Facebook page.
Those who are interested in gardening can join the club.
“The Bourbon County Garden Club meets on the second Tuesday of the month, March through October. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 12th, at 6 p.m. Like us on Facebook for news, specific meeting announcements, and photos,” she said.
“Support the Bourbon County Garden Club’s commitment to the Tri-Valley greenhouse’s new roof project, and community beautification by shopping at the plant sale on Saturday, May 2,” she said.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment rescinded a boil-water advisory for the Bourbon County Rural Water District # 2 public water supply system on April 23, according to the KDHE website press release. But the City of Uniontown, located 17 miles west of Fort Scott, is still under a water boil order. That boil order should end this afternoon, if the water samples submitted are cleared.
The City of Fort Scott was cleared to stop boiling its drinking water on April 21, following water samples sent to a KDHE-approved lab.
“Fort Scott has to be cleared first, then Water District #2, and then Uniontown,” said Uniontown City Clerk Haley Arnold.
“(Uniontown City Superintendent) Bobby Rich took the water samples yesterday to the lab at Frontenac to submit them. They have to incubate for 24 hours, so we should find out by 2 p.m. today.”
“Some people thought we were out of the boil order because Water District 2 is our supplier, but we are following the guidelines we have been given,” she said.
The advisory was issued last weekend because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the city of Fort Scott’s distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
The Boil Water Advisory is still in effect for the City of Uniontown public water supply system, according to the press release.
“Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind notice following testing at a certified laboratory,” according to the press release.
“Laboratory testing of drinking water samples collected from the Bourbon Co RWD 2C system indicates no evidence of bacteriological contamination, and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
“For consumer questions, please contact the Bourbon Co RWD 2C water system at 620-223-1110, or the city of Uniontown water system at 620-756-4742, or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information, please visit our webpage: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service.”
Similarities and differences in prior Kansas polling-place prosecutions and the current Bourbon County case.
The charges against Commissioner Milburn-Kee
On March 24, 2026, the Kansas Attorney General’s office filed a two-count misdemeanor complaint against Bourbon County Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee. Count One is a general charge for interfering with public business in a public building. Count Two, what is looked at in this article, charges her under K.S.A. 25-2413(c), the polling-place “three-foot rule”: a Class B misdemeanor to come within three feet of a voting booth or an election-board table unless you are there to vote or the supervising judge lets you. The law is associated with K.S.A. 25-2432, which says a public official who is convicted of an election crime loses their office (25-2413; 25-2432).
What is alleged
A prior FortScott.biz summary of the security-camera video describes the commission meeting room being used during early voting to validate voters and handle provisional ballots. On October 25, 2025, Milburn-Kee is shown sitting at the commission table near a stack of what election officials said were unverified provisional ballots, reading a newspaper, and waving and greeting a voter through the open doorway. County Clerk Susan Walker is shown twice telling her she cannot be in the polling-area rooms; on the second try, Walker offered to help move her things and said she would call the police if required. Milburn-Kee moved to an adjoining office about twelve minutes after first being told to leave.
The closest Kansas comparison: Blubaugh
In October 2024, Meghan Blubaugh — the wife of a newly elected Sedgwick County commissioner — wore a T-shirt with her husband’s campaign name on it to an early-voting site in southwest Wichita. Poll workers asked her to turn it inside out, and she refused. The county Election Commissioner then came to the site in person and asked her again, and she refused a second time. Poll workers called the Secretary of State’s office, and Blubaugh was charged under K.S.A. 25-2430 (electioneering), a Class A misdemeanor. In January 2025, the case was resolved by diversion, with about $160 in court costs and completion of a county election-worker training. Diversion is not a conviction, but does usually require one to admit fault. If she finishes the program, the case is dismissed with nothing on the record.
This seems to be about the closest match to an election-related case in Kansas. The original polling-place misdemeanor filing, a politically connected defendant, and an alleged refusal to follow an election official’s on-site instruction. The result was Blubaugh choosing to admit guilt and take a diversion rather than fight the charge.
But there are differences. Blubaugh wasn’t a sitting elected official, so forfeiture of office was never on the table; the statute charged was different, and her conduct unfolded over a shorter window than the roughly twelve minutes in Milburn-Kee’s video summary. Diversion can be offered in one case and declined in another, so the fact that it was used in the Blubaugh case doesn’t mean it would be an option in another case, even if the situation were the same.
Milburn-Kee was not charged under 25-2430 herself, even though she greeted a voter. That statute is aimed at campaign advocacy (candidates, parties, ballot questions). The public description of her interaction doesn’t mention campaign material.
The same-statute comparison: Ceballos
Joe Ceballos-Armendariz, the former mayor of Coldwater, was charged in November 2025 with six felonies for voting as a Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident in three prior elections. His defense attorney, Jess Hoeme, initially told KCUR he was “confident he’ll beat this” by arguing Ceballos never intended to commit crime a before a jury. However, his case was resolved when he plead guilty to a lesser crime. April 20, 2026 Ceballos pled guilty to three Class B misdemeanor counts of K.S.A. 25-2413 (the same statute cited in Count Two against Milburn-Kee). In exchange, the court dismissed all six felonies Ceballos was charged with. The sentence after the plea deal involved a $2,000 fine plus costs, six months jail per count (but this was suspended), and one year of probation.
His sentence after pleading guilty to the lesser charge is probably the most current example of how 25-2413 has been applied in Kansas, but Ceballos’ case isn’t a perfect parallel for Milburn-Kee’s charges. Under Kansas law, elected officials must be legal electors, so he had to step down from Coldwater’s city council immediately instead of waiting to see if he won or lost the case. He also faced possible federal deportation tied to a conviction. Both can change what a plea is worth in ways that wouldn’t apply to a U.S. citizen serving out an elected term in an office they are legally qualified to occupy. He was also negotiating down from six felonies. With Commissioner Milburn-Kee’s case, it isn’t clear what lower charge might be offered in exchange for a plea, should she decide not to fight the charges.
Gaps in the record
Every Kansas 25-2413 and 25-2430 case that could be found ended in the defendant admitting guilt through a plea or diversion, and none of them went through trial to a verdict. So it is hard to determine, from past cases, how a judge or jury would apply the three-foot rule to facts like the current situation. The forfeiture-of-office statute is also doesn’t come up in these cases. It appears to make loss of office automatic on final conviction, but Ceballos wasn’t in office at the time of conviction, and Blubaugh wasn’t running for office. How forfeiture would work for an official who stays in office through a conviction is an open question.
One caveat: the Attorney General’s office, like most prosecutors, generally files cases it thinks it can win or settle, avoids cases it doesn’t think it doesn’t think are very strong, and publicizes wins more than losses.
On the one hand, this might indicate that the Attorney General doesn’t bring charges until their investigation gives them full confidence of a conviction. On the other hand, there might be cases that the AG drops that are harder to find in the judicial record. If they exist, they might indicate potential for Milburn-Kee to mount a successful defense.
