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Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition Minutes of June 6  

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Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition

 Minutes of June 6

 

 

  1.  Welcome: Twenty-four members representing thirteen agencies attended the meeting held at the Scottview Apartments Conference Room.

 

 

  1.  Member Introductions and Announcements:
  • Jenny Layes – HBCAT Community Health Worker- Shared of resource share and and event to come.
  • Rhonda Dewitte-Sparkwheel

-First Missionary Baptist Church of Uniontown Food Pantry.

 

  • Rachel Eden-Sparkwheel Student Support Coordinator at FSHS.
  • Shelby Moore-Families Together-Flyers were provided explaining the services provided by FAST.
  • Ashley Reeder-SEKMCH
  • Stephanie Breckenridge – Family Strong Social Worker – Always accepting referrals.
  • Christine Abbott-SE Kansas Works-Promoting Job Fair June 24th at the Ellis Center with a flyer. Resources are available for youth wanting to work on employment.  Fort Scott office space inside the HBCAT office.
  • Michelle Stevenson – FS Early Childhood Program – Fully funded by the Early Childhood Block Grant. She has 2-3 spots available.  She attended the BBCO Baby Shower, which provided safe sleep for families.
  • Star Culp-Parents As Teachers through Greenbush- They have been able to add more spots throughout the program. There are no necessary qualifications, but must have a child prenatal-6. PAT has an open position for an additional parent educator.
  • Janelle Tate – ECBG – Transitions Coordinator of ECBG. Along with Kelli Mengarelli, Michelle Stevenson, and Samantha James, our program was fully funded by the Early Childhood Block Grant.  Planning a recruitment event along with other non-profit organizations to promote resources to families.

Mentioned update from Jenni Simhiser’s Path of Ease Association announcement about the new van awarded by grant funding.

  • Kelli Mengarelli-FRC ECBG-
  • Samantha James-FRC ECBG-
  • Jalaine Davis – Core Community – Informational meeting about Core Community coming up in the fall. Great program for volunteer opportunities.
  • Tori Riebel-SEK MCHD-Shared about the BBCO Baby Shower SEK MCHD hosted, with many more to come in other surrounding communities.
  • Lauren Klinksick- Angels Care Home Health -Flyers were available for the Angels Fall Prevention Program, and a coverage map. One of the many therapies offered is physical therapy, and assisting those in home health care.
  • Dave Gillen – Beacon – Help clients with food twice a month. Help with other personal items.  A limited number of taxi passes and gas vouchers are available.  The Beacon is open  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  Clients must live in Bourbon County, and qualifications must match DCF.  The Beacon served 340 families last month..  Other items they have helped with include hygiene items, laundry and dish soap, taxi passes, rent, and utilities.
  • Patty Simpson – Fort Scott Housing Authority – FSHA has 190 income-based apartments. She shared that there would be some available housing authority apartments soon.

Patty introduced Guests from High Rise Group-Martha and Lynn.  Shared about how the program they are a part of wanted to see how they can help others by monetary donation.

  • Rhonda Hoener-Sparkwheel-Post Secondary Success Coach -Works with ages 18-25 years old who have ever been enrolled in Sparkwheel in the southern region.
  • Lacey McCarley-Head Start Teacher-Accepting applications for fall center-based preschool.
  • Janice Durbin- Head Start SEK CAP – Home-Based Teacher – Always accepting applications. Flyers were available for distribution.  Attended the BBCO Baby Shower.
  • Larry Jump-SEKCAP-Area Liaison
  • Theresa Amershek – Safe House Children’s Director- Currently seeking a part-time residential staff member to work evenings and weekends at the shelter.
  • Ana Salas – Safe House Crisis Center –
  • Heather Shepherd CHCSEK/USD 234 Community Health Worker-
  • Lora Wilson-CHC/SEK
  • Dee Dee LeFever – Greenbush Community Liaison – Accepting applications for Parents As Teachers through Greenbush.

 

 

 

  1.  Program: 

 

Rhonda Dewitt presented to our group about her Church’s Free Food Pantry.  She and some of her congregation members who attend the First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown have organized a pantry that is for those in need 24 hours a day.  She listed the multiple ways they are helping the community, such as Outreach Programs, Food Pantry, Commodities, Emergency Night Stay, Celebrate Recovery, and GriefShare.  She mentioned having breakfast foods available for summer grab and go for kids, and they have a way to have cold items as well.  She has great community support, even mentioning the Ruritan Club.  To help Rhonda out they are always accepting donations of snacks.

 

Rhonda also presented to us about her position as the Sparkwheel Student Support Coordinator K-12 in the Uniontown School District.  She mentioned her caseload is usually around 60 students.  She said she gets to do all the things the administration and teachers want to do, but there is sometimes not enough time to do so by bridging gaps.  There are many ways she can assist students, whether it be assisting in getting homework done to meet academic goals, making sure students’ needs are met to prevent truancy, or helping support parent and school relationships.  With her help, students have access to food, clothes, and hygiene products if needed.  Hoping she can help someone have a better day than yesterday.

 

There are also ways others in the school district are supported universally, such as a grade school monthly award.  This program serves students who aren’t on her caseload.  She has all staff recognizing positive behavior by passing out recognition cards so they are rewarded, and hopefully the behaviors modelled are repeated.  Students can exchange the cards for prizes.  They also hand out goodie bags to all.  Other events Sparkwheel has hosted include  Fun Night, as well as a mock interview and career fair.

 

She introduced the Sparkwheel staff who were present.

 

Rhonda Hoener’s position through Sparkwheel is a Post Secondary Success Coach serving 9 high schools, including Garden City and Dodge City.  She stated that anyone who had been enrolled in Sparkwheel would qualify for her program as long as they were in the 18-25 age range.  By contacting the Juniors and Seniors each year to see if this program would benefit them after graduation, she is able to help her clients by setting goals that will, over time, improve their lives.  Sometimes these goals change due to a crisis occurring.  She is able to support them through the crisis by being able to teach them life skills that will help them be more self-sufficient.  Some are facing homelessness, or losing jobs due to illness, with her help, she is able to help them navigate some pretty tough challenges.

 

There are also college campus-based programs that work with colleges such as PSU, and they are hoping to branch out more soon.  This program serves all students, not just Sparkwheel graduates.

 

Rachel Eden, the Student Support Coordinator for Sparkwheel at Fort Scott High School, shared about building relationships with staff and students.  Working on academics, life skills, and connecting students with resources.  Assisting with FASFA to help with future planning.  She mentioned we have a Student Support Coordinator at the Fort Scott Middle School as well, her name is Winter Moore.

 

  1.  Open Forum:  Nothing further came before the membership.

 

 

  1.  Adjournment:  The next General Membership meeting will be August 6, 2025. 
Bourbon County

Bronson Leaders Are Dreaming Big

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Kelly Perry,  Bronson’s Rural Champion through the Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity, sent the following press release.

I’m writing to share exciting updates about a transformational project in Bronson, Kansas—our City Park Placemaking Project, which has been made possible by countless hours of travel, planning, and commitment from residents, regional partners, and dedicated volunteers.

In 2022, the Kansas Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP) and the Kansas Sampler Foundation launched the Rural Champions Program to empower leaders in rural communities. The program entered its second round in 2024, and I helped bring it to the attention of the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT). With the support of Jody Love and former team member Rachel Carpenter, HBCAT agreed to apply—if the City of Bronson could identify someone willing to serve as the Rural Champion.

At the time, Bronson’s City Council—like many small-town councils—was already stretched thin. Many of them juggle full-time jobs while also managing Bronson Pride, the Bronson Ball Association, and other civic duties. Despite having been accepted to start my degree at PSU that fall, I told the Council that if they wanted me to apply as the Champion, I would do it—and they encouraged me to move forward.

I worked with HBCAT to apply and was officially named Bronson’s Rural Champion in September 2024. Training began immediately, and I’ve since logged hundreds of hours of travel and training, including multiple trips across the state. Our kickoff meeting in Newton, Kansas, was followed by mandatory virtual Kansas Leadership training, and just last week, I traveled over 15 hours round-trip to attend a quarterly meeting in Saint Francis.  During my second quarterly meeting in February in Comanche County, I had the honor of speaking directly with Lieutenant Governor David Toland about the challenges and goals of our local project. His team followed up with resources and guidance, showing the real intent behind this program—action and follow-through.

We’ve hosted two community-wide town hall meetings—one with 17 participants and the second with 37 community members in attendance—where we shared our vision for the park. We asked: “Can we dream bigger?” And the community responded with a resounding “yes.” That support gave us the confidence to pursue a major grant to take this project even further.

Submitted photo.

Applied For Community Development Grant

In partnership with the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission (SEKRPC), the City of Bronson’s City Council and the critical help of HBCAT making those connections for us, Southeast SEKRPC submitted a pre-application for a $210,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The full application is being submitted this Month, with award announcements expected in July 2025. If successful, this will bring together funding from several sources, including:

  • $25,000 Rural Champions Implementation Grant
  • $4,256 KDHE Waste Tire Product Grant (for recycled picnic tables)
  • Helen Bolling Memorial Fund donations
  • Bourbon County Community Foundation
  • Over $5,000 in matching funds from HBCAT
  • Private donations from the Iola banking center and the Community National Bank Foundation have both agreed to donate $1,500 total.

Special thanks go to City Clerk Danielle Minor, who voluntarily completed grant writing training and works to submit applications for additional funding for the park among her daily duties and work on sewer grants etc. Jennie McKee and the engineers at Agriculture Engineering Associates, Inc., Uniontown, have also been instrumental, helping us address ADA compliance, site drainage at the park, and accessibility concerns to ensure the new investment will be safe and long-lasting.

Planned improvements include:

  • New, modern playground equipment
  • ADA-compliant sidewalks to the restrooms
  • A full concrete walking trail loop around the park
  • Recycled material picnic tables that are all inclusive
  • Better drainage to prevent flooding and equipment damage
  • Additional improvements will continue as more funding is provided

These aren’t just cosmetic upgrades—they’re foundational changes to support health, accessibility, and community well-being.

Invitation to Bronson Day

We also want to invite everyone to Bronson Day 2025, held on Saturday, June 28, at the Bronson City Park. This will be the last celebration before construction begins, with renovations targeted for completion by May 2026. This year’s Bronson Day will be more low-key, as we desperately rebuild our volunteer base. If you’d like to be part of future Bronson Day planning or serve on an event board, please email me at [email protected] or Danielle at the city hall.

I truly believe we can prove that even the smallest towns can dream big and create lasting change. Bronson isn’t where I grew up, but it’s the place I proudly call home.

Volunteers Needed

That said, it takes more than just a few committed individuals to keep the heart of a town beating. We need new energy, new voices, and fresh leadership. As of today, there is no one on the planning committee for Bronson Day 2026. Without volunteers stepping up now, future community events like the Easter Egg Hunt, Santa Coming to Town, Bronson Day, and even our fireworks display are at serious risk of being canceled. These events take nearly a full year to plan and coordinate, and the handful of folks who’ve carried that torch for years are in desperate need of a well-earned break to recharge.

Change, growth, and progress require compromise, delegation, and community ownership. If you see something broken—say something. If you want to make a difference—join us. If you care about Bronson, now is the time to show it.

 

To volunteer or learn more, please contact me at [email protected]. Let’s work together to protect and grow what makes Bronson special.

 

Sincerely,
Kelly Perry
Rural Champion – City of Bronson
[email protected]

—

Bourbon County, Elections

June 12: Convention to Appoint New District 1 County Commissioner

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Brandon Whisenhunt resigned from his District 1 County Commission seat on June 2, after holding office since April of 2024.

This is the second county commissioner resignation in 2025. Leroy Kruger of District 3 resigned in March. Mika Milburn has since been appointed to take the District 3 seat.

The Republican Party of Bourbon County now has the task of filling the District 1 seat. They will hold a convention on Thursday, June12 for that purpose. The convention will be at 6 p.m. in the Bailey Conference room.

Republican Party chair Kaety Bowers said that the candidates for the position are Lynne Oharah, Mike Embry, Rick Allen and Samuel Tran.

When asked to comment on the need to appoint another county commissioner, this is what Bower said:

“As Chair, part of my duty is to recognize and respect our history while stewarding and leading us forward. Recently, while perusing the roll call sheet binder, I was humbled to see the names of some of our current core members on sheets from the early 2010s. That makes me proud to be a Republican here. As new members join and our county evolves, it is my responsibility to ensure our core values remain steadfast amid resignations and appointments. District One boasts a great mix of seasoned delegates and younger families, and I trust their decisions. I know that this Thursday, many years—perhaps generations—of experience will guide their votes. Therefore, I cannot overemphasize the importance of precinct positions! County Commissioners, State Representatives, and Senators can all be appointed through precinct conventions. That said, we still have open precinct seats in Bourbon County.

This brings me to a frustrating trend that negatively impacts our communities. I would expect every disgruntled resident in Bourbon County to line up to fill the very positions they are unhappy with. Social media platforms like Facebook are filled with self-proclaimed experts expressing their opinions, yet I don’t see their names on the candidate lists. I closely monitored the list of individuals running for various positions (school boards, FSCC trustees, commissioners, city roles, etc.) this season, and at one point, I was deeply concerned that we would face an abundance of empty seats come election time. In some cases, we still do.

My path in politics was initially shaped by a single mantra: ‘You don’t get to complain if you don’t vote.’ That’s no longer enough. I would extend it to this: You don’t get to complain if you’re not actively working to make a positive change. So, Bourbon County, it’s time to get involved. Ask not what your county can do for you, but what you can do for your county. (Yes, I just quoted a Democrat—sort of.) Many will say they lack the time, and I understand. As a mother of six, I know time is fleeting, and we’re all busy. However, I refuse to hand my children a world I didn’t help improve or fail to show them how to lead others in doing the same. My own mother joined a fraternity in a small western Kansas town because no female organizations existed to serve the community! Let me be clear: not everyone needs to run for office to make an impact. Volunteering, joining or creating a committee or club, or simply picking up trash during a walk are all ways to make a difference. Don’t wait for controversy to demand your involvement.

In closing, I liken an abundance of candidates to a church running out of seats for its congregation. The more, the merrier—that’s what primaries are for, right? (Elections, not church seats.)”

The newly appointed candidate will have to be approved by the governor’s office before taking his or her seat on the commission.

Bourbon County

County Commissioners Create Budget Advisory Committee

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In the June 9 meeting, Commissioners Mika Milburn and David Beerbower voted to create a Budget Advisory Committee to help with the budget process.

The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.

They are accepting letters of interest until June 16 per this document from the County Clerk’s office:

The Board of Bourbon County Commissioners are accepting letters of interest for qualified individuals who would like to serve on The Board of Bourbon County Commissioners Budget Advisory Board. Letters of interest will be accepted until 12:00 p.m. on Monday, June 16, 2025 at the Bourbon County Clerk’s Office, 210 S. National Ave., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Qualifications and duties expected of board members can be found in the Bylaws of the Bourbon County Commission Budget Advisory Board which are on www.bourboncountyks.org and available in the County Clerk’s Office.

The bylaws are:

Bylaws of the Bourbon County Commission Budget Advisory Board
Article I: Name

The name of this body shall be: The Board of Bourbon County Commissioners Budget Advisory Board

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of the Budget Advisory Board is to:
• Review budget requests from county departments and elected officials.
• Assess revenue projections and spending priorities.
• Make written recommendations regarding the annual budget to the Board of Bourbon County Commissioners.
• Promote transparency and public engagement in the budget process.
• Assist in ensuring compliance with Kansas budget law and other applicable statutes.

Article III: Authority

The Board operates in an advisory capacity and has no binding decision making authority. All recommendations are submitted to the Board of Bourbon County Commissioners for consideration.

Article IV: Membership
Section 1: Composition

The Board shall consist of five (5) to nine (9) members, including the Chair. Members shall be appointed by the Board of Bourbon County Commissioners.

Section 2: Qualifications

Members must demonstrate relevant experience in budgeting, finance, accounting, public administration, or related fields. Each applicant shall submit a letter of interest and qualifications.

Section 3: Appointment and Term

Members shall serve two-year terms, renewable by reappointment. Initial appointments may be staggered to maintain continuity.

Section 4: Chair

A Chair shall be appointed by the Board of Bourbon County Commissioners. The Chair shall preside over meetings, coordinate activities, and serve as the Board’s spokesperson.

Section 5: Compensation

Members shall serve without compensation.

Bylaws of the Bourbon County Commission Budget Advisory Board
Article V: Meetings
Section 1: Frequency

The Board shall meet as needed, at a minimum of 6 times annually, including during the formal budget development cycle.

Section 2: Public Access

All meetings shall be open to the public, with notice given in accordance with Kansas Open Meetings Act and applicable notice requirements.

Section 3: Quorum

A quorum shall consist of a majority of the currently appointed members.

Section 4: Voting

Recommendations of the Board shall be adopted by a majority vote of the members present.

Article VI: Duties and Responsibilities
The Budget Advisory Board shall:
• Receive and review departmental budget submissions.
• Assess short-term and long-term revenue forecasts and spending needs.
• Hold public meetings to gather community input.
• Ensure compliance with Kansas budget laws and procedures, including setting deadlines for:
o Public notices
o Public hearings
o Budget adoption
• Prepare a formal written report with budgetary findings and recommendations for submission
to the Board of Bourbon County Commissioners.

Article VII: Reporting

The Board shall submit its final written budget report no later than July 14, in time for review and adoption by the Board of Bourbon County Commissioners.

Article VIII: Amendments

These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the Board of Bourbon County Commissioners.

Article IX: Administrative Support

The County Clerk’s office may provide support, record keeping, and meeting logistics.

These bylaws were adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of Bourbon County, KS on the 9th day of June, 2025.

Bourbon County

Bourbon County Commission announce open seat procedures

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The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.

Commissioner David Beerbower began the meeting by reading a statement outlining the meeting’s conduct, including the expectation that audience members silence their phones and refrain from conversations, wait to be called on before speaking, and allow the chair to manage the meeting.

Republican Open Seat Announcement

The Republican Party of Bourbon County will hold a convention to fill the vacant District 1 seat on Thursday, June 12 at 6 p.m. at Bailey Hall. Applications are due by Tuesday, June 10 at 5 p.m. and can be emailed to [email protected].

Old Business
Zoning Advisory Committee – Beerbower made a motion to postpone the zoning committee’s presentation of their recommendations until June 30, 2025 to allow for a third commissioner to be appointed and present.

The committee will continue to meet to work on its report. Dates of those meetings will be published.

Dr. Cohen HR Solutions – Commissioner Mika Milburn asked Beerbower’s opinion on using the company to conduct HR services for the county now that he’s had time to consider the information from the last meeting. He said he is for it, and he likes their proposal and the cost.

Milburn moved to hired HR Solutions on Call, which would require a contract be paid from the benefits fund.

The motion was approved.

Budget Committee Proposal – Milburn proposed the creating of a budget advisory board to help the commission through budget season. She proposed that the board be made of financial professionals, who will be qualified to advise on budget items.

The motion passed. Letters of interested will be taken until June 16, 2025.

Parliamentarian Proposal – Milburn suggested the commission consider bringing in a parliamentarian to help run their meetings.

“We are shorthanded,” she said. Milburn and Beerbower both had people they wanted to ask to consider the position.

The issue has been tabled until June 16.

Sales Tax Discussion Update – Milburn followed up on the hiring of a firm to conduct the county’s tax sales. She said the treasurer is working through the steps necessary to facilitate that and it’s in process.

Dump Fees for Employees – Milburn wants to remove it as a benefit.  Beerbower said that after receiving feedback from various members of the community and an email regarding fringe benefits from the County Clerk, Susan Walker, he believes times have changed and the perk needs to be stopped as well.

The commission voted to end free dump fees for county employees starting immediately.

Commissioners went into a 20 minutes executive session for consultation with an attorney for the public body of agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorny-cliet relationship.

Public Comments for Items Not on The Agenda

Mr. Parks suggested that out-of-county trash haulers who use the transfer station for trash disposal pay more than in-county users.

New Business
SEK-CAP General Public Transportation – Casey Brown brought the funding request to the commission to get it in before the budget meetings start. Historically, SEK-CAP has been funded by the county, the City of Fort Scott, and area churches and businesses.

It costs approximately $8,000 per day for a full year of transportation services. Currently services are offered three days a week, but they are considering going to five days a week, which would cost $40,000.

Commissioner Milburn asked for more precise data about how much of the county outside of Fort Scott is served by SEK-CAP.

When asked about changing their hours of operation, Brown said they were open to discussion and want to fit the community’s needs.

Fireworks Licenses Days

Fireworks licenses were issues to Hale Fireworks and Jake’s FIreworks. Sale dates have been extended by state statute from July 5 to July 7.

Commission Comments

Milburn said that she loves “the idea of a steady, reliable process” to govern the county and that there so many citizens getting involved.

She said she would be happy to visit with anyone interested in the job. “This job takes a lot of stamina and I am going to do what I have to do to serve Bourbon County and keep up.”

Bourbon County, Government

Unapproved Minutes of the Uniontown City Council From May 13

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The Regular Council Meeting on May 13, 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 were Codes Officer Doug Coyan, City Treasurer Sally Johnson, City Superintendent Bobby Rich, and City Clerk Danea Esslinger.

 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS

None

 

CITIZENS REQUESTS

None

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Treasurer Johnson presented the April 2025 financial reports.  Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds for April was $323,763.55, Receipts $30,247.46, Transfers Out $3,024.00, Expenditures $54,009.88, Checking Account Closing Balance $296,977.13. Bank Statement Balance $298,347.71, including Checking Account Interest of $64.45, Outstanding Deposits $0.00, Outstanding Checks $1,370.58, Reconciled Balance $296,977.13.  Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit $38,072.00, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $22,822.26, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $44,900.89, Total All Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $402,772.28. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $251.23, and Utility CDs $640.47 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $891.70.  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 April $26,786.42 Year-to-Date Net Income $33,113.39.  Appropriations to date for April 2025 are $31,355.12.

 

APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by Ervin, Second by Brad, Approved 3-0, to approve Consent Agenda:

  • Minutes of April 9, 2025 Regular Council Meeting.
  • Treasurer’s Reports & Monthly Transaction Report for April 2025 and the Accounts Payables

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Codes Enforcement:  Doug Coyan

405 Hill Street-letter sent to owner with requested repairs needed, some repairs have been completed, he will contact owners about the other repairs needed

406 Fulton Street-letter sent to regarding nuisance vehicles, no reply at this time

 

Superintendent:  Bobby Rich

Fire truck in park-he will apply an adhesive to the bolts

Mosquito spraying-will start soon

City Wide Dumpster-dumpster’s not as full as in the past and no complaints

 

Clerk Report:  Danea Esslinger  

Quickbook Online Course-attended May 8th, city office was closed.

Evergy is giving a presentation regarding the energy assistance program on 6/3/25 at 10 AM.

Fish Food has arrived.

Thank you card for the donation to the SOS.

Summer Food Program in June at the West Bourbon Elementary School.

 

COUNCIL & COMMITTEE REPORTS

Councilman Ervin – None

Councilman Kelly – stop signs needed at 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of Fulton St, ask school if another pond signage regarding no parking at the East side of Pond

Councilwoman Pemberton – Zoning Public Forum meeting 5/14/25 at 6 PM

Councilwoman Pritchett – no ordinance about chicken and ducks

Councilman Stewart– Bolts needed for the Pond Dock

Mayor Jurgensen – Ruritan may help with the Public Restroom replacement and repairs

City fixed the sewer main, and this issue caused a citizen to have major flooding issues

 

Motion by Kelly, Second by Pritchett, Approved 5-0 to accept paying for the citizen’s insurance deductible of $1,000.

 

OLD BUSINESS

SEED Grant – work has started on the City Library and City Office, have new lighting in the City Office, and they have started the electrical work for the ceiling in the Library, and the Council stated to close office to the public during the 1st week of June to complete the City Office flooring, shelves, and new window.

 

FEMA Flooding– Hydrology study not complete yet by Ag Engineering, and we have another new FEMA project manager.

 

Warehouse Insulation – is planned to start on May 13, and work has started today

 

Sidewalk-Ag Engineering preliminary study is completed. He stated that we will receive completed documentation when finalized.

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Stewart, Approved 5-0 in regard to the East Sidewalk of the Square, send pictures and a letter to ask lawyer if we can proceed with replacing said sidewalk as we own it per survey

 

Park electric – CrawKan will do the boring for the electrical line needed for the park electric. We will wait to complete this when CrawKan has an opening in their schedule.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

New Ordinance No. 206-presented to Council for changes or approval.

 

Motion by Pemberton, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to approve the New Ordinance No. 206

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Stewart, 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 8:39.

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Stewart, 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 9:20.

 

Danea Esslinger called in at 8:40, out at 9:15.

 

 

ADJOURN Time 9:25 Moved by Ervin, 2nd Stewart, Approved 5-0

 

 

Bourbon County, Government

Uniontown City Council Meets June 10 at 7 p.m.

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ROLL CALL:  ___ Jess Ervin ___ Amber Kelly ___ Mary Pemberton ___ Savannah Pritchett ___ Bradley Stewart

 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS

 

CITIZENS REQUESTS

 

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Sally Johnson – Financial reports

 

APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA

  1. Minutes of May 13, 2025 Regular Council Meeting
  2. May Treasurers Report, Monthly Transaction Report & May Accounts Payables

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Codes Enforcement:  Doug Coyan

405 Hill Street-letter sent to owner with requested repairs needed

406 Fulton Street-letter sent to regarding nuisance vehicles & mowing sign on door

 

Superintendent:  Bobby Rich

 

 

Clerk Report:  Danea Esslinger  

City Wide Garage Sales?

Modern Copy Systems–new maintenance agreement

Jayhawk Software Back Up vs Microsoft Office backup

Junk Vehicle Citation-2 certified letters sent/no pickup

Thank You Card-Kelly Droel

 

COUNCIL & COMMITTEE REPORTS

Councilman Ervin –

Councilman Kelly –

Councilwoman Pemberton –

Councilwoman Pritchett –

Councilman Stewart–

Mayor Jurgensen –

 

OLD BUSINESS

SEED Grant – work has started on the City Library and City Office

 

FEMA Flooding– Hydrology study not complete yet by Ag Engineering

 

Warehouse Insulation – is completed at this time.

 

Sidewalk-Ag Engineering sent the completed documentation and bill.

-Lawyer Chase Vaughn response to replacing this sidewalk.

 

Park electric – CrawKan will do the boring for the electrical line needed for the park electric. We will wait to complete this when CrawKan has an opening in their schedule.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

 

Motion by _____________, Second by   __________, Approved ______, 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 ____________.

 Attachments:

RS-6992

Lawyer reply to 206-208 Sherman Sidewalk

doc11391620250528092006

2025 Financials – May

 

Bourbon County

Seeking Applications to Replace Commissioner Whisenhunt

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For immediate release:

Brandon Whisenhunt, Bourbon County Commissioner District 1 has resigned.

The Bourbon County Republicans will accept email applications to appoint a replacement beginning today, June 3rd, until 5pm on Tuesday, June 10th. Please email your intent for consideration to [email protected]. A follow up questionnaire will be sent to you after confirmation.

We will hold our replacement convention on Thursday, June 12th. Time is TBA.

To be considered, you must be a registered Republican residing within the OLD District 1 boundaries. Questions or concerns? Email us at the email printed above.

Bourbon County

Bo Co Meeting June 2, part 2

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The remainder of the Bourbon County Commissioner meeting of June 2 included  discussion of repairs to the courthouse and the awarding of opioid fund money to Path of Ease for the purchase of a vehicle.

Mission Statement

Commissioner Mika Milburn read two sample mission statements and asked for feedback from the community. The commission will revisit a county mission statement on June 16.

Worker’s Compensation

Commissioner David Beerbower moved to withdraw a motion from a previous meeting to consider additional pay with workmen’s compensation claims. Moved to add it to the next budget work session.

Zoning Discussion

Beerbower moved to give the zoning advisory committee a one-week extension, at their request, to present their recommendations to the committee at the June 9 meeting. Commission approved.

Public Comments for Items Not on The Agenda

June Bench, Bourbon County resident, spoke to the commission about a member of the sheriff’s department that she claimed lied about her in a police report, leading to her arrest. She expressed concern that this person is still in the employ of the sheriff’s department, “Just because you have a badge, you shouldn’t be allowed to break the law,” she said.

Bench is not in a lawsuit with the sheriff’s department, she took a $75,000 settlement to drop it. She doesn’t want any more money. She claimed she went to the sheriff for help before litigation, and he wouldn’t help her, she said through tears. She is concerned and feels that the person who did that to her is dishonest, and others are suffering as she did. She asked the commissioners to investigate the situation.

“You guys have the right to know that there’s some unethical things going on,” she said.

Bob Johnson, the county attorney, said her lawsuit was her form of redress, and the commissioners aren’t the right place to come with this issue.

Clint Walker publicly thanked the public works department for their good work after the storms and said the assessor’s office staff was very professional when they came to his home.

New Business

Path of Ease Association

Jennifer Simhiser, the founder of Path of Ease Association, a women’s and children’s recovery house came to ask the commissioners to award her organization some of the opioid settlement fund allocated to Bourbon County to purchase a van. Simhiser gave her personal history of depression and addiction. After rehab in Lawrence, KS she learned about transitional housing and was then able to live on her own.

“The recovery community is almost non-existent [in Fort Scott]. The drug problem, on the other hand, is horrible,” she said.

She asked fro $30,000 from the Municipal Kansas Fights Addiction Fund to purchase a recovery transportation van to get the women to their recovery meetings, as well as to and from work, church and events that build the recovery community.

The county has $81,000 in that fund currently, earmarked for addiction recovery purposes. None of Bourbon County’s fund is allocated at this time.

Several members of the board for the Path of Ease home spoke to the commission, commending Simhiser and the home, and attesting that it is meeting a need in Bourbon County.

Beerbower moved to allocate $50,000 from the opioid settlement fund to the Path of Ease (End Addiction Stigma Everywhere) for travel expenses and other expenses through the clerk’s office.

Motion carried.

Tri-Valley Developmental Services 2026 Budget Request

Bill Fiscuss CEO of Trivalley Developmental Services said his organization is requesting $55,000 from the county, which has been their budget request for the last several years. They provide services to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities in eight counties, at their centers, as well as services in homes.

Courthouse Repairs

Two county employees spoke to the commission about the courthouse’s need for serious repairs over last 18 years. “It’s deferred maintenance,” said one.

The building needs washing, tuck pointing, waterproofing, window sealing, and elevator repair. It is a contributing building to the national historic district of Fort Scott, therefore, it has to meet certain standards.

Jason Dickman from Earl’s Engineering created the current bid document and will come discuss it with commission in the June 23rd meeting.

“We’re not going to kick the can down the road,” said Beerbower.

Commissioner Comments

Beerbower said, “It’s unfortunate that we’ve lost another member.” He then mentioned that citizens in the old first district are eligible to serve as the next commissioner.

Milburn read a statement:”It was recently brought to my attention that the position of commissioner is ever-changing in our county…what can we do to gain some stability?” She went on to point out that the county many have to strategically spend a little bit of money to save money, referring to Dr. Cohen’s Human Resources services mentioned in yesterday’s county commission story.