Category Archives: Bourbon County

Bourbon County Commission Moves Forward with Forensic Audit RFP

The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.
The commission concluded their work session on county goals to inform the budget process just before beginning their regular meeting.
Work Session Notes
Commissioner Samuel Tran read through notes.
The purpose of the work session was to discuss goals for the county.
  • Commissioner Mika Milburn’s goal was to lower the mill levy, proposing a 10% cutoff.
  • Commissioner Gregg Motley’s goal is to restore trust in the employees, the public, and the financial market.
  • Commissioner Joe Allen agreed with both of those positions.
  • Commissioner David Beerbower’s goal is to reduce property taxes by 15% and to rebalance the county’s services, including proactive road maintence and adding a recycling center.
  • Tran wants to maintain current tax rate, add in a cost of living raise for county employees, modernize the county’s procedures and processes, modernize equipment and standardize the county’s inventory, modernize staffing, modernize zoning and codes, and streamline the budget process.  In addition, he said the commission should be keeping track of all that is presented at their table.
After reading over those notes, the commission discussed the possible need for more work sessions to refine goals further.
Public Comments
Mr. Parks – There’s still a lot of trash blowing out of those trucks heading to Iola. He suggested tarping it up a little better.
Parks then thanked the commissioners for their time and effort.
“I think you’re doing a fabulous job,” he concluded.

Department Updates
Culvert Permit Tuchscherer 874 210th – Kenny Allen, Public Works Director
Beerbower made a motion to allow the public works director to handle culvert applications without seeking the commission’s approval. The motion carried, Tran voting against.

ADM Agreement Transfer Station – Kenny Allen, Public Works Director
In 2025 the county lost about $4,000 on the bean program. If they continue with the same amount they will loose $34,000 because of the need to buy a tractor to turn the beans with annual payments of about $30,000 per year. They need a tractor that is 120 HP with creeper gears to go slow enough not to destroy the transmission or clutch.
“I don’t see why we’re doing this,” he said. “To get on board and do it right, we need to get sawdust from the Amish, which is free – no big deal – but it takes seven guys, a skid steer, a loader, five dump trucks, and five to seven days, when it’s available.” They also have to haul manure from Fort Scott Community College. All of these components are necessary to properly compost the beans.
“Without the tractor we took in $73,343 last year in beans, but it costs us $7,416.” he said.
Kenny Allen said that dedicating someone to the flipping the beans reduces the number of workers available for all the other jobs at the transfer station. Tran said that it will take an additional employee to water and flip the beans. Historically the beans have stayed behind and the process was never complete.
“I’m asking you to do away with it,” said Kenny Allen to the commission. He said that the people who work out there also want to do away with it. He said they have plenty of dirt, which is preferable to the beans in his opinion.
Tran agreed.
Beerbower asked how much the county is paid to use the beans, because it would have to be enough to pay for a fifth employee and a new tractor.
Kenny Allen also said that the rest of the landfill equipment is in poor shape and it doesn’t seem wise to pour so much money into the bean system.
Beerbower made the motion to stop doing the bean program. Motley seconded it. In discussion, Milburn said she would want outside counsel before making the change.
Motion carried with Commissioner Joe Allen and Mika Milburn opposed.
Next, Kenny Allen, Public Works Director, mentioned that they had to take a load of trash to Arcadia for a cost of $1,602  because the regular place in Iola, Allen County was closed due to wind. The cost of that same load at Allen County would have been $630. He said that if the wind is closing their regular drop off, they will have to close the Bourbon County Transfer Station as well in order not to completely blow their budget.
Milburn asked how closing due to wind serves the people. Beerbower suggested raising rates for the Bourbon County Landfill if the Iola location is closed. The commission decided that it was logistically impossible to make that change.
Kenny Allen also brought up the need for a new excavator, as all the parts for the one they currently have must come from Korea. He said he has spent $30,000 on it to get it ready to remove the overburden from another blast at Blake Quarry.
He found a 2019 excavator with 4,000 hours on it for a yearly payment of $34,000 at a 4.9% interest rate. It can be paid for from the sales tax and road and bridge, $17,000 from each account per year.
Motley asked if he had checked with local banks to see if he could get better rates. He offered to call the five banks in Fort Scott that could bid on it and see if they can beat the 4.9% rate.
Commissioner Joe Allen moved to allow Motley to make those calls, followed by a brief meeting of the commission to vote on the lease agreement.
Motion passed with Milburn voting against.

Old Business
Elevator Package – Tran
Tran said he spoke to Otis and they are going ahead with to “roll with it.”
Vending Machine Placement – Allen
Commissioner Allen said that after discussing it with those who work in the courthouse, consensus was to install a new machine on the first floor of the courthouse, where more people will use them.

Title IV-E County Reimbursement Opportunity – Motley
Asked permission to apply for the grant which covers 23% of the cost of foster care services for children in need of care including attorney’s fees and social workers. Motley said there’s a substantial number of children in need of care in Bourbon County.
Beerbower moved to allow him to apply for the grant and the motion carried unanimously.

Audit RFP – Tran
Tran read a list of potential person’s of contact outside the county, which included several law enforcement personnel from counties in the region.
The commission said they preferred going with best value rather than sealed bids. Tran then explained how the best value method works.
Motley said he has a problem with Baker Tilly bidding, as they drew up the RFP.  Tran said they would deal with that at the time of the bid. Motley also has a problem with a county employee being the point of contact. He suggested choosing someone like Kaety Bowers, Republican Party Chair for Bourbon County, since she is outside the system.
Tran asked the vice-chair of the Republican Party, Tim Emerson, who was at the meeting, if he would work with Bowers on the process. Tran had already spoken with Bowers and gotten her verbal consent. Emerson also agreed.
Motley was concerned about the hourly cost of a “fishing expedition,” and suggested the commissioners list the transactions they want audited instead.
Allen expressed a like concern regarding cost and the idea of a fishing expedition as well as using Baker Tilly.
Tran said the minimum cost estimate he was given by Baker Tilly is $20,000.
Motley motioned to use the Greenwood County Sheriff, Heath Samuels, as the outside POC on the recommendation of Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin. The motion carried.
Tran then moved to be allowed to start the RFP process using the following dates:
Issue date of April 6.
Deadline for written questions of April 20.
Answers will be due April 27.
Proposal due date will be May 4.
Intent to award will be May 18.
Allen asked why the Sheriff’s department and corrections were not on the list of auditable departments per the RFP. Tran said that those departments had already been audited by Baker Tilly. Allen then said if they are left off, he wants to know why the others are included. Tran said that would drive up the cost of the bid.
“I think everybody should be listed,” said Allen.
The motion carried with Allen voting against.
Update on Benefit District on 190th St. – Motley
Kenny Allen said the price the county quoted the neighborhood to improve their road was $144,000. That information was shared with the residents and they did not get back to the county with a decision. Motley said he would tell his constituent that.

New Business
Hay Bids – County Clerk
Susan Walker said she would post it and then the county would take sealed bids to be opened April 20th in the commission meeting. The Elm Creek location has been removed from the list of available locations because of its proximity to the quarry.

Future Agenda Topics
Intent to terminate contract for Juvenile Detention Center in Gerard
Auction
Work session for sewer

Commission Comments
Joe Allen: A bus driver sent her thanks to public works for cleaning up her route so quickly.
Also, he attended the CORE Community graduation and was very impressed with the program.

Federal Lawsuit Alleging Retaliation, Discrimination, and FMLA Violations

Shane Walker, who worked for the county for 21 years, claims he was fired while on medical leave in retaliation for his wife’s discrimination complaints — and that a commissioner later told someone as much.

Case name: Shane Walker v. Board of County Commissioners of Bourbon County, Kansas, et al.
Case number: 26-CV-01057-DDC-ADM
Court: U.S. District Court, District of Kansas
Trial location: Kansas City, Kansas
Plaintiff’s attorney: Gaye B. Tibbets, Hite, Fanning & Honeyman L.L.P., Wichita, KS
Jury trial: Requested

Shane Walker, who served as Bourbon County’s Chief Information Officer for several years before his July 2025 layoff, has filed a federal lawsuit against the county, three county commissioners, and an HR contractor. Walker alleges he was let go while on approved medical leave in retaliation for discrimination complaints he and his wife, County Clerk Susan Walker, had filed against the county. The suit was filed March 9, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas and raises ten separate legal claims including breach of contract, retaliation under federal civil rights law, First and Fourteenth Amendment violations, and violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Everything described in this article comes from Walker’s complaint and the documents attached to it. These are allegations — none have been proven in court. The county and the individual defendants named in the suit have not yet filed their responses.

Timeline of Court Filings

  • March 9, 2026
    Original Complaint filed — Walker files his initial 21-page complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
    Document 1, p.1
  • March 9, 2026
    Civil Cover Sheet filed — Standardized JS 44 form establishes the case docket. Lists primary cause of action as 42 U.S.C. § 1983 with a brief description of “Breach of contract.” Checks boxes for Family and Medical Leave Act (§751) and Civil Rights (§440).
    Document 2, p.1
  • March 9, 2026
    Designation of Place of Trial — Walker initially designates Wichita, Kansas as the trial location.
    Document 3, p.1
  • March 9, 2026
    Amended Designation of Place of Trial — Walker amends the trial location to Kansas City, Kansas.
    Document 4, p.1
  • March 9, 2026
    Request for Jury Trial — Walker requests a trial by jury on all claims triable to a jury.
    Document 5, p.1
  • March 10, 2026
    Amended Complaint and Employment Agreement Exhibit filed — Walker files a 21-page Amended Complaint (Document 6) with an attached Exhibit A, his June 7, 2022 employment contract (Document 6-1).
    Document 6, p.1 | Document 6-1, p.1

Background: Walker’s Employment History

Shane Walker, 56, started working for Bourbon County on December 15, 2005 and, according to the complaint, spent 21 years there without a single disciplinary or performance issue. (Amended Complaint [AC], ¶¶1, 9) None of the positions he held were policymaking roles. (AC ¶10) In late 2024 he was also appointed Deputy Register of Deeds — without any additional pay — to fill in for the elected Register of Deeds when she was unavailable. (AC ¶11)

Walker was laid off on July 9, 2025, when his salary was $88,616.84. (AC ¶12) He was re-hired by the elected Register of Deeds on November 17, 2025 at $16 per hour for archiving work — a position of at least 30 hours per week. (AC ¶64)

The Employment Contract

In 2022, Walker served as the county’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) at an annual salary of $82,617.60. (AC ¶14) On June 7, 2022, he and the county entered into a formal written employment contract. (AC ¶15; Employment Agreement, p.1) The contract included several key provisions:

  • Vacation: 28 days of paid vacation per year (carry-over permitted) plus 20 days at the beginning of each year to be used by December of that year. (AC ¶15a; Employment Agreement ¶7)
  • Term and auto-renewal: The agreement ran from May 1, 2022 through December 1, 2025, and renewed automatically for one-year periods unless either party gave the other 45 days written notice of termination prior to expiration. (AC ¶15b; Employment Agreement ¶8)
  • Severance: If Walker were terminated before expiration for reasons other than “any unethical or improper act involving personal gain,” the county agreed to pay 60 days aggregate salary plus accumulated vacation and sick leave. The complaint identifies this amount as $20,448. (AC ¶15c; Employment Agreement ¶9A)

The complaint alleges that in January 2023, the county passed a resolution claiming to “negate” or “cancel” all employee contracts — but that it never gave Walker the required 45-day written notice of termination. (AC ¶17) The complaint includes an excerpt from the minutes of the county’s January 24, 2023 meeting in which a county official explains the resolution. (AC ¶18)

The complaint states the county did pay some vacation through January 2023, but that the rest of the contract promises — including the 60-day severance — were never paid. (AC ¶19) On August 22, 2025, Walker’s attorney sent a written demand for the contractual damages and unpaid vacation and sick leave. The county declined to respond. (AC ¶24)

Editorial note: During his July 2025 layoff conversation, the complaint alleges that Dr. Cohen told Walker his contract would be paid and that his termination “had nothing to do with his performance,” describing it as “professional.” (AC ¶57) The complaint also alleges that another county employee with a similar contract gave the required 45-day notice when he resigned, and the county gave him “a gift” of cash at his resignation. (AC ¶81)

Protected Activity: Discrimination Complaints and Advocacy

Susan Walker and her complaints

Shane Walker has been married to Susan Walker since May 19, 2023. Susan Walker currently serves as the elected Bourbon County Clerk and previously served as the county’s Chief Financial Officer. The complaint notes all defendants were aware of the marriage. (AC ¶25)

In September 2024, Susan Walker filed an administrative complaint with the KHRC alleging gender and age discrimination and retaliation in the terms and conditions of her employment. She specifically complained that then-commissioners Harris and Beth were rude and dismissive to her and other female employees, that the county would not let her transfer to another position, that her work was being scrutinized more closely than male employees, and that she was being excluded from work-related conversations while having her employment threatened. (AC ¶37)

In February 2025, Susan Walker sued the county in state court for breach of her written employment contract, which was similar to her husband’s. (AC ¶39) When the county failed to respond to the properly served summons, a judge entered a default judgment of $199,527.04 against the county on May 5, 2025. (AC ¶40) The default judgment was later set aside by agreement, with the county paying $8,000 in legal fees to Susan Walker’s attorney; the order setting it aside was not entered until September 2025. (AC ¶41) Susan Walker’s discrimination, retaliation, and breach of contract claims ultimately settled in 2026, before this federal lawsuit was filed. (AC ¶43)

The complaint also alleges that Commissioner Tran, during a public meeting in which Susan Walker was explaining a report, derisively said to her: “Oh, are we going to talk about your feelings again?” The complaint states no commissioner had ever made such a statement to a male county employee. (AC ¶38)

Shane Walker’s own advocacy

In the summer of 2024, Shane Walker wrote a letter to county commissioners “in support of my wife and all the other women in our organization,” complaining of Commissioners Beth’s and Harris’s “lack of respect for woman (sic) in positions of authority and even with taxpayers who come to our meetings who are not men.” He concluded that “the other very professional women of our organization deserve to be treated with the same respect as anyone else.” (AC ¶26) The complaint notes Walker wrote the letter as a private citizen, not as part of his job duties. (AC ¶28)

Walker says he also made his views known to each of the three commissioners named in the suit: he spoke with Beerbower when Beerbower joined the commission on January 13, 2025 (AC ¶31); with Milburn-Kee when she joined in April 2025 (AC ¶32); and with Tran before Tran took office. (AC ¶33)

Walker’s 2024 age discrimination complaint

On September 30, 2024, Walker filed a complaint with the Kansas Human Rights Commission (KHRC) alleging age discrimination and retaliation. The filing was prompted by what Walker says was different treatment compared to younger employees, and by statements commissioners Beth and Harris allegedly made during a 2024 executive session about wanting to fire Walker and replace him with a younger trainee. (AC ¶¶34–35) (Beth and Harris were commissioners at that time but are no longer on the commission and are not named as defendants in this lawsuit — the current defendants are Commissioners Milburn-Kee, Tran, and Beerbower, along with HR contractor Dr. Cohen.) Walker was not terminated in the ten months that followed that filing. (AC ¶36)

The Layoff

IT outsourcing and the lead-up to termination

Walker’s primary job duty was responsibility for the county’s IT services. (AC ¶44) During the week of June 13, 2025 — while Susan Walker’s default judgment was still pending — Commissioner Milburn-Kee suggested that the county’s network infrastructure have a “health check.” The commission hired an organization called Stronghold to perform the check. The complaint states no commissioner had previously mentioned hiring an outside agency for IT services. (AC ¶45)

Commissioner Milburn-Kee then insisted she be given server passwords in her role as commissioner. Walker and his coworker, Jimmy Kemmerer, refused to disclose the confidential information. (AC ¶46) A confrontation ensued and Kemmerer called police. The county fired Kemmerer for cause on July 2, 2025. (AC ¶47)

FMLA leave and termination

The complaint alleges that because of the discrimination and retaliation suffered by himself and his wife, Walker’s blood pressure rose to a dangerous level in June 2025. (AC ¶49) On June 24, 2025, Walker wrote to the commissioners complaining that he was being retaliated against because of his association with his wife and their discrimination complaints. (AC ¶48)

Walker applied for and was granted intermittent FMLA leave on June 26, 2025 and began working reduced hours. He remained on FMLA leave until he was terminated. (AC ¶50) The complaint alleges that all commissioners and Dr. Cohen were aware Walker was on FMLA leave when the termination decision was made. (AC ¶55)

Walker was given one week’s notice prior to his July 9, 2025 layoff — less than two weeks after his FMLA leave began. The complaint notes this layoff came ten months after his KHRC age discrimination filing; two months after his wife’s default judgment against the county; two weeks after his June 24 retaliation letter; less than six months after his statements to Beerbower and Milburn about gender discrimination; and two weeks after he began FMLA leave. (AC ¶56)

The complaint states the vote to terminate Walker was unanimous — all defendants voted in favor and Dr. Cohen did not counsel against it. (AC ¶58) The commission publicly claimed it outsourced the IT department to save money. (AC ¶59)

Key Allegation: What Beerbower Allegedly Said

The complaint includes an allegation that goes to the core of the retaliation claim. After the layoff, the complaint states:

“Commissioner Beerbower told a county employee that the County commissioners ‘got rid of Shane’ because they ‘could not get rid of Susan.'”

Because Susan Walker is an elected official, the complaint notes, the commissioners cannot terminate her. (AC ¶¶58–60; AC ¶¶87–88)

The complaint disputes the county’s cost-savings rationale, alleging the outsourcing decision was more expensive, less effective, and more time-consuming than retaining Walker. The complaint states current estimates put costs at double, that performance has been less efficient, that security issues have occurred, and that three different elected officials have circumvented the new IT system because of difficulties getting assistance. (AC ¶61)

Walker’s second KHRC complaint

On September 9, 2025, Walker filed a second KHRC complaint alleging his layoff was motivated by his association with his wife, retaliation for his gender discrimination advocacy, age discrimination, and retaliation for his 2024 age discrimination complaint. His original 2024 complaint was still pending at that time. (AC ¶62)

Post-Layoff: Alleged Continued Retaliation

When Walker was re-hired by the Register of Deeds in November 2025, the complaint alleges the commissioners and Dr. Cohen continued to interfere:

  • Health insurance: County policy provides health insurance to employees working 30 or more hours per week. Walker worked at least 30 hours. Despite this, Commissioner Milburn-Kee called the HR department and told them Walker should not be on the county’s health insurance. The complaint states no other 30-hour employee who had not filed administrative complaints had a commissioner attempt to interfere with their health insurance. (AC ¶¶65–67)
  • Seniority and benefits — “bridging”: County policy (called “bridging”) was to restore seniority, vacation, and sick leave for employees re-hired by elected officials. The complaint states the sheriff had done this several times without commissioner interference. In Walker’s case, defendants changed his employment records to set his seniority date to 2025, preventing bridging. The complaint states he was the only laid-off employee ever prevented from bridging by the County Commissioners. (AC ¶¶69–72)
  • Cohen’s statement to the Register of Deeds: The complaint alleges Dr. Cohen called the elected Register of Deeds and told her the commissioners were upset that she had re-hired Walker “because of his lawsuits.” The complaint clarifies that Walker had no active lawsuits against the county — only pending administrative complaints — and argues this statement is direct evidence of retaliatory motive. (AC ¶¶74–75)
  • HR administrator’s statement: The county’s HR administrator also pushed back on the hiring, telling the Register of Deeds that the commissioners did not “understand why you would hire someone who is suing the county.” (AC ¶97)
  • Beerbower’s FMLA comment: After Walker was re-hired, Commissioner Beerbower referred to his earlier use of FMLA medical leave as “Shane’s antics.” (AC ¶54)

The Ten Legal Claims

  • Count I — Breach of Contract against Bourbon County: County failed to provide required 45-day written notice of contract termination and failed to pay the 60-day severance ($20,448) and enhanced vacation pay for 2023–2024 and 2024–2025. (AC ¶¶77–81)
  • Count II — Kansas Wage Payment Act (KWPA) against Bourbon County, Cohen, Beerbower, Milburn-Kee, and Tran: The severance and vacation pay constitute “wages” under Kansas law (K.S.A. 44-323); defendants willfully withheld them, exposing defendants to wages plus a 100% penalty under K.S.A. 44-315(b). (AC ¶¶82–85)
  • Count III — Title VII Retaliation against Bourbon County: Termination and post-termination benefit interference in retaliation for Walker’s association with his wife, who engaged in protected Title VII activity. (AC ¶¶86–89)
  • Count IV — Title VII Retaliation against Bourbon County: Retaliation for Walker’s own advocacy against gender discrimination, which constitutes protected activity under Title VII. (AC ¶¶90–93)
  • Count V — Title VII Retaliation against Bourbon County: Retaliation for Walker’s September 2024 KHRC complaint alleging age discrimination. (AC ¶¶94–98)
  • Count VI — 42 U.S.C. § 1983 / First Amendment (Free Speech) against Beerbower, Cohen, Tran, and Bourbon County: Walker’s complaints about gender discrimination were protected speech on a matter of public concern, made as a private citizen. Defendants retaliated against him for that speech. (AC ¶¶99–103)
  • Count VII — 42 U.S.C. § 1983 / First Amendment (Right of Association) against Bourbon County: Terminating Walker and denying his benefits because his wife engaged in protected litigation and complaints violates his First Amendment right to associate with his spouse. (AC ¶¶104–108)
  • Count VIII — 42 U.S.C. § 1983 / Fourteenth Amendment (Due Process) against all defendants: Defendants deprived Walker of contractual property rights — including the 60-day severance, 48 days vacation per year, and health insurance — without due process. (AC ¶¶109–113)
  • Count IX — Title VII Retaliation against Bourbon County: Retaliation for Walker’s September 2025 KHRC complaint (filed after the layoff). (AC ¶¶114–119)
  • Count X — FMLA Retaliation and Interference against Bourbon County and Dr. Cohen: Walker was terminated less than two weeks after being approved for FMLA leave, while still on that leave. The complaint alleges this both constitutes retaliation and deprived Walker of his right to reinstatement at the end of the FMLA period. (AC ¶¶120–125)

Understanding the EEOC Process and the Right to Sue

Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), an employee generally cannot file a federal lawsuit until they have first filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and received a “Right to Sue” letter.

What is a Right to Sue Letter?

According to the EEOC:

“If we are unable to conciliate the charge, we will then decide whether to file a lawsuit to protect individuals or the public interest. If we decide not to file a lawsuit, we will close the charge and issue a Notice of Right to Sue, which gives the charging party 90 days to file a lawsuit.”

A Right to Sue letter does not mean the EEOC found that discrimination occurred — it is authorization to proceed to federal court.

Source: EEOC: What You Can Expect After a Charge is Filed

Walker filed his first KHRC/EEOC complaint on September 30, 2024 (AC ¶34) and his second on September 9, 2025. (AC ¶62) He received a Right to Sue letter covering both his 2024 and 2025 EEOC complaints on December 10, 2025. (AC ¶76) This lawsuit was filed on March 9, 2026 — within the required 90-day window. (AC ¶76)

In Kansas, employees may also file complaints with the Kansas Human Rights Commission (KHRC), which operates in a worksharing agreement with the EEOC, meaning a complaint filed with one agency is automatically cross-filed with the other.

Understanding FMLA: Why It Matters Here

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor, provides eligible employees of covered employers with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for qualifying medical reasons, including a serious health condition.

Federal Law on FMLA Retaliation

The Department of Labor states:

“The FMLA prohibits interference with an employee’s rights under the law, and prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee for opposing any practice, or because of involvement in any proceeding, related to FMLA.”

The law also entitles an eligible employee to be restored to the same or an equivalent position upon return from FMLA leave.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor: FMLA Frequently Asked Questions

The complaint alleges Walker was approved for intermittent FMLA leave on June 26, 2025 (AC ¶50) and was terminated less than two weeks later, on July 9, 2025, while still on that leave. (AC ¶122) The complaint further alleges that had he been allowed to continue his FMLA leave, he would have recovered and returned to the same position. (AC ¶125)

Relief Sought

The complaint seeks the following relief across the ten counts:

Court Documents

All documents are from Case No. 26-CV-01057-DDC-ADM, U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

This article is based solely on court documents filed by Shane Walker. All descriptions of events are allegations and have not been proven in court. Bourbon County and the named defendants have not yet responded to the complaint and their side of the story is not reflected here.

Bo Co Coalition Meeting Is April 1

The next Bourbon County Coalition General Membership meeting will be next Wednesday, April 1st at 1:00 p.m. in the Conference room at the Scottview Apartments, 315 S. Scott Ave.

Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition

General Membership Meeting Agenda

 

April 1, 2026 1:00 PM

Scottview Conference Room

315 S. Scott Ave

 

 

  1.  Welcome: 

 

 

  1.  Member Introductions and Announcements:

 

 

  1.  Program:  Winter Moore & Rachel Eden, SparkWheel

 

 

  1.  Open Forum:

 

 

  1.  Adjournment:  The next General Membership meeting will be May 6, 2026.

 

State of Kansas vs. Mika Milburn-Kee

The State of Kansas has filed criminal charges against Mika Milburn-Kee in Bourbon County District Court. The complaint, filed on March 24, 2026 by Assistant Attorney General Olivia R. Higdon of the Criminal Division’s Economic Crimes unit, stems from an incident that allegedly took place on October 25, 2025 in Bourbon County.

Count One charges Milburn-Kee with Interference with the Conduct of Public Business in Public Buildings under Kansas statute K.S.A. 21-5922(a)(5). This law makes it a crime to knowingly disrupt, impede, or hinder the normal work of a government official by intruding into a chamber or area set aside for that official’s use. This charge is classified as a Class A Nonperson Misdemeanor and carries potential penalties of up to 12 months confinement, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. This appears to be related to areas designated for use in the election that was underway at the time.

Count Two charges Milburn-Kee with Disorderly Election Conduct under Kansas statutes K.S.A. 25-2413(c) and K.S.A. 25-2432. The complaint alleges that she unlawfully and willfully approached or remained closer than three feet to a table being used by an election board without the admitted purpose of voting or without the authority of the supervising judge, contrary to the form of the statutes in such case made and provided against the peace and dignity of the State of Kansas. This charge is classified as a Class B Nonperson Misdemeanor and carries potential penalties of up to 6 months confinement, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Additionally, under K.S.A. 25-2432, if convicted of this offense, the defendant would be required to forfeit any public office or public employment.

The case is being prosecuted not by the local county attorney, but by an assistant attorney general out of the state office in Topeka.

Witnesses

The State has identified 15 witnesses in this case:

  1. Jacqueline K. Beatty – Special Agent, Office of the Kansas Attorney General
  2. Daryl Ludolph – Former Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Office of the Kansas Attorney General
  3. James Birket, #137 – Detective, Fort Scott Police Department
  4. Brian Thurston, #112 – Detective Sergeant, Fort Scott Police Department
  5. Susan Walker – County Clerk, Bourbon County
  6. Amber Page – Deputy County Clerk, Bourbon County
  7. Shane Walker – Employee, Bourbon County
  8. Lora Holdridge – Register of Deeds, Bourbon County
  9. Dianne Keating – Early Voting Supervisor, Bourbon County
  10. Anthony George – Advance Polling Supervisor, Bourbon County
  11. Clay Barker – Chief Counsel, Office of the Kansas Secretary of State
  12. Bryan Caskey – Kansas Director of Elections
  13. Brandi Ross
  14. Joan Page
  15. Patty Holman

This case is in its early stages. The complaint has been filed and assigned case number BB-2026-CR-000079, but the court process is just beginning. Being charged with a crime is not the same as being found guilty. The defendant is presumed innocent and has the right to legal representation and to contest the charges through the court system. What follows from here will likely include an initial court appearance, and the case may ultimately be resolved through trial, a plea agreement, or dismissal.

Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee was asked if she had any comments on this case, but no reply has been received at this time.

State of KS vs Mika Milburn-Kee

Bourbon County CASA is currently in need of volunteers

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Bourbon County CASA

When a child enters foster care, everything changes — their home, their school, their routines… and often the adults in their life.

A CASA Volunteer may be the only consistent adult showing up just for them.

Be the steady voice.

Be the one who shows up.

Bourbon County CASA is currently in need of volunteers who are willing to make a difference in a child’s life. Your time and compassion can provide stability, advocacy, and hope when it matters most.

If you feel called to serve, we would love to visit with you about how you can get involved.

Contact Christa at

(620) 215-2769

or email

[email protected]

to learn more.

One caring adult can change everything.

Will it be you?

Click HERE to visit the

Bourbon County CASA

Facebook Page!

Click HERE to visit the

Kansas CASA Association

website!

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members shown below…
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

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Bourbon County Commission Attempts to Tackle Sewage Issue, March 23, 2026

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

BOURBON COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA

03.23.26 Agenda

Public Comments

Clint Walker: Walker said he has been attending county commission meetings for decades and is distressed by the condition of the flags at the courthouse. They are in shreds.

“You all set the standards. You all let me down,” he told the commission.

County Clerk Susan Walker: Walker addressed the commisison about personnel records. Citing Attorney General Opinion 94121 on whether an individual commissioner has statutory authority to look at “otherwise discretionally-closed personnel records,” she said that  the authority to do so is given to the board as a whole, but not to individual members. The opinion continued by saying that elected officials in the state of Kansas have the right to keep their own personnel files, which are “often exempt from public disclosure requirements.”

In addition, Attorney General Opinion 2003-15 talks about the authority of county commissioners to adopt budgets, but says that they should not be allowed to micromanage the employees of other elected officials, which would render those officials’ authority meaningless. If the commissioners target the pay of an individual employee in elected office, intending to improperly affect the employment status of the particular employee, it would exceed the county commissioners’ authority, per the Attorney General’s opinion.

Walker then requested that all past and present personnel records be forwarded to her office. She will send any payroll changes to the payroll clerk.

Sheriff Bill Martin: Asked for permission to speak to Payentry directly about issues with his employees.

Department Updates

EMS Update: Teri Hulsey, EMS Director

KRI has removed what they want from the building that EMS is supposed to have access to. It still has a lot of stuff that needs to be moved out to make it usable. Commissioner David Beerbower said there are plans for an auction forthcoming.

Cintas

A representative from Cintas came to discuss providing the hygiene products in the courthouse bathrooms. He said he can save the county 10 percent over the current provider, Osborn. This would be in addition to the mat service Cintas already provides for the courthouse.

Commissioner Mika Milburn said she would be in favor of letting the building maintenance crew make the decision.

Vending Machine

Bernard Streeter, operator of SNS Vending in Fort Scott, manages vending machines on the second floor of the courthouse near the county attorney’s office. He said he is loosing more products on them than he is making money. He wants to pull them and suggested putting a combination machine on the first floor instead.

The commission decided to collect information and work on the issue in the next meeting.

Old Business
Sewer issue

Kaety Bowers spoke with the commission about the communication she has received for the state of Kansas regarding sewage seeping into and in some cases being drained directly into the lake. She represents an HOA spanning two counties, Bourbon and Lynn, at the lake.

Bowers  said there is only one septic pumping service on the lake. There are 30-40 homes in the neighborhood that are not getting pumped. At least one is draining directly into the lake. KDHE is pushing the HOA to do something about it, but they have no authority to assess code violations. Because of their bylaws, the soonest they can make any changes is 2033.

KDHE is adamant that Bourbon County needs to prosecute, she said.

Based on the $200/day fine currently in place, there is potentially $7,000 per day in fineable sewer violations in Bowers’ neighborhood alone. She said that adds up to $2.5 million over the course of one year.

Commissioner Gregg Motley said that the solution is for the commission to ask the county attorney to enforce the state statute.

Bower ssaid she recognizes the challenge of enforcing codes in the county.

Tran confirmed Bowers’ information regarding the unpumped homes.

“As county officials, we need to make sure that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing to safeguard the lives of people in this county,” he said.

“Sounds like we need to work on our resources, quickly,” said Beerbower.

“We will try to do something about it,” said Tran to Bowers.

Audit RFP

Tran passed around a draft of an RFP (Request for Proposal).

Motley and Beerbower each requested to table it for a week to evaluate it and make the decisions about details of the RFP. The point of contact is the commission’s administrative assistant.

They voted to table it until next Monday.

Salary Resolution – Gregg Motley

There was a transposed number on one of the salaries. The correction was made.

CIC Hardware Support

Computer Information Concepts provides the accounting software for the county. The commission approved paying the cost of $2,500 annually to cover the installation and maintenance on all machines at the county that need it.

Auction update

Commissioner Joe Allen said he is planning to come through the county building and confirm with everyone that they have marked the items currently stored in the basement that they want to keep for their departments. Then he will look at ways to auction the remaining items.

“I’m assuming that by doing this auction, we’re going to open up space,” said Allen.

“I need to identify how much stuff we have to do an auction,” Allen said.

New Business
ADM Agreement

Public Works Director Kenny Allen said the transfer station doesn’t have the equipment to turn the beans and cover the trash. The tractor has been at the repair shop since last June, and they have been making do with a backhoe.

Allen suspects that they are being given more beans then they need. Allen said they loose money when transferring tires.

The commission discussed changes that need to be made to the county’s contract with ADM and updates the landfill needs.

Allen will come back next Monday with information for the commission about the suggested changes and updates.

Property Tax Relief – 1111 Beech

Voted to approve 100% of the value of the structure for abatement.

Title IV-E County Reimbursement Opportunity

Commission moved to have Motley look into it and report back at the next meeting.

Commissioner Comments

Mika Milburn thanked the board for their willingness to work together.

Joe Allen said he thought communication went well this week within the county.

Samuel Tran thanked everyone for working together to get the county’s business done.

Bourbon County Arts Council Presents Barnaby Bright on April 30

Sending on behalf of Chamber Member

Bourbon County Arts Council

Bourbon County

Arts Council

Presents

Barnaby Bright

Thursday, April 30th

Doors Open 5:00pm

Hearty Appetizer Buffet 5:30-7:30pm

Performance 8:00pm

Crooner’s/Liberty Theatre

113 S. Main Fort Scott, KS

Reservations Required

Tickets

$50 BCAC Member

$60 Non-Member

Contact

Terri Floyd 620-224-7221

Deb Anderson 620-224-8650

Click HERE to visit Bourbon County Arts Council’s Facebook Page.

Click HERE to visit Barnaby Bright’s Facebook Page.

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
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2026 CFSEK Scholarship Stories: Kaylee Lunsford,The Power of Legacy

Submitted. Kaylee Lunsford.

Most students talk about the financial relief of a scholarship, but it’s truly special when a student feels a personal connection to the fund’s history.

Kaylee Lunsford, a homeschooled student from Fort Scott, is currently studying animal science at Oklahoma State University. As a multi-year recipient of the Bill House Agricultural Scholarship through the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK), Kaylee’s goals are global, planning to pursue a career in International Ag Law to “give farmers a voice on the world stage.”

“I’m shocked every time I’m notified that I received the scholarship,” Kaylee said. “I’m just so happy the committee thinks I’m deserving of it.”

The connection goes deeper than just the scholarship. Kaylee grew up showing Hereford cattle with the American Hereford Association (AHA)—an organization where the late Mr. House once served as president.

“I feel a connection to Mr. House through our shared participation in the AHA,” Kaylee noted. “While I never met him, I hope I can carry on his legacy.”

Beyond easing financial stress, Kaylee says the award serves as a motivator to work harder. Her advice for future applicants? Be open and reflective. “I try to give the (review) committee a chance to see why I am worth investing in. I want them to get to know me, my passion, and my goals.”

CFSEK scholarship applications close March 31st, 2026. A full list of scholarships and their requirements is available at SoutheastKansas.org/Students/Scholarship. Scholarship applications are available online at SoutheastKansas.org/Scholarship-App.

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas awarded over $2.8 million in grants from all foundation funds in 2025 and has facilitated over $28 million in total granting to Southeast Kansas since its inception in 2001. CFSEK serves the region by providing donors with various charitable interests and encouraging charitable giving, which addresses present and future needs in our area. The Columbus Area, Fort Scott Area, and Girard Area Community Foundations are affiliates of CFSEK. More information about CFSEK is available at SoutheastKansas.org.

Bourbon County Investigation: Summary of Documents

Prepared from KORA documents requesting the “empirical evidence” Commissioner Tran said he had seen of “fraud, waste, and abuse,” civil court records, commission minutes, County Attorney correspondence, Attorney General correspondence, and related materials. Summaries are informational and intended to serve as an index to the actual sources of evidence and documentation. Readers should validate all summaries by clicking through and using the original sources to form opinions.

Overview

Commissioner Samuel Tran publicly stated he had “empirical evidence” of fraud, waste, and abuse in Bourbon County government. This generated significant public interest in what that evidence was and whether it would lead to prosecution. The documents in this summary are those obtained by KORA request for that evidence.

The allegations center on payroll submissions made by County Clerk Susan Walker in connection with employment contracts the BOCC had voided, and a $20,000 payment to departing Public Works Director Eric Bailey. The central factual dispute in the Bailey payment is whether HR consultant Dr. Steven Cohen verbally authorized it. In October 2025, Cohen sent a written email to Commissioner Milburn stating he had not authorized the payment and was “shocked” it had been made. However, the payroll clerk who processed the payment stated Cohen had called her directly and directed her to make it, a phone record shows a call from Cohen’s number to the payroll clerk the day before the payment, and Commissioner Motley — after independently contacting Cohen, the payroll clerk, and Bailey in February 2026 — concluded that Cohen confirmed he had approved the payout and that there was “no fraud, or intent to defraud the county.”

Bourbon County Attorney James Crux declined to prosecute in March 2026. In his letter closing the case, he noted that a number of prosecutors had reviewed the case and reached the same conclusion, and that the Attorney General’s Office had also weighed in. He gave two reasons: first, there was no way to establish based on the evidence that anything was done knowingly — the legal standard required for the alleged offenses; and second, the Attorney General’s Office pointed out that recent civil litigation between the same parties provided “ample evidence of a solid defense,” a conclusion Crux said was “strengthened even more by the recent settlement” in that case.

How to use this document: Every factual claim carries a bracketed citation such as
[TL] that links directly to the relevant page in the source documents.
Hover over any citation to see the source description. A full source key appears at the bottom.

Blue bordered blocks contain facts corroborated by multiple documents.
Yellow bordered blocks contain points where the available documents provide conflicting or one-sided accounts.
Green bordered blocks contain context or analytical observations drawn from the documentary record.

Corroborated by multiple documents

Disputed or one-sided account

Context / analytical observation

1. The Employment Contracts (2021–2022)

Susan Bancroft (who later married Shane Walker and is now Susan Walker) had been working part-time for Bourbon County while simultaneously employed by the City of Fort Scott. She eventually transitioned to working full-time for the county. She was hired as the county’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) under a written employment contract dated November 30, 2021, with a start date of December 1, 2021.[TL][SW][N2]
On June 7, 2022, a contract was signed with Shane Walker for the position of Chief Information Officer (CIO). On June 17, 2022, a contract was signed with Eric Bailey for the position of Public Works Director. Both are documented in the county’s own timeline and in the signed agreements themselves.[TL][CIO][S3]
The CIO contract specified: an annual salary of $82,617.60; 28 days of paid vacation per year plus 20 additional days to be used by December of each year; sick leave accruing from day one; a term running through December 1, 2025 with automatic annual renewal unless either party provided 45 days’ written notice; and a lump-sum severance of 60 days’ aggregate salary plus all accrued leave if the county terminated early. The Public Works Director contract for Bailey contained comparable terms.[CIO][S3][S3]

⚠ Disputed / Single-source
Who drafted the contracts, and why, are described differently by different witnesses.
One former commissioner told the investigating deputy that Susan Bancroft approached the BOCC and told them salaried employees needed vacation and sick accrual to comply with federal law, and that he personally believed she had drafted the other two contracts by re-writing her own and changing the names and job titles.[N1]
A second former commissioner described the primary driver as Bailey and Shane Walker expressing concerns about job security, with the BOCC agreeing to formalize their employment.[N3]
A third former official noted that complaints came mainly from other county employees who felt the contracts were unfair.[N2]

No documentary evidence of who specifically drafted the contracts has been identified in the cited records.

2. The Contracts Are Voided (January 2023)

Following the signing of the contracts, the county received ongoing complaints — primarily from other employees — about the generosity of the vacation and sick-leave accruals relative to what other staff received. This is confirmed by multiple witness interviews and is consistent across both sides’ accounts.[N1][N2][N3]
On January 23–24, 2023, the BOCC passed Resolution 06-23, which the meeting minutes describe as negating “any contract the county has with any employee at this point,” returning the three individuals to standard salaried status. This action is documented in both the commission’s KORA materials and in the meeting minutes Susan Walker quoted verbatim in her petition.[S2][S8a][TL][MIN-0123]
The contracts each required 45 days’ written notice from either party to terminate or decline renewal. No written notice of termination was provided to any of the three individuals by the county. This procedural gap — undisputed on both sides — is the foundation of Susan Walker’s subsequent lawsuit.[CIO][S8a][CV-2]
Around January 1, 2023, Susan Bancroft began running county payroll in her capacity as CFO. She was therefore responsible for payroll at the time the contracts were voided and the payout amounts calculated.[TL][N2][N6]

On January 27, 2023, the following payouts were issued for unused vacation and sick time. The figures were calculated by Susan Bancroft herself — including her own payout — and reviewed and approved by the BOCC before payment:[TL][N3]

  • Susan Bancroft (CFO): $4,917.95
  • Shane Walker (CIO): $8,670.36
  • Eric Bailey (Public Works Director): $7,027.37
  • Total: $20,615.68
⚠ Disputed
Whether the payout amounts were correctly calculated.
Two former county officials stated that because the contracts had only been in force for approximately six months (not a full year), the accruals should have been prorated — not paid at a full year’s rate as they were.[N5][N6]
In the cited KORA materials and Walker’s response, the calculation method is not directly explained, and no cited document indicates that the BOCC raised an objection to the methodology at the time of approval.
⚠ Disputed
Whether the individuals “agreed” to the 2023 resolution.
The county has argued in the civil litigation that all three employees accepted the January 2023 resolution and continued working under the modified terms without objection, and that this constitutes acquiescence or accord and satisfaction. Walker disputes that the resolution constituted valid notice under the contract terms or that her continued employment amounted to a waiver of her contractual rights.[CV-16][CV-2]

3. Personnel Departures and Public Context (June–July 2025)

In June 2025, the BOCC dissolved the Bourbon County IT Department. Shane Walker (CIO) was laid off on July 9, 2025. Eric Bailey, who had served as Public Works Director since October 2020 (his employment contract was signed in June 2022, formalizing an existing role), submitted a resignation letter at the July 16, 2025 BOCC meeting, with an effective date of August 28, 2025. He attended his final commission meeting on August 4, 2025. At that meeting, Bailey addressed the commission regarding safety practices and documentation at Public Works.[TL][SW][FSB1][FSB3]
Susan Walker, at the time of Bailey’s and Shane Walker’s departures, was serving as the elected County Clerk — a different position from her prior role as CFO. She continued to be responsible for payroll processing in that role, as she had been in her prior CFO capacity.[SW][N2]

4. The Lawsuit: Filing, Service, and Default (Feb–May 2025)

This section covers the civil lawsuit Walker filed against the county and the circumstances surrounding the county’s failure to respond — which resulted in a default judgment of nearly $200,000.

On February 24, 2025, Susan Walker filed her original petition against the Bourbon County Board of County Commissioners (Case No. BB-2025-CV-000015) alleging breach of her 2021 employment contract and violations of the Kansas Wage Payment Act. She filed a First Amended Petition on February 26, 2025. Her claimed damages totaled $199,527.04, broken down as follows:[S8a][CV-2][CV-5]

  • Claimed salary shortfall (difference between her CFO contract rate and her County Clerk pay): approximately $15,000/year
  • Claimed additional vacation entitlement under the contract (28 days/year beyond standard)
  • Four months’ (120-day) aggregate salary severance per the contract termination clause
  • Statutory penalties under the Kansas Wage Payment Act
  • Total sought: $199,527.04
The lawsuit was served on the county by certified mail, addressed to County Treasurer Patty Love, on February 27, 2025. The return receipt was signed by an assistant to the treasurer on March 3, 2025 — not by the treasurer herself. A certificate confirming this service is in the court record.[CV-4]
The county never filed an answer or any response to the petition. On April 3, 2025, Walker filed a motion for default judgment noting the county’s failure to respond.[CV-5]
On May 8, 2025, District Judge Richard M. Fisher Jr. entered a default judgment of $199,527.04 plus interest in favor of Walker.[CV-8]

5. The County’s Defense: From “Improper Service” to “Computer Hack”

The county’s explanation for why it failed to respond to the lawsuit evolved significantly over the course of 2025. The full sequence is documented in the court filings.

On May 14, 2025 — six days after the default judgment was entered — the county filed a motion to set aside the judgment. The motion argued two grounds: (1) improper service, because the certified mail was signed by an assistant rather than the treasurer herself; and (2) excusable neglect by the county counselor.[CV-10]
⚠ County’s Position Later Withdrawn
The improper service argument.
The county initially argued that service was improper because the certified mail was not signed by the treasurer personally. Walker’s response, filed May 28, 2025, directly rebutted this by presenting evidence that the county had actual notice of the lawsuit from multiple independent sources before the default was entered. Specifically, Walker’s response alleged that Commissioner Wisenhunt had received a copy of the petition and that Treasurer Patty Love — whose office accepted the certified mail — was aware the lawsuit was coming before it arrived.[CV-11]
In its reply brief filed June 11, 2025, the county withdrew the improper service argument entirely, acknowledging that Commissioner Wisenhunt and Treasurer Love had in fact received the petition. The county’s reply explicitly conceded this point. The county instead relied solely on its excusable neglect theory: that the county counselor, Bob Johnson, had never received the petition because his computer and email had been hacked.[CV-12]
The county’s June 2025 reply detailed the following sequence regarding the alleged computer hack: On or about Monday, March 21, 2025, Bob Johnson (County Counselor) received and opened an email containing a “hack/virus” from what appeared to be another law firm. His computer subsequently became infected. His computer was physically taken to Advantage Computers in Iola, Kansas and was in their shop from approximately March 24 through March 27, 2025. During that window — March 24–27 — Johnson did not have access to his computer or email. On March 25, 2025, an email related to the case was sent to Johnson that he did not receive. Johnson states that even after recovering his computer, “we have repeatedly had issues with receiving emails, due to the storage space.”[CV-12]

ⓘ Analytical Observations on the Default Sequence
Several aspects of the documented record warrant attention:

1. The county knew about the lawsuit before the default was entered. The county’s own June 2025 court filing acknowledges that two county officials — a commissioner and the county treasurer — received the petition. The petition was served February 27, 2025. The default was not entered until May 8, 2025 — more than two months later. The cited filings do not explain why neither Wisenhunt nor Treasurer Love took any action during that period.[CV-12]

2. The improper service argument was withdrawn after Walker presented evidence that the county had actual notice. The county’s initial motion argued technical service failure; once Walker presented evidence that multiple officials actually had the petition, the county withdrew that argument and, in the same filing, raised the computer hack as an alternative explanation. The cited filings do not reflect what prompted the change in position.[CV-10][CV-11][CV-12]

3. The computer hack timeline. The county’s June 2025 filing states Johnson’s computer was at the repair shop March 24–27, 2025, and that a March 25 email went undelivered as a result. The lawsuit was served February 27, 2025 — approximately 25 days before Johnson’s computer was taken to the repair shop. The filing does not explain why the lawsuit went unaddressed between February 27 and the default being entered on May 8, given that a commissioner and the treasurer had already received the petition.[CV-12]

4. Commissioner Wisenhunt’s resignation. The county’s June 11, 2025 reply noted in a footnote that Commissioner Wisenhunt had resigned from the BOCC. The timing of the resignation — occurring between Walker’s May 28 filing that identified him as having prior notice, and the county’s June 11 reply that acknowledged his receipt of the petition — is notable, though the record does not explicitly connect the two events.[CV-12]

6. Setting Aside the Default: The $8,000 Payment (Sep 2025)

On September 12, 2025, both parties signed an agreed journal entry setting aside the default judgment and allowing the case to proceed on the merits.[CV-15] As part of this agreement, the county paid $8,000 to Walker as consideration, as confirmed in the county’s own January 2026 response to a Kansas Attorney General KOMA complaint.[KR2]
On October 6, 2025, the county filed its formal Answer and Affirmative Defenses, denying Walker’s claims and raising several defenses: failure of consideration; waiver and estoppel (arguing Walker accepted the modified terms without objection); violation of the Kansas Cash Basis Law (arguing the contracts bound future commissions to unbudgeted expenditures and were therefore void); and statute of limitations.[CV-16]
ⓘ Observation: The $8,000 Payment and KOMA Complaint
One of the KOMA complaints filed with the Attorney General (Complaint PP-25-000306, filed by Michael Hoyt) specifically questioned the $8,000 payment to Walker. The county’s January 2026 KOMA response confirms the payment was made “as consideration for an agreement to set aside a default judgment” and characterizes it as a legally authorized settlement expenditure.[KR2]

7. The Separation Payout Requests and Walker’s Emails (July 2025)

On July 14, 2025, Susan Walker — acting in her capacity as County Clerk — submitted payout calculations to payroll staff for forwarding to the BOCC. She submitted three separate calculations, all labeled “per contract.” Notably, July 14 is also the date on which Bailey’s assistant, Dustin Hall, submitted his own resignation letter; later public reporting states he rescinded that resignation and remained employed by the county.[FSB1][FSB3][TL][N4]

The email chain documents the following submissions:

  • Shane Walker payout, email 1 (8:40 AM, July 14): $72,100.58, calculated “per contract”
  • Shane Walker payout, email 2 (approx. 3:10 PM, July 14): $65,056.69 — a revised figure. Walker’s explanation was that she had recalculated using a 1-day-per-month sick accrual rate because the employee handbook was inconsistent between pages 40 and 41.
  • Eric Bailey payout (July 15): $35,338.56, sent by Walker directly to HR consultant Dr. Steven Cohen with a copy to Commissioner David Beerbower, also labeled “per contract.”

These email records are included in Walker’s March 2026 commission response.[SW]

The BOCC rejected all three payout requests. A recorded phone call between Commissioner Milburn and the deputy payroll clerk captures Milburn explicitly rejecting the Shane Walker payout in real time: “There is no contract. There are no contracts. So whatever Susan sent, that’s a no.”[CALL][N4]
⚠ Disputed
Whether submitting these requests constituted false claims under Kansas law.
The commission and the investigating deputy characterize the July 14 submissions as knowingly false claims, because the contracts had been voided by Resolution 06-23 in January 2023.[N5][S1]
Walker’s position is that the county never provided proper 45-day written termination notice under the contracts, and therefore the contracts remained legally valid and her submissions were consistent with her simultaneously pending civil lawsuit. She further notes that her July 14 emails to the payroll clerk were expressly forwarded to the Bourbon County Commissioners for approval — she was not attempting to secretly divert funds.[SW][CV-2]
ⓘ Observation: Simultaneous Civil Lawsuit
Walker had filed her civil lawsuit in February 2025 — five months before the July 2025 payout requests. The lawsuit itself was premised on the argument that the contracts remained valid. It is difficult to characterize the July payout submissions, made while active litigation on the same question was pending, as “knowingly false” if Walker genuinely believed (and was actively arguing in court) that the contracts were still in force. The criminal knowledge question is what County Attorney Crux later identified as the central obstacle to prosecution. See Section 12.

8. Shane Walker’s Final Paycheck Overpayment

Shane Walker’s final regular paycheck contained an overpayment. Both sides agree the overpayment occurred and that the excess amount was subsequently returned.[TL][SW]
⚠ Disputed
The amount and cause of the overpayment differ by account.
The commission states the overpayment was approximately $1,000, representing 23.47 hours at $42.60/hour, caused by his last day of employment being misreported. The commission further states that Susan Walker was present at the courthouse when Shane cleared out his office on July 9, and therefore knew his actual last day — implying she intentionally submitted incorrect end-date information.[TL][S1]
Walker’s response states the overpayment was $681.60, representing pay for five days instead of three, that it was a payroll clerk error (not Walker’s), and that it was corrected once the clerk was made aware on July 29, 2025. Walker also notes the commission received advance notice of the payroll register before it was processed and raised no objection at that time.[SW]

9. The Eric Bailey $20,000 Separation Payment

This is the most directly contested sequence of events in the record, with contemporaneous documentation on both sides that is difficult to reconcile. Notably, a sitting county commissioner has concluded there was no fraud in the transaction.

Following Bailey’s resignation, the BOCC entered into negotiations for a severance package through HR consultant Dr. Steven Cohen. A formal written separation agreement was drafted for Bailey to sign. As of the October 2025 investigation, Bailey had not signed the agreement.[N4][S5]
On September 3, 2025, a preliminary payroll register that included a $20,000 line item for Bailey was sent to all three county commissioners and to County Counselor Bob Johnson for their review. On September 5, 2025, Bailey received a $20,000 payment from the county payroll.[SW][S6]
On September 8, 2025, the BOCC considered and approved the payroll consent agenda at its regular meeting. The $20,000 Bailey payment was included in that agenda. The minutes reflect no objection or discussion regarding the Bailey line item at that meeting.[SW][MIN-0908]

⚠ Directly Conflicting Accounts
Whether the payment was authorized is the central dispute.

The commission’s account: No severance agreement had been executed and no BOCC authority had been given to release payment. On October 16, 2025, Dr. Cohen sent a written email to Commissioner Milburn stating he “did not authorize, verbally or in writing, the Clerk’s office to pay [Bailey] any amount of money” and that he was “shocked to learn that the Clerk’s Office made the payment without authorization.”[S5][N4]

Walker’s account: On September 4, 2025 at 11:07 AM, Dr. Cohen called the payroll clerk on her personal cell phone and verbally directed her to pay Bailey $20,000 on the September 5 paycheck. A screenshot showing an incoming call from Cohen’s number at that time is included in Walker’s response. The preliminary payroll register disclosing the payment had been sent to all commissioners and the county counselor two days earlier (September 3) with no objections.[SW]

Commissioner Motley’s independent review: Commissioner Gregg Motley (elected to the District 4 seat, sworn in January 12, 2026 — see Section 11) wrote a memo dated February 13–18, 2026 stating he independently contacted Bailey, the payroll clerk, and Dr. Cohen. He writes that Cohen “affirmed her recollection and confirmed to me that he had approved the payout.” His conclusion: “there was no fraud, or intent to defraud the county inherent in the transaction.”[SW]

The record thus includes: Dr. Cohen’s October 2025 written statement denying authorization; a phone record showing a call from his number to the payroll clerk the day before the payment; and a sitting commissioner’s February 2026 account that Cohen confirmed authorization to him directly. These documents are unresolved.[S5][SW]

ⓘ Observation: The Cohen Contradiction
Dr. Cohen’s statements directly contradict each other across time. In October 2025, he told Commissioner Milburn in writing that he was “shocked” by the unauthorized payment. By February 2026, when Commissioner Motley independently contacted him, Cohen reportedly confirmed to Motley that he had approved the payout to the payroll clerk by phone. No explanation for this discrepancy appears in the available documents reviewed here. Cohen is not a county employee, and no further documentation from him appears in the available record reviewed here. The inconsistency between his two statements is one of the most significant unresolved factual questions in the entire matter.

10. Payroll access given to Treasurer; KOMA Complaints (Oct–Dec 2025)

On October 7, 2025, the BOCC held an emergency special meeting and voted to give access to payroll to the County Treasurer’s office. This decision followed the BOCC’s discovery of the $20,000 Bailey payment and the submission of the contract payout requests.[KR1][SW][MIN-1007]
⚠ Disputed
Whether the October 7 meeting and related closed sessions complied with the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA).
Between approximately October and December 2025, Susan Walker and others filed nine separate KOMA complaints against the county with the Kansas Attorney General’s office. The complaints concerned: the October 7 emergency meeting itself; various executive sessions held in connection with the Bailey payment dispute and the criminal investigation; and the $8,000 payment to Walker for the default judgment agreement.[KR1][KR2]
The county’s attorneys responded to all nine KOMA complaints on behalf of the BOCC, asserting that no violations occurred and that all closed sessions were proper under Kansas law. The county’s January 2026 KOMA response also noted that the nine complaints over two months, all filed by parties with “common links,” appeared to be part of an ongoing litigation strategy rather than good-faith open government concerns.[KR2]
Walker’s response characterizes the commission’s transfer of payroll and related actions as retaliatory and outside their authority.[SW]
Separately, both Susan Walker and Shane Walker each have two pending EEOC complaints against the county, referenced in the county’s November 2025 KOMA response as additional context for the dispute.[KR1]

11. Personnel Changes on the BOCC (2025–2026)

The BOCC experienced substantial turnover during this period through a combination of resignations, appointments, and elections. District 3 Commissioner Leroy Kruger resigned on March 17, 2025 — approximately 18 days after Walker’s lawsuit was served on the county — citing personal reasons. Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee was appointed to fill that seat.[FSB4][FSB10]
Commissioner Wisenhunt subsequently resigned. His resignation is noted in the county’s June 2025 court filing, which also disclosed that he had received Walker’s petition before the default was entered; the filing does not state a reason for his departure.[CV-12]
Samuel Tran was selected at a Republican Party convention in June 2025 and appointed to fill the District 1 vacancy created by Wisenhunt’s departure.[FSB11][FSB9]
At the start of 2026, Bourbon County expanded its commission from three to five members. Seats were filled through the November 2025 election. Gregg Motley ran for and won the District 4 seat. Commissioner Milburn ran for and won the District 5 seat in the newly structured commission, returning to the board as an elected commissioner. At the January 12, 2026 meeting, she formally resigned her appointed District 3 seat immediately before taking the oath of office for District 5, which County Clerk Susan Walker administered. That resignation created a new District 3 vacancy; Joe Allen, who attended the January 12 meeting as a member of the public, was subsequently appointed to fill it.[MIN-0112][FSB7][FSB8]
Prior to running, Motley had announced his candidacy in a letter to the editor, stating his priorities included rebuilding trust in county government, detailed budget reviews, and improving HR routines. He is a retired banker with a background in accounting and economics.[FSB6]
ⓘ Observation: Motley’s “No Fraud” Memo
Approximately five weeks after taking office, Motley wrote the memo concluding there was “no fraud” in the Bailey payment (see Section 9). Deputy Murphy’s investigation had recommended charges in connection with that same payment. The memo was submitted by Walker as part of her March 2026 commission response. Motley had run for office on a platform that included rebuilding trust in county government.[SW][N5][FSB6]

12. Criminal Investigation and County Attorney’s Decision Not to Prosecute

The criminal investigation was conducted by Deputy Bryan J. Murphy of the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office, assigned to the case by Sheriff Martin. The investigation was initiated based on the BOCC’s complaint regarding the payroll submissions and the Bailey payment. During October–November 2025, Deputy Murphy interviewed multiple witnesses, including former commissioners, former county employees, and Commissioner Milburn. The KORA documents released by the county consist primarily of Deputy Murphy’s written investigation narratives and the supporting materials he gathered. At the conclusion of his investigation, Deputy Murphy recommended charges against Susan Walker under three Kansas statutes: presenting a false claim (KSA 21-6004), official misconduct (KSA 21-6002), and misuse of public funds (KSA 21-6005).[N5][N6]

The specific accusations underlying the charges were:

  • Presenting a false claim (KSA 21-6004) — the “per contract” payout calculations: On July 14–15, 2025, Walker calculated severance and accrued-leave payouts for Shane Walker and Eric Bailey under the voided 2021–2022 contracts, all labeled “per contract.” (Walker was pursuing her own compensation claims through the civil lawsuit she had filed in February 2025, not through a payroll submission.) The Shane Walker calculations were emailed to the deputy payroll clerk, who forwarded them to Dr. Cohen, Commissioner Beerbower, Commissioner Milburn, and Commissioner Tran for approval. The Bailey calculation was emailed by Walker directly to Dr. Cohen, with a copy to Commissioner Beerbower. The BOCC rejected both. The BOCC’s position was that the contracts had been voided by Resolution 06-23 in January 2023, making the submitted figures false claims.
  • Official misconduct (KSA 21-6002(a)-6) — Shane Walker’s final regular paycheck: This is separate from the “per contract” calculations above. Shane Walker’s ordinary final paycheck covering his regular hours went through normal payroll and was approved by the commissioners as part of routine accounts payable. The commission alleged, however, that the paycheck was inflated by approximately $1,000 (23.47 hours at $42.60/hour) because Walker submitted an incorrect end date for his final day of work — and that Walker, who was present when Shane Walker cleared out his office, knew his actual last day. The overpayment was discovered July 28 and subsequently returned.
  • Misuse of public funds (KSA 21-6005) — the $20,000 Bailey payment: On September 5, 2025, a $20,000 payment was processed through county payroll to Bailey. The BOCC’s position was that no severance agreement had been signed and no authorization had been given to release the funds. Dr. Cohen wrote to Commissioner Milburn on October 16, 2025, stating he had not authorized any payment and was “shocked” the Clerk’s Office made it.[N5][S1]

Walker’s position on each: the contracts were still legally valid because no proper 45-day written notice was ever given; the payout calculations were openly submitted for BOCC approval, not hidden; the Bailey payment was verbally authorized by Dr. Cohen before it was processed; and the Shane Walker paycheck discrepancy was a payroll clerk error rather than an intentional submission by Walker. Her civil lawsuit, filed five months before the payout calculations, was premised on the same argument that the contracts remained in force.[SW][CV-2]

On March 2, 2026, James Crux, Bourbon County Attorney, issued a written letter to Sheriff Martin declining to pursue Case 26-0041BB. Crux noted that a number of prosecutors had reviewed the underlying facts and reached the same conclusion, and that the Attorney General’s Office had also weighed in. He identified two independent grounds for declination.[CA]
Ground 1 — Cannot establish knowing intent. Crux wrote that “there does not appear to be any way, based upon the evidence at hand, to establish that the allegations were committed knowingly.” The statutes under which Deputy Murphy recommended charges — presenting a false claim, official misconduct, and misuse of public funds — each require the prosecution to prove the defendant acted knowingly, not merely that an improper payment occurred. Even if the county’s factual account were accepted, a prosecutor would still have to prove Walker knew the submissions were false at the time she made them. Walker had filed a civil lawsuit five months before the payout requests arguing that the same contracts were still legally valid, which could be read as supporting Crux’s concern about proving she acted knowingly when she submitted them.[CA][N5]
Ground 2 — Crux cited the civil litigation as evidence of a solid defense. Crux wrote that “as the Attorney General’s Office pointed out, recent civil litigation provides ample evidence of a solid defense.” This appears to be a separate argument: the civil case was not just related background, but involved the same county, contracts, and payments. The conduct of that litigation, and its outcome, can be read as supporting Crux’s view that Walker had at least one substantial defense to the accusations, independent of the intent question. Crux added that the civil settlement “strengthened even more” the case for declination, which suggests the settlement further reinforced, in his view, the basis for not prosecuting.[CA]

ⓘ Observation: Two Independent Bars to Prosecution
These appear to be distinct obstacles, not restatements of the same one. The first — inability to prove knowing intent — suggests a prosecution would have faced a substantial mens rea problem. The second — the civil litigation showing a solid defense — can be read as indicating that prosecutors also saw at least one substantial defense arising from the civil dispute. Together, they reflect Crux’s stated rationale, which he said was shared by the AG’s Office and multiple other prosecutors, for concluding the case should not be pursued.

Notably, Crux issued the declination before Walker delivered her formal commission response. His decision was issued March 2, 2026 — two weeks before Walker delivered her formal commission response on March 16. The phone records showing a call from Cohen to the payroll clerk, the September 3 payroll register that had been sent to all commissioners before the payment was made, and Commissioner Motley’s “no fraud” memo were all submitted after Crux had already closed the case. The public record reviewed here does not show that those later-submitted materials were before Crux when he made the declination decision.[SW][CA]

13. Settlement, Closing of the Criminal Case, and Subsequent Developments (Feb–Mar 2026)

On February 26, 2026, both parties in Case BB-2025-CV-000015 filed a joint motion with the court stating they “have reached a settlement agreement and are waiting for the checks to arrive,” and requesting a 30-day continuance of the case management conference. The terms of the settlement are not in the public record and have not been disclosed by either party.[CV-21]
On March 16, 2026 — approximately three weeks after the settlement filing, and approximately two weeks after the county attorney closed the criminal case — Susan Walker delivered a formal written response to the BOCC. The response includes her timeline of events, Commissioner Motley’s “no fraud” memo, email records including the September 3 payroll register sent to all commissioners, phone records showing a call from Cohen to the payroll clerk, and related documentation.[SW]
ⓘ Observation: Sequence of Closing Events
The settlement was reached February 26, 2026. The county attorney closed the criminal case March 2, 2026. Walker delivered her commission response March 16, 2026.[CV-21][CA][SW]
In the weeks following these events, the BOCC voted 3–2 to seek an independent forensic audit of county finances, prompted by citizens raising allegations of “waste, fraud and abuse” at commission meetings. Commissioners Motley, Tran, and Allen voted in favor; Commissioners Milburn-Kee and Beerbower voted against. Commissioner Tran identified the following areas for the audit to address: payroll and timekeeping irregularities, cash receipts and disbursement irregularities, whistleblower allegations, and grant compliance concerns.[FSB5]
ⓘ Observation: The Audit Vote Split
The three commissioners who voted for the forensic audit include Motley, who had already concluded “no fraud” in the Bailey payment, and Tran, who cited “empirical evidence” as his basis. Whether the audit will address the same transactions at the center of the Walker dispute, or different county financial matters raised by citizens, is not specified in the available reports.

ⓘ Summary of Key Unresolved Inconsistencies
The following conflicts in the documentary record reviewed here remain unresolved:

1. The Cohen authorization question: Dr. Cohen denied authorization in writing in October 2025, but confirmed authorization verbally to Commissioner Motley in February 2026. This question matters because the authorization question is effectively the entire basis for why payroll sent the payment: the payroll clerk’s account is that Cohen called her directly and directed the payment. If true, the payment was authorized; if false, it was not. Deputy Murphy’s investigation included interviews with commissioners and former officials, but the available investigation narratives reviewed here do not reflect an interview with the payroll clerk herself — the person who received the alleged call and processed the payment. Motley’s independent review, by contrast, included a direct conversation with the payroll clerk, who affirmed Cohen had called her. No explanation for the discrepancy between Cohen’s October 2025 written denial and his February 2026 verbal confirmation to Motley appears in the available record reviewed here.

2. The county’s knowledge of the lawsuit: The county acknowledged in June 2025 that a commissioner and the treasurer had the petition from late February 2025, yet no action was taken for over two months. The cited filings do not provide an explanation for this inaction.[CV-12]

3. The computer hack timeline: The county’s June 2025 filing states Johnson’s computer was at the repair shop March 24–27, which it says caused a March 25 email to go undelivered. The lawsuit was served February 27 — approximately 25 days before Johnson’s computer was taken in — and a commissioner and the treasurer had both received the petition. The filing does not address why no response was filed during the period before the hack.[CV-12]

Sources

All links below open the referenced document. Links marked “compiled PDF p.X” open to a specific page in the combined KORA document. All files are in the County Accusations folder on your computer.

Investigation Documents (in Compiled PDF)
[TL]

Timeline – Investigation Folder
— compiled PDF p.4
Chronological summary prepared as part of the sheriff’s investigation.
[N1]

Investigation Narrative 1
— compiled PDF p.9
Deputy Murphy’s interview with a former BOCC commissioner (redacted name), November 1, 2025.
[N2]

Investigation Narrative 2
— compiled PDF p.10
Deputy Murphy’s interview with a former County Clerk (redacted name), November 1, 2025.
[N3]

Investigation Narrative 3
— compiled PDF p.12
Deputy Murphy’s interview with a second former BOCC commissioner (redacted name), October 31, 2025.
[N4]

Investigation Narrative 4
— compiled PDF p.13
Deputy Murphy’s interview with Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee, November 1, 2025.
[N5]

Investigation Narrative 5
— compiled PDF p.15
Deputy Murphy’s concluding narrative summarizing interviews and recommending criminal charges.
[N6]

Investigation Narrative 6
— compiled PDF p.20
Deputy Murphy’s interview with a former county official (redacted name), November 1, 2025.
[CALL]

Transcription of Phone Call
— compiled PDF p.21
Transcribed recording of conversation between Commissioner Milburn and a deputy payroll clerk regarding the Shane Walker payout request.
Commissioner Documents (in Compiled PDF)
[S1]

Commissioner Documents – Section 1
— compiled PDF p.25
Commission statement summarizing its position on the unauthorized payment and alleged pattern of misconduct.
[S2]

Commissioner Documents – Section 2
— compiled PDF p.42
Resolution 06-23 (January 2023) defining employment status of exempt employees; the resolution that voided the contracts.
[S3]

Commissioner Documents – Section 3
— compiled PDF p.39
Eric Bailey’s Public Works Director employment agreement (June 17, 2022), including leave and termination terms.
[S4]

Commissioner Documents – Section 4
— compiled PDF p.60
Additional copy of CIO employment contract and related documents.
[S5]

Commissioner Documents – Section 5
— compiled PDF p.79
Dr. Cohen’s email of October 16, 2025 to Commissioner Milburn denying authorization, and phone call screenshots.
[S6]

Commissioner Documents – Section 6
— compiled PDF p.92
Payroll records including the September 5, 2025 payroll showing the $20,000 Bailey payment.
[S8a]

Commissioner Documents – Section 8a
— compiled PDF p.147
Walker’s original petition in Case BB-2025-CV-000015, including quoted January 2023 BOCC meeting minutes and Walker’s allegation that the county did not provide the required 45-day written notice.
Susan Walker Documents (in Compiled PDF)
[SW]

Susan Walker – Commission Response, March 16, 2026
— compiled PDF p.163
Walker’s formal written response to the BOCC (~80 pages), including her timeline, Commissioner Motley’s “no fraud” memo, payroll registers sent to all commissioners, email records, and phone call screenshots.
[CIO]

CIO Employment Agreement
— compiled PDF p.243
Signed employment contract for Shane Walker as Chief Information Officer (June 7, 2022), including full terms on salary, vacation, sick leave, termination, and severance.
Civil Court Record – Walker v. Board of County Commissioners (BB-2025-CV-000015)

Files in the walker-vs-bbco-civil-docket folder.

[CV-2]

First Amended Petition — Feb 26, 2025
Walker’s formal breach of contract claims, including the 45-day notice argument, quoted meeting minutes, and $199,527.04 damages calculation.
[CV-4]

Return of Service — Mar 6, 2025
Certificate showing certified mail delivery signed by treasurer’s assistant on March 3, 2025.
[CV-5]

Motion for Default Judgment — Apr 3, 2025
Walker’s motion noting the county’s failure to respond and detailing the $199,527.04 claim.
[CV-8]

Journal Entry of Default Judgment — May 8, 2025
Court order entering $199,527.04 judgment plus interest in favor of Walker.
[CV-10]

Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment — May 14, 2025
County’s initial motion arguing both improper service and excusable neglect.
[CV-11]

Plaintiff’s Response to Motion to Set Aside — May 28, 2025
Walker’s response presenting evidence that Commissioner Wisenhunt and Treasurer Love had actual prior notice of the lawsuit.
[CV-12]

County Reply in Support of Motion to Set Aside — Jun 11, 2025
County withdraws improper service argument; details the Bob Johnson computer hack narrative; notes Commissioner Wisenhunt’s resignation in a footnote.
[CV-15]

Agreed Journal Entry Setting Aside Default Judgment — Sep 12, 2025
Court order setting aside the default by agreement and allowing the case to proceed on the merits.
[CV-16]

Defendant’s Answer and Affirmative Defenses — Oct 6, 2025
County’s formal denial of Walker’s claims; raises affirmative defenses including waiver and estoppel, Kansas Cash Basis Law, failure of consideration, and statute of limitations.
[CV-21]

Joint Motion for Continuance – Settlement Reached — Feb 26, 2026
Both parties state they “have reached a settlement agreement and are waiting for the checks to arrive.” Terms not disclosed.
Kansas Attorney General KOMA Responses

Files in the koma-violations folder.

[KR1]

County KOMA Response to AG — Nov 24, 2025
County’s attorneys respond to KOMA complaints PP-25-000258, 000268, 000270, and 000277 concerning the October 7 emergency meeting and related email communications.
[KR2]

County KOMA Response to AG — Jan 9, 2026
County’s attorneys respond to KOMA complaints PP-25-000306, 000355, 000357, 000358, and 000359 concerning the $8,000 payment to Walker and the longevity pay dispute; confirms the $8,000 was paid “as consideration for an agreement to set aside a default judgment.”
Other Documents
[FSB1]

fortscott.biz – Bailey resignation, July 16 BOCC meeting
Coverage of the July 16, 2025 commission meeting at which Bailey submitted his resignation letter; includes Hall’s resignation.
[FSB3]

fortscott.biz – August 4, 2025 commission meeting
Bailey’s final commission meeting; he presented safety documentation for the Public Works department, and Hall was reported to have rescinded his resignation.
[FSB4]

fortscott.biz – Kruger resigns at March 17, 2025 commissioner meeting
District 3 Commissioner Leroy Kruger announces resignation, effective immediately.
[FSB10]

fortscott.biz – April 15, 2025 special meeting
Milburn-Kee’s first regular meeting as newly appointed District 3 Commissioner, replacing Kruger.
[FSB11]

fortscott.biz – June 12 convention to appoint new District 1 county commissioner
Coverage of the Republican Party convention held to select Wisenhunt’s District 1 replacement; Tran was selected.
[FSB5]

fourstateshomepage.com – Commissioners propose forensic audit amid fraud claims
Coverage of the 3–2 BOCC vote to seek a forensic audit; includes Commissioner Tran’s statement citing “empirical evidence.”
[FSB6]

fortscott.biz – Motley announces run for District 4 (letter to editor)
Motley outlines his candidacy priorities: rebuilding trust, budget review, HR improvements. Background as retired banker.
[FSB7]

fortscott.biz – Greg Motley new Bourbon County Commissioner
Coverage of Motley being sworn in as District 4 Commissioner in January 2026.
[FSB8]

November 2025 election results (PDF)
Official Bourbon County general election results, November 2025.
[FSB9]

fortscott.biz – New District 1 commissioner Samuel Tran joins Bourbon County commission
Coverage of Tran joining the commission after the District 1 vacancy was filled.
[CA]

County Attorney Declination Letter — March 2, 2026
Letter from James Crux, Bourbon County Attorney, RE: Case 26-0041BB, declining to prosecute — citing inability to prove the allegations were “committed knowingly” and the civil settlement as providing “ample evidence of a solid defense.”
[MIN-0123]

Commission Minutes – January 23, 2023 (quoted in Walker petition, compiled PDF p.148)
Meeting at which Resolution 06-23 was considered, negating employee contracts. The January 2023 standalone minutes PDF is not in the available collection; the minutes are quoted verbatim in Walker’s original petition.
[MIN-0908]

Commission Minutes – September 8, 2025
Regular meeting at which the BOCC approved the payroll consent agenda containing the $20,000 Bailey payment without recorded objection.
[MIN-1007]

Commission Minutes – October 7, 2025 (Emergency Meeting)
Special meeting at which payroll was transferred from the County Clerk to the County Treasurer.
[MIN-0112]

Commission Minutes – January 12, 2026
Meeting at which new commissioners were sworn in following the county’s expansion from a three- to five-member commission. Gregg Motley (District 4), Milburn-Kee, and Joe Allen joined the expanded board.

Document prepared March 2026 • Sources include commission minutes, civil court record filings, county attorney’s decision to close the case, and AG KOMA responses • Source files are hosted on fortscott.biz

Young Professional League Restarts In Fort Scott, Next Social Hour is March 24

Arlo Simon. Submitted photo.
A new generation of young people has reorganized to serve the Fort Scott community through an organization called Young Professional League.
Eighteen years ago, the group was started, and with the  COVID Pandemic, YPL membership dwindled.
Late last year, a different group picked up the ideals to serve the community.

 

They have a mission and motivation to serve.
“The mission of the Young Professionals League is to be adaptive advocates of a better community through progressive partnerships and networking,” according to its new president, Arlo Simon.
“The motivation to restart The Young Professionals League came from a drive to serve the community and provide support, in various ways,” Simon said.
“Our vision is to be a catalyst for a better community,” she said.
“We have meetings on the first Friday of every month in the Celebration Room inside Papa Don’s Pizza (10 N.Main), at noon. We also have a social hour at various local restaurants once a month. Our next one will be Tuesday, March 24 at La Hacienda Restaurant, 6:00 p.m.”
Submitted photo of a recent YPL meeting.
“Our target audience to join YPL would be anyone interested in being a part of like-minded people who have an interest in bettering the community,” Simon said. “The age range for joining: 17-year-old high school seniors (who may have an interest in business) as well as up to 45-year-old individuals.”
The current leadership team is Simon as president, Hunter Witt as vice president, Taylor Bailey as secretary, Stevia Ratcliff as treasurer, Tabitha Castleberry as communications and Henry Witt as events.
Submitted photos of a recent Young Professional League meeting at The Kitchen Collaborative.

History of YPL In Fort Scott

Eighteen years ago the group was founded by Jamie Armstrong, Gary Palmer, along with Kenny and Megan Felt, to name just a few.

“YPL was launched by a small group of young professionals in the fall of 2008,” said Jamie Armstrong.  We hosted a large group of local young professionals, and Kendall Gammon, former long-snapper for the K.C. Chiefs, was our speaker.”

“It was a moment to capture a common sense of community and connection, and it served as a great catalyst to our launch. We started off focused on economic development, community service, civic engagement and social connections.”

“Over the next seventeen years, we served many community roles, and we grew. Until we didn’t,” Armstrong said.

” Many of us shifted out of leadership roles in YPL and into other community and civic responsibility and our purpose changed. Post COVID Pandemic, the membership has dwindled, and we disbanded. I am thrilled to see young professionals like Henry and Hunter Witt and others coming back to the table to once again talk about the future of this amazing community we live in.”

Draft Minutes of the Uniontown City Council on March 10

The Regular Council Meeting on March 10, 2026 at Uniontown Community Center was called to order at 7:00PM by Mayor Jurgensen.  Council members present were Amber Kelly, Mary Pemberton, and Kyle Knight.  Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting was City Superintendent Bobby Rich, City Treasurer Sally Johnson and City Clerk Haley Arnold.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS

CITIZENS REQUEST

FINANCIAL REPORT

Treasurer Johnson presented the February 2026 Treasurer’s Report.  Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds was $244,279.23, Receipts $30,427.36, Transfers Out $3,024.25, Expenditures $50,647.95, Checking Account Closing Balance $221,034.39. Bank Statement Balance $221,850.42, including Checking Account Interest of $45.56, Outstanding Deposits $0, Outstanding Checks $816.03, Reconciled Balance $221,034.39.  Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit $43,432.35, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $24,422.45, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $50,925.50, Total All Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $339,814.69. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $92.47, and Utility CDs $633.31 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $725.78.  Also included the status of the Projects Checking Account for the month of February 2026, Beginning Balance $0, Receipts $0, Expenditures $0, Ending Balance $0.  February Transfers from Sewer Utility Fund to Sewer Revolving Loan $1,400.25; from Water Utility Fund to GO Water Bond & Interest $1,624.00, for Total Transfers of $3,024.25.  Net loss for the month of February $23,244.84, Year-to-Date Net Income $20,288.93.  Budget vs Actual Gas Fund YTD Revenue $41,872.97 (32.4%), Expenditures $16,034.84 (12.2%); Sewer Fund YTD Revenue $6,743.25 (18.7%), Expenditures $5,159.58 (12.1%); Water Fund YTD Revenue $22,994.33 (18.5%), Expenditures $12,604.35 (8.8%); General Fund YTD Revenue $33,972.85 (23.1%), Expenditures $17,454.62 (7.4%); and Special Highway YTD Revenue $2,010.48 (27.6%), Expenditures $1,422.03 (12.7%).  The March 2026 payables to date in the amount of $23,075.39.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by Kelly, Second by Pemberton, Approved 3-0, to approve Consent Agenda:

  • Minutes of February 10, 2026 Regular Meeting
  • February Treasurer’s Report, Profit & Loss Report by Class & March Accounts Payables

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Superintendent Rich informed the Council that the cost of Bio Mist used for mosquito fogging has increased to $111.00 per gallon, totaling approximately $278 per fogging session.  The Council and Rich discussed the possibility of more affordable alternatives; however, Rich reported that he has been unsuccessful in identifying any cheaper effective options.  The Council agreed to continue using the current product.  Beginning in April, fogging will be scheduled every three weeks instead of every two weeks.  As peak mosquito season approaches, the schedule will return to every two weeks.  Rich also suggested including a paragraph in the city newsletter to remind residents that standing water in yards or around homes serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The notice will include tips on how individuals can help reduce the mosquito population.

Clerk Arnold reminded the Council of upcoming City Hall closures on March 11–13 due to the CCMFOA Conference, and on March 26–27 due to the Municipal Court Clerk Conference.  Arnold asked the Council to determine dates for the Spring and Fall citywide cleanups.  The Council decided that two roll-off dumpsters would be provided for the 2026 cleanups, scheduled for April 27–30 and August 31–September 3.  There was discussion regarding hosting a town-wide garage sale this year; however, the Council ultimately decided against it due to low community participation in previous years.  Arnold also confirmed with the Council whether to order fish food again this year for the pond located by the school.  The Council approved the purchase and requested that Arnold obtain pricing from multiple vendors.

COUNCIL REPORT

Councilman Knight – requested an update on when Marbery Concrete Inc. would begin work on the FEMA project at 2nd and Clay Streets.  Mayor Jurgensen reported that a recent vehicle accident involving Marbery Concrete Inc. resulted in the loss of equipment, which put a delay on the start of the project. Weather permitting, work is expected to begin once conditions allow.  Knight also asked if new culverts will be put in and Treasurer Johnson had confirmed they will replace with new culverts to help with water flow.

Councilwoman Kelly – none

Councilwoman Pemberton – inquired about who is responsible for unlocking the storm shelters during severe weather events.  Superintendent Rich informed the Council that the shelters remain unlocked during this time of year due to the increased likelihood of inclement weather.  Pemberton also asked whether it would be possible for someone not affiliated with the city to perform ditch cleanout and replace a culvert at 201 2nd St.  Mayor Jurgensen responded that this is not allowed, as the city is responsible for ditch and culvert maintenance.  Superintendent Rich added that he would inspect the area and address the ditch and culvert to the best of his ability.

Councilwoman Pritchett – absent

Councilman Stewart – absent

Mayor Jurgensen – none

OLD BUSINESS

FEMA Flooding– As previously discussed earlier in the meeting, Marbery Concrete Inc. will begin repairs when weather permits. Mayor Jurgensen and Treasurer Johnson informed the Council that a one-year extension on the project has been filed and approved.

Water and Sewer Rate Adjustments– Treasurer Johnson informed the Council that the City has not raised water rates since 2024 and sewer rates have not been increased since 2013.  Johnson proposed new water and sewer rates to take effect in April 2026.  The Council reviewed the figures provided and discussed the proposed adjustments.

Moved by Pemberton, seconded by Knight, and approved 3–0, to set the minimum monthly water rate for users within city limits at $28.66 for the first 1,000 gallons, with an additional $12.98 per 1,000 gallons thereafter. For users outside city limits, the minimum monthly rate will be $29.90 for the first 1,000 gallons, with a charge of $13.55 per 1,000 gallons thereafter. The motion also includes an additional 3% annual increase on the water rate.

Moved by Kelly, seconded by Pemberton, and approved 3–0, to set the minimum monthly sewer fee at $27.50 for the first 1,000 gallons of water usage, with an additional $0.31 per 1,000 gallons thereafter, per water meter. The motion also includes an additional 3% annual increase on the sewer rate.

Knight asked how the City’s rates compare to those of surrounding areas.  A discussion followed regarding rates in neighboring communities and the differences in bulk water purchase rates compared to those areas.

NEW BUSINESS

Moved by Kelly, Second by Knight, Approved 3-0, to adjourn at 7:55PM