The commission meeting opened with several members of the audience making public comments.
Public Comments
Lora Holdridge: Register of Deeds
Holdridge explained to the commission that her office was moved out of the computer room last week by Stronghold, the county’s IT department. She keeps the equipment needed to run her office there. She expressed concern about Stronghold and CrawKan moving equipment into the space she had been using. With the understanding that dispatch is moving out, she wondered if she could use that space for her 4 scanners and a six-foot shelving unit and another camera. “I just need all my stuff together in one place,” she said.
Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee said she is working on a resolution delineating where each department will be housed in the courthouse building.
JD Handly
J.D. Handley spoke to the commission, representing himself. He said the three-minute time limit the commission puts on public comments is disrespectful and unnecessary. “You know the saying, ‘If it’s not broke, don’t try to fix it’? Well, I see a lot of that going on,” he said.
Handly mentioned a Public Works employee politely addressing the commission a few weeks ago and asking them some questions. The commission ignored him, according to Handly, which he sees as very disrespectful. He reminded the commission that the employee is a voter and taxpayer, as well as a county employee. He said they owe him a public apology and an invitation back to the meeting to have his questions answered.
“I am tired of the animosity between the clerk and this commission. It’s putrid,” he said. He said County Clerk Susan Walker is capable of serving as the commission’s administrative assistant and could do so if it weren’t for the petty differences between the commission and her.
“We didn’t elect you people to come in here and sit in these seats and bicker amongst one another,” he said. “Set your differences aside and take care of the county’s business. If you can’t do that, then resign and let somebody else in the seat that can.”
He also said that the outsourcing of human resources and payroll is ridiculous.
“Set your differences aside. If you can’t, step out,” he concluded. A few audience members clapped as he left.
Greg Motley — Freeman
Motley is resigning as a Freeman Board Member to avoid a conflict of interest as the County Commission District 4 Commissioner Elect.
He reported that Freeman is serving the county well, operating at a loss of more than seven figures as they await final approval from the state.
Deanna Betts with Bourbon County Core Community
Bett thanked the commission for their support of the poverty program, Core Community, started two years ago.
Over the last two years, they’ve conducted two classes, bringing eight people out of poverty, which is ahead of the average of 3-4 years it normally takes for a person to get out of poverty.
She said they are partnering with Redemption House to offer their participants wrap-around services.
She said they have contribution agreements with the solar companies, so she advocated signing those, as it would enable Core Community to offer more services and get more people out of poverty.
Approval of Minutes (unofficial until approved) 12.01.25
Postponed to 12-15-2025
Consent Agenda
Approval of 12.05.25 Accounts Payable & Longevity Payroll (sent 12.3.25) $289,244.53
Tax Corrections
Commissioner Samuel Tran brought up expenses and how the county tracks the technology purchased. He also expressed concern about the fact that department heads can spend their budgets on other departments’ needs. While he agrees with the spirit of helping one another, he doesn’t think this is an ethical process for obtaining the equipment.
Commissioner David Beerbower addressed his concern, saying the commission needs to create oversight, starting on the first of the year with the new commission. He also said that there’s an annual inventory of the county’s property to help track the county’s items per statute.
Tran asked who was checking the inventory.
The County Clerk and the Register of Deeds both offered an explanation of the way they purchased technology, but Beerbower said he didn’t want one at that time.
Tran asked Walker to explain the funding of the county’s longevity pay.
Walker started an explanation, but didn’t complete it. She then said he was being disrespectful and that he didn’t understand how things are done.
Tran said he just wants accurate numbers. When Tran wanted to explain the meeting he had with the clerk to the rest of the commissioners, she refused to stay at the table.
Milburn asked to move locksmith charges from the county commission fund to the IT fund. Motion was approved.
Beerbower moved to approve the consent agenda as corrected. Motion carried.
EMS Award
Tom Odin, a neuroscience nurse from St. Luke’s, presented awards for Bourbon County EMS and Scott Township for a stroke call they took on July 10, 2025. The EMS and Scott Township workers called air evac and transported the patient to St. Luke’s in Kansas City. He is doing fine now.
Odin recognized Michael Houston, Todd Miller, Justine Banwart, Dylan Peterson, Robert Kline, Ron Witter, Adam Miles, and Jason Eastwood for their quick response and activation of AirEMS for rapid transport, which made a significant difference in the patient’s outcome.
The commission participated in a number of executive sessions for lawyer client privilege and returned to session with action.
Resolution 39-25 – Contribution Agreement Hinton Creek
Resolution 40-25 – Contribution Agreement Tennyson Creek
Resolution 41-25 – Tennyson Creek exemption from Moratorium
Hinton Creek First Amendment
Tennyson Creek First Amendment
Tennyson Creek Contribution Agreement
Settlement and Release Agreement Tennyson Creek
Settlement and Release Agreement Hinton Creek
Contribution Agreement Hinton Creek
The attorney went over the agreements, which have been made available to the public. There are nine documents which mirror each other. There are solar projects on Tennyson Creek and Hinton Creek. These documents seek to resolve pending litigation between various land owners and the board of commissioners. The documents included are two proposed contribution agreements, amendments to development agreements signed by previous commissions, and three resolutions for the board’s consideration including an exemption from the moratorium, and approval of contribution agreements for Hinton Creek and Tennyson Creek.
The attorney advised approving the exemption to the moratorium first and considering the rest of the agreements together, followed by the two resolutions for the contribution agreements.
Beerbower moved to accept Resolution 4125, Tran seconded. Milburn asked for a ten minute recess to look over information.
Before beginning on the voting, they opened the floor for public comments.
Pete Owenby asked about battery electric storage systems. Tran said they don’t have enough information since the project is in the formative stage. 800 megawatts is the maximum aloud per the agreement. There’s a 400 foot setback requirements from a non-participants house.
Owenby asked if the solar company will be allowed to move to other sections. Tran said it depends on the landowners’ willingness to lease to them.
Owenby confirmed that the zoning committee does not affect the Tennyson Creek and Hinton Creek projects.
Randy Mcanulty spoke to the commission about his neighbor across the road. This neighbor is leasing land to the solar companies and his property line is 90 feet from Mcanulty’s house.
He expressed concern for how the land will be cleaned up once the solar farms are obsolete, as well as the reduction in property value for those who live near the farms. He expressed concern about the next generations having to clean up the equipment.
“All they’re doing is screwing their family down the road,” he said of those who take a lease check from the solar companies and let them use the land for their projects.
Mary Pimperton thanked the commissioners for hiring an attorney and negotiating a deal the the solar companies. “I think there’s been a very good resolution come to that will allow the county to benefit from the projects.”
“This is a long time coming,” said Tran. His name was on the original lawsuit prior to becoming a commissioner because he is a firm believer that government officials don’t have the right to take away the next officials’ policing power.
Beerbower moved to adopt resolution 4125, exempting Tennyson Creek and Hinton Creek from the moratorium on solar projects. The motion passed unanimously.
Beerbower then moved to adopt the development agreement, contribution agreement, and settlement and release agreements for both Tennyson and Hinton Creek projects. They were all approved unanimously.
Sonia Lala with Small Business Administration Disaster Recovery
On Oct. 24, 2025, a presidential declaration made federal funding available for working capital loans to help with economy injury disaster enabling small businesses and non-profit’s to meet their financial obligations. The loan can be for up to $2 million, 30 year term, first repayment is after 12 months, no application fee. Call 1-800-659-2955 to apply.
Third and fourth executive sessions with attorney Jacob Millenberg, no action
Culvert Permit – 2222 35th Street
Dustin Hall and Kenny Allen from Public Works addressed the commission, asking for approval to install it. Milburn moved to put it in. The motion passed unanimously.
Jayhawk 240th Speed Limit
Milburn asked Hall and Allen their opinions. Beerbower confirmed that they were referring to 240th from Jayhawk to old Hwy 54. He said that constituents are asking him to leave it the way it is. Tran said the limit is as low as it is for a reason. Milburn suggested the commissioners take a drive out there before making a decision. They agreed.
The bridge at 110th and Fern is completed and awaiting a final inspection for a new load rating.
Resolution 38-25 providing in kind county facilities for the sixth judicial was approved. The annex is completed under budget and the sixth judicial will be moving over there.
Susan Walker – County Clerk
December 22nd meeting is canceled because Beerbower and Tran cannot make it.
Neither Beerbower nor Tran can make the last two meetings of December. This presents a problem because the necessary budget amendments to close out the fiscal year need to be published 10 days before their hearings, by law. Beerbower said he would try to adjust his schedule to make the Dec. 29 meeting.
October 2025 Financials
Clerk Susan Walker asked how they want to receive financials.
Part of her duties as the clerk is to do maps and road records, requiring a computer and software that her office shares with the Register of Deeds, as they both create maps in their offices.
Old Business
Sale of Real Property Resolution – Milburn-Kee
MIlburn read a resolution to establish a policy to sell property belonging to the county through a realtor.
She then moved to sign resolution 42-25. Motion carried.
New Business
Real Property Relief Application – Herman & Darlene Leihsing/Avis Bosley
Milburn had reviewed the application for 2453 Jayhawk Road in Fort Scott and moved they approve the application. It passed unanimously.
Resolution 42-25 – Transfer of Funds
Tran said he was good with transfers for Road and Bridge, EMS, and Law Enforcement. He was concerned about the inmate fund having enough to cover the sheriff’s needs until the end of the year if they pull the $200,000 that the resolution lists. $58,684 was the total needed to meet the county’s longevity pay. Tran and Beerbower discussed pulling $58,300, but not $200,000.
Tran moved to rescind his previous proposal to move the $200,000 from the inmate fund the to the general fund. Motion carried.
They asked the clerk to work on the figures and will deal with it in the next meeting.
Driver’s License Resolution – Milburn-Kee
The resolution does not replace the county’s contract with the drivers license division for provision of a facility. It moves the driver’s license office to Suite 10 in the courthouse building at the same rate as the rent they have been paying for their current location. Resolution was approved.
Areas of Responsibility Courthouse – Milburn-Kee
Milburn is working to craft a resolution describing how the courthouse space will be allocated to the various departments housed there.
Milburn announced that Wreaths Across America is this weekend, and they will start placing them on soldiers graves at the national cemetery on Saturday at 10am.
Commissioner Comments:
Samuel Tran: part of the confusion at the commissioners’ table is from the inability to listen more than talk. He asked the commissioners to take care to articulate what they mean so he can understand them.
This confusion is very frustrating when he gets conflicting information filled with emotions. “I don’t care about your feelings. I care about the facts,” he said.
David Beerbower: in an effort to communicate what has happened over the last week in the county, he read the definitions of “political gamesmanship” and “playground gamesmanship.” He said what happens behind the scenes is pretty close to playground gamesmanship. He expressed the desire to serve as a statesman, not a politician.
He expressed hope that the commission and county government members will work as a team in the new year.
