The Special Council Meeting on September 18, 2024 at Uniontown City Hall, was called to order at 5:00PM by Mayor Jurgensen. Council members present were Jess Ervin, Danea Esslinger, Amber Kelly, Mary Pemberton, and Bradley Stewart. Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting was City Clerk Sally Johnson.
Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 4-0 to enter in to executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel matters exception, KSA 4319(b)(1), in order to review applicants for non-elected personnel position, the open meeting to resume at 5:20PM
Meeting resumed at 5:20PM.
Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to hire Angela Hixon as City Clerk, start date of October 7, 2024
Moved by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0, to adjourn at 5:25PM
Several of these Harris/Walz signs have been stolen in the county.
Political signs are a form of freedom of speech and going on someone’s property to take them is against the law.
“Carol MacArthur, the Chairwoman of the Democratic Party, informed us that a few signs have gone missing,” said Fort Scott Police Chief Jason Pickert. “The fact that it’s a political sign isn’t relevant. If they steal a bicycle, a garden gnome, or a political sign it’s a theft. Since the value of the property is under $1,500 it’s misdemeanor theft. This would be a misdemeanor theft and a municipal citation would be issued if the subjects were identified.”
MacArthur said there have been some Kamala Harris signs and some Nancy Boyda signs stolen and some vandalized. The signs are paid for by private citizens.
MacArthur said there are 25 missing Democratic Party signs missing in Fort Scott and three 4-foot by 8-foot signs in the rural part of Bourbon County. “Those three stolen in the county were 4 x 8s. Two other 4 x 8s in the county were vandalized,” she said.
MacArthur said it is disheartening, “but people in town are replacing their signs.”
“The city police are doing a good job of cruising around, and this has slowed down the thefts,” she said.
Fort Scott Police Department is located at 1604 South National and can be reached at 620-223-1700.
According to Kansas Renewal Institute Chief Operating Officer T.J. Denning, information is not flowing between the Bourbon County Commission and K.R.I.
Denning spoke to the commission on September 30 at their regular meeting.
K.R.I. is in negotiations with Legacy Health Foundation to take ownership of the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
He told the commission that he “needs to be in the loop” in talks with Legacy Health Foundation and the commission.
Apparently, the negotiations are at a standstill between Legacy and K.R.I.
Denning told the commission that they are trying to get the Emergency Department opened at the facility.
“I have a concern that we still don’t have an update on the equipment donated to you, as the county. There is a list of things that aren’t there, there is a list of things that have to be fixed in order for Freeman (Health System) to come here. We don’t have answers,” Denning said.
Bourbon County Commission Chairman Jim Harris said “We think we have a lot of things resolved as of this morning. We just can’t talk publically yet. That’s what the County Counselor told me.”
“I’m pulling the license and also managing everything that is going on for that to happen,” he told them. “I have already signed contracts for service agreements to make this happen, basically at the will of everybody else.”
“Also, I don’t know where we are with the building purchase,” he said. “K.R.I. is in the process of negotiating and is ready to take ownership of the building through Legacy but I haven’t heard anything back. You said the tax deal was all worked out…I need some answers to carry on our business and make things happen. We’ve invested a ton of money into that facility and constantly going through CMS inspections…along with the fire marshall inspection on a building that isn’t in our name yet.”
CMS means Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, according to usa.gov.
Harris said that they could possibly have discussions with Legacy and “go forward.”
“I came here and tried to build partnerships with everybody else and be an open book,” Denning said. “I am local to Nevada (MO) and am passionate about rural communities. I’ve also got a ton of employees and I am passionate about their success. I need this information so I can make sure that we are established and here for a long time.”
“We will work hard to get you the info you need and I want to thank you personally as a citizen and the commission of what you’ve done for us here in Bourbon County,” Harris said.
Jim Harris, 2nd District Bourbon County Commissioner, and current chair.
Commissioner Brandon Whisenhunt asked how soon the commission could get the info to Denning.
Bourbon County 1st District Commissioner Brandon Whisenhunt, Submitted photo.
Harris said he would appoint Commissioner Clifton Beth, who has been working with Legacy, to talk to them right away.
Denning said he needed answers before the end of this week.
“By the end of this week, I have to have drawings between Freeman (Health System) and myself, stamped and signed and sent into CMS,” Denning said.
Bourbon County 3rd District Commissioner Clifton Beth. Submitted photo.
“I don’t have a problem reaching out,” Beth said. “But they are a private company.”
In the referenced November 17, 2022 donation agreement above the county donated the Mercy property to Legacy Health Foundation along with $2 million dollars.
Pioneer Harvest Fiesta is almost here. Plan to come to the Bourbon County Fairgrounds for a fun weekend October 4, 5 & 6. Lots of activities on the east side of the green fence. Sorghum cooking has returned! Watch the hay baling, rock crushing, log cutting, blacksmith and see the vendors. The car show is on Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm
This year there is more than the beautiful quilts to see. Fiber Art is being added to the Quilt Show in the Myers Building. Come and learn a new hobby. There will be demonstrations during the day on quilting, tatting, rug hooking, needle felting and more. Lots of quilts on exhibit along with embroidery, cross stitching and knitting. Bring your needlework projects and share with others as we all learn something new. Take a chance of winning a heart quilt or a basket of sewing items and gift certificates.
Bring your quilts and fiber art items on Thursday, September 3, 9 am – 1 pm. If this time does not work for you call me to arrange another time, or if you have questions – Jackie Warren at 620-224-8161
“Quilts and More” will be open at the Myers Building Friday and Saturday 9 am – 4 pm. Also, open on Sunday noon – 3 pm. Your items can be picked up on Sunday afternoon 2 pm – 3 pm.
Don’t forget the downtown parade, Thursday evening October 3 at 6 pm. With the purchase of a PHF button, come and enjoy the bean feed Friday evening October 4 at 5 pm (or earlier if the beans are done),
Jerry Witt near a marker for the new Riverfront Trail.
A new walk/bike trail should be completed by early 2025 in Riverfront Park.
The Overlook Trail will be 1,722 feet long, and eight feet wide, and follow the curves of the Marmaton River on the south side of the park, said Jerry Witt, Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority Chairman.
It is being funded by a $92,000 grant from Kansas Wildlife and Parks and the Riverfront Authority adding $75,000.
The survey stakes are in place for the proposed trail,and the land was surveyed by Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown.
The entrance to the Riverfront Park’s south side, south of the orange bridge that crosses the Marmaton River. The stakes are in place to mark the new trail from this starting point.
The concrete path contractor will be Marbery Concrete Inc., Fort Scott.
Following the curve of the Marmaton River around to the Hwy. 69 bridge, it will include a concrete ramp for the wooden observation deck, for handicap accessibility, he said. The deck, called an overlook, gives an unobstructed view of the river.
The river overlook deck will have a concrete ramp added to make it more handicap-accessible.
The grant proposal process started in 2021 and a grant was 11submitted in 2022. The grant was awarded in 2023 and will be completed in 2025, he said.
History of the Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park is covered with tall deciduous trees that provide shade to walkers along the Belltown Trail.
The Riverfront Park came out of a 2005 town-wide visioning meeting that gave ideas for the future of the city.
One of the visions that came out of this meeting was the formation of a committee to clean up the unused area around the Marmaton River on the north edge of Fort Scott.
In 2007, then Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, authorized a board, called the Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority to secure the needed land for a new park.
From 2007 to 2010 the board secured all the properties needed.
“Most donated the land,” Witt said. “Once the land was secured, we were able to develop the land.”
The development since then: lighted trails, a pavilion with lights, the river overlook deck, benches, and bike repair stations, all with the help of the community and local organizations.
The bicycle repair station is one of several around the park, donated by the Rotary Club.
The overlook had to be moved to higher ground on the south side of the Marmaton River, following a flood that partially destroyed it.
The Riverfront Park has daily walkers, businesses and schools use it, Boy Scouts have camped there, and weddings and other events, including last weekend’s FortFest have large gatherings there.
FortFest 2024 is a blues music festival that benefits Care to Share, a local helping organization.
Paul Ballou, the retired Fort Scott Fire Department Chief, is the park caretaker, and Witt said he does a good job.
The flower garden and in the back, the underpass with mural art.
The Bourbon County Garden Club maintains the flowers in the circle in the south part of the park and local artist Stephan Toal has created mural art in the 69 Hwy. underpass area.
The Fort Scott Bourbon County Riverfront Authority is comprised of Witt, Bob Love, Arnold Schofield, Penny Barnes, Dean Mann, Danny Magee, Jeff and Kate Sweetser.
The Riverfront Park is one of several in the City of Fort Scott, as shown on this sign at the park.A historical marker in the south Riverfront Park is about the Fort Scott floods in this area.
This Friday, October 4, the Linda Simons & Friends Band will be performing at the Pavilion in downtown Fort Scott.
The group will cover a variety of 70’s-era pop tunes, jazz standards and jazzy gospel.
The band is based in Mound City. Linda Simons, vocalist, is backed by her band, including Suzanne Thompson on piano, her husband Gary Thompson on bass guitar, and Steve Thompson on drums and harmonica.
Gary and Suzanne have performed at the Pavilion with the Hemphill Family Band and as the Gary Thompson Trio.
The event will begin at 7:00 PM and the public is invited to attend
Care to Share President Teresa Davenport and Vice President Cory Byers, speak about the community-helping organization on the first night of the event, September 27, 2024.
FortFest 2024 is a blues music festival that benefits Care to Share, a local helping organization.Bring lawn chairs to sit and listen to the blues music.
For anyone who loves learning history and acting, an opportunity is being offered.
You can be a part of the local theatre’s group production of historical vignettes in beautiful Riverside Park in October.
This Wednesday, October 2, there will be auditions from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Fort Scott High School auditorium for the upcoming
Bourbon County Community Theatre “Voices From The Grave”.
Voices From the Grave is a guided tour around Riverside Park on Fort Scott’s North National Avenue, across the orange bridge.
The tour consists of acted scenes and monologues based on real historical events from the Fort Scott area.
“The Bourbon County Community Theatre came up with the idea after seeing tours like it in Nevada and Eureka Springs,” said Regen Wells, who will be directing the vignettes. “Anyone over the age of 14 who is interested is more than welcome!”
Regen Wells. Submitted photo.
“I am the director for Voices From the Grave,” Regen said. “I directed four children’s plays at Fort Scott High School.”
“The BCCT was created a little over a year ago with the intent of bringing community theatre back to Fort Scott,” Wells said. “Not too long ago we had a community theatre program. Many communities near us have very successful programs with many members! The joy of performing should not be something that only those enrolled in Fort Scott High School or Fort Scott Community College can access! Prior to the creation of BCCT the only opportunities open to actors in our area would be to travel to places like Pittsburg or Nevada to join their community theatre groups.”
“Any endeavor from the BBCT is about furthering the reach of theatre in our community! We hope to provide the community of not just Fort Scott but also the greater Bourbon County area with opportunities to be active and involved participants in the arts! Activities like this also contribute to commerce and engagement. However, largely it is about fostering an outlet for creativity in our community. This particular project also provides a look into some interesting local history.”
The mission of BCCT is to bring education, community, and culture to Southeast Kansas through theater.
In addition to Regen Wells, the board consists of Angela Bin, Matthew Wells, Katie Wells, Mark Bergmann, Barbra Woodward, Sandra Abati, and Danette Popp. Regen is the daughter of Matthew and Katie Wells.
More information will be provided on the group’s Facebook page.
About the Production
“Voices From The Grave” will be presented to the public at Riverfront Park on October 26 from 6 to 9 p.m.
There will be 45-minute guided tours with ghostly stories from Fort Scott’s past.
Cost is Adults, $10, Youth, $7. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets can be purchased at bcct.ludus.com or the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.
Fort Scott, Kan. September. 27, 2024 – Kokayi Ampah, Art Evans and Fred Watkins will be the recipients of the “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award” at the annual celebration on October 3rd -5th, 2024 in Fort Scott, Kansas. The celebration is in honor Fort Scott native Gordon Parks, noted photographer, writer, musician, and filmmaker.
The Choice of Weapons Award was established in Parks’ honor to be given annually at the celebration.
This event is for everyone and open to the public. Please reserve tickets early by Wed, Oct 2, 2024 for all the reserved events. The 21st Annual Gordon Parks Celebration this year will have a wide range of great events and activities for all to enjoy. The Celebration kicks off on Thursday, Oct 3 with a chamber coffee at the Gordon Parks Museum and ends with a Tribute Celebration Dinner at The River Room in Fort Scott, Kansas on Saturday, Oct 5, 2024.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the museum by phone at (620) 223-2700, ext. 5850, or by email at [email protected]..
