Bourbon County Clerk Susan Walker announced her resignation at Monday night’s county commission meeting. Her last day will be Aug. 31, ending 24 years of service in Bourbon County.

Walker provided FortScott.biz with the text of the statement she read to commissioners. Her statement appears below.

For 24 years, I have had the honor — and the burden — of serving this community. It has been a journey of victories and valleys, of moments that tested my resolve and moments that renewed my hope.

Today, I stand before you with a heavy heart but a clear conscience, to announce that I will be stepping down from my position as County Clerk, effective 08/31/26. This decision has not been made lightly. It comes after deep reflection, prayer, and an unwavering commitment to act in the best interest of the county I have been honored to serve.

From the very beginning, my compass has been my faith. 1 Peter 4:10 states “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s grace” I have tried to live up to God’s guidance— imperfectly at times — and I have had the solemn responsibility of serving this community. The path has been marked by both achievement and adversity, by moments of unity and moments of division.

Public service, for me, has never been about titles or power. It has been about stewardship — caring for what God has entrusted me to do – helping the people he has placed in my path.

I know this past year has been difficult. There has been disagreement, disappointment, and even anger. I will not ignore that reality.

But I also believe that God’s plans are bigger for me. Leadership requires the discernment to know when one’s continued presence advances the mission — and when stepping aside will better serve the people. I believe this is such a moment.

Over these two and a half decades, I have been blessed to work alongside dedicated employees, citizens, visionary leaders, and many volunteers. Together – and I emphasize that word – , we have:

• Led a visioning process that transformed our dreams into the Riverfront Park — a place where families gather, memories are made, and our community comes alive.
• As a community we set world records that put our town on the map and reminded us of the joy of coming together.
• Recognized the need for a new aquatic center, giving our children and families a safe, modern place to swim, play, and grow.
• Understood the importance of passing a school bond referendum for USD 234, investing in the future of our students and teachers.
• Invested and secured a new facility for City Hall, ensuring our local government can serve the public more effectively for years to come.

In 2021, I was hired to address the financial deficiencies that had plagued Bourbon County for years — deficiencies that had led to repeated failed audits. This also led to many uncomfortable conversations, poor financial controls and political figures refusing to cooperate due to pride. However, through diligence those deficiencies have been corrected. Our audits had been clean since 2022. However, in 2025 a violation occurred when the commission failed to pass an amended budget.

As a citizen, I must speak candid: the future of Bourbon County rests in the hands of the current commission. If better fiscal decisions are not made — if discipline and foresight are not applied — this county will face serious trouble in the near future. This is a statement I have stated for the past 2-3 years. Many decisions have been made from vindictiveness, and the citizens will be the ones to ultimately pay for those decisions.

Chairman, I’m addressing you directly because your behavior toward me has crossed every reasonable line. You ignore me, you speak to me with open disrespect, and you make sexist comments that demean my position and my work. On top of that, you make underhanded public statements designed to make people think I’m doing something criminal when I am not. I have left my office in order, in balance with the Treasurer and it is unfortunate I must state this because of the attempts for past and current elected officials who tried to “set me up” for a crime. One I did not commit – instead it reflects incompetent leadership and a misunderstanding of how processes work.

This is unacceptable. It’s harmful. And it violates the basic standards of professionalism and integrity that your position requires. I’ve served this community for 2 decades, and I will not sit quietly while you attempt to undermine my reputation and my work…so, I will be taking a deep dive tonight to talk about my feelings and reveal the truth.

Accountability goes both ways and I am not ashamed for standing up for the employees, uncovering questionable transactions, exposing incompetent elected officials, and addressing plain hate.

Misinformed citizens and two of you on this commission wanted to break me and ruin my reputation – My response is – thank you for freeing me.

These past few years the political climate has taken a toll not only on me but also my staff. They will also be transferring out of the clerk’s office to another elected officials office at the end of this week.

My decision to step down was decided a month ago when I took another job and that is to mark a definitive boundary to protect my personal well-being and prioritize God and my family over public office.

My staff and I stayed to see the election through, and I thank them for continuing to stick it out despite all the public scrutiny. When the public attacks me for errors or mistakes they are also attacking the workers at the election and my staff.

Blaming elected officials from behind a keyboard is easy. Doing nothing for the community and then complaining about its problems doesn’t help anyone. If someone isn’t willing to show up, volunteer, or contribute in any way, then they’re choosing to be part of the problem, not the solution.

And to those keyboard warriors—I challenge you to volunteer at the next general election in November. Step up and be part of the work, not just the noise.

No public office is worth the destruction of one’s peace and well-being.

My prayer for the employees of Bourbon County is that leadership will recognize the dedicated, hardworking people they have — and show them the gratitude, respect, and support they so richly deserve.

I pray for the people who quietly step up and serve this community, even when it’s tough. Many stay silent because they’ve seen the abuse and criticism that one can face. But your strength matters. Your courage matters. And your work is what keeps this community moving forward.

I pray you don’t lose heart. I pray you keep showing up. Because it’s the ones who continue to serve—despite the noise—who make this community better.

I want to thank the employees and citizens who have supported my family, me, and my staff through this rough journey – I will miss you and the career I deeply treasured.

Deputy Clerk, Michael Hoyt, will finish the meeting tonight and will fill the office until the republican party appoints a new County Clerk.

The two sides in former Bourbon County chief information officer Shane Walker’s federal lawsuit have told the court they reached an agreement to settle it. On August 3, the court closed the case with a one-page order that begins: “The parties have advised the Court that they have reached an agreement settling this case in its entirety.”

That report is the basis for the closure. The order gives no other information about the agreement: no dollar amount, no terms. A settlement is not an admission of liability, and the court did not rule on the merits of any of Walker’s ten claims. The complaint’s disputed allegations were never decided in court.

Closed, but not dismissed

An administrative closing is not a dismissal, and an agreement reported to the court is not the same as a final dismissal. The order directs the clerk to “administratively terminate this action without prejudice” and gives the parties until September 3, 2026 to file a stipulation of dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a). Until then, the parties may ask to reopen the case for good cause. If September 3 passes with no stipulation and no request to reopen, the order says it “shall constitute the Court’s entry of final judgment of dismissal with prejudice” under Rule 41(a)(2); a dismissal with prejudice generally bars refiling the claims.

By September 3, one of three things happens: the parties file dismissal papers and the case ends; someone asks to reopen it; or neither happens and the closure becomes a final dismissal automatically.

How far the case got

The county and the individual defendants answered the complaint on June 23 and never filed a motion to dismiss. On July 8, Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell put the case on a scheduling track: the two sides were to confer by July 24 about, among other things, “the possibilities of settling or resolving the case,” submit a proposed scheduling order by August 3, and appear for a scheduling conference on August 13. No scheduling order was ever entered. On August 3, the court closed the case instead. No discovery filings appear on the docket (initial disclosures are exchanged between the parties rather than filed).

What the suit alleged

Walker worked for the county from December 2005 until July 9, 2025, when the commission voted unanimously to eliminate his position. His complaint alleged he was on approved FMLA leave when it happened, and that the real reason was retaliation for discrimination complaints that he and his wife, County Clerk Susan Walker, had filed against the county. The elected Register of Deeds rehired him that November, at $16 an hour, down from a salary of $88,616.84, according to the complaint. His ten counts spanned breach of contract, the Kansas Wage Payment Act, four Title VII retaliation counts, First Amendment free-speech and association claims, Fourteenth Amendment due process, and FMLA retaliation and interference; he sued the Board of County Commissioners, Commissioners Sam Tran, Mika Milburn-Kee and David Beerbower, and HR contractor Dr. Steve Cohen. The defendants denied the retaliation claims, describing the job elimination as a lawful layoff, and raised defenses including qualified immunity. Our earlier coverage: the complaint, and the county’s answer.

The case is Walker v. Bourbon County, Kansas, Board of Commissioners et al., No. 6:26-cv-01057, U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. The closure order is posted here; the scheduling order is here.

The Bourbon County Commission will meet on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 5:30 PM at 210 S. National Avenue, Fort Scott, KS.

Meeting Agenda

1. Call Meeting to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Prayer
4. Introductions
5. Approval of Agenda
6. Approval of Minutes – 08.03.26
7. Approval of Accounts Payable – $323,572.46
8. Special Appearances
   1. Walk-In Hunting – Philip Pavey
9. Public Comments
10. Department Updates
    1. County Clerk
    2. EMS Director Update – Hulsey
    3. KCJIS Compliance – Sheriff
    4. Sheriff – KHP Truck Route
11. Budget Discussion – Matt Lawn
12. Executive Session to Discuss Non-Elected Personnel – Motley
13. Old Business
    1. Old Landfill – Milburn
    2. Report on S&P Conference Call Including Ben Hart – Motley
    3. Letter of Resignation
    4. Policy/Procedures Set Work Session – Beerbower
    5. Landfill Backhoe – Tran
14. New Business
    1. Court Space – Beerbower
    2. Building Maintenance Supervision Discussion
    3. Commission & Board Assignment – J. Allen
15. Future Agenda Topics
16. Commission Comments

Documents:

• 08.10.26_Agenda.pdf