In the February 2nd County Commissioner meeting, it was stated that the county clerk had seven and a half weeks to prepare for the transition to the Pay Entry software. Susan Walker, Bourbon County Clerk, disputed the timeline for the cutover. She said, “Commissioner Milburn had made a statement that the clerk had 7 & 1/2 weeks to learn Pay Entry, which is false.” She went on to explain that they spent 7 & 1/2 weeks sending Pay Entry information and explaining the county processes to them, but that time wasn’t spent training on the software.
Despite statements by Tim Emerson from Emerson & Co in October listing training that had been provided on the PayEntry software, the County Clerk says the first time they saw the software was two business days before they had to run their first payroll.
(Note: Tim Emerson shares the name, but is not the same Tim Emerson who lives near Devin and, with Commissioner Tran, Commissioner Beerbower, and others, sued the Bourbon County Commissioners. Past news reports seem to indicate that Tim Emerson of Emerson & Co. is the son of the Tim Emerson of Bourbon County who filed the lawsuit.)
“We implemented and had training for PayEntry on November the 20th. It was the first time we even saw the product.” Walker explained that PayEntry requires payroll to be run two days before the county wants to pay employees. After training on Thursday, the 20th, the clerk says that they had to run payroll on November 24th so county employees could be paid the day before Thanksgiving on the 26th. The first time she says they actually saw the software was on Thursday, the 20th, and they had to run the first payroll on Monday, the 24th, two business days later.
When asked if Emerson (the accountant who sold the system to the county) provided training to the department heads, she said no, but PayEntry “gave us a piece of paper to hand out that still didn’t help people.”
She went on to explain, “So we had people come in and sit down in our office. We helped them get into the app that had lots of problems. In the app they would try [to] clock in, and they couldn’t tell if they were clocked in or not. If you hit it again, it would clock them out and wouldn’t let them know if they were clocked out.” Walker says those problems are still there along with an issue that allows employees to change the cost center for time entries. “So I might have a deputy[‘s time] show up in the clerk’s office.”
When asked if the PayEntry system provided any capabilities that weren’t available in the previous system, she said that it has an online portal that would let employees download their W2 tax forms at the end of the year. With the previous system, the county printed those forms out and distributed them. However, since the system isn’t integrated with the rest of the county’s accounting, it requires a lot of manual copying of information back and forth between PayEntry and the county’s accounting software. These manual steps are more error-prone and harder to troubleshoot than the integration that the county had previously.
Walker said that the decision to outsource payroll was made after she had asked the commissioners for another employee to help run payroll in her office. The clerk explained, “During budget seasons, I did ask for an additional employee, and they denied me that. That’s part of this process. I go in, and I request what I feel like I need to run my office efficiently. If you deny me, that’s ok.”
But after asking the commissioners for another employee, Walker says, “They came in and said, well, we’re going to outsource now.” She said she was confused by this step and asked, “Why would you do that? Because I’m fully willing to continue doing what we’re doing.”
When asked how much money was being saved by switching to PayEntry, Walker said that the change had lowered the cost from the $6,500 per year that she was getting to run payroll as well as about $5,000 per year for the CIC payroll module. Those two things lowered the cost by $11,500. However, she said PayEntry is costing around $20,000 in the first year with slightly lower cost next year. She provided the following comparison of costs if no additional employees were hired.
Spreadsheet the clerk provided to the commissioners showing cost difference. Click to enlarge.
The clerk said the commissioners have had to hire an additional employee to run the PayEntry payroll for 32 hours a week and says an additional employee will cost around $32,000 per year in salary. According to the clerk, since the new employee is working more than 30 hours a week, she would be eligible for benefits as well in addition to the cost of the salary.
When asked for comment about the clerk’s concerns with changes to payroll, Commissioner Milburn provided the following information over a text exchange. She pointed out that payroll affects all offices and “any one of us may not run again or may not be elected again.” She said, “It is reassuring to me that payroll will not be changed by the coming or going of the elected.”
Commissioner Mika MIlburn-Kee
She went on to say that the cost for the additional employee who is managing PayEntry is “less than what it cost us in the clerk office,” because the new employee has duties outside of payroll and, as a part-time employee, doesn’t cost the county for health insurance. Commissioner Milburn said this was “as opposed to the full-time employee in the clerk’s office plus the additional $10,000 for oversight of payroll duties that we were paying.” In addition to pointing to cost savings, she said, “I am pleased with the separation of duties that we get with this change.”
The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.
The Bourbon County Commission has moved their regular meeting to February 19th at 5:30 at 210 S National. They will not meet on Monday the 16th for observance of Presidents’ Day.
Welcome: Twenty-two members representing nineteen agencies attended the meeting held at the Scottview Apartments Conference Room.
Coalition Board News: There is an open seat on the Coalition Board. Reach out to Nick if you are interested.
Member Introductions and Announcements:
Craig Campbell Good Neighbor Action Team – GNAT builds wheelchair ramps, paints houses, and gets yard work back to zero. They can also help with grant applications. GNAT has been getting lots of requests from area communities. If you have connections with anyone who builds ramps in area communities, let Craig know.
Cameron Johnson – CHC/SEK School Health Worker with USD 234.
Shelby Moore- Families Together FAST – Shelby works with families who have children with intellectual disabilities and helps navigate the special education process.
Star Culp Parents As Teachers – Free early learning program, no qualifications- for everyone. PAT has hired more educators, so they have openings.
Michelle Stevenson – Fort Scott Early Childhood Program – Home visiting program for families with children prenatal through 6 years old. Michelle tracks development, models for parents, and helps families get kids ready for preschool or kindergarten. Michelle hosts parent-child cafes for socialization. The program is pretty full right now, but will be graduating kids in June.
Janelle Tate – ECBG – Transitions Coordinator in 6 counties in SEK
Patty Simpson – Fort Scott Housing Authority – FSHA has 190 income-based apartments. All units are currently full, but 6 units will be available soon. There is a short waiting list.
Clayton Whitson – Faith Church – Clayton is hoping to connect to resources in the community so he can help visitors at the church.
Jennifer Gumfowler – Fort Scott Public Library- Private booth space is now available, sensory toys are coming in. Some can be checked out, and some are to be used in the library. Now have blood pressure cuffs to be checked out. Starting Feb 1, Canopy online streaming services will be available. Everyone with a library card has 25 tickets, childrens programs are free.
Lora Wilson CHC – Lora helps clients with any resources.
Tammy Alcaantor – Crawford Health Department – Tammy hosts a Baby and Me Tobacco Free program. It is now a 6-month program that provides education and incentives for clients trying to quit tobacco and nicotine. Tammy is part of the Kansas Perinatal Community Collaborative. Ask Tammy about resources from KPCC.
Theresa Amershek – Safe House CVEC- Theresa completes intakes for visits between parents and kids. The goal is to provide a safe place for parents to visit their children. Safehouse has its annual Bags to Riches fundraiser on March 28 in Pittsburg.
Kelly Stammer – DCF – LIEAP program is now open. Events in the area will help clients sign up electronically.
Dave Gillen – Beacon – The Beacon is an interfaith, non-profit organization helping with food, hygiene, and other necessities since 1985. Partners with several local agencies to provide help to those in need. 2025 was a successful year for the Beacon. The Beacon distributed over $28,000 in financial assistance in 2025. The Beacon provided more than 150 tons of food and served 4500 families. Shoe vouchers helped 142 children starting school. The Beacon worked with the Bourbon County Coalition to provide swim passes to families. The Beacon organized and donated Christmas gifts for children. There were 146 applications for food baskets. In January, the Beacon helped 343 families, $2, 200 dollars. The Beacon receives donations from Walmart on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The Beacon also helps families with taxi passes and gas vouchers.
Jalaine Davis – Core Community – Core helps those in poverty get out of poverty. Graduation from phase 1 will be coming up on March 24. Phase 2 will begin later this year.
Kathy Brennon – Area Agency on Aging- On-site meals are available at Buck Run. Also have bingo twice per month. These programs are for those aged 60+. Transportation is a big issue for people getting to the meal site. If you know of a church or someone with an accessible van who could help with transportation, let Kathy know. The third Wednesday caregiver support group meets at Papa Don’s. Medicare counselling is available for those new to Medicare. Funding is available for in-home support, home modification, and case management. The Kansas respite and dementia program can provide assistance or equipment for those living with someone with dementia. A small emergency fund is available for 60+, up to $500 per year. Call the office for more information.
Dee Dee LeFever – Greenbush – Greenbush offers PAT and Infant Toddler Systems for area preschools and programs. Also provide audiology services, virtual parent trainings, and the SEK Community resource guide.
Cheyenne Bolin – SEK-CAP family educator, 0-3 and prenatal services. SEK-CAP currently has four open spots. They offer 90-minute home-based visits and help with community resources.
Janice Durbin – Child and Family Development Educator, 3-5 year olds, advocate for Head Start center. Janice can help locate resources for families.
Larry Jump – Community Liaison for SEK-CAP – Early education -Supports those in the area Head Start centers/programs. Head Start is always looking for employees and children.
Program:
Teresa Davenport, Care to Share
Care to Share is a cancer support group that began in 2007. They began raising funds in 2009. Care to Share does not employ any staff; it is 100% volunteer based. Care to Share is located at 9 E. Wall. Volunteers staff the location from 11:00 to 2:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Care to Share has raised $1.8 million since 2009; all money raised goes to cancer fighters. Care to Share began in Bourbon County and is now helping cancer fighters in Linn County and Crawford County. They raise funds in all three counties and distribute about the same amount in each county as was raised. Recent fundraisers include Pink Out night in Linn County, which raised $10,000, and a pool tournament in Bourbon County, which raised $20,000. Care to Share is currently helping about 75 people, including 6 families with children who have cancer. Last year, Care to Share raised about $100,000. They distributed about $51,000 in gas vouchers.
Care to Share helps cancer fighters financially and emotionally in a variety of ways, including help with utilities, gas, food, home maintenance, transportation costs, and car maintenance. They have tons of medical equipment and lift chairs available for cancer survivors and those in need. They also have sharing shelves, books, puzzles, wigs, and bras available for cancer fighters. There are no income guidelines- they will help anyone. Provide both financial and emotional support. Care to Share will try to do about anything for cancer fighters. Care to Share does not receive referrals from doctors’ offices, so if you know of someone battling cancer, have them get in contact with Care to Share.
Upcoming fundraisers include an Elvis Impersonator show on Feb 28, bake sales, and golf tournaments. Care to Share will be starting a cancer support group in the coming months. There are many ways to help Care to Share that don’t require money. Volunteers can be a part of the prayer team, make phone calls, and send cards. If you would like help Care to Share, call 620-644-9090 or visit their Facebook page for more information.
No need to drive out of town for wholesale groceries. We are bringing bulk produce savings local so families, businesses, and organizations can stock up while keeping dollars in the community.
CURRENT BULK SAVINGS:
• Mangos — 12 ct. $15
• Bananas — 40 lb case $25
• Cosmic Crisp Apples — approx. 40 lb case $40
• Russet Potatoes — 50 lb box $20
• Yellow Onions — 6 lb bag $4
Order online by February 12.
Pickup Saturday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
at Perry’s Pork Rinds & Country Store in Bronson.
Don’t forget!
PERRY’S MONTHLY PRODUCE BOX:
Designed for consistent grocery savings and rural food access. Each box includes about nine various produce items monthly.
The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.
Bourbon County Planning Committee Agenda for 5:30PM Wednesday, February 11, 2026
1. Pledge
2. Roll
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Approval of minutes from December 10th and January 14th, January 28th, February 4th
5. Discussion on RFP for Comprehensive Plan and Firms to submit to. The following list contains planning firms the planning commission feels the RFP for comprehensive plan RFP should be distributed to at a minimum:
David Foster and associates
Transystems
Kendig Keast
Confluence
ETC Institute
HalƯ
Hoxi Collective
MKEC
Marvin Planning
Olsson
Shockey
SSR
Future IQ
Miller & Associates
6. New Business
7. Public Comment
8. Next Meeting and Agenda
9. Adjournment
Bourbon County: Comprehensive Plan Development RFP (Request for Proposal) Summary
The Bourbon County Planning Commission is seeking proposals from professional planning consultants to develop the county’s first-ever comprehensive plan. This strategic document will guide coordinated development, land use, and zoning for the next decade.
Project Overview and Goals
Purpose: To create a strategic framework for future development and informed zoning decisions pursuant to K.S.A. 12-747. (Page 1)
Current Status: Bourbon County does not currently have a comprehensive plan. (Page 1)
Target Area: Bourbon County, Kansas, including its rural areas and coordination with incorporated cities like Fort Scott, Bronson, Uniontown, Fulton, Redfield, and Mapleton. (Page 1)
Scope of Services
The selected consultant will conduct exhaustive studies and provide recommendations on several key areas:
Surveys and Trends: Analysis of land use, population density, economic conditions, and natural resources. (Page 1)
Land Use Mapping: Creation of a land use map, categories, and recommendations for new uses that will impact the county’s future. (Pages 1-2)
Infrastructure and Transportation: Review of public and private transportation facilities and public improvement programming based on urgency. (Page 2)
Financial Planning: Analysis of public revenue sources and long-range financial plans for capital improvements. (Page 2)
Public Outreach: A multifaceted program to engage residents, business owners, and local leaders is a mandatory requirement. (Page 2)
Required Deliverables
The final package provided by the consultant must include:
Comprehensive Land Use Plan: A complete document ready for adoption featuring a county vision, trend analysis, and housing/infrastructure recommendations. (Pages 2-3)
Implementation Strategy: Specific goals, objectives, and strategies to put the plan into action. (Page 3)
Digital Assets: Electronic copies of the plan in PDF and Word formats, along with all raw data, spreadsheets, and mapping files used in the analysis. (Page 3)
Submission Timeline & Process
Interested parties must adhere to the following schedule for 2026:
RFP Published: February 12, 2026 (Page 3)
Proposals Due: March 20, 2026, by 2:00 p.m. CST (Page 3)
Planning Commission Review: March 25, 2026 (Page 3)
County Commission Final Selection: March 30, 2026 (Page 3)
How to Submit: Proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked “Proposal for Comprehensive Plan Development” to the Bourbon County Clerk’s Office. Submissions can be made in person or via mail to 210 S. National Ave., Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. (Page 3)
Proposal Requirements
Consultants must include the following in their submission:
Cover Letter & Firm Profile: Summary of qualifications and details on the firm’s size and governmental planning experience. (Page 4)
Project Approach: A detailed methodology for the study and public input strategies. (Page 4)
Project Team: Qualifications and prior experience of the specific individuals assigned to the project. (Pages 4-5)
Fee Structure: An all-inclusive maximum fee for the requested work. (Page 5)
Timeline: An estimated schedule for completion of each project phase. (Page 5)
References: 3 to 5 references for similar projects completed within the last five years. (Page 5)
The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse
The commission began the meeting with a number of executive sessions.
Executive Session K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(1) – Lora Holdridge, Leslie Harran, 15 minutes. Returned to session and then reentered executive session for another 15 minutes with the same people. Returned with no action.
Executive Session Pursuant to K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(1) – Samuel Tran. 5 commissioners, Kenny Allen, Terry Halsey. 25 minutes. Returned to session with action. Tran moved to accept the exemption to policy letter from Public Works in regards to take-home vehicles. Motion passed. Tran then moved to accept the exemption to policy vehicle for EMS. Motion passed with Milburn-Kee voting against. Tran then moved to allow the county appraiser to continue to use the county vehicle as a take-home vehicle. Motion did not pass, Milburn-Kee, Tran, and Beerbower voting against.
Bourbon County Comprehensive Plan — Tran with Brian Ashworth
Ashworth, from the planning commission, came to make himself available to the commission. The first step to zoning a county, per Kansas state law, is a comprehensive plan. The commission has been consulting with Mel Hoss to walk them through creating one for Bourbon County. In order to get the comprehensive plan going, they must solicit proposals from planning firms. Ashworth asked for the commission’s input on the document.
Ashworth outlined the timeline for soliciting plans from planning firms. He then asked the commission to publish the Request for Proposal (RFP).
Cost estimate for the RFP is $100,000, based on what Cherokee County paid for its plan. It will take about 6 months for the planning company to develop the comprehensive plan through extensive research and information gathering throughout the county.
Tran thanked the planning commission for their hard work and complemented their teamwork.
Milburn-Kee then moved to allow Ashworth to work with the county clerk to publish the RFP and distribute it to the list of possible planning firms the planning commission has collected.
Commissioner Greg Motley asked where the funding for the plan creation would come from. Milburn-Kee said that counselor Billenburg had negotiated $200,000 in payments from the solar panel people. It has not been collected.
Clerk Susan Walker said they needed to book the expense at the time they agree on it, according to cash-basis law.
Motion passed unanimously.
IT Services — Tran
Tran invited Jason Rinker from Stronghold to speak at the meeting. Rinker updated on the project Stronghold is working on for the county. They are at the half-way mark and anticipate finishing within the six-month timeline. He asked to bring the project manager and account representative to the commission to give a detailed update. Milburn-Kee told him that arranging to speak to the board as a whole would be preferable and he agreed to do that.
Rinker then addressed technology changes that were brought up at the last commissioner meeting by the county clerk. He said there are three areas of her letter that Stronghold finds concerning. He also said it was positive in that some hardware that needed to be updated per Stronghold’s analysis in 2025 is being updated.
The three areas of concern include several ongoing security concerns. He said the last 60 days of data that Stronghold has contain no security concerns generated by the county. “We would really like to know what these concerns are so they can be addressed,” he said
The letter also stated that the county offices involved had experienced “significant issues,” but there were no notes given to Stronghold in the last 60 days about those issues.
“As with any partner, I would assume that it would be reasonable to at least notify us of those significant issues and allow us an opportunity to correct those,” Rinker said.
The third issue is that the letter said that the transition they are planning will ensure that the various offices’ data is protected in transition.
“This is kind of insinuating to us that your data is not being protected,” he said. In the last 60 days there’s only been one ticket that required addressing by Stronghold in that regard.
He also said that the complaint about backups causing problems was not brought up with Stronghold in the last 60 days.
Milburn-Kee asked what types of requests the county is generating at Stronghold. Rinker read off examples of creating email addresses, connecting scanners, and updates from the State of Kansas, as well as others.
Tran asked what the average response time is for a ticket. Rinker said they usually respond with a couple of hours, depending of the severity of the issue.
He then explained what had happened at Stronghold and how they handled giving authority to department heads for needed software updates.
Tran asked if there were any threats or vulnerabilities to the county’s firewall. He also asked if Stronghold had discovered any more of the county’s information on the dark web. Rinker said that while there are no specific threats he is aware of at this time, constant vigilance is required.
Tran also asked what the bottom issue with CIC (the county’s accounting software) is and what is causing problems with the staff. Rinker said that when he reached out to CIC, they told him that they are not allowed to speak with Stronghold unless given specific permission by Bourbon County.
Tran asked who is the gatekeeper for CIC in Bourbon County. Walker said she is and is willing to give Stronghold access if Tran is present during the call. He agreed to be present. They agreed to get the conversation done before the next week.
Rinker said that the changeover to .gov email addresses is a good thing that the whole county should do. He said it should be registered to the county so the county can control the domain.
Walker said on of her security concerns is missing emails. She reiterated her hope that the commission supports her office’s desire to move to a new server.
She also wants to know who else can access the emails in their offices.
“There’s just a lot of trust issues, I think,” she said.
She said that when they called in to Stronghold to have things done, they were denied access without Milburn-Kee’s approval.
Tran said that as far as he is concerned only Stronghold has access to emails in the county.
He agreed with Walker’s trust issue, but said that uncontrolled admin rights in the county are not secure.
Walker said they only want admin rights to their own systems to update their accounting program that they control in the offices at the courthouse. She said she has called several times to get that fixed and further issues have arisen.
“I don’t think it’s asking much for us to be able to update our CIC software,” she concluded.
Tran asked that they give a report on the increased vulnerability of the county with the addition of more servers and a cost analysis as part of Stronghold’s quarterly report.
Rinker said he his company hasn’t been given the information by the departments in the courthouse that are purchasing a new server, so he cannot accurately address those questions.
Rinker also said that cyber-liability insurance carriers have started asking that those entities they cover have one set of eyes on everything to avoid the trouble of “too many cooks in the kitchen,” or the opposite problem of no one really overseeing.
Citizen Comments
Michael Hoyt said he personally contacted Dr. Cohen and told him his was unhappy with how long it’s taking to get the county employee handbook updated and implemented. After pointing out that Emerson is the new payroll handler for the county and Dr. Cohen’s company became the HR department through Emerson, Hoyt asked how Stronghold became the county’s IT department.
Hoyt concluded by asking what the commission plans to do about the contention that is evident in the courthouse.
“You all are the ones in charge. If we have personnel that are infighting, we need to get to the root cause and find out why. You all are the peacemakers, not to drive a further wedge in by attacking anybody,” he ended.
Susan Walker came with several questions.
She distributed a noise complaint form draft for the commission to amend and approve.
She also asked that the commissioners get the information for resolutions to her by noon on Fridays, per the commissions own stated procedural steps, in order to give people time to look them over before the meetings.
Old Business
Handbook-Tran
Tran asked for a status update. Milburn-Kee told him that KCamp sent a sample back to HR. “As far as I know, they haven’t got all the edits done,” said Milburn-Kee.
Tran said that all suggestions have been accepted except for reducing the introductory period for new employees from 365 days to 90 days. In Kansas, if someone is fired at 91 days, and they can file grievances.
“The only individuals that are not protected in the state of Kansas in labor law are white males below the age of 40,” said Tran. Going to 365 days protects the county.
Milburn-Kee said that after receiving notes from HR and other business owners, she has changed her mind about some of the requested changes.
Motley said that in his experience 90 days requires employers to make an evaluation on the employee, which is best for the county. The first 90 days will give you what you need to know. He also said they also already voted on it as a commission.
Commissioner Joe Allen agreed with Motley, saying that all his jobs in the past had a 90 day introductory period.
Beerbower said he likes it as it stands. No changes were voted on.
Fractional CFO-Tran
At a cost of $5,500 per month split between the sheriff’s department and the county, Tran moved to have Baker Tilly serve as the CFO for the county.
Motley said that on the surface, this appears to be a solution looking for a problem.
Tran said that the county seemed to lack congruency in how it handled the budget. He also said there was a lot of unneeded inputs in the formulation of the budget.
Motley pointed out that the City of Fort Scott, which uses Baker Tilly as financial advisor, has no elected officials to deal with like the county does. Fort Scott also does not have any accounting experts as part of their government, as Bourbon County does. He also said the Dr. Cohen from HR called him and asked him to run these processes and the commission appointed him to do that.
“So this seems like a vote of no-confidence in me,” Motley said. He said that there are three accounting experts elected as officials in Bourbon County, of which he is one. The other two are the County Treasurer and the County Clerk.
He questioned the idea of spending money on an outside source, (based in England with offices in Overland Park, KS) for services he and the others in the county can provide.
Milburn-Kee said that by voting to terminate the liaison positions of the commission, they also ended Motley’s finance position.
“What you’re saying is this is no confidence in me for the budget process,” said Motley. He went on to say he is trying to avoid the situation the commission created last year in which they asked for a budget committee to advise the commission on making a budget and then did not take any of their suggestions. He said that no one from that committee was happy that all their work was pushed aside.
He said that hiring Baker Tilly would make any strategic planning or budgeting help from him unnecessary and he will not facilitate that for the county if they are hired.
“All you’re going to get with Baker Tilly is a monthly report,” said Motley. They will not be auditing or checking data, just compiling and reporting what they are given.
Tran said this issue is a continuance of the decision made in 2025 to hire a fractional CFO for 2026.
Allen said that while he is not an expert in this field, he trusts the in-house expert. He also said he doesn’t want to spend the county’s money to pay for what the county already has.
Beerbower said there are benefits to having an outside eyes on the county budgets.
Motley said the commission needs to wary of taking actions that send a message of distrust to those they work with.
Milburn-Kee said she talked to Ben from Baker Tilly about what services he would be providing. He said he would help find inefficient patterns in the county. He also said he would follow the direction of the commission regarding the spending limits dictated by tax rates and mill levy.
Tran said that the disparity between the budget given by the committee and what the commission wanted was the commission’s fault for not communicating more clearly with the committee.
County Clerk Susan Walker spoke to the commission saying they cannot cut the mill without cutting services.
“The problem has been, in the past, we have not been a part of the process,” said Walker. The department heads and elected officials are only asked to bring to the table what they think they need to operate.
“I don’t feel like we’re being heard, because the costs are going up,” said Walker.
“Our biggest expenses are people and publications. We don’t even hardly have enough money to train,” she said. “There were not a lot of questions asked during the budget process and when I would bring things up, I would get accused of withholding information. But that’s not what was happening. I didn’t know what you didn’t know.”
“Mr. Motley is right. The three of us together can build the budget. So, I think this is an unnecessary expense,” said Walker.
Tran called for a vote. He read the resolution.
Motion failed to carry. Tran and Milburn-Kee voted for it, Beerbower, Allen, and Motley voted against.
Performance Audit-Samuel Tran
Baker-Tilly cannot perform the audit because they are already employed by the county. The issue was tabled.
DMV Lease Agreement-Samuel Tran
In order to lease the space to the DMV, electrical has to be run to their equipment, which will cost the county about $1,000.
Milburn-Kee pointed out that the rent the DMV is paying will cover the cost of running the electrical and will allow the county to sell the building that has housed them in the past, which they are now moving out of.
Motion to sign carried.
Employment Action-Samuel Tran
A resolution brought to the table last week, was read by Tran. The resolution give the commission authority in the hiring or change of employment status of county employees when it impacts the county’s budget by increasing benefit costs. This resolution gives fiscal oversight to the commission, but leaves authority to hire and fire in the hands of elected officials.
Motley completely agreed with the intent but had problems with definitions in the resolution. He had concerns about various “what-if” situations. He suggested they make each elected official and department head responsible for the employee benefits budget for their departments.
Milburn-Kee said that she had been trying to make those changes, but they weren’t approved. The resolution provides guidance for the payroll administrator.
Walker spoke up and said her concern was that the payroll department get a correct number of employees. She was also concerned that departments would have to budget for employees to choose the biggest benefits package, which costs the county the most, and would lead to inflated budgets and budget creep.
Motion carried and resolution 15-26 was passed.
Payroll Administration-Samuel Tran
The resolution clarified the duties of the executive assistant regarding payroll.
Motley asked the clerk if the resolution was in accordance with state statutes as she understands them.
Walker expressed concerns about coding for the general ledger and clarity of communication. She also asked for responses to her questions.
Motion carried, passing 16-26.
Flex Spending Discussion — Milburn-Kee
Walker explained what happens when an employee takes the flex spending option. She also asked to be given a report for auditing purposes.
Resolution 622 — Milburn-Kee
Commission found out about this resolution last week. It was to have been added to the handbook, but the handbook hasn’t been updated since 2002. The resolution front-loaded sick leave due to the pandemic.
Resolution was repealed. Accruals will be referred to the HR department.
New Business
Employee Recognition – Allen
Allen asked that department heads and elected officials come to the first meeting each month and recognize one of their department’s employees. He offered to contact each department and set it up.
Noise Complaint — Beerbower
The noise complaints that the county has received have brought up the issue of who is going to look into the complaints. Beerbower looked at applying the American National Standards Institute’s information to the county’s resolution. He also found some training for the noise inspector and vendors who sell standardized equipment.
Beerbower’s recommendation will be to replace the existing resolution and declare the assignment of inspection in the new resolution. He believes the assignment should go to the sanitation inspector from the appraiser’s office.
One member of the audience spoke up and asked that noise inspections not be at the same time each day, but at random times.
Culvert Permit – 2433 Locus Road
Motion approved
There will be a special meeting on February 12, 2026 from 5-6 PM for Interviews and a work session immediately following until 8:00 PM.
Property Tax Relief – Senate and House Leaders, including the tax committee chairmen, met on Monday to lay the groundwork and coordinate moving on property tax reform. Two key initiatives were discussed: the Cap Assessment Protection (CAP) Amendment, SCR 1616, and a revenue cap proposal that would limit increases to no more than 3% without a vote of the people. Implementing both caps is designed to deliver taxpayerprotection – shielding taxpayers from sudden, steep tax hikes; transparency – eliminating hidden tax increases that occur when property assessment values skyrocket even when mill rates stay flat or decline; predictability – giving families, farmers, and small business owners a reliable way to budget for future tax bills.
The CAP Amendment is ready for debate on the Senate floor, and the House will begin committee work on a revenue limit measure. However, some special interest groups are working to kill the progress. Certain lobbyists claim SCR 1616 isn’t a “true” tax cut – a claim that ignores the amendment’s 2022 baseline value, which lowers the growth trajectory for everyone. Opponents of SCR 1616 are attempting to block your right to decide. Because it is a constitutional amendment, passage by the Legislature doesn’t change the law – it puts the decision in your hands at the ballot box. You should have the option to vote on the 3% or less Property Tax CAP Amendment. While the CAP Amendment and the revenue limit are still in the early stages of the legislative process, these proposals represent significant structural property tax protections.
Current law requires revenue neutral letters so that you’re notified of any increases and have an opportunity to be heard in a public meeting before the governing body increases your taxes, forcing transparency. This combined with the CAP Amendment and revenue limits, will have meaningful safeguards. Together, these measures would create one of the strongest systems in the country for protecting taxpayers from sudden and excessive property tax increases, while also increasing transparency and accountability in the process.
Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission secrecy will end if SB 299 becomes law. The bill bars any rule that blocks public access to its records. It requires disclosure of the commission’s files, including nominees’ names and hometowns, while keeping background‑checks and sensitive financial information confidential. SB 299 passed unanimously and was sent to the House for consideration.
Unclaimed Cremated Remains could be released or respectfully disposed of after three years by a coroner if HB 2331 becomes law. It also sets special procedures for veterans’ remains, codifies current education requirements for licensed embalmers and funeral directors, and creates a felony for intentionally moving a body to conceal a death or another crime. The bill was amended again to allow all required continuing education hours for embalmers and funeral directors to be completed online, instead of requiring at least 3 hours of in-person training. That change has drawn concern from some funeral homes and is still to be decided. The bill passed unanimously and was returned to the House, which will decide whether to accept the Senate changes or call for a conference committee to negotiate the changes.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Labconco is located at 2500 Liberty Bell Rd. in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park on the south side of town.
You’re invited!
HR Roundtable
hosted by the Chamber
Wednesday, February 11th
11:45am – 1pm
Labconco
2500 Liberty Bell Rd.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members to a Human Resources (HR) Roundtable Luncheon on Wednesday, February 11th from 11:45am to 1pm at Labconco, 2500 Liberty Bell Rd. This roundtable event will provide an opportunity to discuss current and relevant topics impacting the workplace.
The February 11th meeting will feature guest speaker Kory Johnson, Vice President of Human Resources for Labconco, speaking to the group on “Building Tomorrow’s Bench: Succession Planning.”
HR Roundtables are open to any Chamber member involved in human resources-related responsibilities, regardless of company size, and are not limited to traditional HR professionals.
Attendees may RSVP at fortscott.com and an optional lunch may be ordered online for $10.
c. Bourbon County Comprehensive Plan – Samuel Tran
d. Noise Complaint Discussion
e. Employee Recognition – Joe Allen
15. Agenda Topics for Future Meetings
16. Commission Comments
17. Adjournment
18. Future Meetings
Special Meeting: February 12, 2026 (5:00 PM – 6:00 PM for Interviews; Work Session until 8:00 PM)
Information Packet Summary
Special Meeting Minutes: January 15, 2026 (Pages 2–9)
This meeting was dedicated to a comprehensive, methodical review of the 65-page employee handbook.
Handbook Governance: Clarified that while the handbook establishes county-wide policies, independent elected officials maintain statutory discretion over certain operational matters in their offices.
Leave and Accrual: Approved several new policies governing direct deposit, leave accrual based on employment classification, and rules for transferring between exempt and non-exempt status.
Sick Leave: Established a 25% payout for sick leave, but only for employees with at least 10 years of service.
Operational Policies: Updated policies regarding cell phone use (prohibiting use while operating heavy equipment), inclement weather pay (time and a half for essential personnel during closures), and a 90-day probationary period for new hires.
Final Action: The commission approved the corrected handbook pending final review by KCAMP.
Commission Meeting Minutes: January 26, 2026 (Pages 10–12)
Road Vacation: Following a public hearing, the commission approved Resolution 08-26 to vacate a road.
Procedural Conflict: The meeting became contentious during citizen comments regarding whether the public must address the commission as a whole or could target individual commissioners.
Abrupt Adjournment: Due to escalating tension and procedural disagreements, the meeting was adjourned early (at 5:46 PM) during the public comment section.
Commission Meeting Minutes: February 2, 2026 (Pages 13–24)
New Leadership: Joe Allen was officially sworn in as the District 3 Commissioner.
IT Infrastructure Tensions: A significant discussion occurred regarding the decision by the Clerk, Treasurer, and Register of Deeds to move to an independent mail server due to security and service concerns with the current IT provider. Chairman Tran expressed concern over the budget implications of decentralized IT systems.
Financial Oversight:
Approved accounts payable of $114,143.02.
Chairman Tran proposed an “operational audit” (estimated cost $20,000) to investigate potential financial irregularities, which was tabled for further discussion.
Discussed hiring a “Fractional CFO” service (Baker Tilly) for $5,500/month, to be split with the Sheriff’s Department.
Liaison Program: The commission voted to terminate the Commissioner Liaison program (established in July 2025) and return to collective board decision-making to avoid commissioners interfering with day-to-day department operations.
Planning: Scheduled a strategic planning work session for February 12 to focus on budget and finance deadlines.
Financial Summary: Accounts Payable (Pages 25–52)
The packet includes a detailed breakdown of the February 6, 2026, payroll and accounts payable totaling $332,847.69. This includes:
Standard payroll clearing and tax withholdings.
Departmental expenses for the Appraiser, Election, and Landfill funds.
A server purchase for the Clerk’s Tech Fund ($5,556) that was previously queried by the commission.
Noise Attenuation Data (Page 53)
The end of the packet includes technical specifications for sound levels of Caterpillar equipment (120M2) to assist in the ongoing noise complaint discussions. It provides formulas for measuring decibel levels at 75 feet to match county standards.
