Category Archives: Elections
What’s Happening In Fort Scott
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Bourbon County Cities Need 1-percent Sales Tax Proposed on Nov. 3
![](https://fortscott.biz/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/image0034-300x145.png)
Bronson, Fort Scott, Fulton, Mapleton, Redfield and Uniontown all benefit from the upcoming proposed 1-percent sales tax that will be on the Nov. 3 Bourbon County Ballot.
In fact, if the proposal fails to renew (the sales tax has been in place for years), cities will have to make hard decisions concerning services they can provide their communities, according to authorities.
Several community officials have responded with what the possible impact on their communities will be.
“If a no vote prevails, each entity receiving this sales tax would have troubling decisions that would set our communities back even further,” Fort Scott’s Financial Director Susan Bancroft said. “Some communities may be forced to raise property taxes to cover lost revenue and some may face having to make the decision to unincorporate.”
“Citizens may ask why a sales tax rather than a property tax,” Bancroft said. ” Local residents and nonresident consumers buying in Bourbon County share in the revenue generated from a sales tax. Essentially, visiting consumers help financially support improvements in our communities versus a property tax solely coming from Bourbon County residents.’
“Currently, The City of Fort Scott generates roughly $750,000 per year from the 1% sales tax,” Bancroft said. “Approximately 67% ($500,000) of the sales tax is used for the street department for operations and basic maintenance to our city streets.”
“Additionally, 20% of the sales tax supports any capital improvements needed for parks, public safety, recreational facilities and public buildings,” she said. “The remaining 13% of the sales tax supports general fund operations for things such as: public parks, municipal airport, Woodland Hills Golf Course, aquatic center, Buck Run Community Center and public safety.”
FS Commission Recent Change: 90% Will Go To Streets
“At the October 6th commission meeting, the (Fort Scott)City Commission made a bold decision to change their current allocations of the 1% countywide sales tax to the street department,” Bancroft said. “The current 67% will increase to 90%, and will be dedicated to the street department for operations and maintenance if the sales tax passes on November 3rd. The remaining 10% will be used to continue to fund public parks, public buildings, recreational facilities, and public safety.”
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Bronson, Fulton, Mapleton, Redfield and Uniontown use the portion of their sales tax to support general operations and are a significant part of their budgets, Bancroft said.
Bancroft broke down the following percentages for how much the countywide sales tax generates in each entity as a percentage of total revenue received:
- Bourbon County 35%
- Bronson 18%
- Fort Scott 11%
- Mapleton 29%
- Redfield 27%
- Uniontown 14%
“I encourage the citizens of Bourbon County to research the facts to understand the impact this vote could make on our county. The proposed sales tax is not a new sales tax. This sales tax is simply renewing the current sales tax in place, and for all entities, it is to support the day to day activities that keep our communities running.” Bancroft stated.
Bronson
“The City of Bronson relies on the countywide sales tax to supplement our general fund to reduce the burden on property taxpayers,” according to Bronson City Clerk Ellen Harper. “Our general fund pays, in full or in part, expenses for general operations of the city wages, liability insurance, street maintenance, community center, library and parks. We would lose over $25,000 a year, which may not seem like much, but for a small city it would be detrimental to our finances. An estimated loss of 18% revenue would mean an approximate increase of 43 mills if it were to be added to property taxes. We couldn’t put that kind of burden on our citizens. So many services and benefits would have to be cut.”
Uniontown
“The City of Uniontown receives approximately $22,000 annually from this tax,” Uniontown City Clerk Sally Johnson said. “These funds are deposited to the general fund to help fund our public services to our community. These funds have not been earmarked for specific projects but have been used to fund a portion of patch material for city streets, culverts, ditch repairs, street lighting, signal light at Hwy. 3 intersection, help maintain the community center and much more. The City of Uniontown would like for citizens to consider renewing this tax so we can continue to provide services to our community.”
Fort Scott
Fort Scott’s Finance Director Bancroft states “The City of Fort Scott depends heavily on the countywide sales tax. If the sales tax does not pass, the impact will be greater than the $750,000 generally generated from the sales tax. The $750,000 of sales tax will be lost revenue and an additional $500,000 will need to be cut from other areas to continue to supply the same essential operations and maintenance in the street department. This equates to 1.2 million dollars that would need to be cut if the countywide sales tax does not pass. Areas that would be affected are public safety, parks, economic development, recreational facilities, aquatic center and staffing.”
![](https://fortscott.biz/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/susan-bancroft-221x300.png)
Fulton
“Without the allocation of funds to the City of Fulton that are obtained through this sales tax, we would be cutting our yearly general fund in half,” Misty Adams, Mayor of Fulton said. “This would not be operable for our small town. The loss of revenue would be a huge loss and devastation for our small town and many other small rural communities. We would be operating in the red by year-end and be seeking assistance from our county commissioners. Without the passing of the 1% sale tax, we residents would see an increase in our property taxes and for some, this would create a financial hardship. Many small rural towns are housed by retirees who are budgeting their monthly expenses and are on fixed income, so increase in expenses is not what we are looking to do.”
The sales tax will appear on the Bourbon County November 3, 2020 ballot, as follows (taken from the county’s website):
Shall the following be adopted?
Shall Bourbon County, Kansas, levy (renew) a one percent countywide retailers’ sales tax to take effect on July 1, 2021, and expire on June 30, 2031, with the allocated shares pursuant to K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 12-192 to be used as follows: (1) to Bourbon County, for the purpose of maintenance and construction of hard surface roads, and (2) to each city located in Bourbon County, for the purpose of providing funding for public services?
To vote in favor of any question submitted upon the ballot, darken
the oval to the left of the word “YES”; to vote against it, darken
the oval to the left of the word “NO”.
County: Renewal of 1-percent Sales Tax Is Needed For Public Roads
![](https://fortscott.biz/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20180729_122726_resized4348-231x300.jpg)
The sales tax that is up for renewal on the November 3 General Election has been in place for 20 years, according to Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah.
“(It) is essential for the maintenance and improvement of the hard service road system in Bourbon County which is around 140 miles,” he said.
“Thirty-five percent of the Bourbon County Public Works Department budget comes from this sale tax revenue and (it) can only be used on hard service roads within the county,” Oharah said.
“The total (tax collected) is about $2 million for the county and all the cities in the county,” Oharah said. “Our part is used for our hard surface road program, about $1,100,000 per year, for maintaining and improving our hard surface roads.”
The county gets one-half of the sales tax, the rest goes to the other cities in the county, he said.
Hard surface roads include mowing 280 miles of ditches at least three times a year; ice and snow removal and application of brim/chip application for better traction, pothole repair, maintaining easements which includes ditching, equipment updates, side trim of rights-of-way and replacing culverts into people’s property, he said.
“With a sales tax, everyone pays, which includes out-of-county residents that use our county road system,” Oharah said. “This responsibility to maintain and repair hard services roads in Bourbon County does not fall on to the property owner of Bourbon County.”
The Bourbon County Road Service Department has costs below the standard for the industry, he said.
“You get more roadwork for less cost,” Oharah said.
“Norm Bowers, who is a retired engineer and surveyor and teaches at the University of Kansas Transportation Center, did a study on Bourbon County asphalt program, a year or two ago, and indicated the average cost per ton for asphalt applied to hard service road in Bourbon County is $90 per ton and the average per ton in the open market for Bourbon County to hire a contractor is $180 per ton to apply the product to the hard service road,” he said.
Oharah said the following are county costs for roads.
- $30,000 to $35,000 for 1-inch overlay per mile in Bourbon County.
- $13,000 for chip and seal of hard service road per mile in Bourbon County.
- $80,000 to $110,000 per mile for a 3-inch new road service per mile, which includes most of the prep work in Bourbon County.
“Bourbon County can produce chips for hard surface roads, snow and ice safety for about $4 dollars a ton which is under half the cost of retail,” Oharah said. “This is a huge saving to the Bourbon County citizens. Its over $10 in the marketplace.”
The sales tax will appear on the Bourbon County November 3, 2020, as follows (taken from the county’s website):
Shall the following be adopted?
Shall Bourbon County, Kansas, levy (renew) a one percent countywide retailers’ sales tax to take effect on July 1, 2021, and expire on June 30, 2031, with the allocated shares pursuant to K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 12-192 to be used as follows: (1) to Bourbon County, for the purpose of maintenance and construction of hard surface roads, and (2) to each city located in Bourbon County, for the purpose of providing funding for public services?
To vote in favor of any question submitted upon the ballot, darken
the oval to the left of the word “YES”; to vote against it, darken
the oval to the left of the word “NO”.
Ad: Bill Meyer For KS Representative District 4
![](https://fortscott.biz/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IMG_0157-1-225x300.jpg)
Bill Meyer for Kansas House of Representatives
District 4
If you want a Representative who stands for:
Maintaining full funding for our public schools;
Expanding Medicaid to cover 150,000 near-poor Kansans while bringing $700 million per year into the Kansas economy;
Expanding broadband internet into our rural areas as the # 1 necessity for attracting new business and keeping the ones we have, enabling our farmers and ranchers to access current market conditions, providing opportunities for offsite virtual learning, and expanding telemedicine into medically underserved areas;
Respecting and listening to the opinions of others;
Vote for Bill Meyer on November 3
List of Candidates/Questions On The Nov. 3 Bourbon County Ballot
COUNTY CLERK’S NOTICE OF CANDIDATES TO BE VOTED ON
AT THE GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 3, 2020
State of Kansas County of Bourbon
In compliance with K.S.A. 25-105, and the General Election Laws of the State of Kansas, I submit herewith the list of National, State and District Candidates certified to me by the Secretary of State, and the list of those filed as candidates in Bourbon County in the forthcoming General Election to be held, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
And, I hereby give further notice that the election will be held in the voting places listed below in Bourbon County, Kansas, and that the polls will be opened and closed at the regular time specified by law for the conduct of elections. All precincts in the county will open at 7:00 am and will close at 7:00 pm.
Sales Tax Question on the ballot:
To vote in favor of any question
submitted upon the ballot, darken
the oval to the left of the word
“YES”;
to vote against it, darken
the oval to the left of the word
“NO”.
Shall the following be adopted?
Shall Bourbon County, Kansas,
levy (renew) a one percent
countywide retailers’ sales tax to
take effect on July 1, 2021, and
expire on June 30, 2031, with the
allocated shares pursuant to
K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 12-192 to be
used as follows: (1) to Bourbon
County, for the purpose of
maintenance and construction of
hard surface roads, and (2) to
each city located in Bourbon
County, for the purpose of
providing funding for public
services?
Residents living in the City of Fort Scott vote at the following locations:
1st Ward Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott
2nd Ward Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott
3rd Ward Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott
4th Ward Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott
5th Ward Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott
6th Ward Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott
7th Ward Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott
Residents living out in the county vote at the following locations:
Drywood Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott
Franklin Mapleton Community Building – 565 Eldora, Mapleton, KS
Freedom Fulton Community Building – 408 West Osage, Fulton, KS
East Marion Uniontown City Hall – 206 Sherman Street, Uniontown, KS
West Marion Bronson Community Building – 504 Clay Street, Bronson, KS
Marmaton Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS
Millcreek Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS
Osage Fulton Community Building – 408 West Osage, Fulton, KS
Pawnee Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS
North Scott Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott
South Scott Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott
Timberhill Mapleton Community Building – 565 Eldora, Mapleton, KS
Walnut Uniontown City Hall – 206 Sherman Street, Uniontown, KS
NATIONAL AND STATE OFFICES | |||||
For President and Vice-President of the United States | |||||
Joseph R. Biden / Kamala D. Harris | 1209 Barley Mill Road
Wilmington, DE 19807 |
Democratic | |||
Donald J. Trump / Michael R. Pence 1100 S. Ocean Blvd.
Palm Beach, FL 33480 |
Republican | ||||
Jo Jorgensen / Jeremy “Spike” Cohen | Greenville, SC | Libertarian | |||
For United States Senate | |||||
Barbara Bollier | 6910 Overhill Road
Mission Hills, KS 66208 |
Democratic | |||
Roger Marshall | PO Box 1588
Great Bend, KS 67530 |
Republican | |||
Jason Buckley | 8828 Marty Ln
Overland Park, KS 66212 |
Libertarian | |||
For US House of Representatives – District 2 | |||||
Michelle De La Isla | 3250 SW Briarwood Dr
Topeka, KS 66611 |
Democratic | |||
Jake LaTurner | 2329 SW Ashworth Pl
Topeka, KS 66614 |
Republican | |||
Robert Garrard | 2287 N 300 Rd
Edgerton, KS 66021 |
Libertarian | |||
Kansas Senate, District 12 | |||||
Mike Bruner | 1002 Pecan St.
Humboldt, KS 66748 |
Democratic | |||
Caryn Tyson | PO Box 191
Parker, KS 66072 |
Republican | |||
Kansas Senate, District 13 | |||||
Nancy J. Ingle | 511 E. 21st
Pittsburg, KS 66762 |
Democratic | |||
Richard Hilderbrand | 240 Cleveland Ave
Baxter Springs, KS 66713 |
Republican | |||
Kansas House of Representatives, District 2 | |||||
Lynn D. Grant | 202 S. Appleton
Frontenac, KS 66763 |
Democratic | |||
Kenneth Collins | 102 E First Street
Mulberry, KS 66756 |
Republican | |||
Kansas House of Representatives, District 4 | |||||
Bill Meyer | 14 Golfview Drive
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Democratic | |||
Trevor Jacobs | 1927 Locust Road
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | |||
For County Commissioner – District 2 | |||||
Jim Harris | 2302 Jayhawk Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | |||
For County Commissioner – District 3 | |||||
Clifton Beth | 2236 215th,
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | |||
Phillip G. Hoyt | 2422 242nd Terrace
Fulton, KS 66738 |
Democratic | |||
For County Clerk | |||||
Kendell Dawn Mason | 2 S Eddy
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | |||
For County Treasurer | |||||
Patty Love | 901 Shepherd St
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | |||
For Register of Deeds | |||||
Lora Holdridge | 1814 Richards Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | |||
For County Attorney | |||||
Jacqie Spradling | PO Box 576
Spring Hill, KS 66083 |
Republican | |||
For County Sheriff | |||||
Mike Feagins | 1964 Justice Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Democratic | |||
Bill Martin | 502 Meadow Ln
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | |||
TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE | |||||
Drywood | Richard Cullison, Jr. | 506 260th
Garland, KS 66741 |
Republican | ||
Franklin | Tony Bradbury | 631 Soldier Rd.
Bronson, KS 66716 |
Republican | ||
Freedom | Janice Seested | 2330 215th St.
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | ||
Marion | Steve Geiger | 1121 Hwy 3
Uniontown, KS 66779 |
Republican | ||
Marmaton | David Duffey | 1201 Locust Rd
Redfield, KS 66769 |
Republican | ||
Millcreek | Yvonne Beck | 1821 159th Street
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | ||
Osage | Brian Wade | 2618 Soldier Rd.
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Democratic | ||
Pawnee | Karen A. Endicott-Coyan | 1635 Fern Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | ||
Scott | Jim Sackett | 2019 Maple Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | ||
Timberhill | Dan Laughlin | 2275 105th St.
Mapleton, KS 66754 |
Republican | ||
Walnut | No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed | ||||
TOWNSHIP TREASURER | |||||
Drywood | No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed | ||||
Franklin | No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed | ||||
Freedom | Karen A. Paddock | 608 W Cedar St.
Fulton, KS 66738 |
Republican | ||
Marion | Rex Wilson | 905 Clay St.
Bronson, KS 66716 |
Republican | ||
Marmaton | Wilma K. Graham | 102 W 4th
Redfield, KS 66769 |
Democratic | ||
Millcreek | Betty L. Graham | 1458 Tomahawk Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Democratic | ||
Osage | Kathleen Valentine | 2638 Tomahawk Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | ||
Pawnee | Sharon Middleton | 1374 Eagle Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Democratic | ||
Scott | Harold Rogers | 2189 Ironwood Rd
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
Republican | ||
Timberhill | David Scharenberg | 1045 Yale Rd
Mapleton, KS 66754 |
Republican | ||
Walnut | No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed | ||||
STATE OF KANSAS OFFICIAL JUDICIAL BALLOT | |||||
Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeals Judges, District Court Judges and District Magistrate Judge | |||||
Question #1, | Shall the following Supreme Court Justice be retained in office? | ||||
Eric S. Rosen | 1928 S.W. Indian Woods Ln.
Topeka, KS 66611 |
Position 4 | |||
Question #2, | Shall the following Court of Appeals Judges be retained in office? | ||||
Sarah E. Warner | Kansas Judicial Center
301 SW 10th Ave Topeka, KS 66612 |
Position 4 | |||
David E. Bruns | Olathe | Position 6 | |||
G. Gordon Atcheson | 301 SW 10th Ave
Topeka, KS 66612 |
Position 8 | |||
Karen M. Arnold-Burger | 301 SW 10th Ave
Topeka, KS 66612 |
Position 9 | |||
Kathryn Gardner | 301 SW 10th Ave
Topeka, KS 66612 |
Position 14 | |||
Question #3, | Shall the following Judges of the District Court be retained in office? | ||||
Terri L Johnson | PO Box 311
Pleasanton, KS 66075 |
District 6, Division 2 | |||
Mark A. Ward | 829 190th St
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
District 6, Division 3
|
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Steven C. Montgomery | 22404 S. Roosevelt St.
Spring Hill, KS 66083 |
District 6, Division 4 | |||
Question #4, | Shall the following Judge of the District Magistrate be retained in office? | ||||
Valorie R. Leblanc | 210 S. National
Fort Scott, KS 66701 |
District 6 | |||
Shall the following be adopted?
Shall Bourbon County, Kansas, levy (renew) a one percent countywide retailers’ sales tax to take effect on July 1, 2021, and expire on June 30, 2031, with the allocated shares pursuant to K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 12-192 to be used as follows: (1) to Bourbon county, for the purpose of maintenance and construction of hard surface roads, and (2) to each city located in Bourbon county, for the purpose of providing funding for public services? |
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Kendell Mason, County Clerk &
(SEAL) Bourbon County Election Officer
Candidate Forum October 15
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Election Prayer Night Oct. 1
Election Prayer Night
Chamber Coffee At Empress Event Center on Sept. 24
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Effort To Ensure Kansans Get Registered To Vote
Governor Kelly, State Agencies Ensure Kansas Voters Can Get Registered and Vote
~Part of Effort to Ensure Kansas in Full Compliance with Federal Voting Law~
TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure every eligible Kansan has a meaningful opportunity to get registered to vote or update their voter registration.
“As we enter the homestretch of the 2020 election, it is vital that every eligible voter has a chance to register to vote and participate in our democracy,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “My administration has taken several steps to improve our outreach to Kansans – especially during this pandemic – and these efforts are already bearing fruit.”
DCF and KDHE began sending voter registration applications to Kansas residents entitled to agency-provided voter registration opportunities, one of the state’s recent efforts to ensure compliance with federal law.
Last November, Demos, Loud Light, the ACLU, and the ACLU of Kansas completed an investigation of compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) in Kansas and notified Governor Kelly and other state officials of areas to improve to ensure the state’s compliance with the NVRA. DCF and KDHE have been working on meaningful improvements to agency-provided voter registration opportunities and assistance to clients filling out voter registration applications.
Among other improvements, DCF and KDHE upgraded and will continue to improve their online application portals to provide their clients with better assistance with voter registration. Although some of the technology upgrades will take time to implement, DCF and KDHE have mailed voter registration applications to clients to ensure that they receive opportunities to register to vote before the November General Election.
This process has already provided many Kansas residents with an opportunity to register to vote or update their registration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between March and September 2020, DCF mailed voter registration applications to nearly 151,00 clients. KDHE will send voter registration applications to 127,000 client households in September.
“As we weather this pandemic, with many individuals quarantined at home and practicing social distancing, it is important we provide this service to Kansans,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I am committed to making sure eligible Kansas voters are not left behind.”
Governor Kelly encourages all eligible Kansas residents to register to vote. Kansans who receive a voter registration application in the mail are encouraged to complete the application to register to vote (or update an existing registration) as quickly as possible to ensure it reaches their county’s election office ahead of the October 13 deadline to register. Eligible Kansans may also register to vote online at https://www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/voterreg/default.aspx; a Kansas driver’s license or state identification card are required to register to vote on the Kansas registration page. Eligible Kansans can also register in minutes at KSVotes.org. To vote in the General Presidential Election this year, Kansas residents must be registered to vote by October 13, 2020.
The Governor also encourages every registered voter to vote by mail. And any registered voter in Kansas can. The application for a mail-in ballot can be found at https://www.kssos.org/forms/elections/AV1.pdf.
Applications for a mail ballot must be returned by October 27, 2020, to your county election official. Ballots will be mailed to those who apply beginning on October 14, 2020. All ballots must be postmarked on or before November 3 and received in the county election office by the close of business on November 6.
Voter Registration in Conjunction With Downtown Sidewalk Sale This Weekend
Bourbon County Official Election Results from Aug. 4
The following is the official election results of the Bourbon County primary election Aug. 4, 2020, following a canvass by the Bourbon County Commissioners.