The following attachment is the agenda for the 10-11-2022 City Commission Meeting. You will find an addition under New Business for the Consideration of Bids for the 900 E. National Trenching Project.
Category Archives: Fort Scott
U234 Board of Education Meets This Evening
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701–2697
www.usd234.org
620–223–0800 Fax 620–223–2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 10, 2022 – 5:30 P.M.
AGENDA SUMMARY
1.0 Call Meeting to Order Danny Brown, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
4.1 Minutes from September 12, 2022, Board of Education Meeting
4.2 Correction to date of August 1, 2022 Minutes
4.3 Financials–Cash Flow Report
4.4 Check Register
4.5 Payroll – September 20, 2022 – $1,517,827.10
4.6 Activity Fund accounts
4.7 FSHS Choir Fundraiser
5.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion)
5.1 Assistant Superintendent’s Report
5.2 Finance Director’s Report
6.0 Old Business
6.1 No items
7.0 New Business
7.1 Approval of quote for student computer cases
8.0 Public Forum
9.0 Other Business – Personnel Matters
9.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
9.2 Exit Executive Session
9.3 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
9.4 Exit executive session
9.5 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
9.6 Exit Executive Session
10.0 Adjourn Meeting
President Brown
New Date For Fort Scott Land Bank Advisory Board Meeting
The Land Bank Advisory Board will meet on Monday, October 17th, 2022 at 4 p.m. at the City Hall Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting is open to the public. The meeting will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
The Fort Scott Land Bank Advisory Board Meets Oct. 10
The Land Bank Advisory Board will meet on Monday, October 10th, 2022 at 4 p.m. at the City Hall Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting is open to the public. The meeting will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
FS City Commission Agenda for Oct. 11
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR
MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL COMMISSION MEETING ROOM
123 SOUTH MAIN STREET
OCTOBER 11, 2022
6:00 P.M.
Call to Order
I. Roll Call:
J. Jones T. Van Hoecke S. Walker M. Wells K. Harrington
II. Flag Salute:
III. Invocation: Led by: T. Van Hoecke
IV. Consent Agenda:
A. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of September 20th, 2022, and
Special Meeting minutes of September 21st, 2022, and September 22nd ,
2022.
B. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1321-A totaling $452,376.58.
C. Request to Pay – J. Richardson Construction – $53,540.57 – 17 th & Eddy Project.
D. Request to Pay – L. G. Barcus and Sons – $170,681.75 – Dam Improvements
E. Request to Pay – Circle C Paving & Construction – $230,165.50 – 2022 CapeSeal Program.
F. Request to Pay Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc – $4,120.00 – City Engineer.
G. Request to Pay Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. – $12,799.20 – System Designs.
H. Request to Pay Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. – $3,540.00 – South Industrial Park Waterline, Final Design.
I. Request to Pay Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. – $13,700.00 –
Sanitary Sewer Project.
J. Request to Pay Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. – $2,849.00 – Cooper St. Inspection
K. Request to Pay Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. – $5,850.00 – South Horton St. and W. 6 th St.
L. Request to Pay AMS Advanced Microbial Solutions – $55,000.00 – Set Up
Fee
M. Nuss & Farmer August Out of Contract Hours – $1,435.00
N. Approve August Financials
V. Public Comment:
(Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at Commission discretion)
VI. Old Business:
VII. Appearances:
1. Lake Advisory Board Representative
VIII. Public Hearing: None
IX. New Business:
1. Consideration of Change Order #1 – L.G. Barcus and Sons, Inc. – $19,466.03
– River Intake Project
XII. Reports and Comments:
A. Interim City Manager Comments:
B. Commissioners Reports and Comments:
C. City Attorney Reports and Comments:
XIII. Executive Session – If requested, (please follow script in all motions for
Executive Sessions)
IX. Adjournment:
521 S. Judson Now On National Register of Historic Places
The Thomas and Anna Herbert House, now owned by Rob and Ronda Hassig, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The house is located at 512 South Judson St.
Fort Scott.
The heavy plaque noting the registration sits inside the Hassig home, waiting for a pole to be built to attach it to, since it is very heavy.
“Having the house on the National Register of Historic places means the Herbert House gets the recognition it so richly deserves,” Ronda Hassig said. “Rob and I both feel strongly that this designation will also keep our beautiful home safe even after we are gone. We love the Herbert House and are hoping that the Heritage Trust Fund Grant from the state of Kansas will come through and we can do some much-needed repairs on the exterior of the house!”
“The reason the Herbert House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places is because of the Queen Anne architecture and style,” Ronda said. “When the historical architect first visited us to help with the National Register application, she literally walked through the front door and said ‘This is a slam dunk!’ The Queen Anne style was based on the premise of ‘decorative excess” and that is exactly what the Herberts did!”
About Thomas Herbert
“Thomas Herbert worked for the government and happened through Fort Scott on one of his business trips after the Civil War and fell in love with the town,” she said. “He bought the lots on Judson in the early 1870s but didn’t build until 1887/88. He married his wife Anna in 1873 at the Episcopalian church.”
“Mr. Herbert owned a store at Second and Wall Street that had paint, wallpaper, and home decor items from all over the world, kind of a mini-Home Depot,” she said. “He was from Canada and learned painting as an apprentice in Buffalo, NY.”
“He…decorated some of the most beautiful houses in Fort Scott so he was quite the artist,” Ronda said. “When the town renovated the Opera House, Mr. Herbert painted all of the Egyptian figures on the walls and ceiling of the theatre! He would definitely be considered one of the founding fathers of Fort Scott.”
Herbert was a Mason of the 33rd Degree, so he spent time at the Scottish Rites Temple, she said.
Description of the Herbert House
“We have lived in the house for almost four years and we still find little decorations inside and out that we haven’t noticed before,” she said. “The hand carved woodwork would have been done back East, and then would have been shipped by train. A builder would have built the house to suit the Herberts. We don’t know who the builder was but whoever it was they did a really nice job!”
The house is 6000 square feet including a full attic, dry basement and coal shoot, and 4000 square feet of living space with 5 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, music room, living room, dining room, modern kitchen and library/den.
“My favorite room is probably the dining room because of the Czechoslovakian chandelier and the Mark Twain fireplace,” Ronda said. “Mark Twain liked to watch the snow fall and the fire blaze at the same time so there are two flues and a window above the fire box!”
“The library/den, half bath, and 5th bedroom were added to the house in 1930 by Dr. Wilkening who lived in the house longer than anyone else,” she said. “The music room was actually his office.”
Renown photographer Gordon Parks was friends with one of the more recent owners of the house, Ken and Charlotte Lunt.
“Gordon Parks was very good friends with the Lunts and he visited the house often in his later years,” she said. “He held court in the front burgundy velvet antique chairs by the round window whenever he visited. We’ve hosted the Gordon Parks Celebration VIPS that last two years so that David Parks (Gordon’s son) can see the house again every year.”
“The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.”
According to https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/features.htm
Gordon Parks Celebration Happening Now
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Pre-School Trunk or Treat Oct. 28
Submitted by
Nick Johnson, Fort Scott Preschool Principal
(620) 223-8965
On behalf of the USD 234 School District, we would like to invite you to the 2022 Early Childhood Trunk-or-Treat. This year’s event will be held on Friday, October 28 from 4:30-6:00 PM at the Fort Scott Preschool Center gym. All children ages birth-six years old and their families are invited to attend. A grant through the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation is helping support this year’s Early Childhood Trunk-or-Treat.
If you are a family resource provider or a community partner, we invite you to attend and set up a table from which children can trick-or-treat. During this time, you may also provide brochures, resources, and/or helpful information related to your program. Our goal is to inform families about the resources available in our community. If you are a preschool or childcare provider, please share the attached flyer with your families. We also welcome you to set up a table for your program.
If you plan to attend our event, please complete the form below by Friday, October 21st so we can have a table reserved for your organization.
Early Childhood Trunk-or-Treat Reservation
FS City Commission Meets To Discuss Wastewater Treatment Plant on Oct. 6
The City Commission will meet for a special meeting at 4:00 p.m.
on Thursday, October 6th, 2022, at City Hall in the City
Commission meeting room at 123 South Main Street, Fort Scott,
Kansas. This meeting will be held to discuss improvements at the
Wastewater Treatment Plant.
This meeting will be broadcast on the City’s You tube channel.
This meeting is open to the public.
To view attachement:
Growing Pains: Downtown Fort Scott Improvements
Downtown Fort Scott has experienced much improvements in the last few years.
Historic buildings have been and are being brought back to life, some for business storefronts and some for residences. There has hardly been a month where there wasn’t a dumpster in front of buildings downtown where construction going on.
All the new businesses and residences create problems that local city, businesses and organizations are working to solve.
At the quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet on Oct. 4, hosted by City State Bank, there was discussion of the downtown parking situation.
The need is real: more available and easily accessed parking for downtown businesses and residents.
The two recently renovated buildings, Union Lofts at 20 S. Main and Fort Scott Lofts at 8 E. First, need approximately 120 parking spaces for residents. In addition there are a growing number of other downtown apartments.
The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Downtown Division has been having conversations to come up with solutions, Lindsay Madison, executive director of the Chamber said.
“No solution will make everyone happy,” Bailey Lyons, chair of the the division told the attendees. We are looking at the most cost effective ways.”
There is a small unpaved parking lot in back of the Union Lofts, at First and National Avenue that has not been developed, “but funding is not available, is my understanding,” Madison said.
There are currently public parking lots behind Moe’s Breads on National Avenue, south of Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel, 201 S. Main and on Skubitz Plaza at the north end of downtown.
Some solutions for the parking situation on Main Street, from information provided by Madison are:
- Enforcement of the 2-hour parking that is already in place. The ticket amount is being discussed by the city.
- Reinstall parking meters. This is not a popular choice, based on feedback.
- Have no parking allowed between the hours of midnight to 6 a.m.
- Give designated spots, with car stickers, in downtown area public parking lots for the downtown residents.
- Build parking garages large enough to hold all the apartment resident’s cars, business employees cars and overflow parking.
“No solution will make everyone happy,” Bailey Lyons, chair of the the division told the attendees. We are looking at the most cost effective ways.”
For Lyons, the possible solutions are “Divert and assign spots for residents and business employees, and have better signage to identify public parking lots.”
Also on the Downtown Meet and Greet Agenda:
- The Fort Scott National Historic Site annual candlelight tour is the first weekend in December, with tickets set to go on sale on November 1.
- The annual Downtown Halloween Parade is Oct. 29, with festivities starting at 10 a.m. and the parade at 11 a.m. Hot dogs will be provided after the parade for participants.
- Downtown Holiday Open House is Nov. 10-12, with the kick-off event from 5-8 p.m. on Nov. 10.
- Small Business Saturday Bonanza in November 26.
- Cocoa and Caroling Night Shopping is Friday, December 9 from 5-8 p.m.
Madison listed several business resources available in Fort Scott:
- The Dare to Dream Women’s Entrepreneurship Event, today from 5-7 p.m. at the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Office, north of Luther’s BBQ on North National. There will be tips to affording health insurance.
- Also at this location is the Small Business Development Center, with Dacia Clark as the contact.
- Bourbon County Regional Economic Development offers business entrepreneurship mentoring with Mark McCoy, by appointment.
- E-Community Loans are available at 4% for 10 years, minimum loan is $5,000 maximum is $45,000. Contact the Chamber.
- Governor Laura Kelly announced that small businesses can now apply to receive COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief. In June, Governor Kelly signed bipartisan House Bill 2136, investing $50 million to help small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two downtown building construction updates
Lyons gave an update on the building on the west side of downtown Main Street that she and her husband are renovating.
She said they are working with the state on the historic building which is a slow process, and have addressed structural issues.
“We are going to tackle the first floor first,” she said. “It is a possible build-to-suit for interested businesses.”
Kathy Dancer gave an update on the Scottish Temple that she and her husband have purchased.
She envisions a cafe and retail spaces in the building.
“I am guesstimating 18 months until we get the cafe going,” she said.
There will be a future story on this project on fortscott.biz.
About the host
City State Bank President John Hill told attendees that the bank was chartered in 1920, and in 2018 the downtown branch location was remodeled. They have two locations: 1012 Highway 69 or 202 Scott Avenue Fort Scott. and can be reached at 620-223-1600.
“We are a $55 million dollar institution, with 97% in Bourbon County,” he told the attendees.
Writer’s Seminar Oct. 15
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Discovering Fort Scott’s Little Known Stories
Exploring the African American Experience
Fort Scott Kan. – The public is invited to the Exploring the African American Experience Project videography discussion on Friday, October 7, at the Ellis Fine Arts Center theater on the Fort Scott Community College campus at 9 a.m.
There will be discussions about video and movie making, how to find inspiration, and some insight of technical aspects. Featured panelists include David Parks, photographer, filmmaker, author, and son of Gordon Parks; Robin Hickman-Winfield, Executive Producer of SoulTouch Productions and great-niece of Gordon Parks; and Eli Reed, award-winning photographer, photojournalist, and author.
The stories of Gordon Parks and George Washington Carver highlight the struggles and ability to overcome adversity. The Exploring the African American Experience Project engages local high school and Fort Scott Community College students to research the little known and under told stories of other progressive African Americans and leaders from the Fort Scott area. Students will create audio recordings or videos to share these stories in their ‘voices’ through social media and short films hosted by the National Park Service, Gordon Parks Museum, and their schools. Exhibits will be developed from their work. This ongoing project is designed to expand beyond Fort Scott students.
From April 1-October 31, Fort Scott National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service, will be open for its summer hours of operation. The site exhibit areas and visitor center are open daily from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Park grounds are open daily from a half hour before sunrise until a half hour after sunset. To find out more or become involved in activities at the Fort, please contact the park at 620-223-0310 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/fosc.
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