Kelley Zellner, currently the Fredonia City Manager, signed a contract on Dec. 3, 2021, to become the Fort Scott City Manager starting Jan. 4, 2022. He replaces interim City Manager Mark McCoy.

The contract is for $95,000

Zellner’s main duties are working with the Fort Scott City Commission and city staff, according to Brad Matkin, the human resource director for the city.

Zellner received a mini-masters of public administration, a Certified Public Administrator, from Wichita State University in Feb. 2020.

In the fall of 2021, he became a certified city clerk through the League of Municipalities.

Previously he earned a master’s of art in counseling from Friends University, Wichita, in 2001. In 1998 he received a bachelor of science degree in human resource management from Friends University.

Zellner has been the Fredonia City Administrator since 2018, the Valley Center Public Works Director from 2017-2018, and was the Conway Falls Chief of Police from 2013 to 2017.

His hometown is Howard, Kansas.

The following is the revised job description for the Fort Scott City Manager provided by Matkin:

“City of Fort Scott City Manager Job Description

SUMMARY

The City Manager oversees all administrative tasks necessary for city operations while implementing and overseeing policies set by a city’s mayor and commission. Hired by the City Commission, he/she supervises city departments, maintains the city budget, and represents the municipality in a variety of settings.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Serves as Chief Administrator and Executive Officer of the City by directing the operations of all City departments through various department heads to achieve overall success in meeting the objectives and policies of the City Commission.

• Appoints department heads and staff as necessary for the efficient and effective operation of the City.

• Oversees the annual budget and submits estimates to authorized elected officials for approval.

• Implements the policies and ordinances of the City Commission.

• Research issues of importance to the city and advises the mayor and the commission on the best course of action.

• External relations – responsible for hearing the concerns and requests of the community and bringing them to the commission. Must anticipate municipality needs and create programs to address them.

• Represents the City at conferences and coordinates City activities with civic, business, and public organizations and keeps such organizations informed of City business and activities.

• Develops, implements, and maintains long-range plans, goals, objectives, and policies for the City subject to approval by the City Commission.

• Performs additional duties and tasks as needed or directed by the City Commission.

• Advises the City Commission of financial conditions and current and future City needs

• Continual contact with the governing body, the general public, and city employees is expected

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Manages directors who supervise the employees of the City. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these units. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Overall responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATIONS

Must live within Bourbon County limits or be able to relocate within 6 months. Must be skilled in the following areas: Diplomacy, Ability to Delegate, Project Management, and People Skills.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.) in Public Administration, Political Science, Business Administration or Management; or four to ten years related management experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s degree in public administration or Business Administration preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business and government reports, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Must have a valid driver’s license that meets City driving history requirements.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment is an office environment with the exception of visiting employees in the field or citizens out in the community.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.”

This is part of a series featuring employees who have been nominated to be featured by their employers. To nominate someone, send an email to [email protected].

Jessica Mowen, 46, is the Fort Scott Police Department’s Animal Control Officer.

Her duties are varied.

“I  take care of the Fort Scott Animal Shelter, clean, feed, care for dogs in the kennel, adopt out dogs, reunite dogs with owners, I take in abandoned dogs in which I adopt out,” she said. “I’m dispatched to all animal control calls, whether it be dogs, raccoons, opossum, groundhogs,  or armadillo.  I take calls for animal neglect and abuse and do investigations for these calls, I’m dispatched to aggressive/dangerous dog calls. I check for city tags and vaccinations. I write citations for ordinances that are not upheld.  I remove deceased animals from the roadway. I educate people on how to properly care for their animals.”

The shelter is located at 601 N. Barbee and has hours of operation of
Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. To call the shelter, phone 620-223-1700 and leave a phone number with dispatch.

On Saturday and Sundays, Mowen cleans and feeds the dogs housed at the kennels, she said.

She has had a passion and great love for animals since very young and pursued a career as a veterinarian technician in 2006.

“I  worked with a few amazing veterinarians throughout the years who have taught me so much,” she said.

She has been the animal control officer for Fort Scott for almost six months and the best part of her job is reuniting lost dogs with their owners and adopting out dogs to new homes, she said.

Some of the challenges are trying to teach people and encourage them to care for their pets in the correct and lawful way, Mowen said.

Other challenges are adopting out the dogs she has in the kennel and “sometimes actually catching the dogs at large,” she said.

The City Commission will meet at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 7^th, 2021 due to the downtown Christmas parade. The Commission may recess when the parade begins at 6:00 p.m. and then return to the open meeting after the parade depending on the length of the meeting.

NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR
MEETING OF
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL COMMISSION MEETING ROOM

123 SOUTH MAIN STREET
DECEMBER 7, 2021
4:00 P.M.

Call to Order

1. Roll Call:

K. Allen P. Allen R. Nichols T. Van Hoecke J. Jones

II. Flag Salute:

3. Invocation: Led by: Sergeant Bill Downey, Fort Scott Police Department

3. Approval of Agenda:

3. Proclamations/Recognitions:

3. Consent Agenda:

1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of November 16^th, 2021, special meetings of November 16^th, 2021, November 20^th, 2021, November 24^th, 2021, and December 3^rd, 2021.

2. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1300-A totaling $425,303.56.

3. Request to Pay – Heckert Construction Co., Inc. – $72,095.94 – South National Avenue Overlay

4. Request to Pay #1 – Rogers & Sons Concrete – Union Lofts Alley Project – $45,666.00.

3. Public Comment:

(Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at Commission discretion)

3. Old Business:

   1. Consideration to repeal Ordinance 2563 – Section 12.12.070 – Pavement – Approval of Ordinance No. 3587

Excavation-Procedure, Section 12-12-080 – Unimproved Street – Procedure Exception – Approval of Ordinance No. 3588

Section 12.12.110 – Replacement of Materials – Exception – Approval of Ordinance No. 3589

3. 1. Consideration of Bids – Demolition of Structures

• 611 S. Ransom – Structure and Accessory Structure

• 323 S Hill – Structure

• 1517 S Main – Structure and Accessory Structure

• 316 S. Main – Structure and Accessory Structure

• 114 S. Barbee – Structure

• 14 S Margrave – Structure

• 510 S Heylman – Structure

3. Appearances: None

3. Public Hearing

Budget Amendment – 5:00 p.m.

Neighborhood Revitalization Public Hearing – 5:00 p.m.

3. New Business:

   1. Change Order #1 – Union Lofts Alley Project – $15,960.00

   2. Skating at Buck Run Discussion

   3. Water Rate Analysis Discussion

   4. Consideration of renewal of A.D.M. Contract

   5. Repeal of Ordinance Section 13.24.120 – Wastewater Surcharge

   6. Approval of repair of Ozone Generator #2

   7. Consideration of Tree Removal Ordinance amendment

   8. Consideration of Old Military Bridge removal

XII. Reports and Comments:

1. Human Resource Director Comments:

2. Commissioners Reports and Comments:

Mayor Jones – Discussion of School Resource Officer agreement with Bourbon County

Discussion of Land Bank

C. City Attorney Reports and Comments:

XIII. Executive Session – If requested, (please follow script in all motions for Executive Sessions)

IX. Adjournment:

CITY OF FORT SCOTT

SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING

Minutes of December 3^rd, 2021 Special Meeting #28

A special meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held December 3^rd, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. in the City Commission Meeting Room, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.

ROLL CALL:

Commissioners Kevin Allen, Pete Allen, Randy Nichols, and Tim Van Hoecke were present with Mayor Josh Jones presiding.

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Rachel Thompson, Brad Matkin, Mathew Wells, Travis Shelton, and Mark McCoy.

CONSIDERATION:

Executive Session:

J. Jones moved that the City Commission recess into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1). The open meeting will resume in the Commission meeting room at City Hall at 9:18 a.m. Tim Van Hoecke seconded. All voted aye. This included the City Commission, Interim City Manager, Human Resource Director, City Attorney, and Matthew Wells.

J. Jones moved that the City Commission come out of Executive Session at 9:18 a.m. T. Van Hoecke seconded. All voted aye.

J. Jones moved to approve to offer a City Manager contract to a City Manager candidate to be approved after he has reviewed it at next Tuesday’s meeting. T. Van Hoecke seconded. All voted aye.

Discussion was also held regarding the payment of the National Avenue project and what amount the Commission would be willing to pay since the project is not complete. They verbally decided on 50% payment.

Discussed changing the time of the December 7^th, 2021 meeting to 4:00 p.m.

Mark McCoy announced that Brad will be in charge while he is out of town next week.

ADJOURNMENT:

K. Allen moved to adjourn the special meeting at 9:25 a.m. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

ADJOURNED MEETING AT 9:25 A.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Diane K. Clay, M.M.C.,

City Clerk

CITY OF FORT SCOTT

SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING

Minutes of November 24^th, 2021 Special Meeting #27

A special meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held November 24^th, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Commission Meeting Room, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.

ROLL CALL:

Commissioners Kevin Allen, Pete Allen, Randy Nichols, and Lindsey Watts were present with Mayor Josh Jones presiding.

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Tim Van Hoecke, Margie Brown, Rachel Thompson, Brad Matkin, and Mark McCoy. Matthew Wells and the City Manager candidate were connected via conference call.

CONSIDERATION:

1. Accept resignation of City Commissioner – Lindsey Watts read a resignation letter stating that since you have to be live in the City limits to be a City Commissioner, and she has recently moved to the County, she is resigning as a Fort Scott City Commissioner effective November 24^th, 2021. She thanked each and every citizen that voted for her and trusted her to make the right decisions at each meeting. She said that the last two years have been filled with turmoil and challenges, and that we need to make sure and move the City forward together. She stated that she hoped the Commission would take the top vote getter in the latest election and appoint him to take her position effective tonight. She thanked City staff for their work and the Interim City Manager for his efforts in moving the City forward.

The Commissioners all thanked her for her time on the City Commission and all she has contributed.

J. Jones moved to accept the resignation from Lindsey Watts as a City Commissioner effective November 24^th, 2021. K. Allen seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO ACCEPT LINDSEY WATTS’ RESIGNATION AS A CITY COMMISSIONER EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 24^TH, 2021.

J. Jones moved to appoint Tim Van Hoecke to fill her position as a City Commissioner effective November 24^th, 2021. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO APPOINT TIM VAN HOECKE AS CITY COMMISSIONER EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 24^TH, 2021.

City Clerk, Diane Clay, administered the Oath of Office to Mr. Van Hoecke.

Executive Session:

J. Jones moved that the City Commission recess into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1). The open meeting will resume in the Commission meeting room at City Hall at 6:18 p.m. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye. This included the City Commission, Interim City Manager, Human Resource Director, Lindsey Watts, and Matthew Wells.

J. Jones moved that the City Commission come out of Executive Session at 6:18 p.m. K. Allen seconded. All voted aye.

Executive Session:

J. Jones moved that the City Commission recess into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1). The open meeting will resume in the Commission meeting room at City Hall at 6:33 p.m. K. Allen seconded. All voted aye. This included the City Commission, Interim City Manager, Human Resource Director, and Matthew Wells.

J. Jones moved that the City Commission come out of Executive Session at 6:33 p.m. K. Allen seconded. All voted aye.

Executive Session:

J. Jones moved that the City Commission recess into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1). The open meeting will resume in the Commission meeting room at City Hall at 6:43 p.m. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye. This included the City Commission, Interim City Manager, Human Resource Director, and Matthew Wells.

J. Jones moved that the City Commission come out of Executive Session at 6:43 p.m. T. Van Hoecke seconded. All voted aye.

ADJOURNMENT:

J. Jones moved to adjourn the special meeting at 6:44 p.m. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

ADJOURNED MEETING AT 6:44 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Diane K. Clay, M.M.C.,

City Clerk