April until 30th ~ Poetry Contest hosted by Hedgehog.INK Bookstore. Click here to learn more about submission rules and deadlines.
4/9 – The Boiler Room Brewhaus Friday Nights Karaoke!
4/9-15 – Fort Scott Cinema Showtimes Now showing Godzilla VS. Kong, Firl who believes in Miracles and Voyagers. Click here to view showtimes.
4/9 – FSCC Women’s Intercollegiate Golf Tournament Round One! Begins at 1 pm Tee Time at Woodland Hills Golf Course.
4/9-10 – Livestock Sale at the Fort Scott Livestock Market, both Friday & Saturday, click here for their FB page.
4/9-11 – Kansas Rocks Recreation Park Camp-N-Crawl 3-Day Event click here for details.
4/9-10 – Timken 2-Day Job Fair April 9th 1-5pm, April 10th 10am-3pm
4/9-10 – “Fort Games” 2-Day Event at Smallville Athletics
4/10 – Ward-Kraft Job Fair 9am-noon, 2221 Main St., under the white tent.
4/10 – Care to Share Rummage Sale Buck Run Community Center, open spots for more sales, call 620-224-8070 (donations accepted as well for the Sharing Bucket)
4/10 – Communities in Schools 25 Drive Event drive-thru donation event to benefit local youth, 9:30am-12:30pm, FSMS, click here for more details.
4/10 – FSCC Women’s Intercollegiate Golf Tournament Round Two! Begins at 9am Tee Time at Woodland Hills Gold Course.
4/10 – Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board Meeting City Hall, 10am.
4/12 – Spring Cleanup at Woodland Hills Golf Course Volunteers welcome, 5:30pm, to pick up any trash, limbs, sticks, etc.
4/13 – Downtown Quarterly Meet & Greet hosted by the Chamber at Common Ground Coffee Co., 12 E. Wall St., 8:30-9:30am, anyone with an interest in happenings Downtown welcome.
4/15 – Chamber Coffee hosted by Fort Scott Christian Heights School 1101 S. Barbee, 8am.
4/15-16 – Peerless Products Job Fair 2 Days, 2 Locations ~ April 15th @ Peerless in Nevada MO from 10am-2pm, April 16th @ Peerless in Fort Scott from 10am-2pm
4/16 – Downtown Spring Clean Event 3-6pm, Community volunteers welcome, contact Bailey Lyons, Chamber Downtown Division Chair, if interested in volunteering or you have project ideas, 620-224-7795.
4/16 – Kick-off of the Friday Night Concerts in the Park 7pm, Heritage Park Pavilion @ 1st & Main, bring a lawn chair.
4/16 – David Loving Live to the Stage @ Boiler Room Brewhaus 7-pm, click here for more info.
4/17 – Elks Golf Tournament Fundraiser for Community Fireworks 11am tee-off, 3-person scramble.
4/17 – EKTEC Rodeo 11am, Uniontown.
4/17 – Cruise for the Kids hosted by Walmart 12-3pm, click here for more info.
4/17-18 – Hollister Shooting Range open 1st & 3rd weekends Saturday 1-4pm, Sunday noon-5pm.
4/17 – Paint & Sip Party @ Boiler Room Brewhaus 6pm, click here for more info.
Peter Earles is the CEO of Earles Engineering. Photo was taken from Earle Engineering Facebook page.
Earles Engineering and Inspection, headquartered in McPherson, KS, was hired on April 1 to assume the positions of project manager and public works director for the City of Fort Scott.
“They were approved last night ( at the April 6 city commission meeting),” Fort Scott City Manager Jeremy Frazier, said. “We are going to be doing some good things. They will be helping us prepare, by having shovel-ready projects.”
“They have 30 employees,” Frazier said. “We feel like we are in good hands, and will move the city forward.”
As a project manager, the scope of work will be working with the city on various projects, according to the contract with the engineering firm, provided by the city.
They will meet with city staff once a week, a maximum of four hours, to review active maintenance projects, review future maintenance projects, answer questions and look at long-term projects, according to the contract.
Dave Blessant will be the lead project manager, with Jason Dickman available for engineering questions. Fees for this will be $85 an hour, billed on a monthly basis.
Rates will increase 3% automatically, beginning January 2022, according to the contract.
All services will be from Earles Engineering office in Pittsburg and therefore will be no travel charges.
The contract period is for one year from April 6, and will automatically be renewed unless notice to terminate is provided.
The Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board will meet on Saturday, April 10th 2021 at 9:00 a.m. at the City Hall Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting is open to the public, but is limited in space due to COVID. To join by teleconference, call the dial-in number: 620-724-9910. When prompted, enter the access code 515698# and when prompted state your full name followed by the pound # key.
The meeting will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
Greg Motley. President of the Bourbon County Economic Development Council. Submitted photo.
Bourbon County Economic Development Council is working to find a full-time economic development director, facilitate the starting of the new meat process plant, facilitate a new multi-purpose arena, and expanding housing in the area, according to Greg Motley, president.
Eco Devo
BEDCO began a search for an economic development director a few months ago and had one narrowed down, but that person has declined the position, Greg Motley, president of BEDCO said.
“The process was restarted,” Motley said. “In the meantime, I will be acting director.”
“We will continue interviews until the position is filled,”he said.
“Since 1992, BEDCO has been at the center of Economic Development in Bourbon County, and under the guidance of a reconstituted board that represents the whole county, we are stronger than ever,” Motley said in a press release.
Economic development services provided by BEDCO are primarily matching resources to the economic needs of county entities and businesses, he said.
Motley gave some details of three other projects on the horizon.
Meat Processing Plant
The proposed entry to the micro meat processing plant south of the KDOT building on Hwy. 69, just off Hickory Road. The road will be extended to the south for access to the plant.The KDOT building located on Hwy. 69.
“Since the Micro-meat processing plant was approved, we are moving forward with facilitating the land/lots swap between KW Cattle, Billy Madison and BEDCO,” he said.
The 7 acres owned by BEDCO is being traded with WK Cattle company for the site on Hwy. 69, south of the KDOT building. The parcel of land is at the corner of Jayhawk Road and Liberty Bell Road in Fort Scott Industrial Park.
“KW Cattle is swapping 46 acres south of the (KDOT )State Highway facility on the east side of 69 Highway for two industrial park tracts,” Motley said. “One is about seven acres, the other is about 18 acres, currently owned by BEDCO. They are located on either side of the Christian Learning Center. The new micro-meat processing facility will pay BEDCO some cash considerations, approximately equal to BEDCO’s expenses in the transaction.”
KW Cattle is doing a trade with BEDCO that is advantageous to the community, Motley said.
“They are trading 46 acres, a nice piece of flat ground, for less valuable property of rough ground of 25 acres,” he said. “They wanted to help Fort Scott and Bourbon County. In addition, they can expand the property they own, Christian Learning Center, in the future.”
“BEDCO will take possession (of the land parcel), then sell to the meat processing plant,” he said. “It should be finalized this month.”
Pictured is the other business adjacent to Christian Learning Center, Reprologix, located at 3200 Liberty Bell Road in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park. Behind the sign, to the south of the parking lot, is the land that will be traded. These 18 acres currently owned by BEDCO are being traded by WK Cattle company for land on Hwy. 69.
Multipurpose Arena
“We are also working with local investors on a potential STAR Bonds project for Bourbon County,” he said. “Some Bourbon County citizens are proposing the issuance of Star Bonds to partially finance a new multipurpose arena in Bourbon County, along with improvements to the downtown central business district.”
“The bonds are paid off through the sales tax revenue generated by the development.”
“The intent is to increase regional and national visitation to Kansas.”
“The bonds would cover about 50% of the project, and private investment, along with bank financing would cover the balance, he said. ” The Star Bonds would be repaid by the increase in sales tax collections in a Star Bond District, whose boundaries are yet to be determined.”
“Atchison, KS, a similar-sized community to Fort Scott and Bourbon County, issued $2.3 million in Star Bonds in 2019 to build a museum,” he said. “Attached is a chart of all Star Bonds approved by the State of Kansas. Preliminary estimates of the size of the Bourbon County project range from $3 million to $6 million.”
City
2019 Pop.
Project
Start Date
Orig. Amt (000)
2019 Out. (000)
Dist. Sales Tax (000)
2019 CO. Pop
10-yr Pop. Trend
2019 CO. Sales Tax (000)
2018-19 % increase
2019 Sales Tax Per Capita
2019 Pull Fact.
Atchison- AT
10,476
Aviation Museum
May-18
$2,370
$2,190
$210
16,073
-5.03%
$12,939
6.30%
819
0.70
Derby- SG
24,943
Dino/Sports Zone
Mar-17
$20,465
$13,230
$5,701
516,042
3.55%
$628,714
4.50%
1,234
1.14
Dodge City- FO
27,104
Power Center
Dec-15
$28,481
$26,395
$1,512
33,619
-0.68%
$37,999
5.10%
1,086
0.99
Garden City- FY
26,408
Mixed Use
Mar-19
$29,540
$29,540
$2,117
36,467
-0.84%
$58,841
10.40%
1,507
1.41
Kansas City- WY
152,960
Youth Soccer
Aug-15
$65,138
$83,138
$1,293
165,429
5.03%
$192,921
4.50%
1,119
0.96
Kansas City- WY
152,960
Mercy Park (SKC)
May-10
$150,289
$0
n/a
165,429
5.03%
$192,921
4.50%
1,119
0.96
Kansas City- WY
152,960
Kansas Speedway
Jan-99
$24,300
$16,835
$1,326
165,429
5.03%
$192,921
4.50%
1,119
0.96
Kansas City- WY
152,960
Schlitterbahn
Oct-13
$85,200
$65,755
$6,514
165,429
5.03%
$192,921
4.50%
1,119
0.96
Manhattan- RL
54,604
Flint Hills Discovery
Dec-09
$50,000
$10,905
$5,586
74,232
4.38%
$61,112
-0.20%
814
0.76
Overland Park- JO
195,494
Prairiefire
Dec-12
$64,990
$64,860
$3,059
602,401
10.70%
$917,056
2.50%
1,485
1.28
Overland Park- JO
195,494
BluHawk Mixed Use
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
602,401
10.70%
$917,056
2.50%
1,485
1.28
Salina- SA
46,550
Fieldhouse
Dec-18
$18,250
$18,250
$862
54,224
-2.49%
$77,717
3.50%
1,380
1.31
Topeka- SH
125,310
Heartland Park
Apr-07
$10,405
$5,025
$334
176,875
-0.60%
$211,893
1.00%
1,178
1.06
Wichita- SG
389,938
River District
Jul-15
$46,980
$42,140
$2,097
516,042
3.55%
$628,714
4.50%
1,234
1.14
Wichita- SG
389,938
Greenwich
Dec-13
$107,631
$59,290
$8,251
516,042
3.55%
$628,714
4.50%
1,234
1.14
Fort Scott- BB
7,697
Arena
Jan-22
n/a
n/a
n/a
14,534
-4.21%
$11,778
-2.20%
795
0.70
“Bottom line, we are looking at what has been successful elsewhere,” Motley said.
Housing
“We are examining possibilities to expand housing in Bourbon County,” Motley said. “BEDCO is in the research and discussions phase. Common sense would dictate that we first examine where the market is hot and see what can be done about enhancing the market in those areas.”
“Many jurisdictions in Kansas have a property improvement tax rebate of some sort, that rebate the increase in taxes property experiences, because of a new build or significant addition,” he said. “Many are reluctant to improve their property because of inherent tax increases…a program like this would rebate the first five years of the increase.”
*Make your award nominations by April 14th. Click here for the online nomination form. Click here for a printable form. For your reference in making nominations, you may click here to view prior winners, and click here for a full Chamber member listing.
* Make your dinner reservation and/or confirm sponsorship by April 23rd, see pricing options & contact info. below ~
You will need to specify a choice of soup or salad, and
choice of prime rib or chicken when making your reservation.
* Click to email us if your business/organization would like to decorate a table for fun advertising & promotion.
* Click to email us if your business/organization would like to donate a silent or live auction item for advertising & promotion.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
We are looking forward to a fun evening of
celebrating our community!
The Chamber is supported solely by membership investment and fundraising efforts. Proceeds from this event contribute to the work of the Chamber to benefit Fort Scott, Bourbon County, and the surrounding area. Your participation in any way is sincerely appreciated!
The Downtown Division of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce has planned a Downtown Spring Clean on Friday, April 16th from 3 to 6pm. The committee is seeking project ideas and volunteers for the event to spruce up the Downtown Historic District.
The committee is asking for people to submit project ideas, or sign up to volunteer, preferably by this Wednesday, April 7th so projects and materials needed can be organized. All participants will receive a free t-shirt, courtesy of MyOneStop, and businesses/organizations who send a group of volunteers and/or provide a donation for materials, will be listed on the back of the
t-shirt. Donations may be made to the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and dropped off at 231 E. Wall St.
Those with project ideas or interest in volunteering may contact Bailey Lyons, Downtown Division Chair, at 620-224-7795 or email [email protected].
Thank you to Common Ground Coffee Company for hosting the Fort Scott Chamber Downtown Meet & Greet on Tuesday, April 13th.
Join us in the Loading Dock Room from 8:30 am until 9:30 am and enjoy coffee, juice and light refreshments.
These informal, quarterly meetings are hosted by the Chamber for downtown business owners, representatives, and community members to network and share ideas on events, promotions, and anything related to downtown. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.
THE FORT SCOTT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 620.223.3566 | WWW.FORTSCOTT.COM
Fort Scott Aglow Lighthouse welcomes guest speaker, DeeAnna Currie, from Topeka, KS, Thursday, April 8th, 2021.
DeeAnna will bring a message of encouragement. She shares:
“I am so blessed and excited to come share with you at Fort Scott!
I have been involved in Aglow since 1979. I had two small children at home at the time and was drawn to every meeting I could attend and grow in Christ. The speakers would come and encourage us to be the best we could be by allowing God to lead us in our life. They came and shared the very character of God and His desire to bless us with becoming more like Him. I was driven without even truly recognizing my desire to fill the void in my life. I received true love from Him through this organization. The growth began with the connection of so many nonjudgmental men and women seeking the same thing, a closer walk with Him.”
Come as we share His purpose for you during these questionable times!
DeeAnna Currie
Area President North Kansas Aglow
Guests are welcome to visit our Lighthouse monthly gathering at 6:30 p.m., Thursday April 8th in the conference room of Fort Scott Inn, 101 State Street.
This is an interdenominational ministry opportunity for women, men and youth to worship, pray, fellowship and grow in unity. The goal of Aglow International is: Every nation touched, every heart changed.
Our Lighthouse desires the body of Christ to come together to meet the needs of those that cannot speak for themselves in Bourbon County. For more information contact Amanda Gilmore at (620) 215-0418 or Bob Reazin at (620) 363-0257.
The City of Fort Scott presents Fort Scott Forward.
The City of Fort Scott presents Fort Scott Forward. Everyone is invited to join us for a monthly check-in. The monthly meeting will be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:45AM at the River Room Event Center, 1 W. Oak St. Dave Lipe, proprietor of Sharky’s Pub & Grub, Luther’s BBQ, and the River Room Event Center has donated the use of the space for this event. Coffee and pastries will be provided.
The first Fort Scott Forward event will be held on Tuesday, April 27th at 7:45 AM. The topics to be covered at this meeting will be street improvement objectives, and a budget priorities survey.
