The City of Fort Scott City Administrative Offices will be closed on Monday, January 18th, 2021 in observance of the Martin Luther King Day holiday. The offices will reopen on Tuesday, January 19th, 2021.
Category Archives: Fort Scott
Fort Scott’s Middle School: Masks Required
USD234 Superintendent Ted Hessong said in an email that as of Friday, January 7, the school district had 29 student active cases and nine staff cases.
He gave the statistics of the number of COVID positive students and staff/total number of students and staff in a building as of Friday:
Fort Scott High School= 1.52%
Fort Scott Middle School= 2.26%
Eugene Ware Elementary School = 1.88%
Winfield Scott Elementary School= 1.30%
USD 234 Preschool = 2.00%
“According to the district’s gaiting criteria, any building that has a positivity rate over two percent and the community spread is over 30 new cases, that building will need to wear masks until the positivity rate falls below 2%,” Hesson said. “Therefore, the middle school is required to wear masks at this time until the building positivity rate falls below 2%. The preschool is not required to wear masks at this time because they have a lower student/staff population, but we are monitoring that building’s numbers.”
The school district has provided a way to follow USD 234’s COVID Attendance Dashboard, he said, and this information is updated daily in the afternoon.
To view the state’s COVID-19 data:
Kansas has had 566,000 cases of the virus and 7,124 deaths. Bourbon County has had 3,192 cases and 44 deaths reported, according to https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=latest+covid+stats+for+bourbon+county+ks
from the New York Times.
Openings on FS Land Bank
There are four (4) openings for the Fort Scott Land Bank Board.
The function of the Fort Scott Land Bank Board is an independent agency and instrumental with the City on acquiring, holding, managing, transforming, and conveying surplus City properties and other abandoned, tax foreclosed, or otherwise underutilized or distressed properties in order to convey these properties for productive use. This Board meets on an as needed basis.
These four positions will be appointed by the Fort Scott City Commission and is recommended, but not mandatory, that a position from each one of the following professions be applied for:
One individual who represents the banking industry
One individual who represents developers
One individual who represents real estate
One individual at large in the community
If you have a desire to serve on this board and meet the above requirements, please submit a letter of interest to the City Clerk, Diane Clay, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. She will then submit your letter of interest for consideration to the City Commission. All of the boards and commissions serve on a volunteer basis and are not compensated. If you would like more information on this board, please contact Diane Clay, City Clerk at 620-223-0550 or [email protected]. Please submit your letter of interest by January 21st, 2022.
USD234 Agenda For Jan. 10
USD 234 January 10, 2022 Board Meeting
5:30 p.m. – Winfield Scott Cafeteria
- Open the meeting
- Flag Salute
- Oath of Office for newly-elected board members
- Consider official agenda
- Consider consent agenda
- Public Forum
- Consider Neighborhood Revitalization Renewal – Rob Harrington
- KNEA Report
- Presentation by Fort Scott High School administration on Individual Plans of Study
- Principals’ Report
- Director of Academics Report
- Superintendent’s Report
- Business Manager’s Report
- Consider KASB Board Policy updates
- Consider Resolution 21-10 – Establish Election of School Board Officers
- Consider desktop computer purchase (part of the initial ESSER II application)
- Consider Agreement of Cooperation and Partnership between USD 234 Special Education and SEK-CAP Head Start 0-5
- ESSER III Update
- Board member comments
- Executive session – for preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property
- Executive session – to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel
- Consider employment
- Adjourn
The FS Street Advisory Board Meets Jan. 13
The Street Advisory Board will meet on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. at the City Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street. This meeting is open to the public.
This meeting will be made available via the City’s Youtube channel at the City of Fort Scott.
FS Commission Meets Jan. 5 For Public Works/Streets Work Session
The Fort Scott City Commission will meet on Wednesday, January 5th, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. in the City Hall Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas to hold a work session regarding Public Weeks/streets.
The work session will also be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
Christmas Tree Free Pick Up Available
The City of Fort Scott Public Works Department will be picking up discarded Christmas trees at no charge for City residents again this year. The pickup dates will occur on Friday, January 7th, 2022, Friday, January 14th, 2022, Friday, January 21st, 2022, and Friday, January 28th, 2022.
The Public Works Department asks that you place the tree at the curbside off the street and call City Hall at 223-0550 with your address and name to schedule the pickup.
The discarded trees will be used to enhance fish and wildlife habitat in the City-owned water structure properties.
Country Cupboard Building Purchased by Ed Townly
Ed Townly has purchased the County Cupboard Store, 12 N. Main from the Renard family on Dec. 28, 2021.
Last month, Townly, from Olathe, had purchased the Books and Grannie’s Book Store, just across the street at 11 N. Main.
Barb Albright, a realtor with H & H Agency, handled both the acquisitions.
Townly said that he doesn’t have definite plans for that store, nor the newly purchased one as yet.
The Townly’s have two businesses in the K.C. area and a daughter still in school, but they are looking forward to moving to Fort Scott, when their youngest daughter graduates, and she is currently in the eighth grade, he said in a prior interview.
The County Cupboard store was owned by Judy and John Renard for decades and was an anchor business in the historic downtown area, selling home decor, jewelry, clothing, cards, old fashion candy, and other accessories.
John died in 2019 and Judy in 2021.
History of the Building
The building at 12-14 North Main was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, U.S. Dept. of Interior, National Park Service, in 2009. The building is approximately 5,000 square feet on the first floor and 2,000 square feet on the second, according to Barb Albright, the realtor.
It is part of the Fort Scott Downtown Historic District comprised of 9.5 blocks with irregular boundaries, according to the application for registration.
To view the property’s National Register Application:
Bourbon_FortScottDowntownHistoricDistrictNR.pdf (kshs.org)
12-14 N. Main Street building was Liepman’s Clothing House, from 1895 until 1930, according to the application.
“Reportedly, this was not the Liepman family’s first business location in Fort Scott and this was not their first building on this property,” according to the national registration application. “In 1895, the family decided to build a more substantial building. In 1909 the property was recorded as the Liepman Block with M. Leipman & Brother (brothers Morres and Joseph Leipman), clothing occupying the storefront. Liepman’s Clothing Store operated until circa 1930.
By 1938, the A & P Grocery was located at this address.”
Following the A & P Grocery store, it was a western clothing shop then the Renards purchased it in the 1980s.
“This is a rectangular two-story brick commercial building with a flat roof and parapet,” according to the national registration application. “It has a recessed central entrance flanked by display windows. The three-bay second-floor facade is well preserved with a smooth-cut stone belt course under the windows, ornamented pilasters between the window bays, and an ornamented belt course above the window bays. Central paired windows are flanked by a bank of three windows. The windows have 111 double-hung sashes with transoms. There is a brick panel at the eave with the name, “Liepman’s Clothing House,” spelled out in raised letters. A corbelled and molded brick cornice ornaments the parapet. Reportedly, the original display windows and entrance were altered about 1938. There is a shed-roofed shingled awning supported on posts. Aluminum storm windows have been installed on the second-floor windows.”
To view prior features on the buildings:
New Owners of Historic Downtown Fort Scott Building
Country Cupboard To Close For Good, Until Then Saturdays Only
Gordon Parks Museum to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will be held, with several events planned in Fort Scott.
The events will start on Thursday, January 13th at the Danny & Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center.
The day will include with hosting of the Fort Scott Area Chamber Coffee at 8:00 am and later that evening, a free ballet tribute performance at 7:00 pm by The Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey: Ever Present.
This is a tribute in honor of Martin Luther King and Gordon Parks. This performance is funded by the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Thursday, January 13th – Tribute to Martin
7 p.m. – Alvin Ailey’s Kansas City Dance Group Ballet Performance
Gordon Parks: Tribute to Martin Luther King (FREE Event) – Ellis Fine Arts Center • Doors open at 6 p.m. • Reception to follow, which includes a meet and greet with performers and drinks and refreshments
Friday, January 14th – Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday
9 a.m. – Film Showing: Eyes on the Prize: American Civil Rights – “Awakenings (1954-1956)” • Murder of Emmett Till &
Montgomery Bus Boycott
12 p.m. – Lunch & Learn – Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration • Dramatic reading of the speech “I have a Dream” by
Fort Scott Community College students and members of the community • Balloons will be released • Birthday cake, soup,
dessert, and drinks will be available for free • Photo Promotion taken with “I Stand For” sign
1:30 p.m. – Film Showing: Eyes on the Prize: American Civil Rights – “Fighting Back (1957-1962)” • Central High School and Little Rock Nine & James Meredith and The University of Mississippi
3:30 p.m. – Film Showing: Eyes on the Prize: American Civil Rights – “Ain’t Scared of Your Jails (1960-1961)” • Nashville Sit-Ins and Boycotts & Freedom Riders”
Monday, January 17th – Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration Event
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Food Drive – Join us as we will collect canned and non-perishable food items to donate to the Beacon in
Fort Scott • Anyone in the community is invited to drop off canned food
9 a.m. – Film Showing: Eyes on the Prize: American Civil Rights – “No Easy Walk (1961-1963)” • Albany, Georgia, Birmingham, Alabama & The March on Washington
10:30 a.m. – Film Showing: Eyes on the Prize: American Civil Rights – “Mississippi: Is this America? (1962-1964)” • Medgar Evers & ‘Mississippi Burning’ Murders
12 p.m. – Lunch & Learn – “The Dockman Drugstore Sit-In” presentation by Prisca Barnes • Barbeque lunch, drinks, and
dessert will be available for free (guests may also bring their own lunch)
1:30 p.m. – Film Showing: “Martin”, A tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Gordon Parks – This is a ballet tribute to Dr. King, written and directed by Gordon Parks
For more information, please call (620) 223-2700 ext. 5850
Funding provided by:
FSACF serves to fulfill philanthropic goals that benefit the common good and improve quality of life by providing leadership and programming that is responsive to the interests and needs of
the residents of the Fort Scott area.
All events will be held at the Ellis Fine Arts Center (2108 S. Horton St., Fort Scott, KS)
A reception will follow the performance with light refreshments hosted by Great Western Dining.
On Friday, January 14th, the community is invited to the Ellis Fine Arts Center for a free Lunch and Learn event that will be held at 12:00 pm featuring a dramatic reading of the “I have a dream” speech by FSCC students and members of the community.
The Fort Scott Community College Endowment Foundation is a key contributor to the celebration events. All events will take place at both the Gordon Parks Museum and Ellis Fine Arts Center.
A full list of film showings and events can be found at https://www.gordonparkscenter.org/events. For more information call the Gordon Parks Museum at 620-223-2700 ext. 5850.
Upper Cut Salon: New Shop That Gives Back to Community
Tanya Glessner is the owner and stylist of Upper Cut Salon, Fort Scott, which opened for business on November 12, 2021.
Glessner has been a stylist for 16 years.
“I chose this career because I grew up in a salon watching and helping my mom, Laura Brown, in her salon,” Glessner said. “I always loved how her clients became family and no matter what was going on in their lives they always walked away looking and feeling good because of her talent and company. Now I get to share this experience with my clients. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Glessner operates her business in her home.
“Having the salon in my home also has the benefit of privacy and comfort for all my clients without the hustle and bustle of a typical salon,” she said. “It’s one-on-one and personal. I also have the benefit of flexible hours. So there’s no set work schedule. I schedule appointments based on my client’s needs every day of the week. I also make house calls for the elderly and those who aren’t able to leave their home.”
“Every Tuesday I offer $10 haircuts for everyone,” she said. “And every day I offer $10 haircuts for EMS, firefighters, veterans, law enforcement officers, and anyone currently in the military with proof. It’s my way of giving back to those in the frontline of our community.”
“And for those who follow the salon on Facebook I always have something new going on each month,” she said.
The shop is located at 408 Jefferson Street, Fort Scott, and can be reached at 620-224-6704.
Positive Events in Fort Scott: Mayor Jones
Fort Scott Mayor Josh Jones said many positive events happened in the community this past year, and the city is poised for some promising events in the new year.
“A lot of things done in 2021 laid the groundwork for 2022 and we expect a lot of 2021 things to be executed in 2022,” Jones said.
The following is what Jones provided fortscott.biz as accomplishments.
In 2021, the Fort Scott City Commission:
1. Refinanced city bonds saving $15,500 per year over the next five years.
2. Passed a half-cent sales tax with 90% of revenue going towards streets and 10% going towards parks. This money will start coming in, in 2022.
3. Started an in-house safety training program saving the city $15,000 per year.
4. Utilized the Firstsource Building for Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department’s giving mass vaccines during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. Put out Requests for Qualifications for a new city attorney leading to the city commission hiring a city attorney saving the city approximately $200,000 a year.
6. Approved to enter into a cost-sharing venture with the Bourbon County Commission for joint purchase of materials and equipment.
7. Approved a conditional use permit for an area south of town to allow a micro-meat processing plant to build a facility, which will create about 30 jobs.
8. Implemented the SeeClickFix app, which allows citizens to report road problems and code nuisances.
9. Started semi-monthly roller skating sessions at Buck Run Community Center for an added amenity for the community.
10. Moved city-county emergency dispatch to the Bourbon County Courthouse.
11. Improved the beach area at Lake Fort Scott.
12. Sold the Firstsource Building for $315,000.
13. Sold four Lake Fort Scott lots for approximately $500,000.
14. Entered into a shared services agreement with Bourbon County for information technology services, saving approximately $30,000 per year.
15. Used $200,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for a feasibility study for re-use of the former Mercy Hospital Building as a hospital.
16. Reworked and finalized setting up the Fort Scott Land Bank which focuses on the conversion of vacant, abandoned, tax-delinquent, or otherwise underused properties into productive use.
17. Approved $2,000 bonuses for all emergency services workers that work for the city.
18. Entered into an agreement with Bourbon County REDI (Regional Economic Development, Inc.) to provide economic development services for the City of Fort Scott, saving approximately $100,000 a year.
19. Repaired over one mile of city sewer lines.
20. Entered into an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation for traffic signal upgrades in 2022 on Highway 69.
21. Was awarded a $50,000 grant from T-Mobile Internet for upgrades to the Skubitz Plaza area on the north end of historic downtown Fort Scott.
FS Commission Agenda For Jan. 4
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR
MEETING OF
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
123 S. MAIN STREET
FORT SCOTT, KANSAS 66701
JANUARY 4, 2022
6:00 P.M.
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Approval of Agenda:
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Flag Salute/Invocation:
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Proclamations/Recognitions:
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Consent Agenda:
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Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of December 21st, 2021, and special meetings of December 22nd, 2021and December 28th, 2021.
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Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1303-A totaling $282,505.65.
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Request to Pay – L. G. Barcus & Sons, Inc. – $410,114.05 – Fort Scott Dam Improvements Project
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Request to Pay – Olsson Associates – $23,584.00 – Rehabilitation Runway and Taxiway Engineering (Nov) (Design)
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Request to Pay – Olsson Associates – $24,656.00 – Rehabilitation Runway and Taxiway Engineering (Dec) (Design)
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Request to Pay – Utility Maintenance Contractors, LLC – $81,699.75 – Water Treatment Plant Clarifier Painting Project
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Resolution No. 1-2022 designating the official City newspaper.
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Resolution No. 2-2022 designating the official City depositories for public funds.
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Resolution No. 3-2022 designating exemption from Generally Accepted Accounting Principles under KSA 75-1120(a).
(Swearing in of new City Manager Kelley Zellner. Swearing in of new City Commissioner, Matthew Wells, and recognition of Randy Nichols, outgoing City Commissioner)
IV. REORGANIZATION OF CITY COMMISSION AND ELECTION OF MAYOR, COMMISSION PRESIDENT, BOURBON COUNTY R.E.D.I. REPRESENTATIVE, LAND BANK REPRESENTATIVE, AND FORT SCOTT HOUSING AUTHORITY DELEGATE
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- Election of Mayor
- Election of Commission President
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Election of Bourbon County Regional Development Inc. Representative
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Election of Land Bank Representative
- Election of Fort Scott Housing Authority Delegate
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Public Comment:
(Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at Commission discretion)
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Old Business:
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Consideration of Land Bank Ordinance No. 3599 – amendment of formation of board
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Memorandum of Understanding with Bourbon County R.E.D.I – Tourism position
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Mayor Jones – Amend vote on ARPA bonus payment
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Appearances: None
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Public Hearing: None
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New Business:
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Consideration of appointment of Airport Advisory Board member
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Discussion of change to City zoning regulations regarding fencing and assessing a standard fee for license
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Discussion of ordinance to create City business license and associated fee
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Discussion of funding of Land Bank from sale of First Source building
XII. Reports and Comments:
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Interim City Manager Comments:
Proposed work session – Street – 1/5/2022 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Proposed work session – Brick Street – 1/13/2022 – 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
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City Manager Comments:
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Commissioners Reports and Comments:
Discussion to terminate Mark McCoy employment contract
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Human Resource Director Comments:
Military bridge removal process
KMIT Payment
2022 Holiday Schedule
Employee Referral Program
D. City Attorney Reports and Comments:
XIII. Executive Session – If requested, (please follow script in all motions for Executive Sessions)
IX. Adjournment: