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Category Archives: Fort Scott
Schedule An Appointment With CHC For COVID-19 Vaccine
Vaccine has arrived! Please note the time, date and location of vaccine clinics.
Reminder: people must schedule an appointment for the vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccinations clinics open Wednesday, Saturday
A shipment of 4,000 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has arrived at Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas clinics as part of a national effort to ensure underserved communities are equitably vaccinated.
CHC/SEK continues to focus on vaccinating people age 65 and older however, the health center has expanded to the remaining categories within Phase 2 of the Kansas Vaccination Prioritization Plan. Any individual from Phase 1 that still needs a vaccine may also call.
Phase 2 includes people aged 65 and up, high-contact critical workers and congregate settings. High-contact critical workers include: higher education staff; first responders; judicial/court system participants; childcare workers; food processing including meat processing; grocery stores; food service to include restaurants; transportation organizations/suppliers; city/county public works; Dept. Motor Vehicles; U.S. Postal Service, home care providers, and supplier of critical infrastructure service/supplies.
Vaccines are already going into arms. On Wednesday, vaccines will be distributed from 1 to 4 PM at 924 N. Broadway, Pittsburg.
CHC/SEK-Fort Scott will be hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at 9 AM- 3 PM on Saturday, March 6 at the clinic located at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd, Fort Scott.
The vaccine appointment telephone number to call is 866-888-8650, which will be answered 7 AM -7 PM seven days a week. There is an additional line for Spanish speakers, available at 620-240-8940, answered from 7 AM – 5 PM, Monday through Friday.
Anyone listed under Phase 2 of the Kansas Vaccine Prioritization Plan is eligible to participate. Those guidelines are available at https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=111.
There is no out-of-pocket cost to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine recipients will not be restricted by county residency, nor do they have to be a patient of CHC/SEK.
USD 234 Press Release
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, March 1, 2021
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, March 1, 2021, for their regular monthly meeting.
President David Stewart opened the meeting. The board approved the official agenda. The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:
A. Minutes
B. Bills and Claims
C. Payroll – February 19, 2021 – $1,478,744.66
D. Financial Report
E. Activity Fund accounts
Robin Webb, Winfield Scott first grade teacher, led students in a Ready! Set! Read!
presentation.
Reports were given by the following:
· Brenda Hill, KNEA President
· Dalaina Smith, Academic Director
· Ted Hessong, Superintendent
· Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk
Board members approved the following:
· Addition of high school courses for the 2021-22 school year
· Addition of a high school physical education teacher for the 2021-22 school year
· Addition of a middle school teacher/course for the 2021-22 school year
· Resolution 20-09 – Intent to nonrenew the contract of an administrator with two or more years employment as administrator in the district
· Purchase of two buses
Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting.
The board approved the following employment matters:
A. Resignation of Amanda Johnson, Winfield Scott music teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year
B. Resignation of Dane Cummings, high school vocational agriculture teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-21 school year
C. Resignation of Brad Cowen, Winfield Scott custodian, effective March 9, 2021
D. Resignation of Sara Schnichels, preschool paraprofessional, effective March 5, 2021
E. Transfer of Angie Kemmerer, high school/Eugene Ware gifted teacher, to middle school seventh grade social science teacher for the 2021-22 school year
F. Transfer of Kayla Pulliam, Eugene Ware fifth grade teacher, to Eugene Ware fourth grade teacher for the 2021-22 school year
G. Transfer of Elizabeth Rose, middle school paraprofessional, to preschool paraprofessional for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year
H. Transfer of Susan Weddle, Eugene Ware teacher aide, to Winfield Scott teacher aide for the 2021-22 school year
I. Leave of absence for Jeff Armstrong, high school math teacher, for the 2021-22 school year
J. Leave of absence for Dixie Jackson, high school paraprofessional
K. Leave of absence for Joie Moore, high school ticket clerk
L. Adjustment in the work agreement for Angela Mix, Winfield Scott paraprofessional, from 4 hours per day to 7.5 hours per day for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year
M. Employment of Sydney Cullison as a high school agriculture teacher for the 2021-22 school year
N. Employment of Jessica Steury as a middle school 8th grade math teacher for the 2021-22 school year
O. Employment of Laura Howard as a middle school 7th/8th grade English/Language Arts teacher for the 2021-22 school year
P. Employment of Tara Wilbert as a middle school 7th grade English/Language Arts teacher for the 2021-22 school year
Q. Employment of Stephanie Flanner as an elementary behavior specialist for the 2021-22 school year
R. Employment of Emily Giffin as a Winfield Scott special education teacher for the 2021-22 school year
S. Employment of Sydney Griffetts as a Eugene Ware third grade teacher for the 2021-22 school year
T. Employment of Annyssa Davenport as a high school paraprofessional for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year
U. Employment of Dillon Duffy as a four-hour middle school paraprofessional for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year
V. Employment of Sabrina Cady as a regular route van driver for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year
W. Employment of Kennedy Meyer and Dane Cummings as high school assistant softball coaches for the 2020-21 school year
The board adjourned.
FS Commission Updated Agenda For March 2 Meeting
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR
MEETING OF
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL
CITY COMMISSION MEETING ROOM
123 SOUTH MAIN STREET
MARCH 2, 2021
6:00 P.M.
Call to Order
-
Roll Call:
K. Allen P. Allen R. Nichols L. Watts J. Jones
II. Flag Salute:
-
Invocation: Led by: (To be Announced)
-
Approval of Agenda:
-
Proclamations/Recognitions:
-
Consent Agenda:
-
Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of February 16th, 2021 and special meeting minutes of February 12th, 2021 and February 23rd, 2021.
-
Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1283-A totaling $335,76
-
Request to Pay – HDR Engineering, Inc – $6,455.27 – River Intake Project
-
Request to Pay – Bourbon County Clerk – $8,047.48 – Charter Ordinance No. 31 Election costs
-
Public Comment:
(Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at Commission discretion)
-
City Manager Reports and Comments
-
Director Reports
-
Old Business: None
-
Appearances: None
-
New Business:
-
Resolution No. 5-2021 – Resolution in reference to the levying of a 1% Countywide Sales Tax allocation
-
Consideration of Bids – Brush Blasting & Pool Repainting – Aquatic Center
-
Consideration of move of Dispatch Center to 207 S. Judson (old Correctional facility)
-
Consideration to Pay – Skitch’s Hauling & Excavation, Inc – $616.00 – January invoice
-
Discussion of electric scooter company, Bird, establishing services in Fort Scott
-
Discussion of Potential Cost Sharing Joint Venture between the City and Bourbon County for the joint purchase of materials and equipment
XII. Reports and Comments:
A. Commissioners Reports and Comments:
B. City Attorney Reports and Comments:
XIII. Executive Session – If requested, (please follow script in all motions for Executive Sessions)
XIV. Adjournment:
Sales Tax Proposition On March 2 Ballot
Fort Scott residents have the opportunity to vote on a proposed .5% sales tax for the City of Fort Scott on Tuesday, March 2.
The tax would go towards streets, parks, and community facilities improvements, which has been a call from the citizens of Fort Scott.
A history of the tax proposal
In 2010, Fort Scott residents passed a .5% sales tax for improvements to Buck Run Community Center and the Fort Scott Aquatic Center. This sales tax was for 10 years and set to expire June 30, 2021, according to a press release from Susan Bancroft, Fort Scott’s Finance Director.
“In December of 2020, Fort Scott City Commission voted to petition for the continuation of the 0.5% sales tax for a different dedicated purpose for five years set to expire June 30, 2026,” she said. “The city commission voted unanimously that 90% of the proposed .5% sales tax would go to streets and 10% to parks and community facilities. Based on the past five-year average, the .5% sales tax has the potential to raise on average $698,000 per year.”
“The .5% sales tax is not an additional tax, it is the renewal of a prior .5% sale tax,” Bancroft said. “The difference of proposing a sales tax versus a property tax for the community is that those visiting from other communities are contributing to the improvements of our local infrastructure.”
“The 90% dedicated to street improvements includes sidewalks, bike lanes, and curb and gutter work,” she said. “The street advisory board and the public works director have been working to develop a five-year plan of potential street improvements and have preliminary plans in place.”
“The 10% dedicated to parks and community facilities include improvements such as ADA compliance, public bathroom facilities, playground equipment, trails, and memorial hall preservation,” Bancroft said.
“The parks advisory board has also met with the public works director to begin a five-year plan of potential projects and reported to the city commission at their work session on February 23, 2021, priorities they feel need to be addressed,” she said. “Year one they have proposed repairs to shelter houses and bathrooms in Gunn Park and repairs to the playground fall area at Nelson Park. Year two priority recommendations include an additional bathroom between shelter house 6 and 7 and further upgrades to the campground in Gunn Park.”
“During the election in November of 2020, the citizens passed a countywide 1% sales tax for Bourbon County,” Bancroft said. “The city commission committed to using 90% of the funds generated from this sales tax to be dedicated to the operations and maintenance of the street department. The remaining 10% would be used for the general purposes of the city. Collectively, the revenue generated from two sales tax initiatives would generate enough funding to put together a sustainable street program.”
Fort Scott took first place in sweepstakes! GO TIGERS!
Submitted by Angella Curran
Fort Scott High School
Speech Communications
Debate/Forensics
Friday night Feb 26, FSHS Talking Tigers competed in the Cherryvale tournament.
In Varsity house:
Kinsley Davis 5th
Shekhar Gugnani 4th
Neil Gugnani 3rd
In JV house:
Ali Mclain 2nd
Lillian Collins 1st
In Novice house one:
Cadence Tuck 2nd
In Novice house 2:
Anna Hall 4th
Throughout this week they also competed in the Iola invitational and the Spring Hill invitational.
At Spring Hill Jade Russell placed 6th in Informative 10 and Sydney Weber placed 6th in Poetry.
At the Iola tournament:
Alana McClain 4th in poetry, 1st* in DI
Shekhar Gugnani 1st* in Impromptu, 1st* in Info, 3rd* in Extemp
Neil Gugnani placed 2nd* in extemp, 2nd* in info
Regen Wells placed 3rd in HI
Anna Hall placed 5th in DI
Gavin Warfield placed 5th in Info
Thade Yates placed 5th in Extemp
* indicates state qualifiers
CHC/SEK takes appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is now offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments for individuals aged 65 and older as part of Phase 2 of the Kansas Vaccine Prioritization Plan. There is no out-of-pocket cost to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccinations will be available at all CHC/SEK clinic locations.
The vaccine appointment telephone number to call is 866-888-8650, which will be answered 7 a.m. -7 p.m. seven days a week. There is an additional line for Spanish speakers, available at 620-240-8940, answered from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
CHC/SEK is one of 250 health centers nationally selected to receive a direct supply of COVID-19 vaccine to ensure underserved communities are equitably vaccinated, according to a recent announcement from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and CDC. A shipment of 4,000 doses of Moderna vaccine is expected to arrive the week of March 1.
CHC/SEK will follow the state priorities for what populations are eligible to receive the vaccine, however vaccine recipients will not be restricted by county residency, nor do they have to be a patient of CHC/SEK.
“This is a gift to the people of Southeast Kansas, the least healthy and most economically challenged region of the state,” said Krista Postai, President & CEO of CHC/SEK. “With almost 20 percent of our population over 65, the ability to reach out to provide this potentially life-saving vaccine is probably one of the most important initiatives in our history.”
Vaccine appointments will be available at CHC/SEK locations.
In Pittsburg, CHC/SEK has established a vaccine center at 924 N. Broadway, with extended and weekend hours to make receiving a COVID-19 vaccination as convenient as possible. The health center has also formed special vaccination outreach teams to target special populations by taking the vaccine to them.
“Based on the calls we’ve been receiving, we know many people are eager to get vaccinated and so afraid they’ll be overlooked because they live in rural Kansas,” Postai said. “It is so wonderful to tell them they’ve actually been prioritized nationally.”
CHC/SEK and Grace Med Topeka/Wichita were the two Kansas health centers chosen for this program. Both serve a large population of individuals experiencing homelessness, public housing residents, migratory and seasonal agricultural workers, patients with limited English proficiency and serve a significant population of patients age 65 years and older.
“We know these vaccines are safe and highly effective against a very serious disease,” Postai said. “Now that they have become available to us, CHC/SEK is ready to get them delivered into the arms of our communities.”
About CHC/SEK
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is a not-for-profit Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing quality health care to everyone regardless of income or insurance status. CHC/SEK serves more than 50,000 children and adults annually and employs more than 400 professionals and support staff at 18 locations throughout Crawford, Cherokee, Labette, Linn, Montgomery and Allen counties, and Ottawa County in Oklahoma. CHC/SEK is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors, which includes patients from the communities it serves.
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is a not-for-profit Federally Qualified Health Center dedicated to providing quality health care to everyone regardless of income or insurance status. CHC/SEK serves more than 50,000 children and adults annually and employs more than 400 professionals and support staff at 18 locations throughout Crawford, Cherokee, Labette, Linn, Montgomery and Allen counties, and Ottawa County in Oklahoma. CHC/SEK is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors, which includes patients from the communities it serves.
FS Planning Commission Meets Today At 4 p.m.
The Planning Commission will meet Monday, March 1st, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. in the City Commission meeting room.
There may be a majority of City Commissioners present, but no City business will be conducted.
American Legion March Meeting Updates
Submitted by Carl Jowers
Monday. March 1. American Legion Post 25 meet and greet in Memorial Hall starts at 6:30 pm.
Monday. March 1. American Legion Post 25 general membership meeting in Memorial Hall starts at 7 pm.
Thursday. March 11. American Legion Auxiliary Unit 25 meets at 6 PM in Memorial Hall.
Thursday. March 11. American Legion Post 25 Color Guard meets at 7:15 PM in Memorial Hall.
Saturday. March 27. American Legion Riders Chapter 25 meets at 10 AM in Memorial Hall.
Your Post is member driven. Please contact your Executive Committee with your thoughts and suggestions for improving Post 25.
See below for newsletters:
Agenda for the FS Commission Meeting March 2
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR
MEETING OF
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL
CITY COMMISSION MEETING ROOM
123 SOUTH MAIN STREET
MARCH 2, 2021
6:00 P.M.
Call to Order
-
Roll Call:
K. Allen P. Allen R. Nichols L. Watts J. Jones
II. Flag Salute:
-
Invocation: Led by: (To be Announced)
-
Approval of Agenda:
-
Proclamations/Recognitions:
-
Consent Agenda:
-
Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of February 16th, 2021 and special meeting minutes of February 12th, 2021 and February 23rd, 2021.
-
Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1283-A totaling $335,76
-
Request to Pay – HDR Engineering, Inc – $6,455.27 – River Intake Project
-
Request to Pay – Bourbon County Clerk – $8,047.48 – Charter Ordinance No. 31 Election costs
-
Public Comment:
(Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at Commission discretion)
-
City Manager Reports and Comments
-
Director Reports
-
Old Business: None
-
Appearances: None
-
New Business:
-
Resolution No. 5-2021 – Resolution in reference to the levying of a 1% Countywide Sales Tax allocation
-
Consideration of Bids – Brush Blasting & Pool Repainting – Aquatic Center
-
Consideration of move of Dispatch Center to 207 S. Judson (old Correctional facility)
-
Consideration to Pay – Skitch’s Hauling & Excavation, Inc – $616.00 – January invoice
-
Discussion of electric scooter company, Bird, establishing services in Fort Scott
XII. Reports and Comments:
A. Commissioners Reports and Comments:
B. City Attorney Reports and Comments:
XIII. Executive Session – If requested, (please follow script in all motions for Executive Sessions)
XIV. Adjournment:
FS Commission Special Meeting Minutes of Feb. 23
CITY OF FORT SCOTT
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of February 23rd, 2021 Special Meeting #6
A special meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held February 23rd, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Commission Meeting Room, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners Kevin Allen, Pete Allen, and Lindsey Watts were present with Mayor Josh Jones presiding. Randy Nichols was absent.
AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Bailey Lyons, Lindsay Madison, Allyson Turvey, and Susan Bancroft.
CONSIDERATION:
-
Consideration to apply for a grant for downtown Christmas lights – Bailey Lyons, said that she is the Chairperson for the Downtown Committee for the Chamber of Commerce. They have identified a project to work on this year. They decided to focus on Christmas decorations in the downtown area. There are improvements that can be made to the decorations and they have identified some grant funds and are looking for more grant opportunities. They are not asking for money, but for permission to apply for grant funding. The Chamber is not a 501C3, nor are they are government entity, so they would be applying for these grants using the City’s name. The Chamber would do all the work on this. The funds would be allocated to the City for the purpose of Christmas decorations. They think the citizens would like to see new Christmas decorations in the downtown area.
Bailey said that they were looking at lighted toy soldiers that are about 8’ tall and would be attached to the light poles. They would need the City’s assistance in placing these soldiers on the poles. They did talk about possibly doing a fundraiser also. There is a company in Stilwell, Kansas that they have talked to regarding Christmas decorations.
Susan asked that when you are ready to purchase these, that Chad Brown be checked with to make sure that there are no issues with power on the poles.
K. Allen made a motion to approve the Chamber to apply for grants for downtown Christmas decorations. L. Watts seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO ALLOW THE CHAMBER TO APPLY FOR GRANTS FOR DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.
ADJOURNMENT:
K. Allen moved to adjourn the special meeting at 7:07 p.m. L. Watts seconded. All voted aye.
ADJOURNED MEETING AT 7:07 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane K. Clay, M.M.C.
City Clerk
FS Commission Minutes of Feb. 12
CITY OF FORT SCOTT
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of February 12th, 2021 Special Meeting #5
A special meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held February 12th, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. in the City Commission Meeting Room, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners Kevin Allen, Pete Allen, and Randy Nichols were present with Mayor Josh Jones presiding. Lindsey Watts was absent.
AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Travis Shelton, Michael Mix, and Michael Hoyt.
CONSIDERATION:
-
Consideration of Change Order #1-Sanitary Sewer Cleaning & Video Inspection Services – Michael Mix informed the Commission that he has some figures for equipment if the City Commission would decide to go that direction. He said after thinking about this last night, it is still his recommendation to allow the company, Pipe Detectives, to complete their work. They have two weeks left until the project is finished. They have the specialty equipment that the City does not have. It will take a City crew much longer than that to complete. He also spoke to the supervisor on this job who told him that they only had 30 minutes of looking for a manhole and all the other charges were root removal. His City crew did find as many manholes as possible. Michael shared some photos of the lines with roots in them and then the lines after they had been cleaned.
Michael said that it would cost between $100,000 and $130,000 for a camera truck. An easement machine would cost approximately $45,000. The attachments which would include larger saws would cost approximately $11,800. Michael said that the work this company is doing in removing roots should last at least 5 years.
Kevin asked if the attachments could be put on the City’s vactor truck.
Michael thought that they could be placed on the truck.
Pete asked how more 30” lines there are.
Michael said he does not know. This company was hired to inspect the larger lines since the City does not have the equipment to do so. He said that there is 17,000 linear feet left to inspect that is greater than 15”. Last year there was 1.4 miles completed. It is a never-ending cycle. Inspect, document, rehab, and repeat.
Randy said that he thinks it makes more sense to let this company finish up this project since they only have two weeks left. This will help with the sewer overflow issues that we have been having with this company removing the roots. He isn’t sure that Michael had time to get all the numbers he needed to present to them. He doesn’t think we have enough information to buy equipment and then train our people when we have a crew that could finish it in two weeks. His vote is to let the company finish the work they have started.
Josh asked how critical it is to have this project completed in two weeks. If it is not critical, Michael could do some more research and get more numbers for them to look at.
Michael said if we had unlimited funds, it would be better do this in-house with a City crew. His recommendation is still to let this company finish this project.
Kevin said that we have two guys right now and would need a third person for this crew.
City Manager said that he can see both sides of this. He can see where it looks attractive to have the project finished in two weeks. It would also be great if the City had the equipment and could do the work ourselves. He said that we will execute what you decide as a Commission for us to do.
Pete said that we should have taken the $30,000 and bought equipment. Now we are back to square one and it’s not working. He referenced the street project on National for the crack sealing which is still not completed. He asked Michael if he had verified the 51 hours of work that this crew has completed.
Michael said that he has not watched all 51 hours, but he has watched some of it. Our own crew can get into the 8” or below manholes.
Josh said that is why shouldn’t buy the equipment if there is only 25% of the project left to complete. We won’t have to reinspect for 5 years.
Michael explained to the Commission that this project was bid as a unit/rate bid and not a total bid. This bid was comprised by the City’s former engineer, Nate Stansberry.
R. Nichols made a motion to approve Michael’s recommendation to finish this project and to have the City Manager clarify the issues with equipment needed for future projects so the City crew can do the work themselves. J. Jones seconded. R. Nichols and J. Jones voted aye. K. Allen and P. Allen voted no. Motion did not pass.
DENIED MOTION TO APPROVE MICHAEL MIX’S RECOMMENDATION TO FINISH THIS PROJECT AND HAVE THE CITY MANAGER CLARIFY THE ISSUES WITH EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR FUTURE PROJECTS SO THE CITY CREW CAN DO THE WORK THENMSELVES.
Discussion was held to bring back more numbers and discuss this at an upcoming work session.
ADJOURNMENT:
J. Jones moved to adjourn the special meeting at 2:00 p.m. K. Allen seconded. All voted aye.
ADJOURNED MEETING AT 2:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane K. Clay, M.M.C.
City Clerk