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Category Archives: Fort Scott
Susan Bancroft Assumes Duties as Bourbon County Business Manager
In an effort to consolidate some business services in government, a business manager has signed on for the county, in addition to her duties at the City of Fort Scott.
Susan Bancroft started January 19, 2021, as the part-time Bourbon County Business Manager.
She is currently the City of Fort Scott Finance Director.
“For many years, the city and county have had interlocal agreements in the area of public safety,” Bancroft said. “This has been a long positive relationship meeting the needs of both city and county residents.”
“A couple of years ago a task force was formed and has been researching ways to save taxpayer dollars through shared services between the city and county,” she said. “Recently, the county commission determined there was a need for a part-time business director and approached the city to see if this could be a shared service opportunity.”
To view a prior story on the movement to consolidate government services: https://fortscott.biz/news/bedco
In order for the relationship to work, Bancroft agreed to work her regular hours with the City of Fort Scott and an additional 20 hours for Bourbon County.
“My current position is based on a 40-hour workweek so this would be an additional 20 hours per week,” Bancroft said.
The Bourbon County Business Director will initially be responsible for assisting the commission in the development and analysis of budgets and reporting, human-resource-related issues and policy, and also accounts payable and receivable for public works, she said. Additionally, she will be the interdepartmental liaison to build relationships and oversight. Additional duties are expected to be added over time.
Bancroft will be paid $115,000 per year by the city. The county will pay $60,000 to the city for Bancroft’s services, according to the agreement between the two.
The memorandum of understanding between the city and county ends Dec. 31, 2021, with possible renewal.
To view the agreement between the city and county:
“Some may look at this as additional dollars being spent at the county level,” she said. “However, some of the assigned duties will replace expenses already being incurred by the county through contractual services.”
“In addition, the City of Fort Scott will realize approximately $34,000 in savings due to the partnership,” Bancroft said.
Bancroft worked for the City of Fort Scott from 2005-2012 as the finance director and spent two of those years as the assistant city manager/finance director.
From 2012-2015 she worked for USD 234 as the business manager/clerk. In 2015, she took a position with NPC International as their human capital management director until 2019 when she returned to the City of Fort Scott once again, as the finance director.
“HCM encompasses human resources, benefits, payroll, and compliance,” she said. “NPC employed 40,000 employees at the time of my employment.”
“The four years I was in the private sector I missed actively serving the community in which I lived,” she said. “I am excited to use the knowledge I have gained over the past 20 years to evaluate processes, budgets, improve transparency and build relationships between the City and County and its constituents.”
“I strive to see the glass half full rather than half empty, always looking for opportunities to improve,” she said. “One of my favorite quotes by Henry Ford is ‘Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.’ I believe the city and county leaders are working towards this collaboration and look forward to many more opportunities to share services to reduce the burden on taxpayers.”
Bancroft will have offices at both entities.
“The (county) commission is currently working on finding a small space for me,” she said. “I am fortunate to also have the ability to work remotely.”
FS Commission Special Meeting Jan. 16
The Fort Scott City Commission will meet on Tuesday, January 26th, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. in the City Hall Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas to hold a work session to discuss special assessments and engineering for wastewater projects. This meeting is open to the public.
The work session will also be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
Jeremy Frazier To Begin As Fort Scott City Manager on Feb. 1
CITY OF FORT SCOTT PRESS RELEASE
On February 1, 2021, Jeremy Frazier will begin his service as City Manager for the City of Fort Scott.
After Interviewing multiple candidates, it was clear that Jeremy was unanimously the top choice for every commissioner.
Jeremy will bring a new vision and new ideas at a much needed time in Fort Scott. Every commissioner is excited to have Jeremy come on board and all of us have committed to give Jeremy the tools and resources he needs to be successful in moving Fort Scott forward.
Jeremy brings to this position over a decade of public sector experience. Mr. Frazier has managed cities of various sizes and demographics. From his first position as Assistant City Manager in a charming tight-knit community with a population of 1,800, to his most recent position as the City Manager of El Reno with a population of nearly 20,000, he has developed a strong passion for public service and economic development. He has led full service organizations of up to 170 employees and has managed budgets up to $58 million.
Mr. Frazier takes pride in his work with City staff and the community such as launching various programs between public safety and its residents; conducting organizational assessments and financial audits to insure financial stability and operational efficiencies; and initiating leadership development strategies for City staff with a focus on customer service excellence.
He is described as a goal-oriented, motivated, and energetic leader with demonstrated experience in building strong relationships in diverse communities. Mr. Frazier’s primary focus in Fort Scott will be to execute the vision and mission of the City Commission and to build upon the City’s strong forward momentum while capitalizing on its rich history and culture. He plans to concentrate on economic development, job opportunity expansion, business relations, and infrastructure improvement.
In his spare time, Mr. Frazier serves on various committees such as the University of Central Oklahoma’s Master of Public Administration Advisory Committee, whereby he assists the University in shaping its current and future MPA program and students. He is an active volunteer and active participant in various civic organizations such as Lion’s Club. In addition to serving as a member of the City Management Association of Oklahoma for nearly 15 years, in 2020 he was awarded the designation of Accredited City Manager and has served two past terms as a board member of that organization. He is also a past gubernatorial appointee to the Board of Trustees for a local university. Finally, Mr. Frazier served as a past Board of Trustees member for the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group, a municipal insurance provider for over 500 cities and towns throughout the state.
Mr. Frazier possesses a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma. He has served on numerous boards and committees as he is committed to the improvement of his community and his profession. Mr. Frazier looks forward to making Fort Scott his home while serving the community and residents.
To view the contract with Frazier:
FedEx Scan 2021-01-20_14-12-31
Rennet Studio Converted To Office Spaces
Diane and Dean Striler recently purchased the Rennet Studio building, 6 N. Main, which includes the loft above.
The building is located between Fort Scott Family Dental and Papa Don’s Restaurant.
They have begun renovating the building for three office spaces.
“We started looking for a downtown building in November and closed the purchase on December 3,” she said.
“The main reason for this purchase is that Dean and I have wanted to invest in the Fort Scott community,” Diane said. “After purchasing our home at Fort Scott Lake in July of 2014, we had often discussed the idea of ending up in Fort Scott as our full-time home.”
“We are living full-time in Fort Scott but still have a home in Lenexa,” she said.
“We feel that there is a lot of potential in the downtown area and see how it is expanding and growing,” she said. “We enjoy the history of the town, the people we have met, and love the quaint atmosphere of the community. We feel that purchasing the Rennet Studio would be a great way to start investing in the community.”
After the Striler’s decided to invest in a downtown building, they looked at a few and then placed an offer on the Rennet Studio, she said.
“Although the main floor of the building had not been occupied for quite a while, we were impressed that the building was in such great shape,” Diane said. “Obviously the owners of the building, the Barnett family, had taken great care of it.”
“It also has a full finished basement that is lined with cinder blocks, had extra cement poured, and has a vinyl floor,” she said. ” We were also very excited about the loft apartment above the retail area. This part of the building really appealed to us because of the tall ceilings, old woodwork, and transom windows above the tall doors.”
After purchase, they started working on some exterior repairs to the building.
“We started with getting the front brick power washed,” Diane said. “It was amazing to see the difference in the before and after pictures. The brick on the upper portion of the building had an orange tint to it and now is redder and much brighter. We are waiting to also have some tuck work done to the brick on the upper portion.”
” We have picked out some new paint colors for the front of the building and have submitted them for approval from the City Historic Design Board,” she said. “Last week we had a new roof put on the back portion of the building. That was badly needed and we are happy to have that done.”
New Tenet Ready To Move In
The main front area of the building will be leased to the Fort Scott Tribune Newspaper, currently at 22 N. Main.
“We have been working with them to update the area they will be in,” she said. “Everything is being painted, we’ve had some trim work to do, and new flooring is being put in. The paper is working on the transition and would like to be up and running in our building by the beginning of February. ”
Additional Office Spaces
“My husband, Dean, will also have an office in the rear of the main floor,” she said. “We were able to close off a wall so that he has a separate entrance to his office.”
“Dean is the Senior Vice President of Sales for Zephyr Ventilation, she said. “The company manufactures residential hoods to go over cooking appliances along with beverage units and wine storage units.”
“We have an additional 700 square feet of commercial/office space that we have available to rent out that will include a break room and restroom,” Diane said.
“Once we complete updating the main level, Dean and I will start working on the apartment loft above,” she said. “We are planning to keep as much of the original woodworking as possible and are going to try to refinish the original hardwood floors.”
Seller’s Market
Diane is a realtor for Front Door Real Estate, with Jared Leek as the broker.
It is a seller’s market, she said.
” I am finding that with the current conditions, I am receiving calls from all over,” she said. “People from other states are wanting to come back to the Midwest for a calmer way of life and are enquiring about the properties that I have listed.”
“Housing is one thing that Fort Scott definitely could use more of, and there is a shortage of what is for sale,” she said.
” As a result, I am trying to find additional properties that are not being occupied, and could be put to good use for a family in need,” she said. “If anyone knows of any properties like this, I would greatly appreciate it if you would reach out to me.”
Diane Striler’s contact: 620-878-3630 or
248-568-7790
Ribbon Cutting, Chamber Coffee Jan. 21 at Star Emporium
Chamber Coffee & Ribbon Cutting Announced for the Star Emporium Downtown General Store
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee and Ribbon Cutting ceremony this Thursday, January 21st at 8 a.m. to celebrate the grand opening of the Star Emporium General Store, 17 S. Main St. Coffee, juice and light refreshments will be served.
Star Emporium is a unique grocery store offering specialty and private label products in addition to staple foods and household necessities. The store also features meat, produce, ice cream and other items made locally or within the region and offers a salad bar and deli with limited seating to dine-in or carry-out.
Business owner Bill Michaud of BAJA Investments and team are excited to provide this service to the Downtown Historic District and the community. Through an agreement with Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, the store will soon provide food storage space and delivery programs to address food insecurities.
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 for more information.
***
FS City Commission Special Meeting Jan. 19
The City Commission will meet for a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 at City Hall in the City Commission meeting room at 123 South Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. The City Commission will meet and recess into Executive Session to discuss non-elected personnel.
This meeting will be broadcast on the City’s You tube channel. This meeting is open to the public.
New Barber Coming to 118 S. Main This Summer
Matt Park is the sole owner of the new barbershop located at 118 S Main Street, which will open this summer.
Hare & Crow is the name of the business.
“Hare & Crow will be a full-service barbershop offering haircuts for men and boys, beard and mustache trims, and hot lather razor shaves,” Park said. “Our aim is to bring back the barbershop experiences of a bygone era reminiscent of the 1900’s architecture and small-town charm Fort Scott is built on.”
He sees it as also a gathering place for the community.
“This will be a place to sit and chew the fat with friends and neighbors whether you need a haircut or not—loafers are more than welcome,” Park said. “Our space will be comfortable and inviting with a lounge feel for those waiting for their turn in the chair.”
“We plan to sell some retail items; mostly related to men’s hair and grooming, but hope to offer other items such as locally roasted coffee, chocolates, and handmade wood and leather goods from local and regional artisans,” he said. ” We hope to incorporate a curated selection of books, music and art too.”
“I am currently in school at Headlines Barber Academy up in Kansas City, on the Kansas side,” Park said. “It’s a bit of a commute, but it’s the closest barber school to Fort Scott.”
He and his wife, Krista, have three daughters and one son.
“I cut all of their hair and have been known to cut my wife’s hair as well,” he said. “So, women and girls are welcome too.”
Why Fort Scott?
“My wife, Krista, and I both grew up in the Midwest,” he said. ” We met at school not too far from here in Bolivar, MO.”
“Krista spent many summers during her childhood visiting her grandmother in Fort Scott and she had so many fond memories of those visits,” he said. ” In July of 2019, we experienced a loss in the family that left us questioning our distance from family. We spent the majority of our marriage living in the South and were ready to come home.”
“Helen Carson is my wife’s maternal grandmother,” he said. “Helen has lived here most of her life and once owned Helen’s Hilltop Fabrics. Her family has been in the area going back several generations.”
“We wanted to move to a small town where we could raise our four children with a little less noise and start a business that would serve the local community,” Park said. “As we began contemplating a move back to the Midwest, Fort Scott stood out to us as a place to slow down a bit, embrace our heritage here and put down lasting roots closer to family. We moved here in July 2020 from Tennessee and this place already feels more like home than anywhere we’ve lived over the last 15 years.”
Reading a book formed a new business idea.
“About the same time we started talking about moving, I read a book by Wendell Berry called Jayber Crow written from the perspective of a barber in a small town,” Park said. “That story was so formative for me that I began looking into the profession of barbering.”
“When we landed on the decision to move to Fort Scott and realized there was no longer a barber in town, we began looking into schools in the area and I enrolled shortly after we moved to town,” he said.
Why the name Hare & Crow?
“I wanted to tip my hat to Wendell Berry’s book, Jayber Crow, because it was so formative for me,” Park said. “Hare really just started out as a play on words suggested by my brother in-law. I was concerned naming the place Crow’s barbershop might be confusing because my name isn’t Crow. So, I started looking for characters in other stories and when Hare was suggested it just fit the idea of storied characters. It almost has a fable-like ring to it. ”
They are loft dwellers in downtown Fort Scott.
“We bought a building downtown on Main Street, live upstairs and plan to open our shop in the storefront on the ground floor,” he said. “We are eager to open our little shop and become part of the fabric of this community. Once I complete school and receive my barbering license we’ll be ready to open our doors this summer.”
He can be reached by phone (620)705-9287, by e-mail [email protected], website hareandcrowbarber.com, and on instagram @hareandcrow.
Bartelsmeyer Jewelry Is Relocating To Downtown Fort Scott
The local jeweler is relocating his business to downtown Fort Scott.
John and Cindy Bartelsmeyer are the owners of Bartelsmeyer Jewelers, which is currently located at 1519 S. National.
They are moving the shop to 22 N. Main in late spring or early summer 2021.
“We like our current location at 1519 S. National,” John said. “We own the building at 22 N. Main and because we wish to promote the growth and renewal of downtown Fort Scott, we decided to relocate. We believe Fort Scott will soon be the hub of tourism in Southeast Kansas.”
At their new location, the Bartelsmeyer’s will continue selling fine jewelry including engagement rings, wedding bands, anniversary rings, diamond pendants, custom designs, sterling silver jewelry, watches, clocks, and other gift items, he said.
John will continue with jewelry repairs, and an employee will be continuing custom design and engraving.
“Krysta Hulbert does most of the custom designs, she’s a great artist, and (also does)engraving,” Cindy said. “Krysta also does minor jewelry repairs and ring sizing.”
The Fort Scott Tribune newspaper is currently located at 22 N. Main and will be moving to the Rennett Studio building just down the street to the south.
Loft Living Downtown
The Bartelsmeyer’s have been residents of downtown Fort Scott since 2019, she said.
“We have completely renovated the second floor and added a deck and master bedroom, ” Cindy said. “We added an elevator, a garage, and a workshop.”
“The building was purchased in 2014,” she said.
Renovation began in the spring of 2014 and is on-going as there is continued building updates each year.”
Renovation began in the spring of 2014 and is on-going as there is continued building updates each year.”
They said there are benefits to living downtown.
“We love living downtown,” Cindy said. ” We have beautiful views of from our windows of the continuous activity on Main Street, the Fort Scott National Historic Site, and North National Avenue.”
“We are within walking distance of restaurants, a coffee shop, a bakery, a brewery, a hardware store, great shopping opportunities, the post office, banks, and a new grocery store,” she said. ” We can observe beautiful sunrises from our front east-facing windows and sunsets from our the deck on the west side of the building.”
“The development and renewal of downtown Fort Scott has been fun to watch and we are happy to participate in contributing to the history of our community by the restoration of our building,” Cindy said.
Current jewelry store employees are the Bartelsmeyers, Hulbert, Julie Kibble, Jenna Bond, and Yvonne Holloway.
Talking Tigers At State Debate
Congratulations Tigers for an outstanding showing at the Kansas State debate! The Talking Tigers, consisting mostly of underclassmen competed against some tough competition.
The 4-speaker team consisting of
Lillian Collins (so), Kinsley Davis(so), Anna Hall(fr), Trent Toth(fr), Sam Deloney(so), and Regen Wells(fr)
fought to the end and placed 7th.
Our 2-speaker teams:
Ashton Nave(Sr) and Anna Laubenstein(so)
Neil Gugnani(Jr) and Shekhar Gugnani(Jr)
Isaiah Self(so)and Gavin Warfield (so)
Thade Yates(Jr)and David Jones(so)
also had some excellent rounds and held their own in one of the toughest divisions in the state.
Submitted by Angella Curran
What’s Happening in Fort Scott Jan. 15 Edition
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FS City Design Review Board Meets Jan. 20
The Design Review Board will meet on Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. in the City Hall Commission Meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to consider a Certificate of Appropriateness at 6 N. Main.
This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.