Category Archives: Fort Scott
Upcoming Special Events In Fort Scott
Fort Scott Design Review Board Meets Jan. 3
The Design Review Board will meet on Thursday, January 3rd, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. at the City Hall Commission Meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to discuss a Certificate of Appropriateness for the building at 7 South National Avenue, 6 East Wall Street and 124 E. Wall Street. This meeting is open to the public.
2019 Business Locator Map
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What’s Happening In Fort Scott: List Activities Online
No Chamber Coffee This Week
WEEKLY CHAMBER COFFEE REMINDER
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
Fort Scott Christmas Tree Disposal Pick Up Dates
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, December 28th, 2018, Friday, January 4th, 2019, Friday, January 11th, 2019, Friday, January 18th, 2019 and Friday, January 25th, 2019.
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.
Sock Hop at the Brewhaus For New Years Eve
The Boiler Room Brewhaus, 2 S. National, is having a sock hop to bring in the new year.
The New Years Eve Party, December 31, starts and 8 p.m. and ends at 1 a.m.
“People can dress in 50s style, it’s optional, but more fun,” Barbara Ritter, who along with husband Bryan, are the owners.
“We are having a food share, where everyone brings something,” she said.
“People will have to pay for the drinks,” Barbara said. “But the food portion is free. Free soft drinks for designated drivers”.
Be prepared to do the Hoola Hoop and the Limbo, both 1950s favorites, Ritter said, with a smile.
For more information, contact the brewhaus at 620-644-5032.
City Offices Closed For New Years
The City of Fort Scott Administrative offices will be closed on Tuesday, January 1st, 2019 in observance of the New Year’s Day Holiday. The regular offices will reopen on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019.
The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Saturday, December 29th, 2018 for the New Year’s holiday. It will be open again on Thursday, January 3rd, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
State of the City of Fort Scott
Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin gave the attendees of the Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee an update on the 2018 happenings in the city on Dec. 20.
“We got a lot accomplished in 2018,” Martin said. “We had some things thrown at us, but I think we stepped up to the plate.”
The following, provided by Martin, are the completed projects that were a high priority:
Tourism:
The city welcomed more than 5,500 visitors to the new tourism office at the office shared with the Chamber of Commerce, 445 visitor tours on Dolly the Trolley since July, a new lavender festival event, a new Boos and Brews Event, a new Veteran’s Weekend Celebration, the assumption of operations at the La Roche Complex and a Division 1 World Series proposal, the county law change on 30 percent food requirements allowed for the local microbrewery business.
Emergency services:
The city installed the Nex Gen Att and Hosted ITI at the police and fire department, signed a contract with the county to collaborate on Emergency Medical Services and will provide the Human Resource assistance with the services, and added a police K-9 unit with no impact to the budget.
Human Resources:
As of December 2018, there are 97 full-time and 29 part-time employees of the City of Fort Scott. There are monthly KMU training sessions and continued education for all departments. The city is working with Craw-Kan Telephone on a phased upgrade to the IT infrastructure. The city provided a physical activity initiative for its employees and also updated the employee handbook. The city provided an FSA vendor administration transition.
There are four city personnel retirements: Jon Garrison on Sept. 9, Kenny Howard on Dec. 28, Johnny Keating on Jan. 3. 2019, and Shaun West on Dec. 20. There will be a reception for Howard on Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. at city hall and reception for Keating on Jan 3 at 2 p.m. at the fire station.
Promotions this year: Rhonda Dunn to Director of Finance, Jerry Morgan to Streets Supervisor, Jason Pickert to Police Captain, Jacob May and Clint Roberts to Fire Dept. Captain, Alex Schafer, and Clint Lawrence to FSFD Lieutenant Reserves to full-time.
Dav Mohler and Cody McGehee graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.
New employees are Robert Uhler, Director of Community Development; Seth Simpson, airport manager; Bill Rost, WWC maintenance.
Those who have taken the Certified Public Manager designation, a program to prepare managers for careers in government: 2001-Dave Martin, 2014-Paul Ballou, 2015-Travis Shelton, 2016-Dave Bruner, and Traci Reed, 2017-Jason Pickert, 2018-Chad Brown and Larry Gazaway, 2019-Robert Uhler and Michael Mix.
Streets and streets:
The city spent $200,000 on streets in 2018.
The 2018 Sidewalk, Curb and Gutter Program approved six grants in the amount of $12,000 with owner investment of $24,595.
Water utility:
The city maintained 220 miles of water and sewer lines, including 3,100 water connections, rebuilt pump no. 1 and the Fort Scott Community College booster update, added pickleball court lighting, generator load bank, and valve leash, PACP Certification, Vactor training from Key Equipment, added GIS map update, announced refusal to accept grease loads, and provided multiple repairs to the sanitary sewer system.
Community Amenities:
There was a new public golf cart shed constructed, expansion of Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative fiber network and updates at Lake Fort Scott.
Finance/Codes:
There were 309 building permits issued for revenue of $8,340.
The number of codes cases resulting in a letter or ticket was 473. There were 27 demolition projects: nine were torn down by the city at a cost of $31,043; ten were torn down by the owner which saved $35,000; four were owner repaired; four are in process.
The three officers and director have achieved Kansas Certified Code Enforcement Officer status.
Community Development:
A Fort Scott Landbank was established.
A new direction is being taken by the Food Alliance, with the possibility of a community food bank.
A healthcare task force was formed between the city and Bourbon County.
Economic Development:
Business assistance for relocation, expansion and new businesses was provided by Bourbon County Economic Develpment Council.
A City of Fort Scott Five-Year Comprehensive Plan was approved.
The city reapplied for Kansas Housing Tax Credits to support redevelopment of the Union Building, downtown. This project will add much-needed housing for the workforce.
The city approved nine Downtown Building Improvement Grants totaling $38,904 with an owner investment of $54,898.
The airport revenue increased 75-percent in jet fuel sales from 2017 to 2018. The airport received $286,522 in Kansas Dept. of Transportation Aviation Grants from the Ks. Airport Improvement Program. Grants were completed for future airport expansion.
Fort Scott Weekend Events Dec. 21-23
Free Use of Momentum Indoor Training Dec. 28
Momentum Indoor Training, 2420 S. Main, Suite 900, is offering a free day to use the new facility during Christmas break.
The athletic performance trainer and owner of the business, Emelia Whiteaker, recently opened the training facility, which is located behind Tractor Supply Company.
“I am doing the free day as something for parents to do to get their kids active during the winter break,” said Whitaker. “Anyone can come try the pitching machines or throwing lanes for the day.
The event will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, December 28.
“The batting tunnels will be open for use at no charge. All participants must have a signed waiver by a parent/legal guardian,” Whiteaker said. “Anyone 13 years of age or younger must be accompanied by an adult. Call or e-mail to reserve your time or send us a Facebook message: @mitrainingfs.”
Whiteaker can be reached at 620-223-1803 or [email protected]