Public Appearances
Sean O’Brian from Good Old Days committee thanked the city for their help in reserving facilities, closing streets and approving the parade permit. The theme of the 44th annual Good Ol Days celebration is “crafting memories.” The celebration will be June 6-7.
Denise Needham spoke to the commission for approval of temporary road and parking lot closures at Riverfront park for the annual USD 234 Color Run from 4 to 8 p.m. on April 25.
Wastewater update
Director Scott Slater gave an update on the city water department: They have switched to liquid ammonia from gas ammonia for the safety of the operators. Matt Stalenbaumer, SCADA integrator, will come install and program that. A new hydro chlorine analyzer on the influent of the clear well was installed last week. New electric pole and box were installed on east water tower.
Max Daily, superintendent of water treatment plant, and Slater attended Kansas Rural Water Conference in Wichita last week and finished in the top 3 for best tasting water in Kansas. “Very pleased and very proud about that.”
The 2024 water usage report says that Fort Scott produced a little bit more than 787 million gallons of water, averaging about 2 million gallons a day. 2,332 hours were worked at the water treatment plant, manning it 20 hours a day.
Wastewater report
On March 13 the final AMS trailer pulled out of the 7 that had been there on Jan. 1. The plant installed a new mixer and aerator in the digester. Another aerator went down and needs replacing. Once that’s done, the digester will be fully functional. Another aerator is still needed for the number 2 holding basin.
Data collected: 503 annual soil sample test approved. Wet test for 2025 passed as well. In addition to regular monthly tests.
In 2024, 806.5 million gallons go through the wastewater treatment plant. They processed more than 1000 work orders. 1006 loads come into the lagoon from ADM. 1.67 million gallons of bio-solids were applied to the fields.
Commissioner Tracy Dancer and Mayor Timothy Van Hoeke expressed dismay at the information about the amount of BOD, Chemical Oxygen Demand average, and other data supplied by Slater.
ADM had a contract with the city to dump waste, which expired in December. They have continued to bring waste to the treatment plant since the start of 2025.
ADM brings trailers to dump at the plant, even when numbers are outside of safe ranges. Part of the problem is test results are three weeks out from the time the samples are taken.
City Manager Brad Matkin said the commission needs to give them direction regarding how to handle ADM.
“We don’t turn trucks back,” said Slater.
Commissioner Matthew Wells verified that ADM is penalized with fees for dumping loads that are over the limits specified in their contract.
Commissioner Dylan Olson expressed concern that this is still ongoing a year after he first brought it up. “Now we have increasing levels and AMS is gone. Are we going to be looking at a stinky town again?” “Yes,” answered Slater.
The BOD and COD won’t go down, said Matkin. ADM said it’s not their job to take care of our industrial lagoon.
“It’s a municipal lagoon that’s being used to dump industrial waste in,” said Scott Slater.
“They are proving time and time again that they are not going to honor what’s in the contract anyway,” said Dancer, citing a history of 15 months of nearly monthly violations in violation of the contract Fort Scott already had.
“I’m saying: It’s time to stop this,” said Matkin. Of ADM: “They cannot get their numbers under control. They’ve told us that.”
Industrial Waste income: $30-40,000 per month. In 2023 we were getting more than $2 million.
Slater said he would like to continue taking domestic loads from ADM, and selling them the effluent water they currently purchase from the city. The issue is the industrial waste.
“These figures are grotesque,” said Dancer.
Limits placed on ADM’s loads are based on what the plant can handle.
Wells wanted a contract that includes a new tank and chemicals, mechanical dredging of lagoons. If they won’t sign the contract, then then won’t do business with the city.
Matkin, Vanhoeke, and Slater are against a new tank.
Olson made the motion to temporarily, fully suspend receipt of all industrial waste loads until ADM comes to the table to negotiate and we have a contract in place that they are willing to honor. Wells voted “no,” the rest of the commission voted “yes.”
Unfinished Business
Approval to honor the $3000 demolition bid previously ordered for 323 W. Wall from Dave’s Demo. Commission approved the bid.
New Business
Public Hearings
Consideration of vacation of street and ally to the south at approximately 123 McCleverty Street at request of Alyssa Green and Derek States who own the four quadrants there, east and west of both ally and street. Norm Nation spoke on their behalf.
Wells was opposed to giving away that amount of land. Made motion to deny, seconded by Dancer, approved unanimously.
Status of 118 E. Wall Street
Codes Officer Leroy Kruger said phone conversations with the business owner and an insurance representative show they cannot find anyone to write a policy for them “with the red tag on it. They’re basically refusing to write a policy until that tag’s removed.”
Owner is willing to sign the paperwork from the city attorney, but he can’t fulfill it because he can’t get the insurance. No action was taken.
Consideration of resolution number 10-25 project authorization of the East National improvements
The item is a resolution that would authorize the construction of improvements to East National heading east from the cemetery to the railroad tracks. Estimated cost is $3,560,000. The resolution would authorize the city to issue bonds to finance all or a portion of the cost of those improvements. A grand from KDOT in the amount of $1 million towards the improvements, for construction costs only, is expected to cover part of the cost.
The resolution doesn’t require bonds but gives the authority to do that at some point in the future when it is most convenient for the city. The city would be responsible for the cost of the project beyond whatever funding KDOT provides.
“I would like to not go out for a bond myself,” said Matkin. They are looking at different ways to do this road, including using city crews to do some of the work. He would rather do the work in house and pay for it with street funds and storm water funds.
Olson moved to approve the resolution and it passed unanimously.
Truck Purchases
Tom spoke to the commissioners, saying that in the last snow storm they had multiple truck breakdowns, at one time getting down to one working truck. Upon inspection, it was show that two trucks have cracked frames and the hydraulics are so old there’s no parts. Two of the trucks are from 1993 and the other two are from 1999.
He wants to lease 4 Internationals for $150,000 per year and purchase for $1 each at the end of the 6 year contract. They come with plow, spreader, and a bigger engine.
Matkin said, “On the CIP we have an excavater, but we are going after the dump trucks right now.” With the money they are saving by not purchasing an excavator, the city could go after a steel drum roller and rubber tire roller, enabling asphalting.
Matkin suggested paying for it with waste water, streets, and water funds.
The city will sell old trucks for scrap. “They’re not safe to be on the streets,” said Tom.
Commission approved the lease and purchase of the four new trucks.
Food trucks
Matkin said that food truck season is starting. Fort Scott currently has an ordinance for solicitors, canvassers, and peddlers, but not exactly food trucks.
“We just want to make sure we’re fair, consistent, and accurate when we’re doing our codes and talking to people,” said Matkin
Norm Nation, brought an example of the city of Garnet, which is comparable in size to Fort Scott and has an ordinance they could model if the commission wants one.
Currently, food trucks must be registered with the Kansas Department of Health. In Fort Scott, food trucks should not be parked on public property.
Wells pointed out that some cities have designated areas that are for food trucks only, enabling them to be regulated more easily.
The commission instructed Matkin to collect more data to consider in creating an ordinance.
New Guns for Fort Scott Police
Police Chief Pickert wants to trade in the department’s current Glocks for new ones with red light sights. The funding is coming from drug recovery money. The last time they had new guns was 15 years ago. The Kaiser Police Supply low bid of $12,676 was approved by the commission.
STOPPED HERE
Consideration to sign litter to save the Institute of Museum and Library Services
Commissioner Wells spoke to the commissioners about the federal shut down of IMLS, which affects the local library and community college, including the loss of awarded grants that the current library budget is based on.
He asked the city commissioners to sign a letter asking that the IMLS be reopened to me sent to Senators Moran and Marshall and Representative Derek Schmidt.
There was a fairly heated discussion about the best way to influence government policy and the roll of city commissioners in trying to affect change by sending letters. 1:39
VanHoeke voted against the motion, but the rest of the commission approved it.
Reports and Comments
Brad Matkin, City Manager, spoke to the commissioners about ongoing problems with the 800 block of Eddie Street. Due to recurring issues with water leaks, the 8-inch main needs to be replaced and the street repaved with concrete. The city already has most of the supplies needed to do the repair. The street has been greatly damaged by water leaks in the last few years, most particularly one that was repaired during the April 1 commission meeting. Repair of the water main and street are urgent and must be done before other projects the city has planned.
Mid-American Baseball League has found a store front and will be opening end of April selling tickets and merchandise in Fort Scott.
Commissioner Comments
“I want to encourage all of our constituents to reach out to your commissioners and other elected officials and voice your concerns, desires, and how best we can represent you,” urged Commissioner Dancer.
Commissioner Olson said the citizens put the city commissioners here to speak up.
The meeting ended in executive session.
