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Category Archives: Fort Scott
Unapproved Minutes of City of Fort Scott Commission Meeting on January 9
CITY OF FORT SCOTT
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of January 9, 2024 Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held January 9, 2024, at 6:00PM in the City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners T. Van Hoecke, M. Wells, M. Guns and D. Olson were present with Mayor T. Dancer.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION T. Dancer led the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation.
AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE Brad Matkin/City Manager, Jason Dickman/Earles Engineering, Jason Pickert/Chief of Police
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The City Clerk requested that Approval of December 19, 2023, minutes be removed and put on the next agenda.
- Olson requested that New Business items B and C be swapped for order.
- VanHoecke moved to approve the agenda with the amendments. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
AGENDA APPROVED WITH THE OMMITANCE OF APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 19, 2023, MINUTES AND NEW BUSINESS ITEMS B AND C BE SWAPPED FOR ORDER.
CONSENT AGENDA:
- Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 19, 2023, and January 2, 2024.
- Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1351-A – $4,063,977.89
- Request to Pay – Earles Engineering & Inspection, Inc. – Project No. 23-430 – South Industrial Park Waterline Extension – Invoice No. 17054 – Inspection Fees – $17,473.48
- Request to Pay – Sprouls Construction, Inc. – Project No. 22-031B – Fort Scott Pavilion Project – Payment Application No. 3 – $70,875.00
- Request to Pay – Nowak Construction Co., Inc. – Project No. 22-305 – Contractor’s Project No. 231031 – South Industrial Park Waterline Extension – Contractor’s Application for Payment No. 2 – $231,061.95
- Request to Pay – T. Richardson Construction – Project No. 21-307 -Application for Payment No. 8 – 17th and Eddy St. Stormwater Improvements – Drainage – $23,619.44
- Request to Pay – Bourbon County Treasurer – 2023 Real Estate Taxes for City-owned properties – $43,301.08.
- Renewal of 2024 Cereal Malt Beverage License for Consumption on the Premises – Debra Cagle – DBA Fifthwheel Tavern – 206 N. Humbolt, Fort Scott.
- VanHoecke moved to approve the Consent Agenda. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED
PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comments
OLD BUSINESS:
Review and Agreement of Code of Ethics – Ordinance No. 3563 – tabled from January 2, 2024 – T. Dancer asked if anyone would like to make a motion to accept and begin adherence to the Code of Ethics as it stands with no amendments. T. VanHoecke moved to approve adherence to the Code of Ethics as it is written with the option of making future amendments.
- VanHoecke withdrew his motion.
- Olson moved to approve the Code of Ethics with the changes he proposed.
- Olson amended his motion to move forward with the revisions he provided for the Code of Ethics.
- Wells seconded the motion with an additional amendment of the Commission being able to independently reach out by electronic communication to the City’s Bond Counsel, City Attorney, City Finance Director, City Clerk and City Engineer and “cc” the City Manager on all communications.
Further discussion was had on amendments to the Code of Ethics.
- Olson amended his motion further to include by submitting his revisions to City staff to revise the changes and return it to the Commission for a vote.
- Guns seconded the motion. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO SUBMIT D. OLSON’S AND M. WELL’S REVISIONS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY TO AMEND THE CODE OF ETHICS ORDINANCE AND RETURN TO THE COMMISSION FOR A VOTE.
Discussion of Advisory Boards from Work Session
- VanHoecke stated that discussion was had at the Work Session to disband the Lake Advisory Board, Golf Advisory Board, Airport Advisory Board, Electrical Board, Plumbing Board.
- Wells moved to keep the Design Review Board. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO KEEP THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD.
- Wells moved to keep the Land Bank Board of Trustees. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO KEEP THE LAND BANK BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
- VanHoecke moved to repeal the ordinance for the Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE FOR THE LAKE FORT SCOTT ADVISORY BOARD.
- VanHoecke moved to repeal the ordinance for the Golf Advisory Board. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE FOR THE GOLF ADVISORY BOARD.
- Wells moved to keep the Planning Commission. T. VanHoecke seconded.
Discussion to table the decision to obtain legal counsel regarding combing the Planning Commission with the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- Wells withdrew his original motion.
- Wells moved to table a decision regarding the Planning Commission to obtain legal counsel about combining with the Zoning Board of Appeals. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO TABLE A DECISION REGARDING THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO OBTAIN LEGAL COUNSEL ABOUT COMBINING WITH THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.
- Guns moved to repeal the ordinance for the Electrical Board. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE FOR THE ELECTRICAL BOARD.
- VanHoecke moved to repeal the ordinance for the Plumbing Board. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE FOR THE PLUMBING BOARD.
- Wells moved to create an ordinance for a Contractors’ Advisory Board to include positions as presented by the City Manager for electrical, plumbing and a City Commission Liaison to be included. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO CREATE AN ORDINANCE FOR A CONTRACTORS’ ADVISORY BOARD TO INCLUDE POSITIONS AS PRESENTED BY THE CITY MANAGER FOR ELECTRICAL PLUMBING AND A CITY COMMISSION LIAISON TO BE INCLUDED.
- Wells moved to keep the Streets Advisory Board with the changes that were suggested during the work session: the number of members on the board, include the City Commissioner Liaison, the City Engineer when needed and meet every other month or as needed. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO KEEP THE STREETS ADVISORY BOARD WITH THE CHANGES THAT WERE SUGGESTED DURING THE WORK SESSION: THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS ON THE BOARD, INCLUDE THE CITY COMMISSIONER LIAISON, THE CITY ENGINEER WHEN NEEDED AND MEET EVERY OTHER MONTH OR AS NEEDED.
- VanHoecke moved to repeal the ordinance for the Airport Advisory Board. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE FOR THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD.
NEW BUSINESS:
Selection of City Commissioner Representatives to Advisory Boards
Bourbon County REDI City Commission Representative
- Guns moved to retain T. VanHoecke as the City Commission
Representative to the Bourbon County REDI Board. M. Wells seconded.
All voted aye.
- VANHOECKE APPROVED TO REMAIN THE CITY COMMISSION RESPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOURBON COUNTY REDI BOARD.
Land Bank Board of Trustees City Commission Representative
- Guns moved to select D. Olson as the City Commission Representative to the Land Bank Board of Trustees. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
- OLSON APPROVED TO BE THE CITY COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LAND BANK BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board City Commission Representative
- Wells moved to table the selection of the Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board City Commission Representative until the ordinance is repealed. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
SELECTION OF THE LAKE FORT SCOTT ADVISORY BOARD CITY COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE IS TABLED UNTIL THE ORDINANCE IS REPEALED.
Fort Scott Public Library Board City Commission Representative
- VanHoecke moved to retain M. Wells as the City Commission Representative
to the Fort Scott Public Library Board. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
- WELLS APPROVED TO REMAIN THE CITY COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE TO THE FORT SCOTT PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD.
Fort Scott Housing Authority Delegate
- VanHoecke moved to select T. Dancer as the Fort Scott Housing
Authority Delegate. M. Wells seconded. All voted aye.
- DANCER APPROVED AS THE FORT SCOTT HOUSING AUTHORITY DELEGATE.
Healthy in All Practices (HIA)
- VanHoecke moved to select M. Guns as the City Commission Representative to the Healthy in All Practices Commission. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
- GUNS APPROVED AS THE CITY COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE TO HEALTHY IN ALL PRACTICES COMMISSION.
Approval of Golf Advisory Board recommendations – (8) Letters of Interest submitted to fill (4) vacancies – Golf Advisory Board recommendations made on December 27, 2023.
- VanHoecke moved to table the recommendations to fill board vacancies pending the approval to repeal the ordinance of the Golf Advisory Board. M. Wells seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO TABLE THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO FILL BOARD VACANCIES PENDING THE APPROVAL TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE OF THE GOLF ADVISORY BOARD.
Request to Amend Ordinance No. 3604 – Membership Terms – Golf Advisory Board recommends change City/County requirements in the ordinance as stated on Staff Request for Commission Action
- Wells moved to table the recommendations to change membership requirements pending the approval to repeal the ordinance of the Golf Advisory Board. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO TABLE THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHANGE MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS PENDING THE APPROVAL TO REPEAL THE ORDINANCE OF THE GOLF ADVISORY BOARD.
Consideration of Change Order No. 1 – Sprouls Construction, Inc. – Project No. 22-032 – KDOT Sub-Area Road Extension & US-69 at 20th St. Repair – Final Measured Quantities – Decrease of $7,341.20
- VanHoecke moved to approve Change Order No. 1 with Sprouls Construction Project No. 22-032 for a decrease of $7,341.20. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED CHANGE ORDER NO. 1 WITH SPROULS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT NO. 22-032 FOR A DECREASE OF $7,341.20.
Consideration of Contractor’s Application for Payment No. 1 (Final) – Sprouls Construction, Inc. – Project No. 22-032 – KDOT Sub-Area Road Extension & US-69 at 20th Street Repair – $148,783.80 – Certificate of Substantial Completion included.
- Guns moved to approve the payment of $148,783.80 to Sprouls Construction, Inc. for Project No. 22-032. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED THE PAYMENT OF $148,783.80 TO SPROULS CONSTRUCTION, INC. FOR PROJECT NO. 22-032.
Consideration of Change Order No. 2 – Bennett, Inc. – Project No. 23-005B – Engineer’s Project No. 217314-022 – Infantry Substation Sanitary Sewer Relocation – $129,530.00
- VanHoecke asked J. Dickman/City Engineer to confirm for the citizens that this portion of the payment would be reimbursed to the City by Evergy. J. Dickman confirmed.
- VanHoecke moved to approve Change Order No. 2 on Project No. 217314-022 with Bennett, Inc. for $129,530.00. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED CHANGE ORDER NO. 2 ON PROJECT NO. 217314-022 WITH BENNETT, INC. FOR THE AMOUNT OF $129,530.00.
Approval of 2024 Cereal Malt Beverage (CMB) License for Consumption on the Premises and Retail Sale of Original and Unopened Containers – Kevin Allen – DBA Aunt Toadies – 1411 E. Wall, Fort Scott – 2023 CMB License was issued for Consumption on the Premises only, requires new approval.
- VanHoecke moved to approve the 2024 Cereal Malt Beverage License for Consumption on the Premises and Retail Sale of Original and Unopened Containers for Kevin Allen DBA Aunt Toadies at 1411 E. Wall, Fort Scott. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED THE 2024 CEREAL MALT BEVERAGE LICENSE FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISES AND RETAIL SALE OF ORIGINAL AND UNOPENED CONTAINERS FOR KEVIN ALLEN DBA AUNT TOADIES AT 1411 E. WALL, FORT SCOTT.
RESOLUTIONS:
Resolution No. 1-2024 – DESIGNATING THE OFFICIAL CITY NEWSPAPER FOR THE ENSUING TERM OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS
- Olson moved to approve Resolution No. 1-2024 as presented. M. Wells seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED THE FORT SCOTT TRIBUNE IS THE OFFICIAL CITY NEWSPAPER FOR THE ENSUING TERM OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS.
Resolution No. 2-2024 – DESIGNATING THE OFFICIAL DEPOSITORIES FOR THE PUBLIC FUNDS OF THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS
- Olson moved to approve Resolution No. 2-2024 as presented. M. Wells seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED THE CITY STATE BANK, THE UMB BANK, THE LANDMARK NATIONAL BANK, THE LIBERTY SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, AND THE UNION STATE BANK; ALL OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS; AND THE KANSAS MUNICIPAL INVESTMENT POOL OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, BE DESIGNATED AS THE OFFICIAL DEPOSITORIES OF THE PUBLIC FUNDS OF THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION.
Resolution No. 3-2024 – EXEMPTION FROM GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES UNDER K.S.A. 1120A
- VanHoecke moved to table approval of this resolution until the January 23, 2024, City Commission meeting. M. Wells seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO TABLE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 3-2024 – EXEMPTION FROM GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES UNDER K.S.A. 1120A UNTIL THE JANUARY 23, 2024, CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
Resolution No. 4-2024 – NOTICE OF HEARING WITH REFERENCE TO ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 922 E. WALL – PUBLIC HEARING DATE – FEBRUARY 20, 2024, AT 6:15PM.
- VanHoecke moved to approve Resolution No. 4-2024 regarding the alleged unsafe and dangerous structure at 922 E. Wall with a Public Hearing to be held February 20, 2024, at 6:15PM. M. Guns seconded.
- Guns, T. VanHoecke, D. Olson and T. Dancer voted aye. M. Wells voted nay.
APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 4-2024.
Resolution No. 5-2024 – NOTICE OF HEARING WITH REFERENCE TO ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 515 S. HEYLMAN – PUBLIC HEARING DATE – FEBRUARY 20, 2024, AT 6:15PM.
- VanHoecke moved to approve Resolution No. 5-2024 regarding the alleged unsafe and dangerous structure at 515 S. Heylman with a Public Hearing to be held February 20, 2024, at 6:15PM. M. Guns seconded.
- VanHoecke, T. Dancer and M. Guns voted aye. M. Wells and D. Olson voted nay.
APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 5-2024.
Reports and Comments
Comments were made by the City Manager, City Engineer, Commissioner VanHoecke, Commissioner Wells, Commissioner Guns, Commissioner Olson, and Commissioner Dancer. Available on the City of Fort Scott YouTube Channel.
- Wells moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:24PM. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:24PM.
Submitted by:
Lisa A. Lewis, City Clerk
New Business: Country Club Kids Daycare
Jessie Combs, 27, opened her business, Country Club Kids Daycare in Fontana, KS in 2020. Then re-opened her business in Fort Scott when she moved here in October 2023.
She provides child daycare services for children ages six weeks to five years old, for Fort Scott families and the surrounding areas.
The business hours of operation are from 7 a.m . to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The daycare is located on South Broadway Street in Fort Scott.
In her care currently are her three children and three daycare children (2 full-time, 1 part-time).
“I have 1 full-time and 1 part-time opening for toddlers (18 mos-5 yr),” she said.
She is the only employee and is licensed for up to 10 children.
To contact the business, email [email protected]
Combs began the business initially to stay home with her own three children. “I enjoy being able to serve the community and working with children,” she said.
She graduated from K-State in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.
Following graduation she worked in scientific research, helping to characterize pharmaceuticals to prepare them for U.S. Food and Drug Administration clinical trials, she said.
“I’m also a Certified Nurse Assistant,” she said.
“I got my daycare license in April 2020 in Miami County and in October 2023 in Bourbon County,” she said.
To earn a daycare license in Kansas contact your local Kansas Department of Health and Environment office to get started.
“There’s an online application, fingerprints, background check, health and wellness checks, a small fee, and licensing will come to inspect your daycare for compliance,” she said. “There are also classes you must take to become licensed including being Pediatric CPR and First Aid certified and child development and daycare specific classes required.”
Witts Take Ownership of Hedgehog INK on February 1
With support from her husband, Jordan, and three kids, Randi Witt, Ivan, Ava, and Lydia will take ownership of the Hedgehog.INK! bookstore at 16 S. Main on February 1.
The phone number will remain the same (620) 670-2752 but the email: [email protected] is new. Both the website and Facebook page will remain the same.
“We will take over running those on Feb. 1,” Randi said.
The store was opened by Jan and Dick Hedges in 2018, and Dick died in 2022. Jan announced in December 2023 that she was selling the bookstore.
“I heard about Jan planning to sell the store, and I knew this was the opportunity I had been waiting for,” Randi said. “Jan and Dick created a magical space that makes you feel good when you walk inside. The store has something for everyone, from books to unique items and gifts.”
The whole family enjoys bookstores.
“In college, Jordan and I would frequently visit a used bookstore in downtown Lawrence,” she said. “Now we enjoy taking our kids to bookstores. Hopefully, our bookstore can give others the same memorable experience and be a place they want to frequently visit.”
The name of the bookstore will remain the same.
“Even though I will be the new owner, I see this as a continuation of the amazing bookstore Jan and Dick brought to our community,” she said. ” I plan to put my own spin on the space and expand our offerings over time. I will continue to accept books for credit or donation. In addition to books, you can purchase journals, art supplies, candy, handmade purses, goat milk soaps, and lavender products. We definitely want to continue supporting local authors. Please follow us on social media for updates as we grow!”
“I am going to explore expanding hours of operation and will announce that on social media,” she said.
The current hours of operation will be Monday 10 am – 2 pm and Tuesday through Saturday 10 am – 5 pm.
“I will be running the store day to day, and I will rely on help from my kids,” Randi said. “This is definitely a family venture.”
St. Mary’s Fundraiser for Church Rebuilding
What’s Happening in Fort Scott
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Jennifer Gum-Fowler Starts As Director of Fort Scott Public Library on January 18
Jennifer Gum-Fowler will start as the director of the Fort Scott Public Library on January 18.
“I have already begun to plan some programming for the coming year,” Gum-Fowler said. “I have many ideas that I want to try. I am also thinking of ways to make the community as excited about libraries as I am.”
“As the Library Director, I am responsible for the everyday running of the library, of course,” she said. “I am also responsible for the outreach and partnerships with the library. On top of that, I get to do adult programming and will curate the adult collections. I will also do the interlibrary loans.”
For her, the best part of being a library director is collaborating with the community and being able to bring all kinds of programming and partnerships to the library. “I love it when people come into the library and say, ‘I didn’t know that libraries did that.’ Libraries have gone through a real renaissance and are not what your great-grandparents would have thought of.”
” The biggest challenge is changing how people view libraries,” she said. “There is the idea that libraries are no longer relevant today, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Libraries are vital parts of growing and healthy communities. They are not places one goes for shushing but for information, programs, and community connection. Books are just the beginning of what libraries offer communities.”
Gum Fowler received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Washburn University.
“When I started my library journey, I completed the state APPLE training for new directors in the Southeast Kansas Library System,” she said. “After finishing that, I realized I wanted to do more in libraries, so I returned to school and got my master’s in library science (MLS) from Emporia State University. While there, I was invited to join the Beta Phi Mu Honor Society, an international professional society for accomplished librarians.”
“In 2014, I got the library in Kincaid voted in as an actual library,” she said. “Since then, I have worked hard to get it as part of the national and state library organizations. ”
Under her direction, Kincaid Public Library has grown to be a part of the community, she said.
She has been a member of the Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) and the Kansas Library Association (KLA) since 2017. She is a part of the Intellectual Freedom Committee for the KLA and is the Southeast Kansas Library System (SEKLS) Executive Board Vice-President.
She has been married to Chad Fowler for 28 years and has three adult children “and way too many cats,” she said.
The family was an active part of 4-H when the children were younger, she said. “I personally enjoy weaving, needle felting, and watercolors. I grew up doing pre-1840 reenacting and still love primitive camping. I am also an avid geek and love Dr. Who, Marvel, Firefly, and Star Wars. All that said, I also love reading, with high fantasy and sci-fi being my favorites.”
Currently, she is commuting to Fort Scott.
“I live around 10 miles from the Bourbon line in Anderson County,”
she said. “It is a fast and enjoyable commute to work. I will use the time to listen to some audiobooks. I can’t wait to start working in Fort Scott. It is a beautiful city.”
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on January 17
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Tips For Winter Home Safety
Smoke Alarms: Early Warning
In Case of Water Emergency In Cold Weather
From Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin:
“In case of a water emergency during very cold weather, please call Emergency Communication Services at 620-223-1700 to report a leak”
“This number can also be used to determine where the shelter is located if the power is lost during a storm (Buck Run Community Center is our shelter). We have had some elderly people call us wanting to know these things and do not have Facebook.”
Simmons Retires From Care to Share
After 16 years in an organization she helped found, Lavetta Simmons is retiring.
The genesis of the organization was a Relay for Life of Bourbon County event in 2007, at that time Teresa Davenport was going through her cancer fight, Joy O’Neal was a cancer survivor and Lavetta Simmons had been a caregiver to both her parents who had died of cancer.
“Teresa Davenport said, ‘When I get cancer-free, I would like to start a cancer support group,'”Simmons said. Joy O’Neal and Lavetta Simmons volunteered to help.
That cancer support group started in 2007, with a Fort Scott family’s four-year-old daughter who had been diagnosed.
Through the efforts of Davenport and her classmates, along with O’Neal and Simmons, a fundraiser was formed and close to $7,000 was raised for the family. Today, that girl has moved into her future.
“We each had our things to do to make it happen and we made it happen!” Simmons said.
In 2008, during the group’s first meeting at Mercy’s McAuley Center, the name Care to Share was chosen and a decision was made to meet quarterly.
“Our first year, we cared and we shared, through calls, visits, and prayer,” Simmons said. “During this time we were able to see the financial suffering that our fighters were going through as we gave them emotional support.”
In 2009, Lavetta announced at a meeting that she would like to help the cancer fighters financially
“That’s when The Sharing Bucket was added to the Care to Share Cancer Support Group, with the idea of fundraising with our group and our bucket never going empty,” she said. “The three of us came together, met with a lawyer to form a non-profit 501c3 organization…and chose a board of directors.”
The group introduced itself to the community at the 2009 Home and Garden Show.
“The year 2009 was a financial struggle for all of us with some very God-given moments and stories to pass on”, she said. “During this time, we added that Care To Share is ‘God Given, God Driven.'”
“In 2010, Fort Scott lost a very caring lady to cancer. She had struggled for many years,” Simmons said. “She left her memorials to us. We had never thought about receiving memorials. She was the first, and her memorials were $7,840. She blessed us with an
amount that was way beyond our dreams. The family asked that we invest a portion of it with the idea that Care To Share Cancer Support/The Sharing Bucket would go on forever. So we did, and we have grown it to a very nice amount today.”
“Our community has joined us and blessed us over and over again,” she said. “Each meeting we grew, each fundraiser we grew, each visit we grew. It has been the most amazing heart-touching God Driven; God Given thing, and has driven us all closer and closer
to God.”
“Last year we cared and shared financially 1,274 times with a total amount of $97,137.89!” she said. “That was only financial assistance, not counting the calls, texts, messages, emails, meals, rides, Ensure supplements, etc.”
“We never know where God is directing us next,” she said. ” We have followed and believe if God brings you to it, God will bring
you through It.”
The caring and sharing community made it possible, she said.
“But, I also want to mention that this could never happen without my family, and my extended family… My family has lived the journey. We were there when my parents took their last breaths. We have been there for so many cancer fighters and their families in our communities and we have been there for every fundraiser that has been put together for The Sharing Bucket.”
Her immediate family has all grown up, she said.
“They now have families of their own,” she said. “…So there comes a time when maybe we have to let go?? How do we do that? We don’t know?”
“Well, we figured it out. God, Family, Care to Share has always been our motto,” she said. Now she is caring and sharing with her family.
” I now care for two of my great-grandbabies,” she said. Daily her time is given to Lillian, 3, and Austyn, 1 month,
“Care to Share Cancer Support Group/The Sharing Bucket has blessed me over and over, through our caring and sharing with every cancer fighter and their families, and through caring and
sharing through our wonderful giving community. I will always have a place close to my heart for it.
THANK YOU FOR CARING AND SHARING,” Simmons said.
The group shares this scripture with the cancer fighters, “as we believe in it and want to give them faith as well, Matthew 17:20
IF YOU HAVE FAITH AS SMALL AS A MUSTARD SEED, NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU,” she said.
Cory Bryars, Vice President of the Care to Share Board wrote this about Simmons:
“They say charity can come in the form of time, talent, and treasure. For most of us, we have to choose which one or maybe two of those to give as we take care of the rest of our lives. Lavetta gave all three, zealously,” he said.
“As a co-founder of Care to Share and as a leader of day-to-day activities as well as the Board of Directors, Lavetta has helped generate over $1.2 million in support of our local cancer communities,” he said.“She has given her time taking countless calls at all hours of the day and night from families desperate for support during the difficulties of their cancer journeys. Lavetta has visited cancer survivors and their families in times of dire need with open arms, an open heart, and an open Care to Share wallet to help them get over whatever hurdle they were facing that day,” he said.“Lavetta’s commitment and passion brought generous giving from her family and friends, and our entire community is immeasurably better off through her efforts,” he said. “She is warm, caring, compassionate, organized and efficient and she gave those talents to SEK cancer fighters through Care to Share.”“We thank and honor Lavetta for her vision, her passion, and her dedication and support as she passes the torch to the next round of Care to Share leadership.”
Care to Share continues with Teresa Davenport as the president, Joy O’Neal died in 2022.
There will be an open house at the Care to Share new office located at 401 Woodland Hills on January 22.
To learn morehttps://fortscott.biz/?s=care+to+share+expanding