The only order of business for 1-2-2024 is to establish the new 2024 City Commission. All other business will be discussed on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 6:00PM
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR REGULAR
MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL COMMISSION ROOM – 123 SOUTH MAIN ST.
January 2, 2024 – 6:00 P.M.
I. Roll Call:
T. VanHoecke M. Guns M. Wells
II. Pledge of Allegiance & Invocation: M. Wells
III. New Business
A. Oath of Office – Commissioner Tracy Dancer and Commissioner Dyllon Olson
B. Appointment of Mayor of Fort Scott
C. Appointment of President of the City Commission of Fort Scott
D. Review and agreement of Code of Ethics – Ordinance 3563
E. Review and agreement of Code of Procedure for the Commission of the City
of Fort Scott, Kansas
IV. Public Comment:
Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at the Commission’s discretion.
V. Reports and Comments:
A. City Manager Comments:
B. Commissioners Comments:
T. VanHoecke –
M. Wells –
M. Guns –
T. Dancer –
D. Olson
C. City Attorney Comments:
VI. Executive Session:
VII. Adjournment:
Next regular meeting scheduled: Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 6:00PM
Fort Scott City Manager Brad Matkin was asked what the city’s accomplishments were this year and also what is on the horizon for 2024 and he sent his reply.
He also announced a new administrative position has been filled by Payton Coyan.
Payton Coyan. Submitted photo
Payton Coyan started as the Fort Scott Human Resource Director on December 27.
She has four years of experience in driving strategic human resource operational initiatives, with a focus on talent acquisition, employee retention, succession planning, organizational development, legal compliance, and grievance management. She also has skills in recruitment, interviewing, resume screening, negotiating, conflict resolution, streamlining operations, and heightening employee productivity by mastering HR situations for integrating human resource functions with overall goals, according to a press release.
She has experience managing employee benefits, employee hiring and onboarding, performance management, and HR records.
Coyan is a graduate of Ottawa University.
“Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends,” she said in the press release. ” I come from an amazing family and am fortunate to have… every one of them in my life. I am a lifelong resident of Bourbon County and love our community full-heartedly. In my free time, I enjoy…camping, (going) on a nature walk, walking downtown, or reading a book.”
Brad Matkin. Submitted photo
Matkin stated he is sure there is more coming for the city in 2024 but this list of goals will get things going, and “I am sure I missed some things on what we did in 2023.”
2023 Accomplishments:
Establishing the “My Fort Scott” App
Completion of Cooper Street
Completion of the “Old Faithful” sewer project near Nelson Park, between Elm and Pine on North Grant Street.
Improved wages for city staff, crews, and public safety members
Gunn Park Campground area improvements
Lake Fort Scott stem repair
The 2022 Cape Seal program completed
2023 Cape Seal program prepped and ready for 2024
Increased advertisements and promotion of area events by the Fort ScottTourism Department
Approvement of 2nd Phase of City Connecting Link Improvement grant for the Wall Street project. This is a federal and state-funded program that will start in 2025.
Pothole and crack sealing program
Established “street repair” crew
Memorial Hall improvements (thanks to volunteers for helping this happen)
Additional Lake Fort Scott docks
Buck Run Community Center improvements
Wastewater Treatment Plant lagoon improvements and elimination of the “smell”
Assignment of Baker Tilley, a consulting and public accounting firm, as City Finance Director, with their representative being Ben Hart.
Flawless 2022 City audit
Establishing a budget that did not increase taxes and freed up city monies for investments
Community Development Block Grant sewer repair throughout the city
Fort Scott Airport runway and taxi-way improvements thanks to an FAA grant
Stormwater project from 15th to 17th and Eddy streets
Purchased street line paint machine, city crews painting streets instead of outsourcing
Several street and water line repairs
Bringing back the Community Development position
UTV for the fire department (thanks to Timken Foundation grant)
Additional quick-action weapons for the Fort Scott Police Department
New Christmas “swags” for downtown
Woodland Hills Golf Course cart path improvements and repairs
Workman Compensation insurance graded the city with a Gold Star which will equate to a 5% reduction in premium
What’s Up in 2024:
Tourism Department to branch out to the Kansas City area to promote Fort Scott
2024 Street program that will improve streets one block at a time
Horton Street project
Additional aeration systems to the wastewater plant
Woodland Hills Golf Course maintenance barn and simulator barn justified; built either in the 4th quarter of ’24 or 1st quarter of ’25.
Gunn Park shelter house renovation and shower house built
Gunn Park sewer project
2” water line replacement program
Caboose in Fisher Park painted and moved to an uptown location at Scott Avenue and Wall Street
Two additional police cars were purchased
Memorial Hall bathroom renovations (grant pending)
Memorial Hall tables and stage lights improvements
Phase 1 on the Farmers Market Pavilion completed, and Phase 2 started
Buck Run Creek area sewer repair
Improved housing initiatives
Goals and expectations for our Economic Development Department, which is Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc.
Contractor licensing completed and implemented
Event Tourism Grant policy completed and implemented
City of Fort Scott webpage improvements and updated
Lake Fort Scott camping area – phase 1
Lake Fort Scott secondary valve installed
Additional water sources researched
Buck Run Walking Trail phase 1 started (grant search and cleanup)
Additional downtown parking (plus paving what we currently have)
25th Street rebuilt
School speed signs installed on Margrave and National
The Fort Scott Downtown Pavilion is located between Old Fort Blvd. and Stanton Street on North National Avenue and construction is slated for completion in mid-January.
A new 70-foot by 150-foot pavilion is in the works for downtown Fort Scott between Old Fort Blvd. and Stanton Street on North National Avenue.
The Fort Scott Farmers Market Pavilion, or Fort Scott Downtown Pavilion is part of many additions in “The Gathering Square” in Fort Scott’s vibrant downtown district, according to Fort Scott Mayor Matthew Wells.
Matthew Wells. Submitted photo.
‘The farmers market pavilion would aim to be a dynamic community hub,” according to a press release from Wells. “This outdoor pavilion stands in the original location of the first farmer’s market in the community’s history and champions access to fresh produce by hosting the Farmers Market every Tuesday and Saturday from May to October. Beyond the market, the pavilion transforms into a cultural stage.”
“The current plan is to make it available to rent , like Riverfront Park, or the (Gunn Park) shelter houses,” Wells said. “The city has first right-of-refusal on any use other than the set times guaranteed to the farmers market.”
This gathering space offers Bourbon County’s farmers a direct link to the community, fostering healthier lifestyles with the offering of fresh produce and enhancing local commerce, he said.
The pavilion is constructed with sustainability and adaptability in mind, and the design aligns with the International Building Code of 2015, according to the press release.
The pavilion committee also envisions music, theater, and community gatherings coming alive in the space.
It is adjacent to the newly constructed splash pad and sensory park that was constructed last summer.
Also on the horizon is a much-needed public restroom near the site.
“The site (for the new restrooms) has been chosen, plumbing ran underground, and funding secured,” Wells said.
About The Pavilion Construction
The pavilion project is backed by the City of Fort Scott, a grant from T-Mobile, a grant from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, private donations, and other grants that have been applied for and will be awarded soon, Wells said.
“As the price of steel was set to go up by a combined 35%, the Fort Scott City Commission had the forethought to order steel before the skyrocket in price,” Wells said. “As the grants come in, money will be replaced. The city was requested to match at least 1/2 the project cost according to grants.”
Sprouls Construction Inc., Lamar, MO is the general contractor for the pavilion construction project, which began in mid-November and is slated to be finished by mid-January
“We bid the project a long time ago,” Kevin Rooks, Sproul spokesman said. “But we didn’t start working until mid-November 2023.”
“(The project) went through several committees that I was not on, and went through many design and location changes,” Wells said. “When we reformed the committee we focused on a site, a site plan, and design. Partnering with the sensory park and splash pad committee we developed the idea for the ‘gathering square’ .”
A final site had to be chosen, and the commission as a whole had to decide on how best to move forward.
“The commission chose progress and what was best, and most cost-effective for our citizens,” Wells said.
The building is constructed of pre-engineered metal and Sprouls Constructin is currently trying to get the roof panels on.
“We hope the wind will quit,” he said. “All the conditions have to be right (for safely installing the roof panels).”
“We anticipate the completion is mid-January,” Rook said. “If the weather cooperates, it will be sooner.”
The structure will be painted black when the weather is warmer and dryer, Rook said. “Hopefully, by June.”
There are more phases to the project.
“We would like to put electricity and lighting, and then we would like to wrap the columns in stone,” he said. “And when the blockhouse has the new siding put on, incorporate a matching wood, possibly around the top as a skirt.”
The pavilion committee consists of:
Lindsay Madison
Bailey Lyons
Rachel French
Angie Simons
Bill Michaud
Brad Matkin
Mary Wyatt
Josh Jones
Tayton Majors
Rob Harrington
Matthew Wells
Lynette Emmerson has been a licensed long-term care administrator in the community for almost thirty years.
“After both of my parents passed away this past year and after becoming a grandparent for the first time, I re-evaluated my priorities,” she said. “With the help of my family, I realized I can look for a career in which I have less pressure and responsibility. I prayed about it and God opened a door. I have the opportunity to spend more time with my growing family, which includes a daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and a future son-in-law.”
As of January 2, 2024, Emmerson will be a new secretary at Fort Scott Middle School.
She has been at Medicalodge, Fort Scott, for the past nine-and-a-half years.
The best part of her job is helping people.
“Whether it is our residents, families, or staff,” she said. “I love to help people find resources. I especially loved hands-on care and spending time with so many residents over the years.”
“The challenges: being responsible for the decisions and actions staff make and working in a job in which I am on-call continuously because in healthcare you are never closed for business.”
Through the decades, there have been changes in long-term care.
Emmerson noted that long-term care residents in nursing homes need a higher level of staffing and experienced nurses than when she first started her career.
“Hospitals are not admitting or keeping people as long anymore so skilled nursing facilities must be prepared to provide that kind of care,” she said.
Another difference, is “Over the years, residents have been referred to us from all over the region from Kansas City to Wichita to Joplin while in the beginning, it was more local- Fort Scott and the surrounding communities.”
“Also, less of the workforce seems to want to work in long-term care so it is very important to recruit and retain staff who love caring for the elderly and individuals who need long-term care,” she said.
“The loneliness of grief can be comforted,” said Laura Meeks, a local leader of GriefShare. “GriefShare is a nationally recognized support for those left with the pain of the death of a loved one.”
“We invite you to GriefShare to help you recover from the death of your loved one,” she said. “We are sorry for the reasons that bring you to this group, but we welcome you. If you are uncomfortable taking this step and don’t know what to expect by joining a small group, your feelings are normal.”
The first GriefShare meeting led by Meeks starts on Tuesday, January 9 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic School, 714 S. Eddy in Room 203, which is across from the parish office.
“Thirteen sessions will be held for our group each Tuesday at the same time and place,” she said. “This is a non-denominational grief recovery program. Hospitality will be provided and you will be given a helpful book to support your journey.”
“After the first of thirteen sessions ….you will start noticing you find it helpful to be around others who also are dealing with their emotions, questioning, and feeling exhaustion,” she said.
“We all grieve differently,” Meeks said. “There are no rules nor measurements such as time.”
For more than 25 years, GriefShare has helped over 1 million people heal from the pain of grief, according to a press release from Meeks. Professionally developed videos and a workbook help you meet people who have faced grief and share what helped them. You get practical suggestions from counselors and pastors, experts in grief recovery who have also experienced deep loss.
“Pastor Fr. Yancy Burgess recommended this program when I told him I wanted to help those who faced the death of a loved one,” Meeks said. “He referred me to his former Kansas Parrish GriefShare leader who guided me as I prepared. Last July, Fr. Burgess ordered all the materials we needed to provide this support for the community specifically intending to include all, in this non-denominational approach. He has a formidable background in bereavement support and provides support to us.”
To find more information about GriefShare go to griefshare.org or email [email protected].
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Meeks, by calling: 740-317-6379, or emailing [email protected] for questions or registration support. To register directly go to griefshare.org/findagroup.
Another GriefShare will be available in fall 2024.
At the end of November, Community Christian Church just finished a 13-week course, led by Jon Bailes and Jeanette Perry, according to Jamie Beckham, at CCC.
“They are preparing to do another in the fall,” she said.
The KDOT building is located on Hwy. 69. Part of the proposed STAR Bond project is south of the KDOT property.
Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc. (REDI), the City of Fort Scott Commission, and the Bourbon County Commission announced a Sales Tax Revenue (STAR) Bond initiative.
REDI presented the STAR Bond project at the last Fort Scott City Commission meeting.
The Fort Scott Project, taken from the Memorandum of Understanding. Submitted document. The district runs from Heidrick’s True Value store at 1508 S. National, south on National Avenue to Highway 69 then south to the property south of the KDOT building south of the industrial park. Harrington said this map is only of the northern part of the STAR bond district. To view the rest of the district, see the attachment.
“The (Fort Scott)Commission was presented a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the multi-million dollar ‘Event Center’ project which would include an 8,000 seat event center focusing on rodeo type events, stockyard, two hotels, travel center type convenient store, restaurants, multi-use turf field, and luxury recreational vehicle (RV) park,” said Brad Matkin, Fort Scott’s City Manager.
The MOU was signed by the city and a signatory, Robb Heineman, for 635 Holdings LLC.
This MOU begins preliminary negotiations on a development agreement.
“As of right now there is no obligation from the City of Fort Scott,” Matkin said. “The signing of the MOU shows the City of Fort Scott supports the project and wishes to proceed.”
The proposed Fort Scott project will be approximately 77 acres located just south of the KDOT building and in the lot south of LaRoche Stadium, all along U.S. Hwy. 69 on Fort Scott’s south side. There will also be 20 acres of the development located in front of the former Mercy Hospital that will house a hotel, ret,ail and restaurants, according to Robert Harrington, REDI’s Executive Director.
“STAR Bonds empower municipalities to issue bonds for the development of major commercial, entertainment, and tourism projects,” according to the REDI Facebook page. “Repayment is secured by the additional sales tax revenue generated by the project itself! This isn’t just about construction; it’s about sparking economic growth, creating jobs, and boosting tourism. These large-scale projects contribute positively to our local economy, creating a ripple effect of benefits.”
“This project is a unique opportunity for Fort Scott to harness its potential for growth and development, ” said Harrington. “It is a momentous chance for the community to embrace change and shape a prosperous future.”
Rob Harrington. Submitted photo.
“The South Sports Project represents a transformative $116 million development aimed at bolstering tourism and increasing sales tax revenues in the region,” said Harrington.
“At the heart…. is the construction of an 80,000-square-foot, 8,000-seat professional rodeo arena,” Harrington said. “This versatile facility, designed in collaboration with leading rodeo companies, is set to become one of the nation’s premier rodeo venues. Beyond rodeo events, the arena will host conferences, trade shows, sporting events, and concerts, positioning Fort Scott and Bourbon County as a prominent destination.”
In addition to the arena, there are plans for new hotels and retail spaces, including restaurants.
“These additions are projected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in sales and property taxes over the next two decades,” Harrington said.
One part of the project is a “super field” for local soccer teams and a multi-purpose facility with four baseball and softball fields.
“This will not only bring in sports tournaments but also facilitate an upgrade to LaRoche Stadium, saving significant tax dollars for the school district and city,” Harrington said.
Also included is the establishment of a luxury recreational vehicle park, which will accommodate tourists, sports enthusiasts, and concertgoers, further enhancing the area’s appeal, according to Harrington.
A new truck plaza along Highway 69 is included and will increase sales tax revenue from non-local traffic. This strategic location fills a crucial service gap for truck drivers traveling between U.S. Interstate Hwy. 44 and Kansas City, Harrington said.
Overall, Harrington said the South Sports Project promises to create approximately 300 new jobs and generate nearly a billion dollars in sales and property tax revenues over 25 years. “This growth, driven by external investment, offers the prospect of reducing the tax burden for local residents.”
Pittsburg State University has released the honor roll for the 2023 Fall semester.
To qualify for Dean’s Scholastic Honors, a student must complete at least 12 semester hours, receive a grade point average of 3.6000 for all credit course work that semester, and have no grade lower than a B and no grade of I in any course during the semester.
To qualify for All-A Scholastic Honors, a student must complete at least 12 semester hours, receive a grade of A in all credit course work for the semester and have no grade of I in any course during the semester.
Submitted photo of the Fort Scott Airport runway maintenance was completed in November.
Emery Sapp & Sons, a Kansas City, Missouri full-service heavy civil
contractor recently completed the Fort Scott Municipal Airport runway and taxiway improvements for the City of Fort Scott.
“This maintenance needs to be done every so many years,” said Fort Scott Airport Manager Seth Simpson. “I am very happy with Emery Sapp. They are easy to work with. I can’t praise their services enough.”
Seth Simpson, Fort Scott City Airport Manager, started duties in Dec. 2018.
The pavement was completed ahead of schedule just before the Kansas hunting season brought increased air travel to the area, according to a press release from Sapp.
Construction began Sept. 11 and was completed 16 days later, requiring minimal airport closure.
The company used stringless paving technology to decrease the project schedule and optimize the budget for the city. The stringless paver follows fixed points to control elevation and steer the paving, resulting in an improved runway and taxiway, according to the press release
Runway health longevity, construction schedule optimization, and decreased travel impact were vital to the City of Fort Scott, according to the press release. The publicly owned airport is the base of 18 aircraft, averaging 27 daily operations.
A sky crane stops over in Fort Scott on Dec. 18, on its way to Kansas City, from the airport’s Facebook page.
Other Projects
Simpson said the expansion of the runway is on hold.
“It’s a complicated project,” Simpson said. “You can’t get the funding because you don’t have the traffic. You can’t get the traffic because the runways are not long enough. That’s why it is so difficult. There is a lot more red tape.”
Simpson said one project the staff have been working on is remodeling the interior of the terminal, “To update to more current standards.”
The staff is comprised of Simpson and Bryan Matkin, who is the assistant manager.
Fort Scott Airport Assistant Manager Brian Matkin helps remodel a conference room at the airport. From its Facebook page.
“We have a pilots lounge where they can come in and rest and have a bite to eat or watch TV,” he said. “We are trying to find ways to make it more attractive.”
In September 2024, Simpson is organizing a fly-in at the airport.
“It’s a one-day event where a pilot can fly in for some food,” he said. “I am looking for some food trucks to come in.”
Contact Simpson at 620-223-5490 for more information.
Teresa Davenport, president of Care to Share, and Cory Bryars, vice president, hold the organization’s banner in front of the front desk area of the former Mercy Hospital which is the new office for the organization.
A local grassroots helping organization is reorganizing and expanding to a space in the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
Care to Share is a cancer support group that provides both emotional and financial help to cancer fighters and their caregivers.
All services and items for the cancer fighter/caregivers are free.
The 501c3 cancer support group formed in July 2007, said Teresa Davenport, president of the group.
For about 15 years the group has had a small office in the building at 902 S. Horton. First Mercy Hospital, then Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas owned the building, and Fort Scott Community College briefly from June to December 2023. Now USD 234 is purchasing the building for an expanded preschool program.
The Care to Share group began to think about a different site for the organization to have an office and talked to Bourbon County Commissioner Jim Harris, said Cory Bryars, vice president for the group.
Harris in turn talked to Rob Harrington.
“Legacy Healthcare Foundation owns the building and…gave the go-ahead for them to move in,” Harrington said. “I contract with Legacy to do property management for them so I was the initial contact. I want people to know that they are giving back to the community. ”
On Sunday, December 17, Care to Share volunteers moved the items stored at 902 S. Horton to 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.
Cory Bryars stands in the room behind the front desk with all the items that were moved and now need to be organized.
At both sites, both Mercy and Legacy have given rent and utilities for free to the organization, for which they are grateful, Davenport said.
The New Space Has More Rooms
“When you walk in (the former Mercy Hospital building), you can go to the front desk,” Davenport said. “It will be… more availability to the public.” The front desk is the first thing seen when entering the facility.
Behind that front desk, thereis a large room with door access to the desk and several smaller rooms.
The smaller rooms are envisioned to be for trying on wigs and bras, a room for consultation, a large storage room, and a room for all the equipment that Care to Share loans to people who need them.
Some of the smaller rooms in the hall will be used by the organization. Here Bryars unlocks a door to a small room, which was a former registration clerk’s office.
Community Fundraisers Help Save Lives
Last year, Care to Share gave over $97,000 to cancer fighters and their caregivers, mostly gasoline money for appointments and treatments, and other personal concerns of the people with cancer, such as housecleaning, meals( including Ensure-a highly nutritional drink), respite care for caregivers, mowing of lawns, etc.
The year-round fundraisers in the three counties they serve contribute to the Sharing Bucket, the financial arm of the organization. Besides Bourbon, they also serve people in Crawford and Linn Counties.
A Care to Share Donation Jar can be placed at a business for those wanting to support this organization. Some employers might be interested in starting a payroll deduction plan to support the organization’s goals for cancer fighters at a local level, said Cory Bryars. Submitted photo.
“All those tournaments, bake sales, etc. have raised over $1.5 million since 2009,” Davenport said. “We run strictly by volunteers, no one gets paid.”
“I want the communities to know they are saving lives with this community involvement,” she said. “Helping them get to treatment.”
In January 2024 they will be reorganizing following the resignation of Lavetta Simmons, a founder of the group.
“We had a volunteer meeting last week,” Davenport said. ” We have a ride coordinator, a meal coordinator, and a chore coordinator to better serve the counties. We are separating all the volunteer’s responsibilities. We want to serve more efficiently.”
“Delegating all this volunteer stuff, I’ll be able to do more grant writing, etc.,” Davenport said.
Following the move on December 17, the volunteers will be working on and off at the new site to organize the office space.
“We’ll need help organizing the new space,” she said.
To help this organization through talent or time, one can contact Davenport at 620.238.0902 or email [email protected] or Bryars at 913.269.3122 or email [email protected]
Upcoming Events
On Sunday, January 22, Care to Share will have an open house at the new site for the public and also provide a sign-up sheet for potential volunteers.
The first Saturday in February, they will reinstate cancer support meetings, which will be held at the McAuley Center, she said.
Starting on March 6 there will be a volunteer manning the front desk each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“If people need things in the meantime, call us,” she said.
Lavetta Simmons, who is a founding member of the organization, resigned in October and her last day is December 31, 2023.
“My priorities have always been God, family, and Care to Share,” Simmons said. “Family is overshadowing Care to Share at this point in my life, I will be taking care of two great-grandchildren.”
With Davenport and Bryares serving on the board starting in this new year are Carol Hill, treasurer; Kathy Clark, Tammy Miller, Leah Lewis, Richard Long, JoVoli Clark, Joyce Nicholson, and Jerry Witt. Simmons will be an emeritus member and Dr. Boban Matthews is an ex-officio member.
“On this newly reorganized program, we are looking for a secretary for the board that will start in January,” she said. “There are two open positions on the board, that we would like a nurse or doctor to fill.”
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, December 21st at 8 a.m. hosted by the City of Fort Scott which will be held at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
At this week’s Coffee, the City staff will provide a recap of the year 2023, and give a preview of what is to come in 2024.
Any member business or organization wanting to host Chamber Coffee in 2023 is encouraged to contact the Chamber to save a date by calling 620-223-3566 or emailing [email protected].
Ascension Via Christi will cease operations at its emergency department in Fort Scott on Wednesday, Dec. 20. This decision was made after a thorough analysis of trend data, patient census, and the current and future challenges and opportunities facing this facility.
Over the past several years, a multidisciplinary team that includes Ascension Via Christi clinical and operational leaders have been working together to understand the current operating environment at the Emergency Department in Fort Scott. This department has seen a steady decline in visits and its overall average daily census. These factors, coupled with other economic challenges, have limited the emergency department’s ability to continue operations.
“After exploring the options available, it was clear that this was the only option for us. There are other providers in the region positioned to serve the residents of Fort Scott and neighboring communities. These providers will help us ensure continuity of care for our patients as we approach closure,” says Drew Talbott, president of Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg.
Ascension Via Christi is committed to supporting associates, patients and community members through this transition.
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About Ascension Via Christi
In Kansas, Ascension Via Christi operates seven hospitals and nearly 80 other sites of care and employs approximately 6,200 associates. In FY2023, Ascension Via Christi provided more than $65 million in community benefit programs. Serving Kansas for more than 135 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the leading non-profit and Catholic health system in the U.S., operating more than 2,600 sites of care – including 145 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.ascension.org.
