Category Archives: Government

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD 234 Agenda for Sept. 12

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BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 – 5:30 P.M.
AGENDA SUMMARY
1.0 Call Meeting to Order Danny Brown, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
4.1 Minutes from August 8, 2022, Board of Education Meeting
Minutes from August 15, 2022, Special Board of Education Meeting
Minutes from August 22, 2022, Special Board of Education Meeting
Minutes from August 23, 2022, Special Board of Education Meeting
4.2 Financials–Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – July 20, 2022 – $1,361,769.35
4.5 Activity Fund accounts
4.6 First Day Enrollment Count
4.7 Appointment of Zach Reynolds as the school attorney for the 2022–23 school year
5.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion)
5.1 FS KNEA Report
5.2 Superintendent’s Report
5.3 Assistant Superintendent’s Report
5.4 Business Manager’s Report
6.0 Old Business
6.1 No items
7.0 New Business
7.1 Approval of Erate contracts (Action Item)

 

7.2 Approval to place three buses and a suburban for sale through an online auction
and scrapping two buses (Action Item)
7.3 Approval of audit contract with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton (Action Item)
7.4 Approval of FSMS Curtain Divider Purchase (Action Item)
7.5 Approval of roof bids (Action Item)
7.6 District Communication & Public Relations Proposal (Action)
7.7 KDHE Grant – Kansas K–12 Stay Positive Test Negative Initiative (Action)
8.0 Public Forum
9.0 Other Business – Personnel Matters
8.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
8.2 Exit Executive Session
8.3 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
8.4 Exit Executive Session
9.0 Adjourn Meeting
President Brown

Government, Kansas

Funding Grants for Revitalizing Downtown Buildings Announced

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Commerce and Patterson Family Foundation Announce More Funding Available for Revitalizing Downtown Buildings

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced a second round of Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grants intended for revitalizing downtown buildings in small communities across the state.  The HEAL program, which is funded by the Department of Commerce and the Patterson Family Foundation, will invest $850,000 in projects in the Fall 2022 grant round.

The HEAL program is designed to bring downtown buildings back into productive use as spaces for:

  • New or expanding businesses
  • Housing
  • Arts and culture
  • Civic engagement
  • Childcare or
  • Entrepreneurship

“The first round of the HEAL program is supporting the revitalization of 32 commercial buildings in small towns across the state,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The need for this program was staggering, with more than 200 applications received. Thanks to our strong partnership with the Patterson Family Foundation, we are able to offer another round of the HEAL program allowing us to invest in more communities and continue to create new jobs and services for Kansans across the state.”

HEAL is intended to close financial gaps in restoring underutilized properties and making downtown districts throughout the state more economically vibrant. Projects submitted must show potential as economic drivers in the community.

There are a few changes to this round of the HEAL program. HEAL matching grants will be awarded for either 1) façade or 2) building construction projects. Eligible applicants must be organizations applying on behalf of building owners and may include designated Kansas Main Street programs, economic development organizations, cities, counties, 501c3 or 501c6 organizations, and local community foundations. Communities that received a previous HEAL grant are not eligible to apply in this round.

Proof of matching funds from the building owner will be required at the time of application. The application window opens September 12 and closes October 21 with award notifications in early December. A spring round of HEAL is anticipated for February 2023.

A virtual webinar on the specifics of the program is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 13. Registration is required and the Zoom link will be provided after registration. Organizations and building owners interested in applying should register and attend the webinar.

Information about the HEAL grant program and the online application can be viewed at www.kansascommerce.gov/healfall2022.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021 and 2022, and was awarded the 2021 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

Government, Kansas

Organic Certification Program Funds Available

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MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture has funds available for the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP). Through this program, farms, ranches, and businesses that produce, process or package certified organic agricultural products may be reimbursed for eligible expenses.

The purpose of the NOCCSP is to defray the costs of receiving and maintaining organic certification under the National Organic Program. For Federal Fiscal Year 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency set the reimbursement amount at 50% of the certified organic operation’s eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $500 per scope. Scopes include the areas of crops, livestock, wild crops, and handling (i.e., processing). This change is due to a limited amount of funding available and will allow a larger number of certified organic operations to receive assistance.

FSA awards the NOCCSP funds to eligible state agencies that serve as administering entities who work directly with organic operations to reimburse organic certification costs. The current period of qualification for organic operations seeking reimbursements is from Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2022. Applications are now being accepted through November 1, 2022, or until all funds are expended, whichever comes first. Applications may be submitted either by mail or email.

It is the mission of KDA to support all facets of agriculture, including lending support to those who wish to market and sell their products as certified organic. For more information, go to the KDA website at agriculture.ks.gov/OrganicCostShare or contact KDA economist Tori Laird at [email protected] or 785-564-6726.

Government, Kansas

Fostering A Skilled Workforce

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Governor Laura Kelly Establishes Office of Registered Apprenticeship

~~Executive Order Expands Administration’s Workforce Development Efforts~~

TOPEKA – Today, on the heels of Labor Day, Governor Laura Kelly signed Executive Order #22-07 establishing the Office of Registered Apprenticeship within the Kansas Department of Commerce. The Office will dramatically scale up the Kelly Administration’s efforts to meet the talent needs of Kansas businesses, give workers the skills and experience they need to compete in the modern economy, and knock down barriers to employment.

“We have spurred remarkable economic growth here in Kansas, but to continue that success, we have to ensure Kansas workers have the skills and opportunities they need to compete in today’s global economy,” Governor Kelly said. “I created this new Office of Registered Apprenticeship to prioritize fostering a workforce that meets the needs of Kansas businesses and of essential industries like education and healthcare.”

Registered Apprenticeship programs are a key workforce development tool for the Kelly Administration and the Kansas Department of Commerce.

In May, Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced appointments to the Kansas Apprenticeship Council (KAC), a significant step in modernizing the Registered Apprenticeship program in Kansas. The 12-member KAC helps establish Registered Apprenticeship programs in traditional and non-traditional occupations and provides approval for submitted program requests.

All Registered Apprenticeship programs must have five core components to be recognized for certification, including on-the-job training, related technical instruction, mentorship, wage progression, and industry-recognized credentials. However, the driving force must be a business or industry willing to support an apprentice to “earn and learn” a career.

“The Office of Registered Apprenticeship is a key part of our strategy to develop the workforce that Kansas companies need,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Engaging and partnering with businesses to provide on-the-job training allows for a more highly skilled and qualified workforce, which in turn reduces turnover rates and recruitment costs while increasing productivity.”

The Office of Registered Apprenticeship will be housed in the Kansas Department of Commerce and led by Shonda Atwater, current Director of Internships and Apprenticeships. Kansas currently has 212 recognized Apprenticeships programs with 3,396 Kansas residents participating.

“Robust partnerships are essential to growing Registered Apprenticeship opportunities across Kansas,” said Director of Internships and Apprenticeships Shonda Atwater. “The new Office of Apprenticeship will serve as the primary resource to connect industry partners and training providers, in order to prepare Kansans for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”

The Office of Registered Apprenticeship will:

  • Evaluate, and report annually on, the extent, quality and impact of registered apprenticeships in Kansas.
  • Develop strategies to modernize the registered apprenticeship program to include additional industries such as healthcare, IT, agricultural manufacturing, and distribution and logistics – all critical segments in the Kansas economy.
  • Develop and advocate for registered apprenticeship program policies that place a special focus on veterans, women, people of color, those formerly incarcerated and others with barriers to successful employment.

Governor Kelly made the announcement at a state-of-the-art auto body repair shop at Washburn University Institute of Technology alongside leaders in organized labor and higher education.

“Registered apprenticeships give workers the tools they need to learn a trade and help build a stronger, more resilient Kansas economy. In fact, an apprenticeship program is how I first entered the construction industry,” said Alise Martiny, Business Manager of the Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council. “Thank you Governor Kelly for creating this new office to expand apprenticeships and economic opportunities for working Kansans.”

“We have to do college differently, work differently, and train differently to continue to produce and recruit highly technical and skilled employees to our Kansas communities,” said Washburn University Institute of Technology Dean Michael Strohschein, Ed.D. “That’s what we’re doing here at Washburn Tech, and what we believe this new Office of Registered Apprenticeship will help achieve throughout the state.”

More information on Kansas Registered Apprenticeships can be found on the Kansas Department of Commerce website. In addition, regular “Dinner Bell Calls” are held to help build and promote registered apprenticeship programs, share resources, connect with others, and hear and share success stories.

Government, Kansas

Deadline for KDOT Poster/Video Contest

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Contests aim to Put the Brakes on Fatalities

Students and school/class/booster club can win prizes

A reminder that deadlines are coming up soon for statewide poster and video contests as part of this year’s Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day safety campaign. Kansas students can win great prizes and learn about traffic safety.

In addition, the school, class or booster club of the grand prize-winning students will also receive money as part of the contests’ prizes.

Poster contest – deadline is Friday Sept. 23: For Kansas students ages 5 to 13 – students who submit completed poster entries will be eligible for a random prize drawing of a $100 Amazon gift card. A total of 18 regional winners in the six regions and age groups (ages 5-7, ages 8-10 and ages 11-13) will receive a bicycle from the Kansas Turnpike Authority and a helmet from Safe Kids Kansas. Three statewide winners will each receive:

  • Kindle Fire Tablet and case from the KTA;
  • $50 Amazon gift card from Fuel True/Independent Energy and Convenience;
  • Movie passes from AAA Kansas; and
  • $200 for the school, class or the booster club.

Posters can now be entered digitally as well as by mail. Information and entry forms are available here.

Video contest – deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25: For Kansas teens in grades 8-12. Prizes from the KTA include a GoPro, a DJI Stabilizer and a DJI Drone, and the grand prize winner’s school, class or booster club will receive $500. Video entries must be submitted to the KTA – entry details are available here.

About 37,000 people die in traffic crashes each year across the United States. That’s nearly 101 fatalities every day. Let’s encourage everyone – drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists – to exercise caution every day and Put the Brakes on Fatalities.

The Kansas Department of Transportation, KTA and other transportation organizations in Kansas are sponsoring the contests. More information about Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day is available here.

Winners from the 2021 contests are listed below:

Poster Contest Winners –

Northeast Kansas – Annika Mick, Manhattan; Emma Kuhlman, Topeka; Kyla Kuhlmann, Olpe

North Central Kansas – Hattie Krug, McPherson; Raynee Eddy, Inman

Northwest Kansas – Journie Hake, Grainfield; Matthias Miller, Gorham; Janessa Miller, Gorham

Southeast Kansas – Nash Forester, Garland; Antonio Guerrero, Ottawa; Lola Ogden, Fredonia

South Central Kansas – Riley Leake, Sterling; Isabelle Kaufman, Kingman; Cade Brown, Andale

Southwest Kansas – Wren Berggren, Tribune; Seryiah Munoz, Garden City; Elizabeth Linke, Spearville

 

2021 Video Contest winners –

Students from St. John – Hudson Tigers USD 350 won first place. Two groups of

students from Eudora Schools captured second and third place in the video contest.
Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Minutes of August 30

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August 30, 2022, Tuesday, 6:00 pm
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with three Commissioners and
the County Clerk present.
Susan Bancroft, Michael Hoyt, Bernita Hill, Patty Ropp, Shane Walker, Euna Blythe,
Anne Dare, Clint Walker, Debra Dawson, Matt Quick, Rachel Walker, Jackie Pruitt,
and Chase Turner were present for some or all of the meeting.
Susan began the meeting with an opportunity for people to ask questions regarding
Revenue Neutral Rate. The County is going to exceed the RNR as there are some
unfunded things due to increases on insurance and the other is for some things going
on upstairs with County Attorney and District Court. I talked with Commissioner
Harris about looking for an area we might be able to drop the levy that we had
proposed when I did the last budget. There is a way that we can but if we do this it
will be forever so that is one thing I want to drive home is that we are using some
sales tax dollars to maybe fund some operations and by doing that you can reduce
what you were proposing by 1.2 mils. We were proposing that we would do a 62.51
mil levy this would lower it to 61.25 and your RNR is 59.907. If you were to take this
recommendation we would have a reduction in the mil levy since 2019 of 5.36 mils.
Since 2019 you have levied for $114,000 more in property taxes to cover expenses.
We would take $150,000 going on until the sales tax falls off in 2035 to fund
operations in the jail and public safety. Once this sales tax is off the rolls you will
have to levy at that time for those expenses. This is a temporary fix if you want to
reduce the levy right now. Jim stated that if we were to have growth we could make
the sales tax up.
Clint Walker stated it doesn’t matter who is setting in the commission chairs and it’s
doesn’t matter who the county assessor is. It’s not his fault, they are bound by rules
and regulations that you will bring your property values up to 90% of what it’s worth.
It’s nice the mil levy went down, but anyone who looks at their tax bill will see that
they are paying more than last year. It’s hard to keep taxes down. Expenses have
gone through the roof.
Nelson stated if we go over the RNR, we will be cutting out $311,000 from the County
budget; if we didn’t, property taxes will go up. It’s up to the public to decide if they
are willing to let $311,000 be cut from the county budget; the less money the county
is levying to more money the people are keeping, but also services can be lost too.
A gentleman asked how much money is owed in back taxes and EMS bills. He stated if
you could collect that you might make up the $311,000. Things are getting more
expensive.
David Scharenberg – people’s income is not increasing. Would like taxes to not
increase so people can afford to live.

Clinton Walker – Other entities raise taxes not just one. If one lowers and others
raises taxes; taxes still go up.
Anne Dare – People should have attended the college and schools hearings. We need
x-amount of money cut from where? Or more funds somewhere.
Chase Turner, Deputy for Bourbon County employee but here as a citizen. I moved
from Frontenac to Bourbon County. When was the last time Bourbon County was
allowed to have economic growth that has impacted us? Clifton stated that the
commissioners are working on multi-year deals. He puts in 20 – 30 hours per week
that the public doesn’t see. Chase stated the negativity of the RNR process now is
clashing with the idea that we are trying to have economic development. I’m
concerned if we cave to the negativity in the temporary you’re going to torpedo the
growth in the future. Is the increase today, this year or for the next few years and
the things we are asking for worth it to sustain that growth and suffer in our taxes
today. I can’t answer that for everyone, but I just hope we can ask that question of
ourselves. Nelson stated that so many people think it’s the county and local
government to increase economic development to make us prosperous. I
fundamentally disagree with that. I believe it’s the county government job to enforce
laws and keep people safe but ultimately it’s the people. We have the freedom to
bring businesses in, make smart business decisions, wake up early and go to work and
if you can do that without being overly taxed and if you can do that without rules and
regulations that are hindering you, then maybe you can be more prosperous.
Mary Pemberton: we understand the challenge of staying revenue neutral. It’s very
difficult when the price of everything you buys go up and you’re trying not to spend
any more money. One thing I noticed almost every department head that came up
and presented their budget, time after time I heard the statement “we didn’t budget
for raises, we only gave the 3%”. No one here asked or commented that a 3% raise is
a raise. If they gave 3% raises and didn’t increase their budget they obviously have
padding so to speak in their budget to begin with. Mary said she wanted to address
another statement that we can only control road & bridge and appraisers. You guys
have the budgeting authority; you set the budgets for all departments. You are
required by law to give them enough money to effectively operate their department
but what that means is that if you know the sheriff has the opportunity to cut $50,000
worth of fuel costs by buying in bulk. Take $50,000 out of their budget and say we
aren’t saying you have to buy it but we are not going to fund you not to. If they go
over their budget, I know that has some repercussions for you but it might be the only
way that people in the county will wake up and realize what’s going on and the
hostage holding that is occurring within some of the departments in their budgets
could lead to a recall or an election of someone different next time. Instead of the
way it works now when people go to the poll and they are very uninformed, most of
them, and they are just checking off a name they know. If they don’t know any of
the names, they just look to see who the incumbent is and they check that. People
need to be aware. Nelson stated it was explained to him that if the elected official

asks for something we have to give it. We give it by default then if we think it’s
unreasonable we have to go to a state hearing later and we may or may not win.
Michael Hoyt stated that Revenue Neutral is a very deceiving term. It sounds like a
good thing but it may not be.
Clifton made a motion to close the RNR hearing. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Clifton made a motion to amend the agenda to add Fire District #3 notice of hearing
to exceed Revenue Neutral Rate and budget hearing for Fire District #3 of Bourbon
County. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Clifton made a motion to open the RNR hearing for Fire District #3. Nelson seconded.
All approved.
Lou Howard requested a small budget increase that will raise our property taxes
$4.00/$100,000 home. We have no intentions of raising property taxes ever. Fire
District #3 covers 508 square miles of Bourbon County. We are Uniontown, Bronson,
Hiattville, Devon, Mapleton, Fulton and Redfield. Scott Township Fire Department
and Garland Fire Department are separate from us. We have 7 stations and 25
volunteers. We do our very best with tax dollars to provide gear and equipment but
this year it did exceed. Clifton stated speaking as a citizen, not a commissioner, that
he was a volunteer years ago and he remembered someone told him that we have to
spend this money or we won’t get it next year. I don’t know if that mind set is still
there. Clifton asked Lou to please stress that with her crew. Lou stated that they are
very careful until the end of the year and see where they are with fuel expenses and
then if there are funds remaining they look at what they have to have for the
following year. We are also first responders and EMT’s. Susan stated that there
proposed budget was $333,200. Last year it was $328,940. Clifton made a motion to
close the RNR and budget hearing for Fire District #3. Nelson seconded. All
approved.
Clifton made a motion to adopt resolution 12-22 a resolution for the County of
Bourbon, Kansas to levy a property tax rate exceeding the Revenue Neutral Rate.
Nelson seconded. Clifton clarified that we are not voting on the budget, this is a
resolution that has coming out of a senate bill that is absolute nonsense. All
approved. Clifton made a motion to adopt resolution 13-22 a resolution for the Fire
District #3, Bourbon County, Kansas, to levy a property tax rate to exceed the
Revenue Neutral Rate. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Clifton made a motion to add to the agenda the budget adoption of Fire District #3.
Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion to adopt the budget of Fire
District #3 in Bourbon County. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Clifton made a motion to approve the minutes from August 23, 2022. Nelson
seconded. All approved.

Eric Bailey stated they completed asphalting in the Uniontown area last week and
have moved out to 215th starting at Indian and went south 1.2 miles and will make it
down to Grand and turn around and come back to finish that. Then we’ll look at
doing Grand from 39 to 39. Last Friday we had two big trees go down on 125th just
south of Mapleton. Got them cleaned up Friday night and roads back open. We
submitted two applications to the Off System Bridge Program; bridge #19.2Q-0
between 195th and 205th on Jayhawk; and the other is at 60th & Grand bridge 5.0S.9.
Bridge 518 on 215th was in the KOBIP program and I believe it has been submitted as
well. Eric stated the soybean permit has been signed and is in the mail. We can
proceed forward with building a pad for composting of soybeans. Eric stated that the
asphalt oil that they use has gone up $7,000 per load this year. Nelson asked about
working on a section of Yale Rd. between Mapleton and Hidden Valley Lake. Eric
stated that the section needs to be taken back to gravel and rework the base and
then repave it to do it right.
County Counselor Comments: No Comment
Chief Financial Officer Comments: No Comment
Chief Information Officer Comments: No Comment
Public Comment: Michael Hoyt quoted Clifton Beth from the newspaper. “People
need to show up” he said. He encouraged people to provide commissioners with input
regarding the budget. Beth talked about the limited number of people who attend
the meeting or were watching the livestream online. Michael continued with, please
consider how frustrating it is when 50% of the content of a meeting is coming where
we can’t hear you. It’s either made at the back door here or comments made from
the audience. So we need microphones up there, another podium over there. The
agenda this evening said to be here at 9:00am; but then we change it to 6:00pm. So
which is it 6:00pm or 9:00am? We get confused. Nobody shows up. Justin Meeks
stated that according to the Kansas Open Meetings Act does not require for the
meeting to be videoed. This is a service to tax payers. Shane Walker stated that
YouTube is a technology that we do not own or control. If you want me to record
these meetings and broadcast them to work 100% all the time it’s $60 – $70,000. We
are not going to raise taxes to do that. Michael read from a ballot from April 7, 2015
regarding the jail sales tax. Michael stated that the jail sales tax is set to end in two
years. Justin Meeks stated he and Mr. Hoyt have had discussions regarding this issue.
It is statutory. If the sales tax went up we could pay the jail off sooner, but we are
years away from this occurring. Michael Hoyt stated that we have paid on this for 8
years and the ending balance is still over 6 million dollars. Justin stated that the
bond goes out to 2035. Susan clarified that we refinanced the bond, so if we are
talking just about bonds, there is 5.2 million on the refunding part of it and $565,000
on a couple of certificates that it didn’t make sense to refinance and so those two
together is $5.7 million. What you have to understand about the debt service and
how it’s structured is you pay interest and you pay your principal at the end and it continues to get higher each year. Normally debt service you will pay higher at the
beginning and it will get lower or it stays relatively the same but this is structured so
that we are paying more as the years go on because I think the idea is that our sales
tax revenues will go up. Sometime after, I wasn’t here at that time, they must have
determined that the sales tax was going to generate enough money to buy additional
jail pod and equipment. This is not a bond. This is a lease purchase and there is still
$1.5 million owed on that. So when Michael says it is exceeding $6 million, the bonds
aren’t exceeding that, the bonds have been paid down but you still have total debt
service in excess of the $6 million because I think there were some pods and stuff
added after the fact. Michael stated that whether the sunset date is 2025 or 2035 we
should be very careful how we spend this money and not use it outside of the jail.
Susan stated the money is being used for public safety. It is being used for
equipment, cars and paying down the debt. Justin Meeks stated that there are two
different types of sales tax and how they are on the ballot. In this case it doesn’t
have the sunset, it’s open sales tax until the bond is paid off.
Commission Comment: Nelson stated that if the point of the conversation is that we
pay our debts off quicker if possible, I agree. Clifton stated last year we refinanced
the debt and was able to save about $100,000 per year.
Nelson made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Clifton seconded. All approved.

Government, Kansas

Kansas: Technology Research Funding Available

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Proof of Concept Applications Open through the End of September

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today that Proof of Concept (POC) applications for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 are being accepted through Friday, September 30.

The POC program is a part of Kansas Innovation & Technology Enterprise (KITE) and is designed to fill a funding gap that impedes the progression of technology from research to the marketplace. POC funding acts as a bridge to commercialization and potential funding by angel or venture capital investors. The program aims to assist in:

  • The establishment of promising new technology-based entrepreneurial ventures within the state; and
  • The commercialization of inventions resulting from research conducted at Kansas public universities.

“I am thrilled that we are able to offer funding through the Proof of Concept program to help entrepreneurs develop new technologies,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship is one of the four strategic pillars of the Framework for Growth. Through this program we make sure that innovative thinkers and doers can bring new ideas to fruition, creating new jobs and wealth that drive the Kansas economy.”

POC funding can assist in developing a project or product to the point where the entity can raise significant amounts of external capital. Typically, these awards will be used for commercial assessment and/or technology validation, such as advanced testing or prototype development.

Funding is available in two categories: For-profit Entity and Faculty Led. Applications for POC funding are accepted throughout the year and can be found here. The POC review committee meets on a quarterly basis to review proposals and make recommendations for funding in the two categories of applications. Award amounts can be between $5,000 and $25,000 per application. Recipients receiving awards for the application period ending September 30 will be made in early November.

For additional information, please contact Rachèll Rowand at Rachè[email protected].

About the Kansas Department of Commerce:

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021 and 2022, and was awarded the 2021 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

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Government, Kansas

KS AG Advisory Boards Open to the Public on Sept. 15

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MANHATTAN, Kansas — Several advisory boards which serve to guide the work of the Kansas Department of Agriculture will meet on Thursday, September 15, at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson. The meetings will be held on the Kansas State Fairgrounds, and are open to the public.

The boards which will meet on September 15 are:

Kansas Board of Agriculture         

9:00 a.m. to noon

Kansas State Fair Administrative Office Boardroom

Contact: Brittney Grother, [email protected] or 785-564-6797

 

Kansas Board of Animal Health   

9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Prairie Pavilion conference room

Contact: Justin Smith, [email protected] or 785-564-6601

 

Kansas Marketing Advisory Board                      

1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Kansas State Fair Administrative Office Boardroom

Contact: Russell Plaschka, [email protected] or 785-564-7466

 

State Conservation Commission  

8:00 a.m. to noon

Cottonwood Court building: upstairs meeting room

Contact: Division of Conservation, [email protected] or 785-564-6620

 

The meetings are open to the public. Individuals who have questions about any of the meetings can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture at 785-564-6700 for more information.

Persons who require special accommodations must make their needs known at least two days prior to the meeting.

Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda for Sept. 6

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Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Date: September 6, 2022
1st District–Nelson Blythe Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District–Jim Harris Corrected: _______________________
3rd District–Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk–Ashley Shelton
MEETING HELD IN THE COMMISSION ROOM BEGINNING at 9:00AM.
Call to Order
• Flag Salute
• Approval of Minutes from previous meeting
• Eric Bailey – Road & Bridge Report
• Justin Meeks – County Counselor Comment
• Susan Bancroft – Chief Financial Officer Comment
• Shane Walker – Chief Information Officer Comment
• Public Comment
• Commission Comments