Category Archives: Government

U234 Board of Education Agenda for Nov. 14

BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING

NOVEMBER 14, 2022 – 5:30 P.M.

AGENDA SUMMARY

 

1.0            Call Meeting to Order

           

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 October 10, 2022, Board of Education Meeting

            4.2       Financials-Cash Flow Report

            4.3       Check Register

            4.4       Payroll – October 20, 2022 – $1,572,916.54

            4.5       Activity Fund accounts

            4.6       Parent/Teacher Conference Statistics

4.7       Orchestra Extended Trip Application

 

5.0       Student Recognition – Anna Laubenstein

 

6.0       Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion)

 

            6.1       Fort Scott KNEA Report

            6.2       Superintendent’s Report

            6.3       Assistant Superintendent’s Report

            6.4       Finance Director’s Report

 

7.0       Old Business

 

            7.1       Communications Update

7.2       ESSER III Budget Approval (Action Item)

 

8.0       New Business

8.1       Proposal for full-time construction services for the roof replacement proje

 

8.2       State of Kansas Municipal Investment Pool Resolution

8.3       RPS Benefits By Design, Inc. Consulting Agreement

            8.4       Premium Rate Schedule

8.5       District Health Insurance Recommendation

 

9.0       Public Forum

10.0     Other Business – Personnel Matters

10.1     Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)

10.2     Exit Executive Session

10.3     Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)

 

11.0     Adjourn Meeting

Free COVID-19 Tests Reordering Available for All Kansas Households

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation’s public charity, RF Catalytic Capital and Project Access to Covid Tests (Project ACT), is providing a second round of free at-home COVID-19 tests to households in all Kansas communities. All Kansas households can now visit AccessCovidTests.org to place an order for an additional five at-home COVID-19 test kits. Amazon will deliver the test kits directly to your house.

Testing before holiday gatherings is one way to prevent spreading COVID-19 to family and friends. Frequent testing is especially important for those with more exposure outside the home, such as kids in school or people who spend time in a group setting. By visiting AccessCovidTests.org, Kansans will be able enter their zip code to order free, rapid, at-home COVID-19 test kits.

Kansans who need more support in ordering can call 866-534-3463 (866-KDHEINF).

If you need additional testing, please visit KnowBeforeYouGoKS.com to find a free testing site in your community.

Kansas 2022 Holiday Gift Boxes Now Selling

MANHATTAN, Kansas — Holiday gift boxes are now available to order for the 2022 holiday season from the From the Land of Kansas state trademark program at the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Each gift box contains an assortment of products grown, raised or produced in Kansas, with two size options available: the Konza Box and the Ad Astra Box. From the Land of Kansas gift boxes allow for ease of purchase for family, friends or clients and add a personal, customized note for the holiday season.

The Konza Box includes sand plum jelly from Bruce’s Bullseye Farms, pepper meat sticks from R Family Farms, allergy-friendly snack bites from Safely Delicious, garden veggie dip from Twisted Pepper Co., sunflower oil from Wright Enterprises, Snaxsun lightly salted wheat snacks from Wheatland Foods, and a chocolate bar from The Sweet Granada.

The Ad Astra Box includes white popcorn kernels from Free Day Popcorn, Merry Berry jam from Grandma Hoerner’s, sweet and tangy mustard from Grannie’s Homemade Mustard, medium garden salsa from Holmes Made Salsa, sugar cookie mix from Queen Marie Gluten Free, chai concentrate mix from Signet Coffee Roasters, lavender mint lip balm from Sweet Streams Lavender, sunflower oil form Wright Enterprises, meat sticks from Yoder Meats and a chocolate bar from The Sweet Granada.

Gift boxes can be purchased online at shop.fromthelandofkansas.com/holidaybox and can be shipped anywhere in the United States. For orders larger than 10, call 785-564-6755 or email [email protected] to ensure holiday delivery. December 9 is the last day to order for guaranteed delivery before Christmas.

“Our holiday gift boxes are the perfect gift for anyone who loves Kansas. It’s a way to give back to Kansas ag businesses while making gift shopping simple and personalized,” said Sammy Gleason, From the Land of Kansas marketing manager. “We appreciate all our customers who come back each year to support our amazing producers and look forward to new customers ordering for the first time.”

The From the Land of Kansas trademark program at KDA is designed to promote and celebrate agricultural experiences and products grown, raised or produced in Kansas. For more information about the holiday gift boxes or about the trademark program, visit fromthelandofkansas.com or contact From the Land of Kansas marketing manager Sammy Gleason at 785-564-6755.

New Communities Asked to Join Kansas Main Street Program

Kansas Main Street Program Seeking New Communities, Hosting Application Workshop

TOPEKA – The Kansas Main Street program announced today it is seeking new communities to join the program in 2023. On Monday, November 14, at 10 a.m., the program will host a virtual application workshop for communities interested in the program.

“My administration rebuilt economic development tools like the Kansas Main Street Program, and it has since been a crucial part of preserving and growing Kansas downtowns,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I encourage more Kansas communities to join this program and strengthen their economy.”

Kansas Main Street provides technical assistance and support for communities working to revitalize their downtown area by focusing on four points — economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization.

Communities wishing to submit applications will be required first to attend the virtual application workshop, which will explain the Main Street Approach and the process for successfully completing the application.

Applications for the Kansas Main Street program will open on December 5 and close on February 3, 2023. Applications will be reviewed in February, with new communities announced in March.

“Since Governor Kelly brought the Kansas Main Street program back in 2019, ten communities have been added, bringing the total number of designated communities to 35,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “These Kansas communities once again have the resources and tools they need to enhance the quality of life and breathe new life into their communities and historic commercial districts.”

Benefits of earning designation as a Kansas Main Street community include:

  • Comprehensive technical assistance from the state and national programs to further economic development downtown.
  • Training in strategic planning, program capacity-building, and organizational management for the Main Street organization.
  • Individualized training for Main Street managers, boards, and other Main Street participants.
  • Attendance to statewide quarterly training and professional development opportunities for participant communities.
  • Access to design services to help downtown property owners undertake effective rehabilitation, restoration, adaptive reuse, and infill projects, as well as reimagining public spaces within the district.
  • Access to business assistance such as recruitment and retention, succession planning, business plan development, and entrepreneurial development.
  • Membership in the Main Street America network.

“The Main Street Approach has been around nationally since the 1980s and is a proven economic development tool, especially for small, rural communities,” said Kansas Main Street Director Scott Sewell. “Opening up the program to more communities in Kansas is a positive step forward for our state.”

Registration for the November 14 application workshop is required, which can be completed here.

For more information on the Kansas Main Street program, visit https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/community-programs/main-street/ or contact Director Scott Sewell at (785) 296-7288 or [email protected].

Uniontown City Council Agenda for Nov. 7

CALL TO ORDER AT ________ by _____________________________

ROLL CALL: 

___ Jess Ervin ___ Danea Esslinger ___ Josh Hartman ___ Amber Kelly ___ Bradley Stewart

 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS

Uniontown Ruritan Bathroom Project, Skeet George –

 

CITIZENS REQUESTS

 

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Charlene Bolinger – Financial reports

 

APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA

  1. Minutes of October 11, 2022 Regular Council Meeting
  2. Treasurers Report, Monthly Transaction Report & Accounts Payables

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Superintendent:  Bobby Rich

 

 

Codes Enforcement:  Doug Coyan

 

 

Clerk Report:  Sally Johnson  

SOS Donation

Lead and Copper Rule Revision

Public Hearing for trash service, December 13

 

COUNCIL & COMMITTEE REPORTS

Councilman Ervin –

Councilwoman Esslinger –

Councilman Hartman –

Councilwoman Kelly –

Councilman Stewart–

Mayor Jurgensen –

 

OLD BUSINESS

School Pond Project –

 

Placemaking Project –

 

American Rescue Plan Act update–

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

Motion by __________, Second by ___________, Approved _______ to enter into executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel matters exception, KSA 4319(b)(1), in order to discuss performance of non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at ­­­­___________.

 

 

ADJOURN Time ____________ Moved by ______________, 2nd ___________________, Approved ___________

 

11-22 Informational Items

2022 Financials – November

Minutes of the Uniontown City Council for Oct. 11

Minutes are unapproved until the next meeting.

The Regular Council Meeting on October 11, 2022 at Uniontown City Hall, was called to order at 7:00PM by Mayor Jurgensen.  Council members present were Jess Ervin, Danea Esslinger (7:02), Amber Kelly, and Bradley Stewart.  Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting were Raymond George (Uniontown Ruritan), Kyle Knight (Knight’s Tree Service), City Superintendent Bobby Rich, City Codes Enforcement Officer Doug Coyan, City Treasurer Charlene Bolinger, and City Clerk Sally Johnson.

 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS

Ruritan Bathroom Project, Raymond “Skeet” George – Painting is supposed to be finished, electrician should be in next week.  He is trying to get LACO to donate the guttering.  Hopeful to have it finished by next month.  Clerk Johnson asked what times they wanted to have the locks set to unlock/lock – during central standard time, 7am-5pm, during central daylight time, 7am-10pm.  Signage for the doors needs to be ordered.  Council directed clerk to order blue background with braille.

 

Kyle Knight, Knight’s Tree Service, suggested trimming tree canopy over Washington Street from First Street to Seventh Street, Sherman Street from Fifth Street to Sixth Street, and the one tree on Sixth Street west of Methodist Church.

 

Motion by Kelly, Second by Ervin, Approved 4-0 to get quotes for trimming canopy over Washington Street from First Street to Seventh Street, Sherman Street from Fifth Street to Sixth Street, and the one tree on Sixth Street west of Methodist Church to a height of 18’ and back from street to main trunk and to be able to start within 10 days, not to exceed $3,500.

 

CITIZENS REQUEST

East Coast Trip Fundraiser – a group of junior high students are raising funds to take a trip to Washington DC, Mount Vernon, and Gettysburg in July 2023.  They are asking for donations to defray the cost.  The City of Uniontown historically does not donate tax revenue to fundraisers except the Send Off Seniors after graduation party.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Treasurer Bolinger presented the September 2022 Treasurer’s Report.  Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds was $363,858.59, Receipts $42,963.45, Transfers Out $3,026.00, Expenditures $35,368.83, Checking Account Closing Balance $368,427.21. Bank Statement Balance $369,935.26, including Checking Account Interest of $30.37, Outstanding Deposits $0, Outstanding Checks $1,508.05, Reconciled Balance $368,427.21.  Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit $30,127.37, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $18,621.26, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $28,406.10, Total All Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $445,581.94. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $269.90, and Utility CDs $253.30 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $523.20.  Also included the status of the Projects Checking Account for the month of September 2022, Beginning Balance $0, Receipts $0, Expenditures $0, Ending Balance $0.  September Transfers from Sewer Utility Fund to Sewer Revolving Loan $1,402.00; from Water Utility Fund to GO Water Bond & Interest $1,624.00, Total Transfers of $3,026.00.  Net Income for the month of September $4,568.62, Year-to-Date Net Income $44,683.71.  Budget vs Actual Water Fund YTD Revenue $86,225.64 (81.8%), Expenditures $82,163.60 (62.9%); Sewer Fund YTD Revenue $26,324.90 (73.7%), Expenditures $28,239.03 (68.9%); Gas Fund YTD Revenue $105,077.39 (75.3%), Expenditures $111,413.74 (45.4%); General Fund YTD Revenue $127,710.65 (99.4%), Expenditures $109,019.30 (66.0%); and Special Highway YTD Revenue $5625.70 (82.1%), Expenditures $7,768.61 (73.1%).  The October 2022 estimated payables in the amount of $33,126.10 were presented.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by Ervin, Second by Esslinger, Approved 4-0, to approve Consent Agenda:

  • Minutes of September 13, 2022, Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing, Budget Hearing and Regular Council Meeting
  • Treasurer’s Report, Monthly Transaction Report & Accounts Payables

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Lead and Copper additional sample results have been received.  KDHE has invalidated the first sample results from 601 Fifth St and replaced it with the new sample results.  They will not accept the two additional samples as they are not on our approved site sampling plan.  KDHE is hosting a Public Meeting for Public Water Supply Lead and Copper Rule Implementation.  Clerk Johnson asked if Superintendent Rich and she could attend on October 12, 2022 in Chanute from 1-3PM.  Council gave permission for both to attend.

The east rollup door at the barn will not raise – one of the overhead springs is broken and both springs need replaced.  Codes Enforcement Officer Coyan will forward some recommendations for making repairs.

Rich thanked the Council for the vacation time.

 

Codes Enforcement Officer Coyan reported Smith Estate demolition is progressing and he feels they should have completed by the end of the month.

 

Clerk Johnson reminded Council that the November regular meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday, November 15, 7PM.  Councilmember Ervin and Kelly will be unable to attend.

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 4-0 to reschedule November regular meeting on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, 7PM due to possible lack of quorum.

 

Clerk Johnson will post the rescheduled date and put in the newsletter and on the billing cards.

Bourbon County REDI Visioning Session II was rescheduled to October 12, 2022, 5:30PM, at Uniontown High School Commons Area.  RSVP by 10/10/22.  Jurgensen, Ervin, Stewart, and maybe Esslinger will attend.  Johnson will post the possible quorum attending and that no city business will be discussed.  She will also RSVP even though date has passed.

 

COUNCIL REPORT

Councilman Ervin – his Midwest Fertilizer email is no longer valid as he has changed jobs.

Councilwoman Esslinger – nothing

Councilman Hartman – absent

Councilwoman Kelly – has anyone claimed the stray black/white collie mix?  Animal Control Officer has been trying to catch, but unable to get close enough.

Councilman Stewart – has some recommendations for outdoor exercise equipment.

Mayor Jurgensen –USD 235 has some surplus chairs that they are giving away.  He had Rich get all he could for the Community Center, 54.  We will check to see if there is going to be any more available, then decide what to do with the metal folding chairs we currently have.

 

OLD BUSINESS

School Pond Project – Per Don George, KDWPT, we do not have to send out for bids again.  Two quotes were received for the placement of riprap – Eden Landscaping, $20,540, and Mix Contracting, $9,360.

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 4-0 to award contract to Mix Contracting, $9,360

 

Timing of starting will have to be coordinated with Bourbon County Public Works (supplying 4”-6” rock) and Mix Contracting.

 

Placemaking Survey – Mayor Jurgensen has formed a committee for selecting outdoor exercise equipment and will be meeting soon.

 

American Rescue Plan Act update – no other quotes were received for the ADA restroom upgrade at City Hall.  Clerk Johnson will reach out to French Plumbing to see if he is still interested in submitting a quote.

 

Trunk or Treat is scheduled for October 31.  Clerk Johnson purchased three bags of mini tootsie pops.  Amber Kelly will distribute on behalf of the City.  Flu Shot Clinic, Monday, October 17 at Community Center.  November 1, KMU will conduct a water training on Lead and Copper Revised Rule and Surface Water Treatment.

 

NEW BUSINESS

None

 

Moved by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 4-0, to adjourn at 8:43PM

FS Commission To Meet Nov. 7 To Consider Financial Services Agreement

There will be a Special Meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission held at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7th, 2022.  This meeting will be to consider the agreement of financial services with BakerTilly.

 

This meeting will be held at 123 S. Main Street in the City Commission meeting room and will be broadcast on the City’s You Tube channel.   This meeting is open to the public.

FS CITY COMMISSION VACANCY


Effective October 31 st , 2022, Shane Walker resigned his position
as City Commissioner on the Fort Scott City Commission. Persons
interested in applying to fill the position vacated by Commissioner
Shane Walker are asked to submit a letter of interest to: City Clerk,
Lisa Lewis at 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701 or by email at
[email protected]. Letters of interest must be received by the City
Clerk by 12:00 p.m. on Friday, November 11th
, 2022.

Only individuals who reside in the City limits of Fort Scott are eligible to apply. Once the appointment has been made, it will become effective at the next scheduled City Commission meeting and the term will expire in December of 2023.
Any additional information or questions may be obtained by
contacting Lisa Lewis, City Clerk at 620-223-0550

Ignoring vehicle recalls can be risky: Check To Protect

 
TOPEKA – More than 50 million vehicles on the nation’s roadways have unrepaired, open recalls that can lead to costly damages and put occupants at a safety risk. The Kansas Department of Transportation is joining the National Safety Council (NSC) in encouraging vehicle owners to use the Check To Protect program, which allows free repairs through an authorized dealer.

“What you don’t know can hurt you,” said Gary Herman, KDOT Behavioral Safety Manager, Bureau of Transportation Safety. “All car owners should regularly check for safety recalls, especially going into winter in Kansas. Failing vehicle parts can lead to life threatening injuries.”

The NSC warns vehicle owners to not assume recall notices will be sent by mail. Owners of older, used or vehicles not regularly seen for routine maintenance can be difficult to track down.

Checking a recall status should be part of routine vehicle maintenance and done at least twice a year. A vehicle license plate or the vehicle identification number (VIN) is required. VIN numbers are on the driver’s side dashboard or on vehicle registration/insurance documents. Then go to the Check To Protect website, https://checktoprotect.org. Anyone with a recall will be prompted to schedule a free repair at a dealer.

###