Category Archives: Government

Government, Kansas

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

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Caryn Tyson

 

March 3, 2023

 

The Senate did not work any bills on the floor this week.  Hopefully, that will not be the case next week.  The floor schedule is not made available until the evening before – so stay tuned.

 

Here are a few more highlights from the previous week when over 30 bills were debated and voted on in two days.

 

Personal Property Tax, such as trailers, golf carts, some mobile homes, and other items have very steep penalties if owners do not file a form with the county appraiser on or before March 15 each year.  Senate Bill (SB) 8 lowers the failure to file penalty from 50% to 12.5%, late filing penalties from 25% to 10% and other penalties from 5% to 2%.  The bill would also limit required filings to an initial filing and when there has been a change to the report or property previously listed so that you don’t have to file every year.  It passed the Senate unanimously.

 

Education Opportunities were expanded for low income students in SB 83 by increasing the eligibility.  It eliminates the requirement a student must qualify for the free and reduced lunch program and increases the income limit to 400% above federal poverty.  Children who are adopted or in foster care, and children of parents in law enforcement, firefighter, or emergency medical service provider are eligible.  The tax credit for donors will increase from 70 to 75% with a limit of $100,000 per donor.  The program is capped at $10 million and could be increased each year certain conditions are met until a final cap of $20 million.  Some argue that this program hurts K-12 public education funding.  However, K-12 funding has increased to record highs in the past few years the program has been in existence.  The bill passed 22 to 16.  I voted yes.

 

Child Mutilation Prevention would prohibit gender reassignment surgery on children.  The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts would be required to revoke the license of medical person(s) who preformed the surgery.  The bill passed 26 to 11.  I voted yes.

 

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.

Caryn

Fort Scott, Government

Improvements to Highway 69 Nearing Completion

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The KDOT building located on Hwy. 69.

Progress is being made on the section of highway that slices through Fort Scott from north to south. Improvements are also on the horizon for several other Southeast Kansas highway projects.

In March 2022,  U.S. Hwy. 69 in Bourbon County was approved a bid for improvement to the intersections of 3rd, 6th, 12th and 25th Streets in Fort Scott,  including traffic signals.

The two miles of highway improvement inside the city limits of Fort Scott was awarded to LaForge & Budd Construction Company Inc., Parsons, Kansas, for a price tag of $2,645,573.03.

The improvement work began on Sept. 6, 2022.

“The project on US 69 is for intersection improvements for both pedestrians and vehicle traffic,” KDOT Iola Area Office Engineer Troy Howard, said. “Several intersections are getting signal updates. Both 6th St. and 12th St. are getting turning lanes added to improve traffic flows. At this point they are working on the turning lanes.”

“According to the contractors schedule they are supposed to be completed around the first of June,” Howard said.

 

Hwy. 69 Near Arma Is Nearing Completion

Travelers may have noticed that there is work on Hwy. 69, around Arma, as well.

“By late May, work should be completed on the U.S. 69 expansion project at Arma, weather permiting,” KDOT’s Priscilla Petersen,  said. “The highway will be four lanes between Pittsburg and Kansas City.”

 

Four-Lane Corridor?

At one point there was work towards a four-lane highway corridor down U.S. 69 Highway from Kansas City to past Pittsburg.

“The goal for U.S. 69 is debatable, depending on who you ask,” Wayne Gudmonson, KDOT Dist. IV Engineer, Chanute, said. “There is a group and a large number of supporters that want to construct U.S. 69  four-lane  (all the way) to I-44.There is another group who do not want this… so, at this time, U.S.69 will be four-lane from Kansas City to Pittsburg, once the work around Arma is completed.”

 

Baxter Springs

“We are also currently constructing a four- lane piece of U.S. 166 down around Baxter Springs (south of Pittsburg),” Gudmonson said. “This work begins on U.S. 400 just north east of Baxter Springs.  It angles down and … reconstructs U.S. 166 to a four-lane with an interchange just east of Baxter and a second interchange at the junction of K 26 and U.S. 166. From this interchange we diagonal down to the south east with a two lane section that ties back into U.S. 166 just west of the Kansas-Missouri line.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government, Kansas

Free Library Services For The Blind: Talking Books

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Governor Laura Kelly signs proclamation for Kansas Talking Books Week

TOPEKA –Govenor Laura Kelly signed a new proclamation in late February designating this week, March 6-10, 2023, as Kansas Talking Books Week.

The week-long celebration marks the anniversary of the enactment of legislation establishing free library services for the blind.

The Pratt-Smoot Act, signed March 3, 1931, placed the responsibility of providing adequate library materials for the use of blind adults under the administration of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled in the Library of Congress. Several updates to the original Act included additional funding and provisions for people with print disabilities other than blindness to be included.

Kansas Talking Books, a division of the State Library of Kansas, presently serves patrons in all 105 counties across the state. Print-impaired Kansans enrolled in the program are connected to a collection of more than 140,000 items. Materials include digital and braille books, popular magazines, and locally produced materials of particular interest to Kansans or by Kansas authors. All services are provided at no cost to the patron.

Talking Book Week programming will be shared on social media at https://www.facebook.com/kansas.talking.books.service. Information about the webinars, book club meeting, and other activities can be found at kslib.info/talking.

Patrons, caregivers, and community members can find more information and the application for services at the same web address. Those in the Emporia area can call 620-341-6280. Other regions in Kansas can call toll-free at 800-362-0699.

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Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD234 Board of Education Agenda for March 6

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BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING

MARCH 6, 2023 – 5:30 P.M.

PUBLIC AGENDA

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       Board Minutes

  1. 02-13-23 Minutes
  2. 02-27-23 Minutes

            4.2       Financials-Cash Flow Report

            4.3       Check Register

            4.4       Payroll – February 17, 2023 – $1,583,201.90

            4.5       Activity Fund accounts

            4.6       Items of Interest: Preschool Spring Fling – April 6, 2023 5:30 – 7 pm

 

5.0       Student Recognition (Information/Discussion Item)

            5.1       FSHS Thespians

 

6.0       Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)

 

            6.1       Superintendent’s Report

            6.2       Assistant Superintendent’s Report

            6.3       Finance Director’s Report

 

7.0       Old Business

 

7.1       Summary of Work Session (Information/Discussion Item)

7.2       HVAC Proposal (Information/Discussion Item)

7.3       MOU – Community Health Center & FSHS Clinic Space discussion                                                                    (Information/Discussion Item)

7.4       Tennis Courts Resurface – Pro Track and Tennis, Inc. (Action Item)

 

8.0       New Business

 

8.1       Activity Bus Purchase – $129,342 (Action Item)

8.2       Football Uniform Bids & Recommendation (Action Item)

8.3       Roof Payment 1 & Roof Payment 2 (Action Item)

8.4       Kansas Infinitec Coalition for 2023-24 (Action Item)

8.5       Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) – Kansas School-to-Work Program (Action Item)

8.6       Pre-Funding Early Retirement Payments (Action Item)

8.7       Greenbush Contracts for Low-Incidence and Audiology for the 2023-24 school year                               (Action Item)

8.8       FSHS Courses for 2022-23 (Action Item)

 

9.0       Public Forum

 

10.0     Other Business – Negotiations

 

10.1     Enter Executive Session – Negotiations (Action Item)

10.2     Exit Executive Session

 

11.0     Other Business – Personnel Matters

 

11.1     Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)

11.2     Exit Executive Session

11.3     Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)

11.4     Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)

11.5     Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)

 

12.0     Adjourn Meeting

                       

Fort Scott, Government

FS City Commission Agenda for March 7

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NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR REGULAR

MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION

To view entire packet:

DOC030423-03042023115447

 

CITY HALL COMMISSION ROOM – 123 SOUTH MAIN ST.

March 7, 2023 – 6:00 P.M.

 

   Roll Call:

  1.       J. Jones     T. Van Hoecke     E. Woellhof     K. Harrington     M. Wells
  2.      Flag Salute:
  • Invocation: Regan Wells

 

  1. Approval of Agenda:
  2. Consent Agenda:
  3. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of February 21, 2023

 

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1331-A totaling $311,195.45

 

  1. Public Comment:

Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda and limited to five (5)      minutes per person, at Commission discretion.

 

VII.      Old Business:  

 

  1.   Contract – City Manager, Brad Matkin

 

 

VIII.     Appearances:

 

  1. Mike Miles – Fire Department Retention presentation
  2. Bourbon County Casa – Requesting donation from the City

 

  1. 3. Healthy Bourbon County Action Team – Update on Center for Economic Growth – Jody Hoener, Rachel Carpenter, Dacia Clark

 

  1. Cory Bryars – Request to close Riverfront Park September 29th and 30th, 2023 for the Care to Share Event

 

  1. Update on status of 1107 W. 6th St. – Contract of Sale – James Malveaux

 

 

  1. Public Hearing: None
  2. New Business:
  3. Discussion of 10 N. National property
  4. Consideration of Utility Easement Adjustment on Purchased Lake Lot
  5. Consideration for purchase of Storm Siren – Walnut Hill – Chief Bruner
  6. Consideration for purchase of Body Cameras – Chief Pickert
  7. Consideration of Paint for Striping Machine – Tom Coffman
  8. Purchase of Attachment for Skid Loader – Tom Coffman
  9. Consideration of Annual Water Meter Changeout Program – Bill Lemke
  10. Consideration 1107 W. 6th Street Bids
  11. Consideration of Banking Service Bids
  12. Consideration of Ground Lease Bids
  13. Consideration of Fort Scott Pavilion Bids – J. Dickman
  14. Consideration of CDBG Sewer Project Bids – J. Dickman
  15. Consideration of RFQ for US 54-CCLIP Geometric Improvements – Phase I

 

  1. Reports and Comments:
  2. Interim City Manager Comments:
  3. Engineering Comments:
  4. Commissioners Comments:
  5. VanHoecke –
  6. Woellhof –
  7. Harrington –
  8. Jones –
  9. Wells –

 

  1. City Attorney Comments:

 

XII.        Executive Session – If requested, (please follow script in all motions for   Executive Sessions)

 

XIII.        Adjournment:

 

 

Government

Ag Producers Safety Net Program

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Agricultural Producers Have Until March 15 to Enroll in USDA’s Key Commodity Safety Net Programs 

 

Manhattan, Kansas, March 3, 2023 – Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2023 crop year have until March 15, 2023, to elect and enroll a contract. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers these two safety net programs to provide vital income support to farmers experiencing substantial declines in crop prices or revenues.
“The Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs provide critical protection to many American farmers. As producers across the country deal with market volatility and natural disasters, these programs offer much-needed stability,” said Dennis McKinney, State Executive Director for FSA in Kansas. “I am encouraging producers to reach out to their county offices to learn about program eligibility and election options today, so that they can begin the enrollment process as soon as possible.”

 

Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County or PLC, which are both commodity-by-commodity, or ARC-Individual, which covers the entire farm. Although election changes for 2023 are optional, producers must enroll through a signed contract each year. Additionally, if a producer has a multi-year contract on their farm and makes an election change for 2023, they will need to sign a new contract.

 

If producers do not submit an election by the March 15, 2023, deadline, the election remains the same as the 2022 election for commodities on the farm. Farm owners cannot enroll in either program unless they have a share interest in the commodity.

 

In Kansas, producers have completed 74,828 contracts to date, representing 72% of the more than 104,000 expected contracts.

 

Producers who do not complete enrollment by the deadline will not be enrolled in ARC or PLC for the 2023 year and will not receive a payment if triggered.

 

Producers are eligible to enroll farms with base acres for the following commodities:  barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.
Decision Tools

 

In partnership with USDA, two web-based decision tools are available to assist producers in making informed, educated decisions using crop data specific to their respective farming operations:

  • Gardner-farmdoc Payment Calculator, a tool available through the University of Illinois allows producers to estimate payments for farms and counties for ARC-CO and PLC.
  • ARC and PLC Decision Tool, a tool available through Texas A&M University that allows producers to estimate payments and yield updates and expected payments for 2023.

 

Crop Insurance Considerations and Decision Deadline

 

ARC and PLC are part of a broader safety net provided by USDA, which also includes crop insurance and marketing assistance loans.

 

Producers are reminded that ARC and PLC elections and enrollments can impact eligibility for some crop insurance products.

 

Producers on farms with a PLC election have the option of purchasing Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) through their Approved Insurance Provider. However, producers on farms where ARC is the election are ineligible for SCO on their planted acres for that crop on that farm.

 

Unlike SCO, the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) is unaffected by an ARC election. Producers may add ECO regardless of the farm program election.

 

Upland cotton farmers who choose to enroll seed cotton base acres in ARC or PLC are ineligible for the stacked income protection plan (STAX) on their planted cotton acres for that farm.

 

Producers should contact their crop insurance agent to make certain that the election and enrollment made at FSA follows their intention to participate in STAX or SCO coverage. Producers have until March 15, 2023, to make the appropriate changes or cancel their ARC or PLC contract.

 

More Information

 

For more information on ARC and PLC, producers can visit the ARC and PLC webpage or contact their local USDA Service Center.

 

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

 

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

 

 

Government, Health Care, Kansas

Take Down Tobacco

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Kansas Department of Health and Environment Resist Program, and the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition host National Take Down Tobacco Day at the Capitol

TOPEKA – Today, members of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Resist program and the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition hosted Take Down Tobacco Day at the Capitol – a national day of activism where youth are encouraged to speak out against commercial tobacco companies and speak with policymakers about tobacco prevention.

“Take Down Tobacco Day is a great opportunity to unite communities and create a unified voice to stand up to commercial tobacco companies,” said Bryce Chitanavong, youth tobacco prevention coordinator. “Tobacco companies use deceitful marketing tactics to target the youth because they see them as future customers. We want them to know that we won’t allow it.”

For most people, tobacco use starts when they are young. Nearly 9 out of 10 adults who smoke cigarettes daily first try smoking by the age of 18. Young people are even more vulnerable to nicotine addiction as their brains develop. Commercial tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the United States. The use of tobacco products in any form is unsafe, regardless of whether it is smoked or not.

Previously known as Kick Butts Day, Take Down Tobacco Day provides an opportunity to educate students about the importance of youth advocacy in tobacco prevention. The American Heart Association provided advocacy training on the evening of March 1 to prepare students to speak with their policymakers. Each group that registered will get a chance to meet with their local representative and discuss tobacco prevention with them.

Resist is a youth-led program focusing on peer-to-peer education, awareness and policies preventing tobacco and electronic cigarette/vaping use. Resist chapters are locally established and hold community awareness events to promote tobacco-free environments. Resist is made possible with the support of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition.

Resources are available for people who want to quit smoking or vaping. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) or visit ksquit.org.

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Government, Kansas

KDADS Announces $66 Million in Facility and Workforce Training Expansion Grants

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TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services today announced $66 million has been made available through the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Executive Committee and State Finance Council to close service gaps in the continuum of care by addressing statewide shortages of health and behavioral health services and the state’s increasing demand for a well-trained healthcare workforce.

The funds, approved by the State Finance Council in December, are available to service providers, educational institutions, local units of government, and non-profit organizations to specifically address three program areas: expansion of health care facilities; expanding the reach of current service providers; and workforce training expansion.

“The $66 million in SPARK funding allocated to KDADS can make a significant difference in expanding access to services by funding new facilities, program expansions, and workforce training,” KDADS Deputy Secretary of Hospitals and Facilities Scott Brunner said. “KDADS is excited to put these funds to use in communities across Kansas to meet the needs of people with mental illness, disabilities, and long-term care needs.”

Applicants must specify which of the following three program areas their proposal addresses:

Program 1: Expansion of health care facilities.  KDADS seeks applications from service providers, local units of government, established partnerships of providers, or non-profit organizations to expand health care facilities.  The facility expansion must result in more services being delivered within a defined geographic area or clearly increase service capacity through more licensed bed space, expanded treatment facilities, or additional credentialed providers.  Expanded health care facilities must deliver more services in one or more of the following areas:

  • Behavioral health
  • Services for adults or children in acute psychiatric crisis
  • Forensic evaluation and restoration for criminal competency cases
  • Community based services for individuals with disabilities that would otherwise require nursing facility level of care

Program 2: Expand reach of current service providers.  KDADS seeks applications from Medicaid enrolled service providers to deliver Medicaid services through innovative delivery models using technology to expand the reach of current service providers or to reach additional Medicaid eligible beneficiaries.  Grantees must describe how their proposed intervention expands access to services for underserved individuals or communities.

Program 3: Workforce Training Expansion.  KDADS seeks applications from providers, local units of government, educational institutions, or non-profit organizations to expand workforce training.  Workforce training expansion must result in an increase in students being trained to serve in the medical field.  Grantees must document the number of trainees and how they will impact the future health care workforce.

KDADS’s application process is open now, with submissions closing March 17 at 5:00 p.m. and awards announced March 29.

Applicants and any questions regarding the funding opportunity should be submitted to [email protected]. More information about this funding opportunity and the complete Request for Application can be found on the KDADS website: https://kdads.ks.gov/funding-opportunities.

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Government, Kansas

Governor Kelly Proclaims March Problem Gambling Awareness Month

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Governor Kelly Proclaims March Problem Gambling Awareness Month

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly has signed a proclamation designating March Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM) in Kansas. The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Serves (KDADS), in collaboration with the Kansas Coalition on Problem Gambling (KCPG), recognizes March as PGAM as part of the national campaign held annually. The 2023 campaign theme is “Celebrating 20 Years” (#PGAM2023).

Problem gambling is defined as all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt or damage personal, family or vocational pursuits. Approximately 2 million U.S. adults (1% of the population) are estimated to meet criteria for severe problem gambling. Another 4-6 million (2-3%) meet the criteria for mild or moderate problem gambling. Problem gambling affects thousands of Kansans of all ages, races and ethnic backgrounds and can have a significant societal and economic cost for individuals, families, businesses, and communities.

“The good news is problem gambling is treatable and treatment is effective in minimizing harm,” KDADS Problem Gambling Program Manager Carol Spiker, LAC, KCGC, said. “It’s vital to de-stigmatize issues around problem gambling so we can reach more people to let them know there are programs and information out there to address their problem head on.”

One intervention tool, or harm reduction strategy, that has seen success in recent years in Kansas is the self-exclusion program. Self-exclusion is a voluntary process where a person bans themselves from entering specific gambling venues, or from accessing online providers. All Kansas gambling providers are required to provide the option to customers to self-exclude from accessing their venue or their products. Individuals enter into an agreement that excludes them for an agreed minimum period of time. The agreements authorize venue management to take reasonable steps to remove individuals on the self-exclusion list from state-owned casino property or the online gaming app of a state-owned casino. For some, self-exclusion is a step taken when other methods of minimizing harm have been tried without much success. For others, self-exclusion can be the first step.

Problem Gambling Awareness Month is designed to help raise awareness of the prevention, treatment and recovery services, and harm reduction strategies available to those adversely affected by gambling.

To get help for a gambling problem for you or a loved one, please call the Kansas Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 (or 1-800-GAMBLER). The call is free and confidential. No-cost treatment is available to problem gamblers and concerned others through the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund. For more information about problem gambling and the resources available in Kansas, go to ksgamblinghelp.com.

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Government, Kansas

KS Tax Collections Exceed Estimates in February

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Governor Kelly Announces February Total Tax Collections Exceed Estimates by Nearly $37 Million

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that total tax-only collections for February were $549.8 million. That is $36.8 million, or 7.2%, more than the monthly estimate. Those collections were also $47.3 million, or 9.4%, more than in February 2022.

“Revenues have exceeded estimates for 30 out of the last 31 months – a clear sign that our efforts to make Kansas a place where businesses and families want to call home is paying off,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These revenues will continue to grow our historic budget surplus, making it possible for our legislature to pass responsible tax cuts that help every Kansan, like my ‘Axing Your Taxes’ plan.”

Consistently strong revenues were one of the reasons S&P Global improved Kansas’ credit outlook, which the firm announced yesterday. In its report, S&P cited Governor Kelly’s recommended budgets for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 as indicators of continued fiscal responsibility that could lead to a credit rating upgrade and warned against irresponsible tax plans that could lead to a credit rating downgrade.

Individual income tax collections were $211.3 million in February. That is $6.3 million, or 3.1%, above the estimate and $27.9 million, or 15.2%, more than February 2022.

“The positive trend in tax receipts continues with all of the major tax types, individual income tax, corporate income tax, retailer’s sales tax, and compensating use tax, performing well,” Secretary of Revenue Mark Burghart said.

Corporate income tax collections were $15.3 million, which is $324,000, or 2.2%, more than the February 2023 estimate. Those collections are $8.1 million, or 34.5%, less than in February 2022. It should be noted that February 2022 corporate income tax receipts were greater than February 2023 because of the higher-than-expected collection of nonrecurring corporate audit assessments that occurred that month.

Retail sales tax collections were $203.8 million, which is $13.8 million, or 7.3%, more than the estimate. Those collections are also $8.5 million, or 4.4%, greater than February 2022. Compensating use tax collections were $64.2 million, which is $849,000, or 1.3%, less than the estimate. Those collections were $4.7 million, or 8.0%, more than in February 2022.

Click here to view the February 2023 revenue numbers.

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