Category Archives: Government

AD: City of Uniontown Is Looking For a City Clerk

Uniontown City Hall and community building. 2023

 

Would you like to make an impact in your community while broadening your skill set, connecting with people, working close to home, and receiving good pay & great benefits?

As Uniontown City Clerk/Municipal Court Clerk you can do all this and more!  This is a 40 hours per week position with above average wage and benefits, including:                        

  • Paid Time Off: 10 Holidays, PTO, & More
  • Retirement Plan: participate in KPERS (Kansas Public Employees Retirement System)
  • Health & Life Insurance available
  • Wage Scale: $18.00/hour or negotiable depending upon experience

 

Personal Requirements:

  • You must be a Motivated, Self-Starter
  • High Attention to Detail
  • Basic Computer, Accounting, and Secretarial Skills
  • Ability to Maintain Professionalism, Confidentiality, and Discretion
  • Live Within 10 Miles of Uniontown
  • Valid Driver’s License & Pass Pre-Employment Drug Screen

The Clerk position entails performing all duties as defined by Kansas State Statute and City Ordinances:  receive and disperse monetary funds and maintain financial records; complete various administrative reports; grant applications & administration; prepare, mail and apply payments of monthly customer utility billing; assist residents via phone or walk-in; attend and record minutes of all city council meetings, write monthly community newsletter; maintain city website; other duties as required (a more detailed job description and list of duties available upon application).

Apply in person at Uniontown City Hall, call 620-756-4742, or submit your resume via email to [email protected] .  Applications accepted until Noon, August 7, 2025.

 

Become a Voice for Regional Water Issues

Kansas Water Authority Seeks Regional Advisory Committee Members

The Kansas Water Authority is currently accepting applications for all 14 Regional Advisory Committees. Committee members serve as a voice for water issues in their community. Applications can be found at kwo.ks.gov.

Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) are composed of local stakeholders and water professionals from diverse backgrounds – including agriculture, industry, public water supply, conservation and more.

Each RAC meets to discuss local water issues and to advise the Kansas Water Authority and Kansas Water Office on the issues in their region. RAC members serve as local connections with the public and help to shape statewide water planning by identifying regional priorities and actions.

“Water issues and community needs vary from region to region in our state,” said Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office. “RAC members serve as boots-on-the-ground perspective and provide crucial, local input for statewide water planning.”

To apply, visit www.kwo.ks.gov/about-us/regional-advisory-committees. Applications are due September 30.

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As the state’s water office, Kansas Water Office conducts water planning, policy coordination and water marketing as well as facilitates public input throughout the state.

The agency prepares the KANSAS WATER PLAN, a plan for water resources development, management and conservation.

 

KANSASWORKS Virtual Job Fair Fuels a New Economic Era for Kansas

 

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers searching for available talent to take part in this month’s Virtual Statewide Job Fair, hosted by KANSASWORKS, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 13.

“Kansas businesses are expanding and we’re landing more private sector investment from outside the state than ever before — retaining and creating an unprecedented number of jobs and growing our workforce in the process,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Whether you’re an employer seeking to fill essential roles or a jobseeker looking to take on a new adventure — our job fairs offer the connections, opportunities and resources to grow your future in Kansas.”

The Virtual Job Fair format allows anyone searching for a new job to fill out applications, chat live and interview virtually with participating employers.

This month’s Virtual Statewide Job Fair portal features helpful information such as a jobseeker training video, a list of participating employers and channels for attendees to register and log in. Jobseekers are encouraged to dress professionally, as they might be asked to engage in an interview.

Candidates can participate through any digital device. Any individual with a disability may request accommodations by contacting their nearest workforce center at (877) 509-6757 prior to the event. Registration is required to participate in virtual job fairs, regardless of previous participation. To register, click here.

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, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.

About KANSASWORKS:

KANSASWORKS links businesses, job candidates and educational institutions to ensure that employers can find skilled workers. Services are provided to employers and job candidates through the state’s 27 workforce centers, online or virtual services KANSASWORKS is completely free for all Kansans to use. Learn more at KANSASWORKS.com. State employment opportunities can be found at jobs.ks.gov.

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FS City Commission Agenda for August 5

    NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR REGULAR

MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION

City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

August 5, 2025  –  6:00 P.M.

 

 

  1.     Call to Order/Roll Call
  2. Pledge of Allegiance

III.       Invocation

  1. Approval of Agenda
  2. Consent Agenda
  3. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1389-A – Expense Approval Report – Payment Dates of July 9, 2025 – July 22, 2025$914,570.97
  4. Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting of July 15, 2025, and Special Meeting              of July 30, 2025

 

  1. Public Comment

VII.      Appearances

           

VIII.   Unfinished Business

  1. Cape Seal Payment
  2. Consideration of Bids for Davis Lift Station Pump #2 – Tabled from 7/15/2025

 

  1. New Business

            Public Hearing:

  1. Case No. 1052 – Conditional Use Permit – 2400 S. Main – Amazon Storage Unit – Recommended by Planning Commission on July 9, 2025 

 

            Action Items:

  1. Consideration of Interlocal Agreement and $40,000.00 Match Funds – BNSF Railroad Planning Grant – M. Wyatt
  2. Consideration of members for Fort Scott Historic Preservation & Resource Commission (FSHPRC) – Applicants: Kristina Ellerbe, Peggy Cummings, Rachel French, Martha Jane Gentry, Rhonda Hassig, Arnold Schofield, Jerry Witt and Kathy Dancer – L. Dillon
  3. Consideration of New Policy for RHID Applications – L. Dillon
  4. Consideration of FRAME Grant Donation – L. Dillon

 

  1. Reports and Comments
  2. Adjourn

Agenda for FS City Commission Special Meeting on August 4

    NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR SPECIAL

MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION

City Hall Commission Room – 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701

August 4, 2025  –  5:00 P.M.

 

 

  1.     Call to Order/Roll Call
  2. Pledge of Allegiance

III.       New Business

            Action Items:

  1. Consideration of MOU – IT Services – USD 234 and City of Fort Scott – B. Matkin
  2. Consideration of Ordinance No. 3784 – Citizens’ IT Advisory Board – T. Dancer
  3. Consideration of Ordinance No. 3785 – Contract Advisory Board – T. Dancer
  4. Adjourn

KS Gov. Sues Federal Agencies For Illegal Attempts To Stop Funding to States

Governor Kelly Joins Multistate Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration’s
Illegal Attempts to Terminate
Critical Federal Funding to States

~~Kansas Joins Coalition in Suing Federal Agencies Over Illegal Use of
a Single Clause in Federal Regulations to Terminate Billions of Dollars
in Federal Funding~~

TOPEKA  Governor Laura Kelly today announced that Kansas joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general and governors for the commonwealths of Pennsylvania and Kentucky in suing the Trump Administration over its unprecedented and unlawful attempts to invoke a single provision buried in the federal regulations to strip away billions of dollars in critical federal funding for states and other grantees. The lawsuit seeks to limit the Trump Administration’s use of this regulation to indiscriminately and illegally terminate critical funding for combating violent crime, educating our students, protecting clean drinking water, conducting lifesaving medical and scientific research, safeguarding public health, addressing food insecurity, and much more.

“It makes no sense to claim that protecting Kansans from natural disasters or supporting Kansas farm products no longer supports the priorities of FEMA or the USDA,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I joined this lawsuit on behalf of Kansas to ensure funds going towards critical programs our state depends on are not ripped away by the Trump Administration—or any presidential administration—on a whim.”

Since January 20, at the direction of President Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), federal agencies have stripped away thousands of grants they had previously awarded to states and grantees. The Trump Administration has slashed this critical federal funding by invoking a single clause in the federal regulations of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which provides that agencies may terminate an award of federal funding if it “no longer effectuates … agency priorities.”  Those five words have formed the basis for much of the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate campaign to unlawfully terminate critical funding expressly authorized by Congress and awarded to states.

In Kansas, since January 20, the Trump Administration has terminated millions of dollars of federal funding for a wide variety of critical programs.

Among other things, the Trump Administration has invoked the five words in this regulation to terminate millions of dollars used to purchase goods from Kansas farmers, to mitigate natural disasters, and to enhance childhood education.

It has cut $2 million to a Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) program that strengthened our food supply chain by purchasing local Kansas grown food and goods for distribution across the state. It has cut Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) programs in Southeast Kansas that enhanced K-12 science education and access to healthy food.

As this lawsuit explains, the Trump Administration’s decision to invoke this regulation as its basis for slashing billions of dollars of critical funding to states is a dramatic departure from past practice. Before the Trump Administration, federal agencies had not terminated grants merely because the agency’s priorities shifted midway during the use of the grant without any advance notice. That was not how they applied the regulation, either.

However, since President Trump took office, federal agencies have shifted course and claimed unfettered authority to terminate grants on a whim and with no advance notice. In February, President Trump issued an executive order formally directing agencies—and the DOGE employees assigned to these agencies—to terminate grants en masse. And federal agencies have carried out that directive by invoking the regulation as grounds for terminating entire programs based on a purported shift in agency priorities, without any notice to the states and in conflict with the federal statutes appropriating funding for these programs.

The lawsuit argues that the Trump Administration’s decision to invoke the regulation to terminate grants based on their changed agency priorities is unlawful. The lawsuit explains that the regulation does not authorize federal agencies to terminate grants based on changes in agency preferences that occur after a grant is awarded. The lawsuit also notes the importance of obtaining clarity regarding the scope of this regulation, as states collectively accept hundreds of billions of dollars a year that are at risk of termination pursuant to this regulation.

The coalition’s lawsuit is against OMB and a number of federal agencies that have unlawfully relied on this regulation to collectively slash billions of dollars in federal funding to states: the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, Interior, Justice, Labor, and State, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Endowment for the Humanities, and National Science Foundation.

The coalition filed suit in the District of Massachusetts and seeks a declaratory judgment that the OMB regulation and Defendants’ regulations do not independently authorize the Trump Administration to terminate funding based on agency priorities that were identified after the grant was awarded. In the alternative, the coalition seeks to vacate the Trump Administration’s decision—reflected in its uniform practice across all of the Defendant agencies—to invoke the regulation as grounds for terminating billions of dollars of federal funding based on purported changes in agency priorities.

Joining the amended filing alongside Governor Kelly is Governor Andy Beshear for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Others participating in the suit include: the Attorneys General of New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Governor Josh Shapiro for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

A copy of the filing is available here.

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Hwy. K-7 Will Close From U.S. Hwy. 69 to K-39 Junction on August 4

Beginning Monday, August  4, 2025, the K-7  highway will be closed from US-69 to the K-39 Jct.
Sideroads will remain open at this time. Barricades will be set on K-7 at each sideroad.
Accommodation will be made for residents and landowners to have access to their properties via access from the nearest sideroad.
K-7 from the K-39 Jct South to Girard will remain open to local traffic only, according to the Fort Scott/Bourbon County Dispatch Post on Facebook.

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Is Affecting Eastern KS Air Quality

Taken from the AirNow Fire and Smoke website.

KDHE Issues Air Quality Health Advisory due to Smoke

TOPEKA – Light northeast to east winds is bringing Canadian wildfire smoke into the state, particularly central and eastern Kansas. These conditions are likely to persist today and tomorrow. The Air Quality Index (AQI) will likely range from Moderate to Unhealthy at times. You can view the current air quality, AQI and fire activity for your area on https://fire.airnow.gov.

Steps to protect your health on days when smoke is present in your community include:

  • Healthy people should limit or avoid strenuous outdoor exercise.
  • More vulnerable people should remain indoors.
  • Help keep indoor air clean by closing doors and windows and running air conditioners with air filters.
  • Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
  • Contact your doctor if you have symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath or severe fatigue.

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Breastfeeding Importance For Health and Well-Being

Governor Kelly Proclaims August “Kansas Breastfeeding Month”
In support of World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month

TOPEKA –

Governor Laura Kelly recently signed a proclamation recognizing August as “Kansas Breastfeeding Month.” This proclamation recognizes the importance of breastfeeding for the health and well-being of Kansans.

“We are extremely pleased with Governor Kelly’s proclamation, which highlights the importance of breastfeeding support for families in Kansas. This proclamation supports their decision and provides a foundation to build a landscape of breastfeeding support in our state,” Brenda Bandy, IBCLC, Executive Director of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition (KBC), said.

“Breastfeeding is a public health priority in Kansas,” Dereck Totten, MD, KDHE Chief Medical Officer, said. “Improving breastfeeding rates reflects the strength of our statewide partnerships and community collaboration. Breastfeeding is a vital step in safeguarding the health of both parents and infants that we remain committed to promoting and supporting.”

Nearly 90 percent of families in Kansas choose to breastfeed. Kansas is ranked fourth in the nation for exclusively breastfeeding at three months, and fifth in the nation at six months. However, only around one in three Kansas infants are exclusively breastfed through the critical first six months of life. Lack of support and barriers in the workplace can often be obstacles for parents who choose to breastfeed.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides guidance on breastfeeding which calls for policy changes to address obstacles for parents who choose to breastfeed, including universal paid maternity leave and insurance coverage for lactation support. Establishing better breastfeeding support will improve both baby and mother’s future health and reduce reliance on infant formula.

Today’s proclamation stresses the role of every Kansan to make breastfeeding easier in our state. The KBC State of Breastfeeding in Kansas 2024 report has action items and resources for individuals, employers, child care providers, healthcare professionals, and others to support breastfeeding.

KS DCF Denies USDA Data Request

Kansas Department for Children and Families Protects Kansans’ Data, Denies USDA Data Request

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) announced in a July 30, 2025, letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that, at this time, the agency is denying the USDA’s demand for the release of personal information of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applicants, recipients and members of their households.

The requested data would include sensitive personal information for any Kansan who lived in a household that applied for and/or received SNAP benefits from Jan. 1, 2020, to July 30, 2025. The data request includes, but is not limited to, names, social security numbers, dates of birth, and addresses. The purpose of the USDA demand is to create a federal database of SNAP participant information that may be disclosed to other federal, state and local agencies. In addition to personal data of Kansans, the data request includes retailer and business data documenting SNAP usage.

The USDA stated in its July 25, 2025, letter to state agency directors that state agencies must be compliant with the requirement to transmit this data to the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) no later than July 30, 2025.

DCF is required by state and federal law to protect personal identifiable SNAP data except when strictly necessary for the administration of the SNAP program. In response to the USDA data request, states have filed suit, see California et al. v. U.S. Dep’t of Agriculture et al., Civ. Action No. 3:25-6310 (N.D. Cal.), to stop the forced production of this data. Releasing the requested information at this time could put DCF in the position of potential liability if a court finds that the USDA’s demand violates federal law.

“DCF is committed to the security of Kansans’ personal information and maintaining confidentiality consistent with state and federal law,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “This demand for personal information goes beyond the scope of administering the program and puts in jeopardy the privacy of hundreds of thousands of Kansans who depend on SNAP to put food on their tables.”

DCF will monitor the pending litigation and continue to administer and enforce SNAP in accordance with federal and state law.

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Fort Scott Awarded $1.5 Million for Hwy. 54 Improvements

Governor Kelly Announces $25M for
Road Improvement Projects Across Kansas


TOPEKA
– Governor Laura Kelly announced Tuesday $25 million for 30 projects to improve intersections and roads across the state. The projects were selected for funding through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT) City Connecting Link Improvement Program (CCLIP).

“Enhancing the safety and accessibility of our local highways is made possible by grants through this essential program,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “In turn, these roadway improvements help bring in resources and improve connectivity in various regions of the state.”

CCLIP provides funds for cities to make improvements on city connecting links that are on state highways. Selected projects are funded for the state fiscal years 2027 and 2028 selection cycle.

Under CCLIP, cities with populations above 2,500 have local minimum contribution requirements, and cities with populations over 100,000 are required to have a 25% match. Local contributions significantly expanded the scope and total impact of the selected projects, bringing their combined value to over $39 million.

“The essence of the City Connecting Links program lies in the shared commitment between KDOT and our communities,” said Secretary of Transportation Calvin Reed. “It’s through this vital partnership that we can address both state and local transportation needs, fostering economic growth and connectivity across Kansas.”

Projects in this program may fall into one of three categories: Surface Preservation (SP), Pavement Restoration (PR), or Geometric Improvement (GI).

SP projects extend the life of the driving surface, such as overlays or joint repair, and are funded up to $400,000 per project. PR projects typically involve extensive pavement rehabilitation or full-depth pavement. GI projects focus on roadway geometrics that address safety, capacity, or operational needs, such as adding turn lanes or improving intersections. The PR and GI categories are funded up to $1.5 million per project.

The city, category, and amount awarded for each CCLIP project are below:

Region

City

Highway

Total Cost

CCLIP funds

Northeast

Emporia

U.S. 50

$890,000

$400,000

Northeast

Lawrence

U.S. 59

$1,600,000

$400,000

Northeast

Leavenworth

K-7

$1,350,000

$400,000

Northeast

Manhattan

K-18

$480,000

$400,000

Northeast

Osage City

K-31

$500,000

$400,000

North Central

Jewell

K-28

$1,300,000

$1,300,000

North Central

Lindsborg

K-4

$465,000

$400,000

North Central

Lindsborg

K-4

$465,000

$400,000

North Central

Marion

K-256

$1,500,000

$1,500,000

North Central

McPherson

U.S. 56

$3,300,000

$1,500,000

North Central

McPherson

U.S. 56

$3,300,000

$1,500,000

Northwest

Colby

K-25

$840,000

$400,000

Northwest

Downs

K-181

$1,500,000

$1,500,000

Northwest

Phillipsburg

U.S. 36

$430,000

$400,000

Northwest

Phillipsburg

U.S. 183

$430,000

$400,000

Southeast

Ft. Scott

U.S. 54

$2,152,000

$1,500,000

Southeast

Girard

K-7

$570,000

$400,000

Southeast

Madison

K-58

$1,500,000

$1,500,000

Southeast

Pittsburg

K-126

$1,500,000

$1,500,000

South Central

Augusta

U.S. 54

$1,334,000

$400,000

South Central

El Dorado

K-254

$1,170,000

$400,000

South Central

Kingman

U.S. 54

$1,590,000

$1,500,000

South Central

Larned

U.S. 156

$435,000

$400,000

South Central

Lyons

K-14

$744,000

$400,000

South Central

Newton

K-15

$1,100,000

$400,000

South Central

Pratt

U.S. 281

$450,000

$400,000

South Central

Winfield

U.S. 160

$720,000

$400,000

Southwest

Dodge City

U.S. 50

$4,500,000

$1,500,000

Southwest

Garden City

U.S. 50B

$1,765,000

$1,500,000

Southwest

Meade

K-23

$1,500,000

$1,500,000

Totals

$39,380,000

$25,000,000

Region

Number of Projects

CCLIP funds

Northeast

5

$2,000,000

North Central

6

$6,600,000

Northwest

4

$2,700,000

Southeast

4

$4,900,000

South Central

8

$4,300,000

Southwest

3

$4,500,000

TOTAL

30

$25,000,000


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