The Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board will meet on Saturday, May 14th, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. at the City Hall Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting is open to the public.
The meeting will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
PUBLIC NOTICE
COUNCIL WORKSESSION
TO BE HELD BY
THE CITY OF UNIONTOWN
GOVERNING BODY
ON
May 25, 2022
6:00 PM
AT THE UNIONTOWN CITY HALL
FOR THE PURPOSE OF:
To work on ordinances for storage containers, storage/accessory buildings, fences, governing body protocols/operating procedures, and solid waste (trash) collection. They will also be working on strategies to utilize the American Rescue Plan Act funds.
No action will be taken at this worksession.
NEWS RELEASE
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, for a special board meeting.
President James Wood opened the meeting.
The board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel. The board returned to open meeting and adjourned.
USDA and EDA Launch Resource Guide to Boost Economic Development in Rural Communities
WASHINGTON, May 11, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small and U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Deputy Assistant Secretary Dennis Alvord today unveiled a joint resource guide to help community organizations access USDA and EDA resources to build strategies to boost economic development in rural America.
“America’s rural communities are critical to the success of our nation’s economy,” Torres Small said. “When we invest in rural communities, we build opportunity and prosperity for the people who live in them. The guide we are unveiling today will better equip people with the tools they need to make their communities more attractive, economically viable and safe places to live and work.”
Alvord added, “We are committed to working together to explore new ways to support and strengthen rural America. It’s important that we’re equipping our communities with tools that are easily accessible and easily utilized to maximize the work of providing greater, inclusive economic prosperity across our country. This guide is a great tool to deliver on that commitment.”
The resource guide outlines programs and services that can be used to advance community and economic development in rural communities through four key focus areas:
The guide also features information and links to USDA Rural Development and U.S. Economic Development Administration key priorities and resources.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under 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 safe, 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.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
~~This Legislation Helps Students Transition from Career and Technical Education Programs into the Workforce~~
TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly signed bipartisan House Bill 2466 to promote computer science education in Kansas schools and provide additional funding for current and aspiring teachers to receive training in computer science programs. HB 2466 also establishes a pilot program that covers credential exam costs and assists career and technical education students in their transition to the workforce.
“By expanding computer science education and creating this transition program, we can better retain the skilled workforce Kansas produces through our K-12 schools,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “In addition, it signals to companies looking to build or expand their business that Kansas is the place to do it.”
HB 2466 provides scholarships for educators in rural areas and underrepresented socioeconomic groups to obtain computer science education training.
“HB2466 will bring much needed resources and training to our teachers,” Representative Steve Huebert, District 90, said. “With that, more classes will be offered, allowing students to gain the computer science skills they need for today’s workforce demands.”
More information about HB 2466 can be found here.
Governor Kelly also signed the following bills:
HB 2138
Provides for the use of electronic poll books in elections and the approval of such books by the secretary of state, requires all voting systems for elections to use individual voter-verified paper ballots with a distinctive watermark, requires the secretary of state and local election officers to develop an affidavit to be signed by election workers regarding the handling of completed ballots, requires audits of any federal, statewide or state legislative race that is within 1% of the total votes cast and requires randomized audits of elections procedures used in four counties in even-numbered years, requires a county election officer to send a confirmation of address when there is no election-related activity for any four-calendar year period and exempts poll workers from certain election crimes.
May 6, 2022
The legislature is on another break until May 23. The delayed schedule is a response to the Congressional map and now the state senate map being challenged in court.
Meat Labeling Conference Committee Report (CCR) 261 will stop the use of the word “meat” when a product at the grocery store does not contain meat. The bill does not address the use of the word “meat” in restaurants or the use of the word “milk”, but it is a step in consumer protection and forcing accurate labeling of non-meat products. The CCR passed unanimously.
Taxes collected were $175 million above estimates for April. Last year the Governor vetoed income tax cuts, calling them reckless. The legislature overrode the veto and the tax cuts were implemented. Taxes collected are at an all-time high. A majority of legislators voted to pay down some debt (KPERS unfunded liability), which I supported. However, a majority of legislators also voted to increase spending and put $750 million in reserves – so that government can spend it at a later date. I do not support allowing government to grow, especially at that pace.
As Chairman of the Senate Tax Committee, I am grateful for the hard work by the Senate and the House to get some good tax legislation passed this year! Here are some of the highlights: property tax freeze for low income seniors and disabled veterans, tax credits for teachers who purchased school supplies with their own money, removing state sales tax on delivery and postage costs, doubling personal income tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans from $2250 to $4500, and many other provisions. And of course, after many years of trying, we finally passed legislation that will bring the state sales tax on groceries to zero. These are big wins for Kansans and I am grateful for the teamwork between the House and Senate to the tax policies passed with veto proof majority.
In the next day of session, May 23, watch for CCR 2597 which would amend income tax, sales tax, and would enact the COVID-19 Retail Storefront Property Tax Relief Act, providing partial property tax relief for businesses who were restricted at their storefront during the Governor’s COVID-19 shut down. The legislation would gradually remove state income tax on Social Security, increase the standard deduction based on inflation, remove state sales tax on electric and other utilities for businesses (homeowners are already exempt), and other tax provisions to help return record tax collections to Kansas taxpayers.
There was good teamwork and leadership this year that has brought good tax policy to fruition, but there is still work to be done on May 23.
K-12 funding for each Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, 2023, 2024 is over $6 billion in CCR 2567. There was some policy items in the CCR, most notably, adoption of Open Enrollment, allowing students to move between schools provided the receiving school has the capacity to accept the student transferring. There are several questions with the legislation. It was in a budget bill and the Governor can line item veto budgets. Does it apply to this bill? The CCR passed the Senate 24 to 14. I did not support the major spending increase. I did support the school transfer version of the bill and had voted Yes when it was a standalone bill.
More legislation that passed can be found at www.KSLegislature.org.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
The Fort Scott Board of Education encourages the community to come meet the candidates at the Meet & Greet opportunities on Tuesday (05/10) and Thursday (05/12). These will be held at the Fort Scott Middle School Flex space from 4-5 pm and from 5:30-6:15 pm. Please enter through the south doors.
Those who attend the Meet & Greet receptions will be given a paper survey to provide feedback. Be sure to turn this in before you leave to provide your feedback. The responses will be tallied and provided to the board in summary. The Board will then meet in executive session at the board office for purposes of interviewing each candidate Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm.
Submitted by Gina Shelton, U234 Board Clerk
USD 234
Mr. Destry Brown will be interviewing for the position of superintendent with the board of education on May 10, 2022.
Mr. Destry Brown is the first of two candidates that the USD 234 Fort Scott board of education will be interviewing. Candidates were selected for interviews based on their fit with desired characteristics that were developed with input from focus groups and an online community survey utilized during the search process.
Mr. Destry Brown is currently serving as the Superintendent of the Clinton, Missouri schools. Mr. Brown has also served as superintendent of schools in Pittsburg, KS, Frontenac, KS and has been an elementary principal.
Mr. Destry Brown’s Schedule
05/10/2022
The board of education will conclude interviews on May 12, 2022. They will then determine which candidate is the best fit for the superintendent position in USD 234 Fort Scott.
USD 234 Board Meeting Agenda
May 12, 2022 – 6:30 p.m.
USD 234 Board Meeting Agenda
May 11, 2022 – 6:30 p.m.
USD 234 Board Meeting Agenda
May 10, 2022 – 6:30 p.m.
USD 234 Board Meeting Agenda
May 9, 2022 – 5:30 p.m.
Tourism is the act of spending time away from home in pursuit of recreation, relaxation, and pleasure, while using commercial services, according to Britannica Dictionary.
Local tourism is looking healthy as evidenced by the transient guest tax from 2015 through 2022, which just completed its first quarter, JacksonTough, Fort Scott’s Public Relations and Tourism Director said.
“Transient guest tax is probably the most common form of raising funds to promote tourism in a given community,” Tough said. “It’s simply a tax on hotel/motel rooms that visitors pay when they stay in Fort Scott.”
“Residents do not pay into the tourism tax unless they happen to stay in a hotel/motel in Fort Scott,” he said. “Advertising funds are primarily used for promotion of Fort Scott; from print ads, brochure distribution, website maintenance, materials to target motorcoach tours and conferences, social media ad placement, among others.”
The City of Fort Scott has had several tourism directors through the years whose job it is to promote events and attractions
Tough started last June as the newest public relations and tourism director.
Earlier this year, his office was moved from city hall to the Bourbon County Regional Economical Development Inc. office on the second floor of the Landmark Bank, 200 S. Main, he said. He is still an employee of the city but the move allows he and the REDI Executive Director Rob Harrington to work more closely.
Because tourism is also a form of economic development the city commission and the REDI board agreed that it would be smart for the two entities to work side by side, Tough said.
“Like Rob’s job is to help existing businesses increase and to facilitate new business, my job is to help grow existing tourism as well as promote for new events and tourism attractions to Fort Scott,” Tough said.
“I’m very excited about the direction we’re headed in, Harrington said. “Jackson and I work well together. He has his own economic development experience when he was in broadcast marketing and management and also through the chamber of commerce. He has put together a solid plan for marketing Fort Scott tourism into the future.”
“Even though tourism is on the rise there’s always room for improvement,” Tough said. “We are constantly researching opportunities. Whether it’s the possibility of more motor sports, expansion of rodeo events, adding disc golf or baseball tournaments.”
“There has been discussion of combining and incorporating Gordon Parks, Company D – 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment and other little known and under told stories of progressive African American leaders and events from the Fort Scott area,” Tough said. “It’s an inspirational story that should be told about our area.”
“Advertising funds are primarily used for promotion of Fort Scott; from print ads, brochure distribution, website maintenance, materials to target motorcoach tours and conferences, social media ad placement, among others.”
To view the prior story on the mud run:
Watch Fun in the Mud April 23-24 at Bo Co Fairgrounds
“We recently hosted two new events to Fort Scott,” Tough said. “The first annual Fort Scott Mud Run at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds drew approximately 500 visitors to town last month. The first annual National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) youth race at Gunn Park, also in April, brought approximately 400 visitors to Fort Scott.”
This month Bourbon County hosted with Crawford and Cherokee counties the 2022 Big Kansas Road Trip which features three Kansas counties each year.
The three counties cooperated to invite folks from across Kansas to explore the area.
“It’s been a fantastic event to be a part of!” Tough said.
These Are Events The Fort Scott Tourism Office Works With
“We also promote Dolly the Trolley, the U.S.National Cemetery #1, our Historic Downtown District, as well as other events/attractions” Tough said.
“Fort Scott Tourism is continuing to build a strong brand, expand our social media reach, and target consumers that fit our primary visitor demographics,” Tough said. “Brand awareness is critical to building a relationship with travelers. We will continue to utilize creative concepts that deliver…measurable results. A unique proposition targeted to prospective travelers can create consumer engagement.”
For more information about Fort Scott tourism click www.VisitFortScott.com to discover more events, attractions, excellent eateries, cozy accommodations and more.
