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Community members are invited to a Legislative Update Coffee hosted by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. The event will take place on Saturday, February 29, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Empress Event Center in Downtown Fort Scott.
Kansas Sentators Caryn Tyson and Richard Hilderbrand and Representatives Trevor Jacobs and Ken Collins will give an update on the current session as well as address any issues or questions presented from the audience.
If you have a particular item you would like to have addressed and plan to attend, you may email the Chamber at [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, February 27th.
The general public is invited and encouraged to attend this Legislative Update on Saturday, February 29th. Coffee, juice and light breakfast refreshments will be served.
The event is being sponsored by the Fort Scott Professional Building and Empress Event Center.
For more information please contact the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566 or visit fortscott.com.
February 21, 2020
You may have seen reports on the Gallup ‘Mood of the Nation’ poll conducted in January, stating that 86% of American’s are satisfied with their personal life and that confidence in the U.S. economy is at a 20 year high. We are blessed to be in Kansas, the heartland of America.
Legislation 101 Senate Bill (SB) 294, the bill we are following in these updates, that brings transparency to your property tax increases, did not have any movement to date. Hopefully, the majority leader will bring the bill above the line for a debate on the senate floor. We are almost to the half-way point of session, known as turnaround. Bills that have not been in an exempt committee or passed the originating chamber before turnaround will die. SB 294 is an exempt bill because Tax is an exempt committee. Therefore, it could be worked on the Senate floor after turnaround. I’ll keep you posted.
Kansas law allows for online driver license renewal under certain conditions. SB 326 would change the upper age limit for online renewals from 50 to 65 years of age. The bill passed 39 Yes to 0 No.
SB 342 would provide Kansans an option to receive electronic notification for driver’s license renewal notices. I offered an amendment to the bill in committee that would allow you to op-out of electronic notifications, so that future notices would be sent by mail. The amendment passed without objection. The bill passed the Senate 39 Yes to 0 No.
SB 58 would allow a citizen to file a petition requesting a district court grand jury. A judge would review the petition. If a judge finds the petition is in proper form a grand jury will be called within 60 days. If the petition is denied, the person who filed it can appeal the judge’s decision not to summon a grand jury. The bill passed the Senate on a vote of 28 Yes and 11 No. I voted Yes.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
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Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: February 25, 2020
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
9:00-9:45 – Jim Harris
9:45-10:15 – Justin Meeks, Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
1:30-2:15 – Jody Hoener, Healthcare Presentation
2:15-2:30 – Rachel Martin, Windmills
2:30-2:45 – Deb Lust, Windmills
2:45-3:00 – Barb Peine, Windmills
3:00-3:15 – Joe Ludlum, Windmills
The public is invited to be a part of planning for community economic and fiscal health on Feb. 25 from 6-7 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the River Room Event Center, located above Luther’s BBQ at National Avenue and Oak Stree.
“Tuesday evening is a presentation and the actual workshop is on Wednesday,” Fort Scott Community Development Director Robert Uhler said.
Smart Growth America is coming to Fort Scott.
Smart Growth America empowers communities through technical assistance, advocacy and thought leadership to create livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity, according to its’ website:
https://smartgrowthamerica.org/
“We first met the Smart Growth people when we went on our first trip to DC in March of 2019, working with Strategic Implementation plan,” Uhler said.
“Smart growth policy can help communities save money now, reduce their liabilities for the future and use targeted investment to spur economic development,” Uhler noted. “The ‘planning for economic and fiscal health’ workshop draws on successful private and public sector lessons to help local leaders foster smart growth communities that cost their taxpayers less to build, run and maintain.”
“This workshop first brings you the latest lessons in how smart growth saves money for local governments, makes money for businesses and is integral for the long-term fiscal and economic health of the community,” he said. “Using an interactive and hands-on method, the workshop then shows how to apply these lessons in your community.”
The first half of the technical assistance workshop on Wednesday focuses on how approaches save the community money, including increasing tax revenues and reducing tax burdens, attracting new businesses, increasing the efficiency of the labor market, providing greater stability in times of uncertainty and rising energy costs, investing public funds to stimulate private investment, increasing local capital circulation and providing a foundation for long term fiscal and economic health and competitiveness, according to information provided by Uhler.
Participants also learn how to overcome barriers to starting community smart growth including a lack of understanding of the relationship between development and municipal costs and revenues, the importance of growing small and mid-size businesses and the role of nearness to value creation, according to info provided by Uhler.
In the second half of the day, the technical assistance team joins participating community members to look at the community’s economic development plans and projects to evaluate how the current situation compares to smart growth principles.
Working with the community, the team will create specific changes to strategy and identify next steps in planning for fiscal and economic health that makes sense for the community, which may include suggestions for changes to the capital budgeting process, permitting process, regulatory framework and direction of economic development incentives, according to the information provided.
A follow-up memo will measure progress and leave the community with further next steps.
The hoped outcome is better understanding of how we prepare and plan for growth in our community, Uhler said.
The local people who have been involved in the presentation and workshop planning process are FS Economic Development Director Rachel Pruitt, FS Tourism Director Alley Turvey and Uhler.
Officials Introduce Innovative Healthcare Model
Mercy donates building and 1 million dollars toward a sustainable approach to rural healthcare.
Bourbon County and City of Fort Scott officials are committed to improving the quality of life for each member of the community, increasing access to affordable quality healthcare, and remaining vigilant stewards of taxpayer dollars. For years Fort Scott, KS was renowned for its healthcare. Mercy Hospital was an integral part of our health system from primary care to community benefit to leadership involvement.
What remains today are the caring professionals, ambitious leaders, beautiful hospital campus, and the ingrained culture of ensuring community health needs are addressed appropriately.
Bourbon County Commission will be partnering with our community healthcare partners, The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and Ascension Via Christi, and higher education partner, Fort Scott Community College, in transforming our approach to rural healthcare. Bourbon County will be taking ownership of the previous Mercy Hospital Building.
With Ascension Via Christi and CHC/SEK occupying a portion of the facility, the county is working with other health service agencies to supplement the community’s health care needs by housing them in the remainder of the move-in ready space.
For the common good of the community, the building will be repurposed into a collaborative effort that will be here for decades to come.
Ascension Via Christi President, Randy Cason, states, “This is exciting news for Fort Scott and the surrounding communities. Ascension Via Christi is eager to continue working with our community partners here to help to find solutions for the healthcare needs of this more rural area.”
Mercy Health Southwest Missouri/Kansas Communities has submitted a draft donation agreement to donate the building and one million dollars to Bourbon County for use of building maintenance and operations. This donation allows healthcare entities to lease space in the healthcare mall at market-rate. A standardized market-rate lease has led to discussions with healthcare organizations to expand services not otherwise offered.
Administration from Bourbon County and The City of Fort Scott will work together, develop a regulatory board and long-term lease agreements moving forward.
“This project is much more than just saving a building,” Jody Hoener, Economic Development Director, “Preserving this asset allows our community to no longer be victims of circumstance, but to assume responsibility for our community’s healthcare destiny. It creates a sustainable healthcare model under one roof.” There is little doubt in the concept’s success with the right amount of support and will be used as a model shaping rural healthcare policy across the nation.
Contact information:
Jody Hoener, Bourbon County Economic Development Director
The City of Fort Scott is hosting a Planning for Economic and Fiscal Health Workshop on Wednesday, February 26th, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
There will also be a public presentation held on Tuesday, February 25th, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Both of these events are in conjunction with Smart Growth America and will be held at The River Room, 3 West Oak Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.
There may be a majority of City Commissioners present, but NO City business will be conducted. The public is welcome to attend this event.
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: February 20, 2020
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
10:30 Executive Session, Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship (Lynne Oharah, Jeff Fischer, Nick Ruhl and Justin Meeks)
Court of Appeals Nominating Commission to interview applicants February 24 and 25
The Court of Appeals Nominating Commission will convene February 24 and 25 to interview 19 applicants to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Kansas Court of Appeals created by the April 3, 2020 retirement of Judge G. Joseph Pierron Jr.
Interviews will be in a meeting room in the Kansas Judicial Center, 301 SW 10th Ave., Topeka. The Commission will convene at 8:30 a.m. Monday, February 24, and interviews will start at 9 a.m. Interviews will continue at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, February 25.
Interview Schedule
Monday, February 24, 2020
8:30 am | Meeting Convenes |
9:00 am | Daniel Cahill |
9:30 am | Kristafer R. Ailslieger |
10:00 am | Lesley A. Isherwood |
10:30 am | Break/Exec. Session |
10:50 am | Angela D. Coble |
11:20 am | Randall L. Hodgkinson |
11:50 am | Diane H. Sorensen |
12:20 pm | Lunch break for Commission [Exec. Session] |
1:30 pm | Steven J. Obermeier |
2:00 pm | Suzanne Valdez |
2:30 pm | Amy Cline |
3:00 pm | Break/Exec. Session |
3:20 pm | Dennis D. Depew |
3:50 pm | Russell J. Keller |
4:20 pm | Break/Exec. Session |
4:40 pm | Adjourn for the day |
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
8:45 am | Meeting Convenes |
9:00 am | Sarah J. Loquist-Berry |
9:30 am | Marcia A. Wood |
10:00 am | David J. Rempel |
10:30 am | Break/Exec. Session |
10:50 am | Carl A. Folsom, III |
11:20 am | Natalie A. Chalmers |
11:50 am | Lunch break for Commission [Exec. Session] |
1:10 pm | Kristen D. Wheeler |
1:40 pm | Michael P. Joyce |
2:10 pm | Stephen O. Phillips |
2:40 pm | Break/Exec. Session |
3:10 pm | Reconvene for deliberations/voting |
4:00 pm | Adjourn for the day |
The nominating commission will conduct its work in accordance with the Kansas Open Meetings Act and Executive Order 18-08. Additional details can be found in the Guidelines for Interviews. (attached as PDF)
Governor Laura Kelly signed Executive Order 20-01 on Tuesday, January 28 establishing the Court of Appeals Nominating Commission. Under Kansas law, the Governor appoints judges to the Court of Appeals subject to confirmation by the Senate. The Commission will review each applicant’s background and qualifications, conduct interviews and then submit three nominees for the Governor to consider.
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February 14, 2020
Almost all work was in committees during week five of session. Several bills were passed out of committees so there could be ample work on the Senate floor in the next two weeks.
Legislation 101 Do you remember the School House Rock video, “I’m Just A Bill”? “I’m just a bill. Yes, I’m only a bill and I’m sitting here on capitol hill…” Kansas has a similar bill process that is a two-year bill cycle starting in odd years. There have been 452 senate bills introduced this cycle. A list of the bills can be found online at http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2019_20/measures/bills/senate/#1.
Once a bill is drafted and introduced, it is usually referred to a committee. The committee may have a hearing, table, amend, and/or vote on the bill. If it passes, it goes below the line for the body of the whole. At this point the Majority Leader decides if and when a bill will be above the line for debate on the floor. There are rules that allow legislators to pull a bill out of committee and above the line but it rarely occurs since it takes more than a majority and is a high threshold. If the bill makes it to floor debate, it can again be amended. If a majority vote yes during a final action vote, the bill is sent to the other chamber to begin the process again. If a bill is amended in the second chamber, the originating chamber will vote to accept or reject the changes. If rejected, the bill can be killed or a conference committee with three members from each chamber is formed to negotiate the changes and agree on a compromise. Both chambers must pass the compromise before it will go to the governor. The governor can sign the bill into law, veto the bill – an attempt to kill the bill, or allow it to become law without a signature. Two thirds majority of each chamber can override a governor’s veto, in which a vetoed bill becomes law.
Maybe we can follow a bill along to see how this works. SB 294 , that brings transparency to your property tax increases, has been voted out of committee and is now below the line in the Senate. Do to the bill’s popularity I’ve been told it may be quickly moved above the line for debate on the Senate floor. I will keep you informed on its progress through the system.
Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) You may have heard the Governor is attempting to mess with KPERS again. Last year a supermajority of legislators sent a strong message (a veto override) to leave KPERS alone. The Governor obviously did not get the message as she is attempting to re-amortize, basically refinance, costing Kansas taxpayers $4.4 billion dollars. As with last year, I will fight to block the Governor’s effort to weaken KPERS and put our State in more debt.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn