Category Archives: Government

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Kansas Deadlines for Titling, Registration, Renewals

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Some Vehicle Titling, Registration, and Renewals Near Deadlines 

 

TOPEKA – As the end of July approaches, deadlines near for vehicle registration renewals and extensions given for recent vehicle purchases. The following information outlines the deadlines for specific transactions administered by county treasurers across the state.

Vehicle Registration Renewals:
Vehicle registrations with an expiration date of March through June 2020 must be renewed by Nov. 14, 2020. Vehicle registration renewals from July 2020 forward must be renewed in the regularly scheduled month.

Recent Vehicle Purchases:
Kansas residents who have purchased new or used motor vehicles on or after Jan. 1, 2020, and are operating with a valid, extended 60-day permit, may continue to do so beyond the 60 days. Through Governor Laura Kelly’s Executive Order 20-55, the Kansas Department of Revenue is extending any temporary, 60-day Kansas permit for motor vehicles purchased after Jan. 1, through May 31, 2020.

 

The table below determines the deadline to complete the title and registration process for a recently purchased vehicle. Late penalties and loss of authority to operate motor vehicles on State roadways will be incurred after the deadline listed.

 

Purchase Date:  Title & Registration Deadline: 
Jan. 1-31, 2020 Monday, Aug. 31, 2020
Feb. 1-29, 2020 Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020
March 1-31, 2020 Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020
April 1-30, 2020 Monday, Nov. 30, 2020
May 1-31, 2020 Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020

Driver’s License Renewals:
The deadline to renew Kansas driver’s licenses and state identification cards with expiration dates of March 12 through Sept. 15, 2020, is Dec. 31, 2020.

 

Some county treasurer offices offer limited licensing services in which operations may vary.

While each county treasurer determines how its office completes these transactions, the Kansas Department of Revenue continues to encourage the online renewal of vehicle registrations and driver’s licenses. This can be done by visiting ikan.ks.gov or by downloading the iKan app from the Apple App or Google Play stores on your mobile device. By statute, some restrictions apply.

State identification card renewals require a visit to a Kansas Department of Revenue Driver’s License Office.

 

If a visit to a Kansas Driver’s License Office is necessary, an appointment is required. To schedule an appointment, customers are asked to use the method listed at ksrevenue.org/reopening. This site only lists state-run office locations.

 

 

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Government, Jobs, Kansas

KS Virtual Job Fair July 28-30

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Governor Laura Kelly Announces Department of Commerce’s Third KANSASWORKS Statewide Virtual Job Fair

 

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that the third KANSASWORKS Statewide Virtual Job Fair will be held today, Tuesday, July 28, through Thursday, July 30.

 

“We need to maintain a strong, healthy workforce in our state, and getting Kansans back to work safely is one of my top priorities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The KANSASWORKS virtual job fair has proven to be a creative and effective way to connect Kansans with jobs opportunities, and will be important as our economy recovers from the challenges of COVID-19.”

 

The virtual fair will allow job seekers to easily live chat with employers from across the state through computers and mobile devices. This is the third KANSASWORKS virtual job fair so far in 2020, with four more planned later this year.

 

Click here to register.

 

The Department of Commerce moved its statewide job fairs online this year to eliminate the public health risks associated with mass gatherings, while continuing to provide job opportunities for job seekers and maintain a ready workforce for Kansas businesses.

 

“Increasing employment opportunities and keeping our economy strong is a top priority of the Department of Commerce,” Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The need for both businesses and job seekers in our state is significant, but health and safety concerns mean it’s still not safe to hold in-person job fairs. The Virtual Statewide Job Fair system is a perfect example of how our KANSASWORKS team is continuing to provide Kansans access to employers in a way that protects everyone involved.”

 

This year’s second virtual fair in June was a great success, with approximately 165 employers and 1,497 jobseekers participating. Employers represented included:

 

  • KanEquip, Inc.
  • Foley Equipment
  • Fuller Industries
  • Johns Manville
  • National Beef
  • PKM Steel Service Inc.
  • Salina Regional Health Center
  • Cornejo
  • Russell Stover
  • Reser’s Fine Foods
  • Johnsonville
  • Dillons
  • Glassman Corporation
  • CivicPlus
  • ADT
  • Bombardier Aviation
  • Creekstone Farms
  • Southwest Medical Center
  • Farmers Insurance
  • Goodwill Industries of Kansas
  • Emprise Bank
  • Wichita Public Schools
  • The University of Kansas

 

As concerns for the health and safety of Kansans remain high due to COVID-19, the Department of Commerce will maintain the virtual job fair system for the remainder of 2020. Future statewide events are scheduled for:  

 

  • August 25-27
  • September 22-24
  • October 27-29
  • December 8-9

 

As these dates get closer, updates will be provided with employer and jobseeker registration links for each individual virtual fair.

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Minutes of July 15

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July 15, 2020

The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners, the County Counselor the County Clerk and the Economic Development Director present.

The Commissioners continued the discussion from July 14th regarding hiring an administrator for the Spark grant funds.

Greenbush, the Southeast Kansas Education Center gave a proposal to the Commissioners to be a grant administrator for the Spark grant. The Commissioners all liked the Greenbush proposal, they felt they could offer more feet on the ground, the business would be local; they felt there would be easier communication and coordination and this would align with the regional development goal.

Jody Hoener said she would put together a steering committee for the Spark grant; all of the Commissioners preferred that Jody be a representative from Bourbon County on the steering committee. Jody and the Commissioners reviewed the names on individuals that they felt should serve on the steering committee.

Nick made a motion to approve the Greenbush proposal for the Spark grant and to allow Lynne to sign the Greenbush contract and to allow Jody Hoener to be the representative from Bourbon County on the steering committee, Jeff seconded and all approved.

Jeff made a motion to allow all of the Commissioners to attend a virtual award ceremony for the Pathways grant, Nick seconded and all approved.

At 1:51, Lynne made a motion to adjourn, Nick seconded and all approved.

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman
(ss) Jeff Fischer, Commissioner
(ss) Nick Ruhl, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk
July 20, 2020, Approved Date

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government

Health and Economic Help From CARES Act Available in Bourbon County: Apps Due Aug. 8

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The Bourbon County Commission received $2.9M in CARES Act funds through the State of Kansas SPARK funding.  This funding is designed to help the county with the health and economic emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic.  For more information about the funding, visit https://www.bourboncountyks.org/spark/.
The County Commission has created the following categories of funding requests:
Reimbursement-for COVID related expenditures from March 1-July 30.
Direct Aid-for COVID related expenditures from August-December.
Small Business/Nonprofit Grant Program-a formula grant program designed to support these two groups with less than 50 employees.
Applications for funding requests from Bourbon County businesses, government entities, schools, and nonprofits can be found here. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE Saturday AUGUST 8 AT NOON.
There will be Zoom information meetings on Wednesday, July 29.  Register here to watch live or visit this link after Wednesday afternoon for a recording of the meetings.  Instructional slide decks will also be posted.
Call 620.724,6281 or email sparkinfo@bourboncountyks.org.
PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON TO ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT BE INTERESTED!
Submitted by:

Jody Hoener, LBSW, MBA

Bourbon County Kansas

Economic Development Director

210 S National Ave

Fort Scott, KS 66701

1-620-223-3800 

1-620-215-5725 Mobile

www.bourboncountyks.org

Government, Kansas

KDOT: Minimum Railroad Crew Size

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Kansas Department of Transportation Proposes Safety Rule Regulating Minimum Railroad Crew Size

 

TOPEKA—The Department of Transportation today proposed a new regulation requiring railroads operating within Kansas to maintain a minimum of two crew members in the control compartment of the lead locomotive unit of a train.

 

“Kansas has faced issues ranging from crew member fatigue to derailments which pose a threat to our safety and security – but by maintaining the current practice of requiring a two-person crew we can ensure the health and safety of Kansas workers,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This proposed regulation is a commonsense, necessary measure to protect our state’s railroad crew members and keep every community along the tracks safe.”

 

The regulation reads as follows:

 

K.A.R. [36-43-1].  Crew Requirements.

 

  1. Railroads operating within Kansas shall maintain a minimum of two crew members in the control compartment of the lead locomotive unit of a train.

 

  1. Compliance with subsection (a) of this Section shall not be required during switching operations, brake testing, safety inspections, or while performing setouts in conjunction with road service.

 

The benefits of the proposed rule and regulation is railroad and community safety, including the role two-person crews can play in helping to prevent potential accidents or derailments and in emergency situations.

 

Other states that have enacted legislation on minimum railroad crew requirements are Wisconsin, Arizona, Oregon, California, West Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, and Illinois.

 

Nearly all railroads in Kansas are currently operating two-person crews and will have no increased labor costs from the implementation of this regulation.

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda For July 28

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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: July 28, 2020

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THE FIRST FLOOR LOBBY. ANYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY. MUST MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.

9:00 Commission, Budget Work Session

9:30 Spark Funding & Greenbush

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

Bourbon County: 66 Total Positive Cases of COVID-19, Update

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SEK Multi-County Health Departments

Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, and Woodson Counties

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

July 27, 2020

Bourbon County and Anderson County have 1 new case each this morning.

Allen County

Current Positive Cases 6
Total Hospitalizations 2-1 remaining in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 8
Total Positives Since Testing 14-1 removed-out of state and to remain there
Deaths 0

Anderson County

Current Positive Cases 2
Total Hospitalizations 0
Current Recovered Cases 24
Total Positives Since Testing 26
Deaths 0

Bourbon County

Current Positive Cases 6
Presumptive Cases 3-1 listed on KDHE website, tested negative
Positive Out of State/County-staying in Bourbon 11
Total Hospitalizations 5-1 remaining in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 60-includes presumptive cases
Total Positives Since Testing 66
Deaths 1

Woodson County

Current Positive Cases 0
Total Hospitalizations 1-0 remaining in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 11
Total Positives Since Testing 11
Deaths 0

Recovered cases are based on dates of onset of symptoms, not on day testing results are received.

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government, Health Care

Eat At Nu Grille July 20-24: Quarantine At Home

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SEK Multi-County Health Departments

Bourbon County, Kansas

PRESS RELEASE:

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19

July 25, 2020;

It is the recommendation of the Bourbon County Health Officer, that if you purchased food from Nu Grille (24 N. National, Fort Scott, KS) on the dates of July 20-24th, to please quarantine yourself in your home and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, through August 7th.

Symptoms are:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. This list does not include all possible symptoms.

For more information you may call the SEK Multi-County Health Department: Bourbon: (620)223-4464 Monday-Thursday 7:00am-5:30pm OR the COVID-19 Hotline: (866)534-3463.You may also visit the COVID-19 Resource Center at: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/OR Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments on Facebook or our website: www.sekmchd.com for local updates.Eat

Government, Kansas

Public Is Asked To Report Receiving Unsolicited Seek Packages

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KDA Asks Public to Report Receipt of any Unsolicited Packages of Seeds

MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture has been notified that several Kansas residents have received unsolicited packages containing seeds that appear to have originated from China. The types of seeds in the packages are unknown at this time. The packages were sent by mail; some have been labeled as jewelry and they may have Chinese writing on them. Unsolicited packages of seeds have been received by people in several other states across the United States over the last several days.

If you receive a package of this type, please DO NOT plant these seeds. If they are in sealed packaging, don’t open the sealed package. Instead, please contact KDA’s plant protection and weed control program at 785-564-6698, via email at [email protected], or at the complaint reporting portion of the KDA website: report a seed complaint.

Unsolicited seeds could be invasive species, could introduce diseases to local plants, or could be harmful to livestock. Invasive species wreak havoc on the environment, displace or destroy native plants and insects and severely damage crops. KDA works to prevent the introduction of invasive species and protect Kansas agriculture.

###

Suggested Cutline: These unsolicited packages of seeds were received by Kansans recently. The Kansas Department of Agriculture encourages anyone who receives such a package not to plant the seeds, but to notify the department.

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government

Bourbon County COVID-19 Recovery Funding Update

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The State of Kansas allocated $400 million dollars of the CARES Act Relief funds towards local county governments. On July 15, 2020 Bourbon County received $2.9million as a part of this allocation.  Bourbon County Commissioners have contracted with Greenbush, an educational organization based out of Girard, to develop systems for online applications that insures State and Federal requirements are met, develop communication plans, review processes, reporting and evaluation.
The Bourbon County Recovery Steering Committee met yesterday to determine funding buckets (as they align with state priority’s and the percentage of funds allocated to each of those buckets.  Those recommendations were presented to the commission today in a special meeting.  The Bourbon County Commissioners formally adopted and approved several things, as recommended:
1. The reimbursement of a total of $329,042.33 to 3 incorporated cities and the Fort Scott Community College for COVID related expenses incurred from March 1-July 31, 2020.
2.  Direct Aid funding buckets and allocation of remaining funds, that can be updated as proposals are submitted:
a. Economic Development 20%
i. Sub-Group: Small Business/Non Profit Grant Program 5%
b. Health 30%
c. Education: 20%
d. Collaborative Projects: 25%
3. The online application, put together and presented by Monica Murnan and Mike Bodenstein with Greenbush, was approved.  The anticipated application go-live date will be 7/28/2020 at 8 am and remain open until 8/8/2020 at noon.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and I will work together to put together a county-wide Small Business/Non Profit Grant Program.  The intent is to get funding to those hardest hit– those who were mandated to close or closed on there own.  It is also intended to reimburse PPE and cleaning costs to all business regardless of closing status. We have examples of what Crawford County and Riley County have done as well.  Look for more to come on that in the very near future, it will also be part of the online application with Greenbush.  (FYI-There are no HUD mandated income requirements associated)
We would like to thank steering committee members, in addition to myself, Craig Campbell, Jess Ervin, Jerry Witt, Susan Bancroft, Bill Michaud, and Ted Hessong for taking time out of your very busy schedules and continuing to serve in this capacity as we move forward.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.
Submitted by Jody Hoener, LBSW, MBA
Bourbon County Kansas
Economic Development Director
210 S National Ave
Fort Scott, KS 66701
1-620-223-3800 
1-620-215-5725 Mobile
Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Minutes of July 15

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July 15, 2020 Wednesday 1:30 pm

The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners, the County Counselor the County Clerk and the Economic Development Director present.

The Commissioners continued the discussion from July 14th regarding hiring an administrator for the Spark grant funds.

Greenbush, the Southeast Kansas Education Center gave a proposal to the Commissioners to be a grant administrator for the Spark grant. The Commissioners all liked the Greenbush proposal, they felt they could offer more feet on the ground, the business would be local; they felt there would be easier communication and coordination and this would align with the regional development goal.

Jody Hoener said she would put together a steering committee for the Spark grant; all of the Commissioners preferred that Jody be a representative from Bourbon County on the steering committee. Jody and the Commissioners reviewed the names on individuals that they felt should serve on the steering committee.

Nick made a motion to approve the Greenbush proposal for the Spark grant and to allow Lynne to sign the Greenbush contract and to allow Jody Hoener to be the representative from Bourbon County on the steering committee, Jeff seconded and all approved.

Jeff made a motion to allow all of the Commissioners to attend a virtual award ceremony for the Pathways grant, Nick seconded and all approved.

At 1:51, Lynne made a motion to adjourn, Nick seconded and all approved.

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman
(ss) Jeff Fischer, Commissioner
(ss) Nick Ruhl, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk
July 20, 2020, Approved Date