Category Archives: Government

COVID-19, Fort Scott, Government, Schools

USD 234 News Release For BOE Meeting Nov. 9

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NEWS RELEASE

 

Monday, November 9, 2020

 

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons on Monday, November 9, for their regular monthly meeting.

President David Stewart opened the meeting.  The board approved the official agenda.  The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:

 

A.    Minutes

B.    Bills and Claims

C.    Payroll – October 20,  2020 – $1,414,951.80

D.    Financial Report

E.     Activity Fund Accounts

F.     Parent/Teacher Conference Attendance

G.    Fundraisers

 

One patron spoke during the public forum.  Ella Beth presented a report on the

Fort Scott High School Courtyard project.

Board members heard reports from the following:

·       Brenda Hill, KNEA President

·       Michelle Stevenson, Early Childhood Program

·       All building principals

·       Dalaina Smith, Director of Academics

·       Ted Hessong, Superintendent

·       Gina Shelton, Business Manager/Board Clerk

 

The board went into executive session to discuss employer-employee negotiations.  The board returned to open session.

Superintendent Hessong gave a Return-to-School update.  Board members approved the following changes to the Return-to-School Plan:

·       Classroom contact of an individual with lab-confirmed COVID-19 is not considered a close contact requiring quarantine if mitigation strategies are in place.

o   High-risk contacts are defined as those individuals with unmitigated exposure such as unmasked lunch exposure, social exposure, extracurricular activities including sports, home exposure, or other exposure outside of school setting, and as determined by a health officer or designated official.

o   Low-risk exposure is defined as mitigated classroom exposure (mask-in-place, appropriate hand washing/sanitation) and casual contact, as determined by the health officer or designated official, with mitigation standards in place.

·       Remote learners are eligible for extracurricular activities with mitigation strategies in place.

 

The board approved Blue Cross/Blue Shield for the district health insurance for 2021.

Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting

The board approved the following employment matters:

 

A.    Resignation of Heather Geiger, high school paraprofessional

B.    Resignation of Brenda Hathaway, high school cook

C.    Employment of Whitley Chesney as middle school/high school choir teacher for the 2020-21 spring semester

D.    Employment of Elizabeth Rose as a middle school paraprofessional for the 2020-21 school year

E.     Resignation of Sarah Bahr, high school assistant debate and forensics coach

F.     Resignation of Angie Kemmerer as middle school head volleyball coach, effective at the end of the 2020 season

G.    Transfer of Joie Moore, high school 6.5-hour cook, to a high school 6.5-hour ticket clerk for the 2020-21 school year

H.    Employment of Glenda Cooper as a high school 6.5-hour cook for the 2020-21 school year

I.      Resignation of Jacy Walker as high school head volleyball coach

J.      Employment of Mark Bergmann as high school assistant debate and forensics coach for the 2020-21 school year

The board adjourned.

Fort Scott, Government

FS Special Meeting Nov. 9

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There will be a Special Meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9th, 2020. This meeting will be held to discuss the Interim City Manager position, and the City Manager search. It is anticipated the City Commission will adjourn into Executive Session.

This meeting will be held at 123 S. Main Street in the City Commission meeting room. This meeting will be broadcast on the City’s You tube channel. This meeting is open to the public.

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Nov. 10

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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: November 10, 2020

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Clifton Beth Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

 

MEETING WILL BE HELD IN COMMISSION ROOM. ANYONE ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY. MUST MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.

 

9:00 – 9:30 Eric Bailey, Road & Bridge

9:30 – 9:45 Greenbush, SPARK Funds

9:45 – 9:50 Sewer hookup fee for St. Martens and another resident connecting to the

sewer district.

10:00 – 10:15 Bill Martin, Covid Leave

10:15 Gregg Motley, Bedco.

10:30 – 10:45 Billiard Hammer/Atkins, County Insurance Quotes

10:50 – 10:55 Michael Hoyt, Advisory Boards and Petition Issues

11:00 – 11:20 Jody Hoener, Executive Session-Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

11:20 – 11:40 Jody Hoener, Executive Session-Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

11:45 – 11:50 Don George of KS Dept of Wilflife, Parks & Tourism, Status of Dam at Elm Creek Lake

12:00 – 12:05 Don Banwart, Lake Advisory Board, Transfer of Land Fire Dist #3 and #5

Justifications for Executive Session:

          Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

          Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

          Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

          Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

          Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

          Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information syst

Government, Kansas

Grants Assistance to Child Care Programs

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Governor Laura Kelly Announces Estimated $3.5 Million in Grants to Assist Kansas Child Care Programs

TOPEKA –Governor Laura Kelly today announced that Child Care Aware of Kansas, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Office of Recovery, has launched a new Child Care Health Consultant Network to provide technical assistance to licensed child care providers as they implement COVID-19 health and safety guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

After working directly with a consultant to assess the environment, child care programs are eligible to apply for grant funding to purchase supplies or make adaptations to home or center-based facilities. Child Care Aware of Kansas anticipates providing $3.5 million in grants and supplies.

“Through the assistance and funding provided to Kansas child care providers by the Child Care Health Consultant Network, we will not only protect the health and safety of our child care workers and kids, but also ensure that centers can stay open throughout the duration of the pandemic,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These grants will help ensure working parents have access to safe, healthy child care facilities and continue to strengthen our economy and keep businesses open. I want to thank Child Care Aware of Kansas, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the Office of Recovery for their innovative approach to fulfilling this need.”

The Child Care Health Consultant Network comes at a critical time for Kansas’ child care system. A recent study by Yale University showed that child care settings were not associated with increased risks of COVID-19 infections provided that appropriate health and safety measures were taken. Kansas’ Child Care Health Consultants work with child care providers to implement the most current guidance from the CDC and KDHE.

With the first phase of implementation for the Child Care Health Consultant Network nearing completion, Child Care Aware of Kansas and state partners are now shifting their attention to long-term sustainability of the Network. In addition to supporting healthy and safe child care settings, Child Care Health Consultants will play a crucial role in protecting and promoting the health growth and development of children and their families.

“The Child Care Health Consultant Network is a critical support for child care programs that are working hard to ensure that children are safe and healthy in the midst of the pandemic. We work with providers to assess the child care environment and ensure that health and safety measures are in place,” said Kelly Davydov, Executive Director. “Child care is essential to a thriving Kansas economy, and families want to know that their children are cared for in a safe, nurturing environment. We’re doing everything we can to ensure that this support continues to be available for child care programs.”

“The global pandemic placed a considerable amount of uncertainty into my day-to-day that I had not expected at the beginning of the year,” said Dawn Chapman, owner and operator of The Nature and Nurture Spot in Gardner, Kansas. “With the help of the Child Care Health Consultant Network, I’ve been able to purchase the supplies I need to help ensure the safety of the children I care for every day.”

To date, 415 child care programs have requested consultations.

For more information about the Child Care Health Consultant Network, visit https://ks.childcareaware.org/child-care-health-consultant-network/.

###

About Child Care Aware® of Kansas

Child Care Aware of Kansas’ vision is that all communities across Kansas value and support early childhood development.  It is, therefore, its mission that high-quality early education is available to all Kansas families and children. Child Care Aware of Kansas is known as a strong advocate for children, their families and the early childhood profession. It works to:

  • Ensure families have access to affordable, high-quality child care across the state.
  • Support child care providers with ongoing professional development training and information/coaching support about how to improve the quality of child care.
  • Network with employers and community partners on how to support high-quality child care in their communities.

To learn more about Child Care Aware® of Kansas, visit www.ks.childcareaware.org

COVID-19, Government, Kansas

Kansas Quarantine List Now Includes South Dakota

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KDHE amends travel quarantine list

South Dakota added

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has amended its travel quarantine list to include those who have traveled to South Dakota and the countries of Belgium and Czechia beginning today, November 4. North Dakota and the country of Andorra remain on the list as does attendance at out-of-state mass gatherings with 500 or more where individuals do not socially distance and wear masks.

 

Kansas evaluates the previous two week’s case rates by 100,000 population for states and countries. Locations with significantly higher rates – approximately 3x higher than Kansas – are added to the list. North Dakota has a two-week case rate 3.6 times higher than Kansas while South Dakota’s rate is 3.2 times Kansas.

 

This list is effective for all persons returning to or entering Kansas on the effective dates. A comprehensive list of those individuals needing to quarantine for 14 days includes visitors and Kansans who have:

 

  • Travel to or from South Dakota on or after November 4.
  • Travel to or from Belgium and Czechia on or after November 4.
  • Travel to or from North Dakota on or after October 21.
  • Travel to or from the country of Andorra on or after October 21.
  • Attendance at any out-of-state mass gatherings of 500 or more where individuals do not socially distance (6 feet) and wear a mask.
  • Been on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15.

 

Travel quarantines do not prohibit travel through Kansas. People from these locations may still travel through Kansas. If this is done, KDHE recommends limited stops, wearing a mask at rest stops or when getting gas and being 6’ from others when doing so. If the destination is Kansas, they would be required to quarantine upon arrival to their destination.

 

Mass gatherings are defined as any event or convening that brings together 500 or more persons in a single room or space at the same time such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, theater or any other confined indoor or outdoor space. This includes parades, fairs and festivals. Mass gatherings does not include normal operations of airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls and centers, or other spaces where 500 or more persons may be in transit. It also does not include typical office environments, schools, restaurants, factories or retail/grocery stores where large numbers of people are present, but it is unusual for them to be within 6 feet of one another for more than 10 minutes.

 

Critical infrastructure sector employees who have travelled to these destinations should contact their local health department regarding instructions for application of these quarantine orders while working. Critical infrastructure employees, such as public health, law enforcement, food supply, etc., need to have the staffing resources to continue serving Kansans so the local health department may allow a modified quarantine. Please note the only exemption for these quarantine mandates for critical infrastructure sector

employees is work – they are not to go any other locations outside of work.

 

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the KDHE website at www.kdhe.ks.gov/coronavirus.

 

Bourbon County, Elections, Government

Bourbon County Township and Judges Election Results

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Vote Here sign at the Bourbon County Courthouse.

The following is provided by the Bourbon County Clerk’s Office.

These are the results of the township votes, along with the retaining of judges. Also at the bottom of the report are the sales tax question numbers.

Township Trustee DRYWOOD
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Richard Cullison Jr. (REP). . . . . 205
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4

Township Trustee FREEDOM
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Janice Seested (REP). . . . . . . 221
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 1

 

Township Trustee FRANKLIN
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Tony Bradbury (REP) . . . . . . . 145
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4

Township Trustee MARION
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Steve Geiger (REP) . . . . . . . 478
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 1

Township Trustee MILLCREEK
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Yvonne Beck (REP). . . . . . . . 242
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 1

Township Trustee MARMATON
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
David Duffey (REP) . . . . . . . 326
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 5

Township Trustee OSAGE
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Brian Wade (DEM) . . . . . . . . 137
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 9

Township Trustee PAWNEE
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Karen A. Endicott-Coyan (REP). . . . 148
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 4

Township Trustee SCOTT
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Jim Sackett (REP). . . . . . . . 1,051
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 13

Township Trustee TIMBERHILL
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Dan Laughlin (REP) . . . . . . . 105
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0

Township Trustee WALNUT
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
NO CANDIDATE FILED . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 1 100.00 1 0 0 0

 

Township Treasurer DRYWOOD
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
NO CANDIDATE FILED . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 35

Township Treasurer FREEDOM
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Karen A. Paddock (REP) . . . . . . 215
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 1

Township Treasurer FRANKLIN
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
NO CANDIDATE FILED . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 17

Township Treasurer MARION
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Rex Wilson (REP) . . . . . . . . 488
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0

Township Treasurer MILLCREEK
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Betty L. Graham (DEM) . . . . . . 197
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 6 2

Township Treasurer MARMATON
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Wilma K. Graham (DEM) . . . . . . 253
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 25

Township Treasurer OSAGE
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Kathleen Valentine (REP) . . . . . 177
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 2 1\

Township Treasurer PAWNEE
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Sharon Middleton (DEM) . . . . . . 121
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 9 6

Township Treasurer SCOTT
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Harold Rogers (REP) . . . . . . . 1,061
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 6

 

Township Treasurer TIMBERHILL
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
David Scharenberg (REP). . . . . . 106
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0

Township Treasurer WALNUT
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
NO CANDIDATE FILED . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 2 100.00 2 0 0 0

ROSEN
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,589
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,071

WARNER
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,029
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,654

BRUNS
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,186
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,441

ATCHESON
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,541
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,064

BURGER
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,594

NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,006

GARDNER
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,146
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,412

JOHNSON
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,408
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,317

 

WARD
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,435
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,491

MONTGOMERY
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,036
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,439

LEBLANC
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,244
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,540

SALES TAX
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,333
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,934

 

Bourbon County, Elections, Government

Bourbon County Residents Say Yes to Sales Tax

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Voters at the Bourbon County Clerk’s Office.

Bourbon County residents said yes to the sales tax continuance on Nov. 3, 2020.

SALES TAX

YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,333
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,934

 

Republicans won the night in Bourbon County.

 

Provided by the Bourbon County Clerk’s office:

2020 GENERAL ELECTION UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
NOVEMBER 3, 2020
RUN DATE:11/03/20 09:27 PM REPORT-EL45A PAGE 001

TOTAL VOTES % ELECTION DAY EARLY VOTE PROVISIONAL ADV.GRP 3&4

PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 20) . . . . . 20
REGISTERED VOTERS – TOTAL . . . . . 11,943
BALLOTS CAST – TOTAL. . . . . . . 6,579
VOTER TURNOUT – TOTAL . . . . . . 55.09

Presidential Electors For President
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Biden and Harris (DEM) . . . . . . 1,504
Jorgensen and Cohen (LIB) . . . . . 110
Trump and Pence (REP) . . . . . . 4,906
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 25 .38 13 12 0 0

United States Senate
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Barbara Bollier (DEM) . . . . . . 1,653
Jason Buckley (LIB) . . . . . . . 311
Roger Marshall (REP). . . . . . . 4,516
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 7

United States House of Representativ
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Michelle De La Isla (DEM) . . . . . 1,456
Robert Garrard (LIB). . . . . . . 281
Jake LaTurner (REP) . . . . . . . 4,727
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 8

Kansas Senate, 13th District DISTRICT 13
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Richard Hilderbrand (REP) . . . . . 2,978
Nancy J. Ingle (DEM). . . . . . . 1,213
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 6

Kansas Senate, 12th District DISTRICT 12
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Mike Bruner (DEM). . . . . . . . 417
Caryn Tyson (REP). . . . . . . . 1,793
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 7

Kansas House of Representatives, 2nd DISTRICT 2
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Kenneth Collins (REP) . . . . . . 466
Lynn D. Grant (DEM) . . . . . . . 94
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 2

Kansas House of Representatives, 4th DISTRICT 4
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Trevor Jacobs (REP) . . . . . . . 4,149
Bill Meyer (DEM) . . . . . . . . 1,717
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 3

 

County Commissioner DISTRICT 2
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Jim Harris (REP) . . . . . . . . 2,292
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 98

County Commissioner DISTRICT 3
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Clifton Beth (REP) . . . . . . . 1,268
Phillip G. Hoyt (DEM) . . . . . . 391
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 6 .

County Clerk
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Kendell Dawn Mason (REP) . . . . . 4,977
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 1,123

County Treasurer
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Patty Love (REP) . . . . . . . . 5,889
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 130

County Register of Deeds
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Lora Holdridge (REP). . . . . . . 5,881
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 59

County Attorney
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Jacqie Spradling (REP) . . . . . . 5,596
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 105

County Sheriff
(VOTE FOR NOT MORE THAN ) 1
Mike Feagins (DEM) . . . . . . . 2,043
Bill Martin (REP). . . . . . . . 4,338
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 65

 

 

Area News, Bourbon County, Government

HWY 69 Expansion Work Starts This Week

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Work on U.S. 69 Crawford County expansion project will start this week

 

The week of Nov. 2, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to start a project that will expand a 5.7-mile section of U.S. 69 in Crawford County to a four-lane divided expressway.

 

The expansion project begins three miles north of the north city limits of Arma and continues north to the Crawford-Bourbon county line. Two lanes will be added to the existing U.S. 69 alignment. At-grade intersections will be constructed at 680th, 690th, 700th, 710th and 720th avenues.

 

Two-way traffic is being maintained on the existing lanes of U.S. 69 while the new lanes are under construction. Early project activity includes grading and work on box culverts off the highway. Traffic will be flagged through the area during intermittent blasting operations, with minimal delays expected. The speed limit through the project is 55 miles an hour.

 

KDOT awarded the $21.6 million construction contract to Bob Bergkamp Construction, Inc., of Wichita. The project is north of another U.S. 69 expansion project at Arma, which began in March. The work should complete by the summer of 2022, weather permitting.

 

Persons with questions may contact Darrin Petrowsky at KDOT-Iola, (620) 901-6557, or Priscilla Petersen at KDOT-Chanute, (620) 902-6433.