Category Archives: Government

Elections, Government, Kansas

Effort To Ensure Kansans Get Registered To Vote

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Governor Kelly, State Agencies Ensure Kansas Voters Can Get Registered and Vote

~Part of Effort to Ensure Kansas in Full Compliance with Federal Voting Law~

 

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure every eligible Kansan has a meaningful opportunity to get registered to vote or update their voter registration.

 

“As we enter the homestretch of the 2020 election, it is vital that every eligible voter has a chance to register to vote and participate in our democracy,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “My administration has taken several steps to improve our outreach to Kansans – especially during this pandemic – and these efforts are already bearing fruit.”

 

DCF and KDHE began sending voter registration applications to Kansas residents entitled to agency-provided voter registration opportunities, one of the state’s recent efforts to ensure compliance with federal law.

 

Last November, Demos, Loud Light, the ACLU, and the ACLU of Kansas completed an investigation of compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) in Kansas and notified Governor Kelly and other state officials of areas to improve to ensure the state’s compliance with the NVRA. DCF and KDHE have been working on meaningful improvements to agency-provided voter registration opportunities and assistance to clients filling out voter registration applications.

 

Among other improvements, DCF and KDHE upgraded and will continue to improve their online application portals to provide their clients with better assistance with voter registration. Although some of the technology upgrades will take time to implement, DCF and KDHE have mailed voter registration applications to clients to ensure that they receive opportunities to register to vote before the November General Election.

 

This process has already provided many Kansas residents with an opportunity to register to vote or update their registration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between March and September 2020, DCF mailed voter registration applications to nearly 151,00 clients. KDHE will send voter registration applications to 127,000 client households in September.

 

“As we weather this pandemic, with many individuals quarantined at home and practicing social distancing, it is important we provide this service to Kansans,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I am committed to making sure eligible Kansas voters are not left behind.”

 

Governor Kelly encourages all eligible Kansas residents to register to vote. Kansans who receive a voter registration application in the mail are encouraged to complete the application to register to vote (or update an existing registration) as quickly as possible to ensure it reaches their county’s election office ahead of the October 13 deadline to register. Eligible Kansans may also register to vote online at https://www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/voterreg/default.aspx; a Kansas driver’s license or state identification card are required to register to vote on the Kansas registration page. Eligible Kansans can also register in minutes at KSVotes.org. To vote in the General Presidential Election this year, Kansas residents must be registered to vote by October 13, 2020.

 

The Governor also encourages every registered voter to vote by mail.  And any registered voter in Kansas can. The application for a mail-in ballot can be found at https://www.kssos.org/forms/elections/AV1.pdf.

 

Applications for a mail ballot must be returned by October 27, 2020, to your county election official. Ballots will be mailed to those who apply beginning on October 14, 2020. All ballots must be postmarked on or before November 3 and received in the county election office by the close of business on November 6.

 

Fort Scott, Government

FS Lake Advisory Board Agenda For Sept. 26

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Agenda

Lake Advisory Board – Fort Scott Airport – Ellis Hangar – 1869 Indian Road

September 26, 2020 @ 9:00 am

Call to Order: Nancy Van Etten

Flag Salute and Opening Prayer: Jeff Fischer

Roll Call and Special Recognition for Tom Brink: Nancy Van Etten, Nancy Maze, Jeff Fischer, Dean Striler, Shane Wood, Kevin Allen, Don Banwart, Debbie Mc Coy.

City Staff: Dave Martin, Tom Graham

City Commissioners: K. Allen, P. Allen, R. Nichols, L. Watts, J. Mitchell

Other Attendees: Board and City Staff can attend in person. To observe meeting go to the City of Fort Scott’s You Tube Channel.

Approval of July 18, 2020, meeting minutes.

Safety Update Will Always Be First: Tom Graham. In addition: Follow up on private buoys, replacement of rubber bumpers on public docks, safety signs and broken down docks.

Old Business

  1. Real Estate Auction of City Property at the Lake: Open discussion with the Public, City Commissioners and Lake Advisory Board.
  2. Sewer District Update – Nancy VE, Jeff.
  3. Fire Service at the Lake – Don, Jeff. Appoint person to attend Fire District Meetings.
  4. Lake Fort Scott Ordinances – Nancy VE, Nancy M, Tom G.
  5. Airport and Indian Road Update – Jeff
  6. Amended Lake Advisory Board Ordinance 3550 – Dave

New Business

  1. Advisory Board Member opening for West Side Full Time Resident.
  2. Smart Growth & Planning for Lake Fort Scott

Public Comments:

Next Meeting:

Adjournment

Bourbon County, COVID-19, Government

Bourbon County Total COVID-19 Cases Since Testing-175

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SEK Multi-County Health Departments

Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, and Woodson Counties

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

September 21, 2020

Due to the recent increase in probable cases and presumptive lab cases, we are combining probable, presumptive, out of state and positive cases together into a “Total Cases Since Testing” column. Please call your local health department if you would like a further breakdown of cases. We will have this weekly update posted to our website tomorrow morning (www.sekmchd.com, under about us and FAQs)

Allen County

Current Active Cases 3
Total Hospitalizations 4-1 in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 53
Total Cases Since Testing 57
Deaths 1

Anderson County

Current Active Cases 4
Total Hospitalizations 1-0 in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 58
Total Cases Since Testing 62
Deaths 0

Bourbon County

Current Active Cases 28
Total Hospitalizations 10-0 remaining in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 144
Total Cases Since Testing 175
Deaths 3

Woodson County

Current Active Cases 4
Total Hospitalizations 1-0 remaining in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 13
Total Cases Since Testing 17
Deaths 0
Fort Scott, Government

FS Budget Issue Garners Signatures

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Submitted photos.
Submitted by Michael J. Hoyt
“We had an exceptional day collecting signatures to place on a ballot for the voters to decide that the SEWER AND STORM SEWER FUNDS will be remain in the City of Fort Scott budget for that purpose. Many Electors voiced their opinion “Our sewers are in serious need of repair and the City must stop moving the money around and not fixing things!”
We are well on the way to the required number of signatures required to place this referendum on a ballot, but organizers will be available to collect signatures in front of the Fort Scott Post Office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 1pm until Oct 13th.  We can also assist with registering to vote until that date which is the deadline to vote in the National election on November 3rd.”
Fort Scott, Government

FS Commission Special Meeting Agenda Sept. 21

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SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA

FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION

CITY HALL COMMISSION ROOM

123 S MAIN STREET

SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

11:00 A.M

 

I. ROLL CALL:

K. ALLEN P. ALLEN NICHOLS WATTS MITCHELL

1. CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1271-A totaling $428,590.44.

  1. Certificate of Appropriateness – 113 S. National – Signage and Alterations to building

II. CONSIDERATION:

  1. City Insurance Liability Update – James Charlesworth

  1. Acceptance of Community Development Block Grant No. 20-CR-004 – Mayco Ace Hardware – Approval to accept grant and for Mayor to sign all pertinent documents

  1. Kansas Housing Grant application opportunity

  1. Lauber Municipal Law Firm July Billing Statement

  1. Consideration of application of Cost Sharing Program through K.D.O.T.

III. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda for Sept. 22

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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: September 22, 2020

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District- 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 – 9:15 Lynne Oharah, FEMA

9:15 – 9:30 Jim Harris, Executive Session, Contract Negotiations

9:30 – 9:45 Jim Harris, Executive Session, Non-Elected Personnel

9:45 – 10:00 KAC & KCAMP Voting Delegate

10:00 – 10:05 Vivian Moore, Road Closing for Airport

Government

Flags Half Staff For Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

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Governor Laura Kelly Orders Flags at Half-staff in Honor of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

 

In accordance with Executive Order 20-30, Governor Laura Kelly has ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff throughout the state of Kansas on Friday, September 18, 2020 until the day of interment, in honor of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

 

“Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spent her life serving our country with passion and integrity,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “She was an agent for change, an advocate for the voiceless, and her legacy will live on in decisions that made America more equitable for all of us.”

 

To receive email alerts when the governor orders flags to half-staff, please visit https://governor.kansas.gov/newsroom/kansas-flag-honors.

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Government

FSCC Board Minutes of August 10

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FORT SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Minutes of the Board of Trustees Training
August 10, 2020
PRESENT: John Bartelsmeyer, Jim Fewins, Dave Elliott, Kirk Hart, Bill Meyer, and Robert Nelson
ALSO PRESENT: Alysia Johnston, President, Juley McDaniel, Board Clerk, faculty, staff, and community
members.
Chairman Bartelsmeyer called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of
Allegiance.
COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR: Chairman Bartelsmeyer thanked the Board for their re-election of him to
chairman.
BUDGET HEARING: A motion was made by Fewins, seconded by Elliott, and carried by unanimous vote to
adopt the 2020-2021 budget as presented.
CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Meyer, seconded by Elliott, and carried by unanimous vote to
approve the consent agenda.
ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:
A. A motion was made by Meyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the policies
for the Gordon Parks Museum as provided.
B. President Johnston reviewed SPARK grant funding applications for reimbursement and direct aid with the
Board.
REPORTS:
A. ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES: The Board reviewed a report from the Gordon Parks Museum and
heard reports from Student Services, Student Affairs and Athletics, Instruction, Finance and Operations,
and the President.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Trustees, a motion to adjourn was made at
6:08 p.m. by Meyer, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote.
Chairman Clerk
6

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Government

FSCC Board Agenda For Sept. 21

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The Board of Trustees of Fort Scott Community College will meet in regular session on Monday,
September 21, 2020. The meeting will be held in the Cleaver-Boileau-Burris Agriculture Hall
at Fort Scott Community College.
5:00 p.m. Dinner in the Cleaver-Boileau-Burris Agriculture Hall at 5:00 p.m. followed by the
regular board meeting at 5:30 p.m.
THE AGENDA
5:00 DINNER
5:30 ROLL CALL, 3
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
CALL TO ORDER, 4
A. Comments from the Chair, 4
CONSENT AGENDA, 5
A. Approval of Agenda, 5
B. Approval of Minutes of previous Regular Board Meeting conducted on August 10, 2020,
6
C. Approval of Treasurer’s Report, Bills, and Claims, 8
D. Approval of Personnel Actions, 5
ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS, 49
A. Consideration of Nursing Simulator Purchase, 49
B. Consideration of Digital Marketing Bids, 60
C. Approval of Disposal of Property – SawStop Table Saw, 65
D. Approval of Revised Academic Calendars, 66
E. Consideration of Microsoft License Renewal, 70
ITEMS FOR REVIEW, 71
REPORTS, 73
A. Administrative Updates, 74
EXECUTIVE SESSION, 84
ADJOURNMENT, 85
1
UPCOMING CALENDAR DATES:
• September 21, 2020: Board Meeting
• October 19, 2020: Board Meeting
• November 16, 2020: Board Meeting
• November 19-24, 2020: Finals
• November 21, 2020: Graduation
• November 25 – 27, 2020: Thanksgiving Break – Campus Closed
• December 14, 2020: Board Meeting
• December 16, 2020 – January 4, 2021: Winter Break – Campus Closed
• January 25, 2021: Board Meeting
• February 15, 2021: Board Meeting
• March 22, 2021: Board Meeting
• April 19, 2021: Board Meeting
• May 17, 2021: Board Meeting
• June 21, 2021: Board Meeting
Sincerely,
John Bartelsmeyer, Chair
Alysia Johnston, President
FSCC’s

CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
1) Attached are the minutes of the Regular Board Meeting conducted on August 10,
2020.
C. APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT, BILLS and CLAIMS
Attached are the Treasurer’s Report and the Bills and Claims Report.
D. APPROVAL OF PERSONNEL ACTIONS
1) Additions
a) Jonathan Allen, Assistant Golf Coach, effective August 1, 2020
b) Dametrius Walker, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, effective August 15,
2020
c) John Giffin, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, effective August 15, 2020
d) Tawny Anderson, Residence Hall Housekeeper, effective August 15, 2020
e) Lance Coulter, Residence Hall Housekeeper, effective August 17, 2020
f) Caitlyn Wiswell, Arena Coordinator/Assistant Rodeo Coach, effective

September 17

2) Separations
a) Baleigh Murphy, Assistant Volleyball Coach, effective August 11, 2020
b) Nathaniel Collins, Security Officer, effective August 18, 2020
c) Amir Gant, Assistant Football Coach, effective September 9, 2020
d) Russell Souza, Director of Advising/Retention, effective September 24,
2020
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Consent Agenda items be approved as
presented.
BOARD ACTION: MOTION _____ SECOND _____ VOTE _____
DISCUSSION:
VOTE: Bartelsmeyer Elliott Fewins Hart Meyer Nelson

To view the full report, click below:

file:///C:/Users/Loretta/Downloads/9.21.20%20Consent%20Agenda(3).pdf

Government, Health Care, Kansas

Air Quality Alert

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KDHE shares steps to protect health amid potential

air quality impacts from wildfires

 

       

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) wants to alert Kansans to potential air quality impacts from Western wildfire smoke. Ongoing wildfires across the Western U.S. continues to produce dense smoke that is being transported into Kansas by the atmospheric winds. While a majority of this smoke is remaining high in the atmosphere there are times when this smoke is being observed at the surface and impacting air quality. These air quality impacts may continue to be seen as long as the Western U.S. wildfires continue to burn.

Smoke can cause health problems, even in healthy individuals.  Common health problems include burning eyes, runny nose, coughing and illnesses such as bronchitis.  Individuals with respiratory issues, pre-existing heart or lung diseases, children and elderly may experience worse symptoms.

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

  • Healthy people should limit or avoid strenuous outdoor exercise.
  • People with respiratory or heart-related illness should remain indoors.
  • People who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms in particular respiratory or heart-related symptoms, who are currently infected or recently recovered, should remain indoors.
  • Help keep indoor air clean by closing doors and windows and running the air conditioners with air filters.
  • Keep 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.

Current air quality across the U.S. can be viewed online at https://fire.airnow.gov/.

Government, Kansas

COVID-19 Relief Funds For Child Supervision, Public Health and Essential Services.

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State Finance Council approves $290 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds for Child Supervision, Public Health, Other Essential Services

 

TOPEKA – The State Finance Council (SFC) today unanimously approved a total of $290 million for the public health, essential needs and services, and business resiliency and workforce development programs previously recommended by the Executive Committee of the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce.

 

“These funds will provide child supervision for parents with school-age children to ensure they can keep working, reduce evictions, and provide tools to help slow the spread of COVID-19,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I commend the SPARK taskforce and the State Finance Council, who crafted and approved these recommendations that will strongly support Kansans’ health and keep our state on the path economic recovery.”

 

Recognizing the constantly evolving health and economic needs created by the pandemic, the recommendations do not allocate all the funds immediately. Rather, the Office of Recovery will monitor demand for the funds from approved programs and submit additional allocations to the State Finance Council for approval.  Each program requires a minimum be invested in an area of emphasis, which include COVID-19 testing, housing stability, and remote learning centers for school-age children.  If those areas of emphasis do not require more funding, the remaining dollars in the reserve fund can be allocated to previous programs approved by the SFC in round 2.

 

“It was important to the SPARK taskforce to ensure there was flexibility and to not overcommit funds too early and be unable to respond should needs shift again this fall,” SPARK Chairman Lyle Butler said. “I want to thank SFC for sharing this concern and supporting a dynamic approach that will serve Kansas well.”

 

The $290 million approved today is for the third and final round of funding of the Coronavirus Relief Fund, which is part of the federal CARES Act.  Previously, SFC approved $400 million to Kansas counties (round 1) and $314 million for statewide priorities of public health, education, economic development, and connectivity (round 2).

 

“I want to thank both SPARK and the State Finance Council for providing the flexibility to deliver timely investments and ability to respond to shifting needs,” Recovery Office Executive Director Julie Lorenz said.  “With flexibility comes an even greater need for transparency and accountability for how these funds are utilized and we remain committed to reporting our progress to SPARK, SFC, and Kansans so they can see how their tax dollars are being spent.”

 

Below is a breakdown of the minimum investment requirements and allocations approved for each program.

 

  Public Health Essential Needs & Services Business Resiliency & Workforce Support
Minimum investment required for emphasis area $52.7 M COVID-19 testing $35M Housing Stability $40M Child Supervision
Allocations $10M KDEM/FEMA Match

$10M PPE for Adult Homes

 $30M Continuity of Ops.

$30M KDOL

 $5M HIRE Fund
Reserve Fund $30.3 M $25 M $20M
Program total $105M $120M $65M