Category Archives: Government

Rental Assistance for Home and Business

Governor Laura Kelly Announces $35 million in Rental Assistance to Keep Kansans in Their Homes, Businesses

 

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced today that Kansans experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible to receive up to $5,000 in rental assistance. 

 

Approximately $35 million of CARES Act funding is now available through the Kansas Eviction Prevention Program, which is designed to reduce evictions across the state. The program was recommended by the SPARK taskforce and approved by the State Finance Council.

 

“Keeping Kansans in their homes and businesses has been a top priority for my administration since the pandemic began,” Governor Kelly said. “Through this program, we will provide support to tenants and landlords experiencing pandemic-related financial stress, ensure families and businesses stay put, and keep Kansans safe and healthy.”

 

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) will administer the program. Landlords and tenants apply through a joint online process. Approved applicants are eligible for a maximum of nine months of assistance, not to exceed $5,000 per household. 

 

“As more Kansans are doing online learning and teleworking, being able to stay in your home has never been more important,” said Ryan Vincent, KHRC Executive Director. “I want to thank Governor Kelly, the SPARK taskforce, and legislators for providing this much-needed support to Kansas families.”

 

Program funds are limited, and applications will be processed in the order received until all funds are expended. Kansans are strongly encouraged to get their applications in as soon as possible. To apply, Kansans should visit kshousingcorp.org.

 

Dave Martin Retires As City Manager, Effective Oct. 30, 2020

Dave Martin

Dave Martin, Fort Scott City’s Manager retired today, with an effective date of  Oct. 30, 2020. He was hired as city manager in August 2010.

According to the retirement/severance contract provided by the City of Fort Scott, Martin through the remainder of 2020  will receive his full rate of salary, $4,133.60 bi-weekly.

Martin will remain on the city health plan until Dec. 2021, also according to the document, which can be viewed below:

DOC102120-10212020134903

 

To see a prior story on Martin, click below:

City Commission Approves Raise For Martin

 

 

Advance Voting Up in Kansas and in Bourbon County

American Flags and Pins on White Background

The number of advance voting ballots mailed out for the Kansas 2020 General Election has sharply increased, according to The Kansas City Star newspaper dated Oct. 15.

“The state said it was shipping 456,148 advance ballots this year, way beyond the 133,822 in 2016 and 128,220 in 2018.

“Democrats so far have had the highest mail-in ballot turnout. Officials reported that among ballots received, 1,261 were from those affiliated as Democrats, followed by Republicans (556), unaffiliated voters (549) and Libertarians (17).”

“On Day 1 of early voting Wednesday, (Oct. 15) Kansans returned more than triple the number of mail-in ballots sent in 2016, according to the Secretary of State’s office.”

“Officials reported 2,383 ballots sent back as of Wednesday. That’s three times the 771 after the first day of mail-in voting in 2016 and 423 in 2018.”

“The Secretary of State’s office explained in a subsequent Tweet that the ballots returned thus far are from military personnel and overseas citizens, who are sent ballots beginning 45 days prior to the election.”

To see the entire story, click below:

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article246473700.html

 

In Bourbon County to date,  there have been 432 advance in-person voters with two weeks left until the Nov. 3 election, according to Clerk Kendell Mason.

“We have mailed 970 ballots and 376 have been returned,” Mason said.

 

Kendell Mason. Submitted photo.

 

In the 2019 general election, there were  493 total in-person advance voters, she said.

 

“Advance voters put their voted ballots in a machine that counts their votes, but we will not know the results of those votes until we close down the machine on November 3rd,” Mason said.

Voters took advantage of advance voting at the Bourbon County Clerk’s Office.

 

 

 

FS Commission Special Meeting Oct. 21 at 1:15 p.m.

There will be a Special Meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission held at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21st, 2020. This meeting will be held to consider a contract on a personnel matter.

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.

 

Sixth Correctional Facility Resident Death Oct. 19

A  Ellsworth Correctional Facility (ECF) resident who died Monday, October 19, 2020 had tested positive for COVID-19. This is the sixth resident death related to COVID-19 in Kansas, the first at ECF.

 

The resident tested positive on September 26 at which time he was moved to the Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) COVID-19 Management Unit (CMU).  Three days later he was transported from LCF to the hospital.

 

The resident’s family has asked that his name not be released.  He was a 60-year-old black male with underlying medical concerns that contributed to his condition.

 

This resident was serving a life sentence based on four sex crime convictions from Wyandotte County, Kansas.

 

The Ellsworth Correctional Facility opened in 1988. Serving only males, the Central Unit provides housing for 820 multi-custody residents and the East Unit provides housing for 95 minimum-custody residents.

 

For current information on COVOID-19 in Kansas, and to sign up for updates, go to the KDHE COVID-19 Resource Center at kdhe.ks.gov/coronavirus.  For information on KDOC’s response to COVID-19, visit https://www.doc.ks.gov/kdoc-coronavirus-updates.

 

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Bourbon County Has 34 Active COVID-19 Cases

SEK Multi-County Health Departments

Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, and Woodson Counties

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

October 20, 2020

Please call your local health department if you would like a further breakdown of cases.

Allen County

Current Active Cases 8
Total Hospitalizations 5-0 in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 103
Total Cases Since Testing 112
Deaths 1

Anderson County

Current Active Cases 37
Total Hospitalizations 3-0 in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 130
Total Cases Since Testing 167
Deaths 0

Bourbon County

Current Active Cases 34
Total Hospitalizations 15- 3 in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 266
Total Cases Since Testing 303
Deaths 3

Woodson County

Current Active Cases 2
Total Hospitalizations 3-1 in hospital
Current Recovered Cases 25
Total Cases Since Testing 27
Deaths 0

Bourbon County Special Meeting Agenda For Oct. 21

Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

Date: October 21, 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 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BUILDING. PUBLIC MAY VIEW MEETING ON YOUTUBE.

 

7:00AM EMS (Lynne Oharah, Jeff Fischer, Clifton Beth, Justin Meeks, Will Wallis, Shane

Walker, Dave Bruner, Kayla Stewart, other hospital personnel, Rebecca Johnston, Susan Bancroft)

Bourbon County Ballot For Nov. 3

COUNTY CLERK’S NOTICE OF CANDIDATES TO BE VOTED ON

AT THE GENERAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 3, 2020

 

State of Kansas County of Bourbon

 

In compliance with K.S.A. 25-105, and the General Election Laws of the State of Kansas, I submit herewith the list of National, State and District Candidates certified to me by the Secretary of State, and the list of those filed as candidates in Bourbon County in the forthcoming General Election to be held, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

 

And, I hereby give further notice that the election will be held in the voting places listed below in Bourbon County, Kansas, and that the polls will be opened and closed at the regular time specified by law for the conduct of elections.  All precincts in the county will open at 7:00 am and will close at 7:00 pm.

 

Sales Tax Question on the ballot:

 

To vote in favor of any question

submitted upon the ballot, darken

the oval to the left of the word

“YES”;

to vote against it, darken

the oval to the left of the word

“NO”.

 

Shall the following be adopted?

Shall Bourbon County, Kansas,

levy (renew) a one percent

countywide retailers’ sales tax to

take effect on July 1, 2021, and

expire on June 30, 2031, with the

allocated shares pursuant to

K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 12-192 to be

used as follows: (1) to Bourbon

County, for the purpose of

maintenance and construction of

hard surface roads, and (2) to

each city located in Bourbon

County, for the purpose of

providing funding for public

services?

 

Residents living in the City of Fort Scott vote at the following locations:

1st Ward       Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

2nd Ward       Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

3rd Ward       Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

4th Ward       Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

5th Ward       Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

6th Ward       Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

7th Ward       Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

 

Residents living out in the county vote at the following locations:

Drywood       Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

Franklin        Mapleton Community Building – 565 Eldora, Mapleton, KS

Freedom      Fulton Community Building – 408 West Osage, Fulton, KS

East Marion  Uniontown City Hall – 206 Sherman Street, Uniontown, KS

West Marion Bronson Community Building – 504 Clay Street, Bronson, KS

Marmaton     Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS

Millcreek       Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS

Osage          Fulton Community Building – 408 West Osage, Fulton, KS

Pawnee       Redfield City Hall – 312 N Pine, Redfield, KS

North Scott   Community Christian Church – 1919 S Horton, Fort Scott

South Scott  Grace Baptist Church – 502 S Margrave, Fort Scott

Timberhill      Mapleton Community Building – 565 Eldora, Mapleton, KS

Walnut         Uniontown City Hall – 206 Sherman Street, Uniontown, KS

 

NATIONAL AND STATE OFFICES
For President and Vice-President of the United States
Joseph R. Biden / Kamala D. Harris 1209 Barley Mill Road

Wilmington, DE 19807

Democratic
Donald J. Trump / Michael R. Pence                     1100 S. Ocean Blvd.

Palm Beach, FL 33480

Republican
Jo Jorgensen / Jeremy “Spike” Cohen Greenville, SC Libertarian
For United States Senate
  Barbara Bollier 6910 Overhill Road

Mission Hills, KS 66208

Democratic
  Roger Marshall PO Box 1588

Great Bend, KS 67530

Republican
  Jason Buckley 8828 Marty Ln

Overland Park, KS 66212

Libertarian
For US House of Representatives – District 2
Michelle De La Isla 3250 SW Briarwood Dr

Topeka, KS 66611

Democratic
Jake LaTurner 2329 SW Ashworth Pl

Topeka, KS 66614

Republican
Robert Garrard 2287 N 300 Rd

Edgerton, KS 66021

Libertarian
Kansas Senate, District 12
Mike Bruner 1002 Pecan St.

Humboldt, KS 66748

Democratic
Caryn Tyson PO Box 191

Parker, KS 66072

Republican
Kansas Senate, District 13
Nancy J. Ingle 511 E. 21st

Pittsburg, KS 66762

Democratic
Richard Hilderbrand 240 Cleveland Ave

Baxter Springs, KS 66713

Republican
 Kansas House of Representatives, District 2
  Lynn D. Grant 202 S. Appleton

Frontenac, KS 66763

Democratic
  Kenneth Collins 102 E First Street

Mulberry, KS 66756

Republican
Kansas House of Representatives, District 4
  Bill Meyer 14 Golfview Drive

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Democratic
  Trevor Jacobs 1927 Locust Road

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Republican
For County Commissioner – District 2
  Jim Harris 2302 Jayhawk Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Republican
For County Commissioner – District 3
  Clifton Beth 2236 215th,

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Republican
  Phillip G. Hoyt 2422 242nd Terrace

Fulton, KS 66738

Democratic
For County Clerk
  Kendell Dawn Mason 2 S Eddy

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Republican
For County Treasurer
  Patty Love 901 Shepherd St

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Republican
For Register of Deeds
  Lora Holdridge 1814 Richards Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Republican
For County Attorney
  Jacqie Spradling PO Box 576

Spring Hill, KS 66083

Republican
For County Sheriff
  Mike Feagins 1964 Justice Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Democratic
  Bill Martin 502 Meadow Ln

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Republican
TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE
Drywood Richard Cullison, Jr. 506 260th

Garland, KS 66741

Republican
Franklin Tony Bradbury 631 Soldier Rd.

Bronson, KS 66716

Republican
Freedom Janice Seested 2330 215th St.

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Republican
Marion Steve Geiger 1121 Hwy 3

Uniontown, KS 66779

Republican
Marmaton David Duffey 1201 Locust Rd

Redfield, KS 66769

Republican
Millcreek Yvonne Beck 1821 159th Street

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Republican
Osage Brian Wade 2618 Soldier Rd.

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Democratic
Pawnee Karen A. Endicott-Coyan 1635 Fern Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Republican
Scott Jim Sackett 2019 Maple Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Republican
Timberhill Dan Laughlin 2275 105th St.

Mapleton, KS 66754

Republican
Walnut No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
TOWNSHIP TREASURER
Drywood No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
Franklin No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
Freedom Karen A. Paddock 608 W Cedar St.

Fulton, KS 66738

Republican
Marion Rex Wilson 905 Clay St.

Bronson, KS 66716

Republican
Marmaton Wilma K. Graham 102 W 4th

Redfield, KS 66769

Democratic
Millcreek Betty L. Graham 1458 Tomahawk Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Democratic
Osage Kathleen Valentine 2638 Tomahawk Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Republican
Pawnee Sharon Middleton 1374 Eagle Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Democratic
Scott Harold Rogers 2189 Ironwood Rd

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Republican
Timberhill David Scharenberg 1045 Yale Rd

Mapleton, KS 66754

Republican
Walnut No Republican or Democratic Candidates filed
 
STATE OF KANSAS OFFICIAL JUDICIAL BALLOT
Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeals Judges, District Court Judges and District Magistrate Judge
Question #1, Shall the following Supreme Court Justice be retained in office?
Eric S. Rosen 1928 S.W. Indian Woods Ln.

Topeka, KS 66611

Position 4
Question #2, Shall the following Court of Appeals Judges be retained in office?
Sarah E. Warner Kansas Judicial Center

301 SW 10th Ave

Topeka, KS 66612

Position 4
David E. Bruns Olathe Position 6
G. Gordon Atcheson 301 SW 10th Ave

Topeka, KS 66612

Position 8
Karen M. Arnold-Burger 301 SW 10th Ave

Topeka, KS 66612

Position 9
Kathryn Gardner 301 SW 10th Ave

Topeka, KS 66612

Position 14
 
Question #3, Shall the following Judges of the District Court be retained in office?
  Terri L Johnson PO Box 311

Pleasanton, KS 66075

District 6, Division 2
  Mark A. Ward 829 190th St

Fort Scott, KS 66701

District 6, Division 3

 

  Steven C. Montgomery 22404 S. Roosevelt St.

Spring Hill, KS 66083

District 6, Division 4
 
Question #4, Shall the following Judge of the District Magistrate be retained in office?
  Valorie R. Leblanc 210 S. National

Fort Scott, KS 66701

District 6
Shall the following be adopted?

Shall Bourbon County, Kansas,

levy (renew) a one percent

countywide retailers’ sales tax to

take effect on July 1, 2021, and

expire on June 30, 2031, with the

allocated shares pursuant to

K.S.A. 2019 Supp. 12-192 to be

used as follows: (1) to Bourbon

county, for the purpose of

maintenance and construction of

hard surface roads, and (2) to

each city located in Bourbon

county, for the purpose of

providing funding for public services?

Kendell Mason, County Clerk &

(SEAL)                                                              Bourbon County Election Officer

AD: Bill Meyer For KS Representative District 4

Bill Meyer for Kansas House of Representatives
District 4

If you want a Representative who stands for:

Maintaining full funding for our public schools;

Expanding Medicaid to cover 150,000 low-income Kansans while bringing $700 million per year into the Kansas economy;

Expanding broadband internet into our rural areas as the # 1 necessity for attracting new business and keeping the ones we have, enabling our farmers and ranchers to access current market conditions, providing opportunities for offsite virtual learning, and expanding telemedicine into medically underserved areas;

Respecting and listening to the opinions of others;

 

Vote for Bill Meyer on November 3

FS Commission Design Review Board Meets Oct. 21

The Design Review Board will meet on Wednesday, October 21st, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. in the City Hall Commission Meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting will be held to discuss a Certificate of Appropriateness for signage at 102 S. National and 16 N. National, and alterations to the building at 13 S. National, and the Unsung Heroes Park at 3 South Main Street, and any others matters to be brought before the Board. This meeting is open to the public.

This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.

KDA Offers Reimbursement to Specialty Crop Growers

 

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Agriculture has funds available for reimbursement to Kansas specialty crop growers who attend an educational conference with a primary focus on specialty crops. Qualifying conferences may include sessions about production practices, specialized equipment and technology, pest and disease management, specialty crop marketing practices, or business principles for specialty crop producers.

 

Applicants who apply for the reimbursement will be required to attend the conference between December 2020 and June 2021 and to complete surveys before, immediately after and six months post-conference prior to payment being issued. Conferences not eligible will include those within the state of Kansas and the Great Plains Growers Conference. KDA will reimburse Kansas specialty crop growers up to $850 each in order to offset the cost of their conference registration, mileage/flights, hotel, meals, etc.  The award is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for application is December 18, 2020.

 

Examples of conferences that may be eligible for applicants to attend include, but are not limited to:

  • Great Lakes Expo Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market, December 8-10, 2020, Virtual
  • Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference, January 5-7, 2021, Virtual
  • North American Strawberry Growers Association Conference, January 18-20, 2021, Virtual
  • Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, January 26-29, 2021, Sacramento, California
  • American Society for Enology and Viticulture National Conference, June 21-24, 2021, Monterey, California

 

This program is made possible by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG). The SCBG makes funds available to state departments of agriculture solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. According to USDA, specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.”

 

This grant fits KDA’s mission to provide an environment that enhances and encourages economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy.

 

For application details, go to the KDA website at agriculture.ks.gov/grants. Questions should be directed to Sammy Gleason, From the Land of Kansas program coordinator, at 785-564-6755 or Sammy.Gleason@ks.gov.

 

 

FS Commission Special Meeting of Oct. 9

Minutes are unapproved until the Oct. 20 meeting.

A special meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held October 9th, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. in the City Commission Meeting Room, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.

ROLL CALL:

Commissioners Kevin Allen, Pete Allen, Randy Nichols, and Lindsey Watts were present with Mayor JoLynne Mitchell presiding.

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Janice Allen and Russell Lingerfelt. James Charlesworth and Jeff Deane appeared via Zoom.

I. CONSIDERATION:

  1. Consideration to extend bid date on City’s property insurance bid – James Charlesworth, Charlesworth Consulting, informed the Commission that the insurance bids are due on Monday, October 12th, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. There are four organizations working on a proposal with two from local companies. There have been concerns by Travelers on the dams for the City and they requested a 30-day extension to assess the dams further. Mr. Charlesworth said that was a Commission decision to make regarding this request.

The Commission was in agreement that an extension not be granted and bids will remain due on Monday, October 12th, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.

P. Allen made a motion not to extend the property insurance deadline. L. Watts seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO NOT EXTEND THE PROPERTY INSURANCE DEADLINE. THE DEADLINE WILL REMAIN ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 12TH, 2020 AT 2:00 P.M.

Executive Session:

L. Watts moved that the City Commission recess into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters of non-elected personnel exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1). The open meeting will resume in the Commission meeting room at City Hall at 11:35 a.m. K. Allen seconded. All voted aye. This included the City Commission and City Attorney.

L. Watts moved to reconvene into the City Commission meeting room at 11:35 a.m. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

Executive Session:

L. Watts moved that the City Commission recess into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters of non-elected personnel exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1). The open meeting will resume in the Commission meeting room at City Hall at 11:57 a.m. K. Allen seconded. All voted aye. This included the City Commission and City Attorney.

L. Watts moved to reconvene into the City Commission meeting room at 11:57 a.m. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

Executive Session:

L. Watts moved that the City Commission recess into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters of non-elected personnel exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1). The open meeting will resume in the Commission meeting room at City Hall at 12:18 p.m. J. Mitchell seconded. All voted aye. This included the City Commission and City Attorney.

L. Watts moved to reconvene into the City Commission meeting room at 12:18 p.m. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

Executive Session:

L. Watts moved that the City Commission recess into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters of non-elected personnel exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1). The open meeting will resume in the Commission meeting room at City Hall at 12:25 p.m. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye. This included the City Commission and City Attorney.

L. Watts moved to reconvene into the City Commission meeting room at 12:25 p.m. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

Executive Session:

L. Watts moved that the City Commission recess into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters of non-elected personnel exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1). The open meeting will resume in the Commission meeting room at City Hall at 12:37 p.m. J. Mitchell seconded. All voted aye. This included the City Commission and City Attorney.

L. Watts moved to reconvene into the City Commission meeting room at 12:37 p.m. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye

Executive Session:

L. Watts moved that the City Commission recess into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters of non-elected personnel exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(1). The open meeting will resume in the Commission meeting room at City Hall at 12:49 p.m. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye. This included the City Commission and City Attorney.

L. Watts moved to reconvene into the City Commission meeting room at 12:49 p.m. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye

II. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL

L. Watts moved to adjourn the special meeting at 12:50 p.m. R. Nichols seconded. All voted aye. Motion carried.

ADJOURNED SPECIAL MEETING AT 12:50 P.M.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is to be held on October 6th, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.

RECORDED BY:

DIANE K. CLAY

CITY CLERK