The Golf Course Advisory Board will meet on Friday, June 12th, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. at Woodland Hills Golf Course, 2414 S. Horton. The meeting will take place in the clubhouse.
The Golf Course Advisory Board meeting will not be open to the public at this time due to the limited number of 15 allowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This meeting will be made available via the City’s Facebook at City of Fort Scott.
The Street Advisory Board will meet on Tuesday, June 9th, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. at the City Commission Meeting Room at 123 S. Main Street.
The Street Advisory Board meeting will not be open to the public at this time due to the limited number of 15 allowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This meeting will be made available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
The Bourbon County Economic Director announces that Bourbon County was awarded $132,000 Community Development Block Grant-CV Grant for county businesses.
“We will announce open applications as soon as we can, we know you are eager to obtain relief,” Jody Hoener said. “The granting process will be based on a scoring algorithm that will be widely available.”
“The grant’s purpose is for job retention,” she said. ” In addition to year-round employment, our priorities in granting will also include closure/impact to operations, other relief awarded, and food system supply chain impact.”
To view the news release from the Department of Commerce click here:
https://www.wibwnewsnow.com/66-kansas-cities-and-counties-to-receive-community-development-block-grants-to-support-coronavirus-response/
“If you have any questions at all do not hesitate to reach out,” she said.
She can be reached at
1-620-223-3800
1-620-215-5725 Mobile
www.bourboncountyks.org
Governor Kelly Announces Support For Bipartisan Agreement to Advance the Economic Recovery
Below is a statement from Governor Kelly on the bipartisan agreement reached ahead of the special legislative session:
“Kansas has faced unprecedented challenges over the last three months because of Covid-19. I’m proud of the efforts my administration has taken working with our local and federal partners to prioritize the health and safety of Kansans, while also creating a decisive and transparent process for our economic recovery.
“Last week, I vetoed legislation sent to me by the Legislature because it would have undermined my ability to honor the promises I made to Kansans about how we would govern during this crisis. It was rushed, written without bipartisan discussion, and passed unconstitutionally.
“I will support this bipartisan bill that was created with input from Republicans, Democrats, and stakeholders that I believe will provide the framework our state needs as we continue on the path to recovery. To be clear, there are parts of this bill that I do not support. However, my priority is and will always be the interests of Kansans first. I believe that the majority of this legislation accomplishes that and upholds my commitment to work across the aisle to move our state forward.”
SPARK Taskforce Executive Committee approves proposal of $400 million to local governments for COVID-19 expenses
Commits to delivering resources swiftly and thoroughly to Kansas communities
Today, Governor Laura Kelly’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce Executive Committee reviewed and approved a proposal to distribute $400 million to local governments to help address the health and economic challenges inflicted by COVID-19.
“Over the last few months Kansans have faced unprecedented challenges because of COVID-19,” Governor Kelly said. “Through it all, they have shown resiliency and compassion that has served as a strong reminder that we are all in this together.
“Every region of our State has been impacted by the health and economic crisis of this pandemic. We need to provide local governments with all the resources we can to mitigate the virus and revitalize our economy. We want to make these funds available, so communities can address current challenges and jumpstart our economic recovery,” Kelly said.
This is the first action of the SPARK Taskforce, which is charged with distributing over a billion dollars in federal funds Kansas received under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
“This fair, impactful and timely distribution of funds to county governments will strengthen our health, speed the reopening of our economy and help our state remain open for business,” Cheryl Harrison-Lee, Executive Director of the Recovery Office, said. “I’m grateful to the Executive Committee members for the swift action they took today and look forward to collaborating with them and the Steering Committee to put the remaining funds to work.”
Harrison-Lee proposed a three-phased approach to allocating the funds. The first round will focus on providing relief to county governments which had not already received funding under the CARES Act. Johnson and Sedgwick Counties have already received funds because they have populations over 500,000.
Under the SPARK proposal, each county would receive funds based on the following formula:
Fifty percent of each county’s share will be for reimbursement of COVID-19 related expenses and the remaining 50 percent will be direct aid for eligible expenditures under the CARES Act.
To receive funds, counties will be required to pass a resolution affirming they will allocate the funding consistent with the CARES Act and to share and allocate funds to educational and municipal entities within their counties.
Under this proposal, there will be two additional funding rounds later this year. Public and private entities will be eligible for funding in the later rounds, which will focus on strategic investments and revitalizing the State’s economy.
“While our initial focus is on strengthening health, the second round will target short-term and long-term opportunities to generate economic growth for all Kansans,” Lyle Butler, SPARK Executive Committee Chair, said. “I’m so pleased at the talent we’ve assembled both on our Executive and Steering Committees – we’re going to need it to make sound, inclusive investments that serve rural and urban Kansas now and in the future.”
To find the full presentation, please find it here: https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SPARK-Process_6.2_FINAL_Presentation.pdf
The 13th Senate District has a new candidate. Nancy Ingle of Pittsburg filed for the Democratic nomination for the Senate Seat. Ingle, a retired attorney, filed on Friday, May 29th.
A native of Pittsburg, Ingle has previously served Crawford County as an assistant prosecutor in the Crawford County Attorney’s office, and also as an Assistant for Policy in the Office of former Governor John Carlin. She worked in the private sector as a manager for a Fortune 500 company, Boeing, and for several highly respected research centers, including Cedars-Sinai and UCLA.
Ingle said that she decided to file for office because she has grown tired of the continuing discord in Topeka. “It isn’t even about being a Democrat or Republican anymore. It’s just plain petty politics. The people of SEK don’t have anyone who will stand up for their interests in the Senate.”
Ingle cited the antics of the Kansas State Senate last week as a very dark day for the people in the State of Kansas. The legislature passed a bill that stripped the Governor of her authority to protect the people. Before the final bill could even be read, they left town.
“If you are serious about governing and representing the people, you don’t treat a legislative bill like a hand grenade; throw it over the fence and run. If you believe what you are doing is right, you stand your ground, you don’t have to sneak out the backdoor.”
There are issues like Medicaid expansion, that have been pending for multiple years because of the back and forth bickering in Topeka. Ingle said, “It shouldn’t matter whose idea it is, if it’s good for your people and the State you need to get behind and push.”
The 13th district includes all of Cherokee and Crawford counties and parts of Bourbon and Labette.
The Golf Course Advisory Board will meet on Friday, June 12th, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. at Woodland Hills Golf Course, 2414 S. Horton. The meeting will take place in the clubhouse. This meeting is open to the public.
AGENDA
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
FORT SCOTT CITY HALL
COMMISSION ROOM
123 SOUTH MAIN
JUNE 2, 2020
6:00 P.M.
I. ROLL CALL:
K. ALLEN P. ALLEN NICHOLS WATTS MITCHELL
II. FLAG SALUTE
III. INVOCATION: None
IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS: None
V. CONSENT AGENDA:
Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of May 19th, 2020 and special meeting minutes of May 22nd, 2020 and amended minutes of May 5th, 2020, and amended special meeting minutes of May 14th, 2020.
Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1264-A totaling $459,811.91.
Consideration of Fort Scott Housing Authority Appointment – Edna Erie – Resident Commissioner – 4 year term
VI. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:
APPEARANCE:
B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 5 minute limit per citizen) Comments will not be taken during this meeting. If you have a topic to discuss not listed on the agenda, please contact a City Commissioner or send a written request to [email protected].
C. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS: 6:15 p.m. Resolution Directing the Repair or Removal of an Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 10 N. National Avenue
VII. CONSIDERATION:
Consideration of Bids for Curb and Gutter Work – 500 block Andrick
VIII. COMMENTS:
K. Allen – Vacancy in Office of City Commissioner
P. Allen –
R. Nichols –
L. Watts –
J. Mitchell –
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
I MOVE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE
SESSION FOR ________________________________ IN ORDER TO
(see below justification)
DISCUSS ______________________________________. THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE ___________ MINUTES AND THE OPEN
MEETING TO RESUME AT ________________.
Justifications for Executive Sessions:
Personnel matters of 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 or representatives 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
X. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: June 2, 2020
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
WEATHER PERMITTING MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THE EAST FRONT STEPS OF THE COURTHOUSE. THERE WILL BE A LINK ON FACEBOOK TO YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE MEETING IF MEETING HAS TO BE HELD INSIDE.
9:00 – 9:45 Jim Harris
9:45 – 10:00 Rebecca Johnson, SEK Multi County Health Dept 2021 Budget
10:00 – 10:30 Terry Sercer, 2019 Audit
10:30 – 10:45 Jody Hoener, Executive Session, Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships
10:45 – 11:00 Commissioners to review 2019 Annual Summaries
11:00 – 11:05 Kendell Mason, Real Property Relief Application
11:15 – 11:20 Justin Meeks, Interlocal Agreement
11:30 – 11:35 Mary Pemberton, Commission Meeting Procedures
Section of K-31 to close for pipe replacement project
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will close a section of K-31 in Linn County to replace two crossroad pipes on Monday, June 8, weather permitting.
K-31 will be closed approximately three miles east of Blue Mound, between Flint and Gorman roads. The closure will start after 8 a.m. and remain in effect until late Monday. Traffic should use alternate routes.
Persons with questions may contact KDOT Area Engineer Donna Schmit, (785) 433-6107, or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen, (620) 902-6433.
Closure shown in red
Governor Laura Kelly takes action on final bills of regular 2020 session
TOPEKA – Today Governor Laura Kelly took action on the remaining eight bills passed by the Kansas Legislature during the 2020 regular session. She signed five pieces of legislation and vetoed three bills.
The bills Governor Kelly signed are as follows:
House Bill 2018
Amends the Video Competition Act (Act) to prohibit municipalities from imposing additional requirements for the deployment of micro wireless facilities in the public right-of-way and to allow a municipality to require compliance with certain standards.
House Bill 2034
Amends law related to court orders for restitution by criminal defendants. This legislation will become effective upon its publication in the Kansas Register.
House Bill 2137
Amends the Scrap Metal Theft Reduction Act to remove the requirement that scrap metal dealers photograph the vehicle in which a junk vehicle or other regulated scrap metal property is delivered. The bill also continues in existence certain exceptions to the Kansas Open Records Act.
House Bill 2246
Amends and enacts new law pertaining to the oversight, regulation, programming, and authority of various state agencies.
House Bill 2585
Creates and amends law relating to a tax exemption for the tracking and collection of state and federal income tax by certain public utilities and creates law related to the authority of the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) to regulate electric public utility rates to allow contract and discounted rates for certain facilities. The KCC is authorized to approve such rates notwithstanding provisions governing its power to require utilities to establish just and reasonable rates to maintain efficient and sufficient electric service and to prohibit variations from established rate schedules.
Vetoes
Additionally, as part of her administration’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and to leading Kansas forward during the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Kelly vetoed House Bills 2510, 2619 and 2702. Her veto messages are as follows:
House Bill 2510
“House Bill 2510 includes valuable provisions—such as free ACT exams for high school students and a foster care report card—that I would sign into law if they were presented in a standalone bill. The Kansas Promise Scholarship is also a laudable effort to make higher education more accessible to vulnerable Kansans who come of age in the foster care system, and to incentivize Kansas graduates to establish their careers here.
“Although well-intentioned, House Bill 2510 as a whole would annually deplete millions from state funds at a time when Kansas faces a $1.3 billion budget shortfall. I cannot in good conscience sign a bill establishing a new discretionary spending program that is unrelated to Kansas COVID-19 response efforts when such severe financial strain looms in the months ahead. I have made Kansas children in foster care one of the top priorities of my administration. At this time of fiscal crisis we must focus on preserving the foster care programs and services already in place.
“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2510.”
House Bill 2619
House Bill 2619 establishes a new Economic Recovery Linked Deposit Loan Program for businesses in response to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This 10-year program would make up to $60 million available for low-interest loans to businesses and agricultural producers through the Pooled Money Investment Board.
“I support efforts to provide economic relief to Kansas small businesses and agricultural producers who have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, federal funding made available to Kansas through the CARES Act is a more appropriate funding source for this effort. With a $1.3 billion budget shortfall looming, we must protect every state resource at our disposal to make ends meet in the months ahead, including earnings from the state’s investment portfolio.
“House Bill 2619 also grants authority to the Kansas State Treasurer to administer the loan program. These programs have historically been administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, and that should continue in our COVID-19 response effort.
“Finally, this bill includes a problematic income tax exemption for for-profit banks. While the efforts of Kansas banks and credit unions to reach a compromise on this legislation are laudable, I cannot in good conscience agree to providing tax breaks for banks in light of the looming budget shortfall. Additionally, the CARES Act already provides relief for banks that will far exceed the benefits of this legislation.
“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2619.”
House Bill 2702
“During the COVID-19 pandemic our local governments have risen to the challenge of providing services to citizens when COVID-19 threatens the normal operations of businesses and government agencies alike. I am keenly aware of the challenges facing Kansas taxpayers, especially those facing unemployment or decreased income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“However, the COVID-19 pandemic has also required our local governments to do more with less. Local governments rely heavily on property taxes to fund essential programs and services, but by allowing property tax payments to be made as late as August 10, 2020, with no penalties or interest, House Bill 2702 would potentially deprive local governments of essential funding at a time it is needed the most. Local governments cannot meet increased demand for police, fire, emergency medical, and other services if a primary funding source for local governments is withdrawn. Additionally, HB 2702 places significant administrative burdens on local governments when local officials should be focused on addressing the threats and challenges of COVID-19 in their communities.
“I have long supported responsible property tax relief, but the provisions of HB 2702 cause more problems than they solve. Now is not the time to create more problems and burdens for local governments.
“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2702.”
State sees total tax collection growth over April Consensus Revenue Estimates; attributes to online sales and withholding taxes
TOPEKA –The State of Kansas saw total tax collections for May Fiscal Year 2020 at $448.7 million; 6.6% or $27.8 million above the estimate. That is down 20.3% or $114.4 million compared to the same month last fiscal year.
Individual income tax collections were up $5.9 million or 2.8% compared to the estimate with $215.9 million collected. That is 22.3% or $62.0 million less than last May. The increase from the estimate can be attributed to reduced bond payments from withholding and an extra payroll period for the semi-monthly withholding tax filings. Corporate income tax collection receipts were down 167.9% or $8.4 million from the estimate at negative $3.4 million. This is due to the state processing more refunds than it received in corporate income tax collections. When compared to the same month last fiscal year, those collections are down $14.4 million.
Retail sales tax collections were $18.9 million or 12.2% more than estimated with $173.9 million collected.
Compared to May of last fiscal year, collections are down $27.3 million or 13.6%.
Compensating use tax collections are 25.5% or $7.7 million more than expected at $37.7 million.
When looking at last year’s numbers, these collections are $1.2 million or 3.2% more than May of last fiscal year.
This can be attributed to the increased registration of online retailers to collect and remit Kansas taxes.
On average, the state is seeing 300 new registrations per month.
For detailed info:
11_May_Revenue_FY2020_06-01-2020_Final
