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Senator Richard Hilderbrand Legislative Report Jan. 17
Category Archives: Government
Legislative Update By State Senator Caryn Tyson
And they’re off… legislators trying to get as much as possible accomplished in 90 days. Our Kansas Constitution limits the legislature to 90 days in even number years.
Property Taxes. You have been telling me that increasing appraisals are automatically increasing your property taxes and I have been listening. This last summer I, with the help of other legislators, have been working on solutions. To increase taxes should require a vote by the commissioners and not automatically increase by the action of the appraiser. Being Chairmen of the Senate Tax Committee, I will be working on this as well as improving the process to appeal property taxes. Bills are being introduced to increase transparency and improve the process. I will keep you updated.
Kansas government has out-of-control spending. Last January, 2019, Governor Kelly submitted her large budget to the legislature and the legislature sent it back to her with $182 million dollars more spending then she requested. She could have line-item vetoed this increase but she didn’t. I did not support last year’s out of control budget and I will not support any reckless budget that spends more than we are taking in.
The Governor promised she wouldn’t raise taxes. A few days ago in this year’s State-of-the-State speech she said she would submit a budget that would honor her promise to cut taxes. However, in her budget presented the next day she asked for sales tax to be put on all digital video, audiobooks, pictures, greeting cards, games, and streaming services. That would increase state revenues by $26.7 million. Sounds like a tax increase to me.
The Governor also proposed $54 million in property tax relief. Kansans pay around $5 billion in property taxes. The $54 million Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction (LAVTR) the Governor proposed could provide a small temporary cut if local authorities pass the money on to the taxpayer. For example, a property tax bill of $1,000 could be reduced by $10 if all of the LAVTR was passed on to the taxpayer. That would not be a solution for the ever-increasing property appraisals that are automatically increasing your taxes. We need a solution that addresses the heart of the problem and that is what I am bringing forward in the Senate.
What about our President… He brought back prayer in our public schools last week.
It’s an honor and privilege serving as your Senator.
Caryn
Fort Scott City Commission Agenda Jan. 21 Updated
AGENDA
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
FORT SCOTT CITY HALL
COMMISSION ROOM
123 SOUTH MAIN
JANUARY 21, 2020
6:00 P.M.
I. ROLL CALL:
K. ALLEN P. ALLEN NICHOLS WATTS MITCHELL
II. FLAG SALUTE:
III. INVOCATION: Pastor Paul Rooks, Grace Baptist Tabernacle
IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS:
V. CONSENT AGENDA:
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Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of January 7th, 2020.
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Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1254-A totaling $805,509.03.
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Request to Pay #2 – Strukel Electric, Inc. – $125,107.65 (Electric Vault Building – Airport)
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Consideration of Pay Request #5 – Crossland Construction – River Intake Project – $242,379.46
VII. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:
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APPEARANCE: Don George, Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks
B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute limit per citizen)
C. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS: None
VIII. CONSIDERATION:
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Consideration of approval of final plat for the property more commonly known as 401 Woodland Hill Boulevard – Approval of Ordinance No. 3557
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Consideration of Contract with Suez Treatment Solutions for SCADA upgrades to the ozone system at the Water Treatment Plant
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Consideration of purchase of Composite Wastewater Sampler to obtain samples for K.D.H.E. and waive the bidding process
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Consideration of approval of Joplin Toolbox Contract for 2020 sanitary sewer work.
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Consideration to solicit bids for cleaning and repainting of aquatic center pool
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Consideration of Audit contract for 2019 with Diehl, Banwart & Bolton
IV. COMMENTS:
- Director Updates:
- Commission:
- City Manager:
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:
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Personnel matters of non-elected personnel
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Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
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Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative or representatives of the body or agency
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Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships
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Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property
IV. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL
Senate votes to approve Governor’s appointments
The Kansas Senate voted Wednesday to confirm all 33 of Governor Laura Kelly’s appointments heard and advanced by the Senate Confirmation Oversight Committee during the 2019 legislative interim.
Of the 33 confirmed appointments advanced by the Senate Confirmation Oversight Committee, three were Cabinet members, five were agency heads and the remaining 25 were board or commission members.
The three Cabinet-level appointments were DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration; Herman Jones, Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol; and Jeff Zmuda, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Corrections.
“I commend the Senate for acting to approve all of my interim appointments,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “My administration has methodically and intentionally searched for the best candidates to hold these positions, and I’m confident they will all perform their duties with courage, poise and expertise.”
The full list of confirmed interim appointments is listed below.
Cabinet-level appointments:
- DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration
- Herman Jones, Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol
- Jeff Zmuda – Secretary of the Kansas Department of Corrections
Executive branch agency directors:
- Steve Durrell, Director of the Kansas Lottery
- David Herndon – Kansas State Bank Commissioner
- Doug Jorgensen, Director of the Office of the Kansas State Fire Marshal
- Earl Lewis, Director of the Kansas Water Office
- Kala Loomis, Director of the Kansas State Gaming Agency
Board or commission members:
- Connie Owen, Chair, Kansas Water Authority
- Catherine Moyer, Kansas Lottery Commission
- Ed Trimmer, Kansas Lottery Commission
- Kala Spigarelli, Kansas Lottery Commission
- Mike Ryan, Public Employee Relations Board
- Jon Gilbert, Public Employee Relations Board
- Joni Franklin, Public Employee Relations Board
- Rick Wiley, Public Employee Relations Board
- Keely Schneider, Public Employee Relations Board
- Emily Hill, KPERS Board of Trustees
- Brad Stratton, KPERS Board of Trustees
- Shelly Kiblinger, Kansas Board of Regents
- Cheryl Harrison-Lee, Kansas Board of Regents
- Jon Rolph, Kansas Board of Regents
- Kelly Kultala, Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission
- Erica Andrade, Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services
- Dr. Michael Birzer, Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services
- Patricia Hudgins, Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services
- Laurel Michel, Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services
- Richard Ney, Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services
- Ruth Stevenson, Kansas Banking Board
- Patrick Walden, Kansas Banking Board
- Alan Deines, Kansas Development Finance Authority
- Sheryl Gilchrist, Kansas Civil Service Board
- Dr. Romano Delcore, Kansas University Hospital Authority
Fort Scott City Commission Meeting Minutes of Jan. 7
CITY OF FORT SCOTT
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes are unapproved until the Jan. 21 meeting.
Minutes of January 7, 2020 Regular Meeting #1
The regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held January 7th, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Room, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners Adamson, Bartelsmeyer, Mitchell and Nichols were present with Mayor Parker presiding.
INVOCATION: Rev. Gene Payne, Minister, said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City, our Government and City officials.
AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Bob Duncan, Greg Gauss, Josh Jones, Carey Spoon, Robert Uhler, Jeff Fischer, Jeff Deane, Gene Payne, Bobbi Kemna, Patrick Wood, Jason Gorman, Jason Pickert, Brian Allen, Janice Allen, Michael Hoyt, Jenna Campbell, Margie Brown, Deb McCoy, Dave Bruner, Elaine Buerge, Carol Lydic, Michael Mix, Jerald Mitchell, Susan Bancroft, Devin Tally, Lindsay Madison, Beth Nuss, Larry Nuss, Lee Lorimer, Linda I. Fox, George Fox, Aaron Judy, Nancy K. Van Etten, Kerry Van Etten, Chris Maycumber, Ryan Coon, John Coon, Max Fanning, Deb Needleman, Rachel Pruitt, Chad Brown, Kevin Allen, Lindsey Watts, Pete Allen, Clayton Miller, and representing the press, Tammy Helm, Fort Scott Tribune.
PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND APPROPRIATIONS/CONSENT AGENDA:
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Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of December 17th, 2019 and special meeting of December 30th, 2019.
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Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1253-A totaling $617,401.89.
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Resolution 1-2020 designating the official City newspaper.
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Resolution 2-2020 designating the official City depositories for public funds
Bartelsmeyer moved the Consent Agenda. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED CONSENT AGENDA.
City Manager thanked Cheryl Adamson, Cindy Bartelsmeyer, and Jeanie Parker for their many years of service. He presented them with a plaque of appreciation, their picture which hung in the Commission Room, and their name plate.
REORGANIZATION OF CITY COMMISSION AND ELECTION OF MAYOR, COMMISSION PRESIDENT, B.C.E.D.C.I. REPRESENTATIVE, AND FORT SCOTT HOUSING AUTHORITY DELEGATE.
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Swearing in of new City Commissioners – City Clerk, Diane Clay, administered the oath of office to Kevin Allen, Pete Allen, and Lindsey Watts.
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Election of Mayor
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Randy Nichols moved to appoint JoLynne Mitchell as Mayor of the City of Fort Scott. Lindsey Watts seconded.
Kevin Allen moved to appoint Pete Allen as Mayor of the City of Fort Scott. Pete Allen seconded.
Nichols, Mitchell and Watts voted aye in favor of JoLynne Mitchell being appointed as Mayor. K. Allen and P. Allen voted no. Motion carried 3-2.
APPOINTED JOLYNNE MITCHELL AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT.
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Election of Commission President
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JoLynne Mitchell moved to appoint Randy Nichols as President of the Fort Scott City Commission. Lindsey Watts seconded. Nichols,
Pete Allen moved to appoint Kevin Allen as President of the City Commission. Kevin Allen seconded.
Mitchell, Watts, and Nichols voted aye in favor of Randy Nichols as President of the Fort Scott City Commission. K. Allen and P. Allen voted no. Motion carried 3-2.
APPOINTED DR. RANDY NICHOLS AS PRESIDENT OF THE FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION.
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Election of Bourbon County Economic Development Council Inc. Representative
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Mitchell moved to appoint Dr. Randy Nichols as the City’s representative on the Bourbon County Economic Development Council, Inc. Pete Allen seconded. P. Allen, Nichols, Watts, and Mitchell voted aye. K. Allen voted no. Motion carried 4-1.
APPOINTED DR. RANDY NICHOLS AS THE CITY’S REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE BOURBON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, INC.
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Election of Fort Scott Housing Authority Delegate
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Kevin Allen moved to appoint Lindsey Watts as the City’s representative on the Fort Scott Housing Authority Board. JoLynne Mitchell seconded. All voted aye.
APPOINTED LINDSEY WATTS AS THE CITY’S REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE FORT SCOTT HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD.
APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:
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APPEARANCE: None
B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute
limit per citizen) –
Bob Duncan – Mr. Duncan said that he thought you guys all thought he would just go away but he didn’t. Mr. Martin and Dave Bruner have a huge bully pulpit in this room and in the Tribune and local radio at no cost to themselves. Still, three incumbent Commissioners were ousted and the other two would have also been turned out had they been on the ballot. Even though they have overwhelming support of most local government and school board employees who comprise a big portion of the voting electors. The reason is enough citizens have taken time to actually know the truth of how the City’s leadership has been performing in the past. He said he doesn’t know Pete’s position on a lot of the issues, but he has superior intellect. The rest of you would do well to take heed and help facilitate his efforts. In the coming months, I hope to shed some light for the rest of the citizens so they can see why our infrastructure is crumbling and why so many have come and gone. Good entrepreneurs and innovative who would be taxpaying citizens. Much of the problem is incompetence, but some of it is outright dishonesty.
Commissioner Kevin Allen said he would like to respond and say thanks for coming in and he appreciates it. He said that he listens to you when maybe you feel like no one is listening to you. He’s here to listen to you and for people to call him.
Michael Hoyt – Mr. Hoyt said he had two things he would like to bring to your attention as a newly seated board. The minutes that were entered into the record for the special meeting of December 30th are either an admission of fraud by the previously seated Commissioners or a change of position of how they were acting individually at City expense or some other mystery took place at that meeting that we don’t know about. That they met in secret and devised some plan or response to the Attorney General that we don’t know about. Pick one. You’re fraudulent, guilty, or you acted in violation of K.O.M.A. and you should be fined, and you should be suspended from your office.
Mayor Mitchell said that it’s not that we don’t want to spend taxpayer’s money on bad things, but we want to spend $500.00 per Commissioner so we can be found in violation?
Mr. Hoyt said that money comes from your pocket, not from the City. Read K.O.M.A. and that will let you know.
Jeff Deane, City Attorney, said he would say we have no comment at this time. The response from the Attorney General’s office speaks for itself.
Mr. Hoyt said to read K.O.M.A. and that the money does not come from City funds. Secondly, Ms. Watts, he hopes that you are aware of 24-CFR-570-486, conflict of interest. You cannot receive as an elected official any monies, grants or other public funds, if you are holding an elected office. He would suggest that you study this and he said he would give her his copy.
Commissioner Watts asked if that is in response to anything that has happened previously or from here on.
Mr. Hoyt said that from the date of election.
Commissioner Allen asked the City Attorney how the decision will come out.
Jeff Deane, City Attorney, said that it has already come out. He released the Commission’s response, or his response on behalf of the City Commission. As soon as it was filed with the Attorney General’s office, it becomes a public record that is subject to a K.O.R.A. request. He provided it to the local news agencies that requested it. Fort Scott.Biz published some excerpts from it. It is already public record and available. We have not yet heard back from the Attorney General but that is not unusual. We responded on January 2nd or 3rd, and this will become public record when they respond.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Mitchell moved to open the Public Hearing at 6:21 p.m. Watts seconded. All voted aye.
6:00 p.m. Consideration of CDBG Grant – Mayco Ace Public Hearing – Rachel Pruitt, Economic Development Director, informed the Commission that there are actually six different categories for the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) programs. This grant is for one of the categories which is Commercial rehab, and the City is able to apply for one per year. She has been working closely with Chris Maycumber of Mayce Ace Hardware for the past year. Mr. Maycumber is here this evening also. This business has been here since the early 1970’s. It was started by Chris’ uncle and then his father took it over. It is a great blessing to have a hardware store downtown.
Carey Spoon is here from the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission. She will be facilitating the paperwork to apply for the grant.
Chris Maycumber said that a lot of the rehab is simple repairs to the building. There was damage from the hail storm and wind storms that their insurance company would not repair. There were leaks on the Dollar General side and the floors were damaged. They want to make the building more energy efficient and rentable for hopefully a new retail tenant.
Commissioner Pete Allen asked about the Statement of Assurances and Certifications form. This form states that the building is blight. He doesn’t consider this building blight.
Rachel said that in the State’s definition it qualifies for blight. There is contamination with asbestos in the building.
Carey Spoon read the description of the grant to the Commission: This application is for the rehabilitation of 205 Scott Avenue. This project proposes to replace the roof, upgrade the façade, replace the windows, replace the south entrance door, remove the north end door and replace with a double sliding door, construct an ADA accessible entrance on the north end consisting of an accessible ramp and sidewalk with column adjustments as necessary, construct two accessible restrooms in the north end of the building, install emergency lighting and smoke alarms throughout the main and lower level of the entire building, replace 6000 square feet of ceiling tile damaged by roof leakage in the north end, and install two emergency fire disconnects in the alley behind the building. The estimated project cost is $299,250 with the maximum grant request of $224,437. There are no City funds involved. The matching funds are from the property owner.
Commissioner Pete Allen asked how many of those grants are available each year?
Rachel Pruitt said that there are six total available.
Discussion was held regarding the different types of grants available.
Commissioner Kevin Allen asked if the grants were publicized and made known to other building owners.
Rachel Pruitt said that this information is all available on the City’s website.
Carey Spoon said that the two resolutions will need to be approved for the application to move forward as well as approval of the grant administration contract.
Approval of Resolution No. 5-2020 – to Apply for 2018 Kansas Small Cities CDBG Grant and authorizing the Mayor to sign and submit an application
Nichols moved to approve Resolution No. 5-2020 to apply for the grant and submit the application. Mitchell seconded. Pete Allen, Randy Nichols, Lindsey Watts, and JoLynne Mitchell voted aye. Kevin Allen abstained. Motion carried.
APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 5-2020 CERTIFYING LEGAL AUTHORITY TO APPLY FOR THE 2018 KANSAS SMALL CITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FROM THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN AND SUBMIT SUCH AN APPLICATION.
Approval of Resolution 6-2020 – Declaring a building blighted with respect to the Kansas Small Cities CDBG Grant Program
Carey Spoon defined the definition of blight to the Commission.
Mitchell moved to approve Resolution No. 6-2020 to apply for the grant and submit the application. Watts seconded. Pete Allen, Randy Nichols, Lindsey Watts, and JoLynne Mitchell voted aye. Kevin Allen abstained. Motion carried.
APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 6-2020 DECLARING A BUILDING BLIGHTED WITH RESPECT TO THE KANSAS SMALL CITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM.
Approval of Agreement for Administrative Consulting Services for the 2020 Kansas Small Cities CDBG Grant Project
Carey Spoon informed the Commission that the City applies to the State on behalf of the building owner.
Watts moved to approve the Agreement for Administrative Consulting Services for the 2020 Small Cities CDBG Grant Project. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED THE AGREEMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE 2020 SMALL CITIES CDBG GRANT PROJECT WITH SOUTHEAST KANSAS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
Mitchell moved to close the Public Hearing at 6:35 p.m. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.
CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:35 P.M.
Mitchell moved to open the Public Hearing at 6:36 p.m. Watts seconded. All voted aye.
OPENED PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:35 P.M.
6:15 p.m. Resolution 3-2020 – Resolution Directing the Repair or Removal of an Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 510 S. Heylman Street – Robert Uhler, Community Development Director, informed the Commission that this structure needs to either be repaired by the property owner or demolished. This timeframe is for 60 days. He shared photos of the structure with the Commission showing the dilapidated condition of the structure.
City Clerk and City Attorney explained the demolition process to the Commission.
Kevin Allen moved to give the property owner 60 days to either repair or replace the structure. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 3-2020 DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 510 S. HEYLMAN STREET. STRUCTURE MUST BE BROUGHT UP TO 2012 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE BY MARCH 13TH, 2020 OR DEMOLITION PROCEEDINGS WILL BEGIN.
6:15 p.m. Resolution 4-2020 – Resolution Directing the Repair or Removal of an Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 501 S. Osbun Street – Robert Uhler, Community Development Director, informed the Commission that this structure needs to either be repaired by the property owner or demolished. This timeframe is for 60 days. He shared photos of the structure with the Commission showing the dilapidated condition of the structure. This structure is owned by Terry Hartman and he has been notified by certified mail.
Kevin Allen moved to give the property owner 60 days to either repair or replace the structure. Watts seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 4-2020 DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 501 S. OSBUN STREET. STRUCTURE MUST BE BROUGHT UP TO 2012 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE BY MARCH 13TH, 2020 OR DEMOLITION PROCEEDINGS WILL BEGIN.
Mitchell moved to close the Public Hearing at 6:42 p.m. Watts seconded. All voted aye.
CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:42 P.M.
CONSIDERATION:
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Consideration of Contract with Suez Treatment Solutions for SCADA upgrades to the ozone system at the Water Treatment Plant – Michael Mix, Public Utilities Director, informed the Commission that as part of the River Intake Project, some other items are being addressed. One of those items is update of the SCADA hardware. The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition is what SCADA stands for. This is basically the sensors and computers that control the system. He shared a video of the ozone building with the Commission. He asked for approval for the contract with Suez Treatment Solutions, Inc. in the amount of $184,847.00. This is an additional scope to their project as it was not included in the original scope of the project. The funding is part of the USDA loan, which is approved already, and this is part of that.
Discussion was held regarding the amount of the loan, repercussion of what could happen if this system was not updated, and the fact that parts are not available for the older system any longer.
Kevin Allen made a motion to postpone this item until the January 21st, 2020 meeting so it can be further researched. Lindsey Watts seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM UNTIL THE JANUARY 21ST, 2020 MEETING SO MORE INFORMATION CAN BE RESEARCHED.
COMMISSION/STAFF:
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Director Updates: Robert Uhler gave an update on three items:
Smart Growth America Workshop – Robert said that this date has been moved due to scheduling conflicts with the D.C. team and some data transfer issues. The new dates for the workshop will be February 25th and 26th, 2020.
Lake Advisory Board – He said that he was delayed in getting the first meeting of the new board scheduled in 2019. The first meeting will be this Saturday, January 11th, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at City Hall. Since JoLynne Mitchell has been elected Mayor, she decided to not serve as the City’s representative on this board. Marci Myers has also resigned from this board. Letters of interest will go out to fill Marci Myers position.
Kevin Allen volunteered to serve on this board.
2020 Legislative Update – Robert said that the legislative session will start on January 13th, 2020. There are already 250 pre-filed bills on the Senate side and 432 pre-filed bills on the House side. It is looking like this will be a very active legislative season. At the next City Commission meeting, he said he would give an update on the legislative agenda for the City.
B. City Commission:
Randy Nichols – Dr. Nichols welcomed the new City Commissioners. He said he hopes that we can all move forward together in a positive fashion.
Kevin Allen – Kevin said that he had two items. He thinks it is important to see your local government work. He said that Josh Jones is recording facebook live tonight at this meeting. He asked if the City had something to record the meeting and if the City had any microphones. He made a motion to ask the City Manager to investigate recording the City Commission meetings live and check into microphones.
City Attorney said we need to make sure that we follow K.O.M.A. records and the proper retention schedule. We also need to make sure that Commissioner Pete Allen can hear the meeting.
City Manager will have a recommendation at the next meeting.
His next item was the three-minute citizen time limit. He doesn’t think that three minutes is sufficient. He made a motion to change this time from three minutes to five minutes and allow the Mayor the authority to override this time frame if needed. A Commissioner can also request the Mayor allow that person more time if needed. Lindsey Watts seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO CHANGE THE CITIZEN COMMENT SECTION OF THE MEETING FROM THREE MINUTES TO FIVE MINUTES AND TO ALLOW THE MAYOR THE AUTHORITY TO OVERRIDE THIS TIME FRAME IF NEEDED. A COMMISSIONER CAN ALSO ASK FOR THAT PERSON TO HAVE MORE TIME FROM THE MAYOR.
Discussion was also held moving the citizen comments to the end of the meeting.
His last item is about residency. He said that he heard from people who own businesses in town and pays taxes, but live outside the City limits, but cannot vote in City elections. When he served before, he bought property 300’ outside the City limits. He had to turn his seat over, because you had to live in the City limits. He wants to see why he was able to stay in that position and is there a legal way to have people with property outside of the City limits be able to vote. He thinks this changed 15 years ago.
City Clerk told him his term was almost over and the Commission at that time allowed him to continue to serve his term.
City Attorney said that this topic should probably happen in Executive Session. He said he could research this issue if he can get some time. The County Commission solved your issue. Residency is what it is tied to. As a general matter, the State presumes that you have to have a residency in the City where you vote. He will look at our ordinances and get back with you.
Kevin said that we have City employees that can look up that information instead of paying the attorney.
City Manager said that he will check into this.
Lindsey Watts – Lindsey said that she did feel rushed after getting her packet but understands why it was late. She thinks we can all work together in a positive way and looks forward to the next two years.
Pete Allen – Pete said that he would like to explain that in his running for Commissioner that he talked to a lot of people in Fort Scott. They are unhappy in the way our City is moving. He wants to explain how powerful these five people (Commissioners) are. They represent 7,500 people in Fort Scott. These people have made a statement by electing three new Commissioners. They want change and are unhappy with how things were done in the past. They want change for the better. He is looking at our run-down infrastructure. Susan Bancroft reported that we are in good financial shape, which is good, but at what cost. We have ignored our streets, our sewers, our water lines, and our storm sewers. These have all got to be improved upon before they collapse. We have sewer lines made out of clay tile that was put there in 1888 that are in danger of collapsing. We spent $300,000 this past year patching and fixing and trying to make our system work. We have to face the fact that we have 72 miles of run down, broken down lines. We must start fixing our sewer system. We cannot fix any streets until we fix our sewer and water lines. Our water lines are 140 years old and made from metal. We have health hazards with lines leaking. No one has stepped up and said these need to be fixed. We need to be part of history and say that we need to fix these water and sewer lines. We need to start this immediately. He has facts and figures on what it will cost. The President has worked out a plan for cities just like us. It is called the Water Infrastructure and Finance and Innovation Act. This is a plan where they provide funds for financing water and sewer lines and storm water systems. We need to be a part of this plan. We have necessary funds where we can start replacing lines. We are currently paying an out of town contractor a massive amount of money to come in here and replace sewer lines. We have at least three bondable contractors in town that could do this work. We need to replace these lines. We need to shop local and put our money in Fort Scott. Michael has two people to handle 72 miles of sewer lines. That just isn’t enough. We are throwing our money out of town. We can get a six-man crew and make this work. We should hire a superintendent that can oversee this crew. He thinks the people that voted should see change. 68% of the people that voted, voted for those candidates that ran for change. 15% of the people voted for doing the same old thing. Those candidates were good people, but the people wanted change. We need to fix what the citizens want.
He proposed that a work session be held next Tuesday at 6:00 and invite Michael Mix here and explain the sewer system as he knows it. He would like to get a sewer crew from Fort Scott going and keep the money local. This would probably take five to seven years. We don’t have time to waste.
City Manager mentioned that the whole Commission will need to be polled to see if they can make this date and time. City Clerk will poll the Commissioners.
Discussion was held regarding input from citizens at a work session.
City Attorney reminded the Commission that they cannot email each other due to K.O.M.A. violations.
Pete Allen made a motion to hold a work session next Tuesday, January 14th, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss water and sewer lines. Kevin Allen seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO HOLD A WORK SESSION NEXT TUESDAY, JANUARY 14TH, 2020 AT 6:00 P.M. TO DISCUSS WATER AND SEWER LINES.
JoLynne Mitchell – JoLynne welcomed the new Commissioners to the board. The voters did speak and they are looking forward to change. She and Randy and willing to work and listen to new ideas.
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City Manager:
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Dr. Burke – 109 S. Main Street – City Manager said that Dr. Burke will be opening an office at 109 S. Main Street and will be working for Via Christi. They have requested a handicapped parking spot and a parking spot with a ramp to get to the street. This would be a temporary ramp. The estimated cost is $250.00. Within a year, they will either be in a building or another location.
Chad Brown said that it will be a concrete ramp.
Lindsey Watts moved to approve for Public Works to construct a handicapped ramp and a parking spot with a ramp in front of 109 S. Main. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO HAVE PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCT A HANDICAPPED RAMP AND A PARKING SPOT WITH A RAMP IN FRONT OF 109 SOUTH MAIN FOR DR. BURKE’S OFFICE.
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Spring Break – City Manager said that the USD #234 spring break will be held March 16th through the 20th. He asked for approval to move the City Commission meeting to March 24th, 2020 for that meeting due to Spring Break.
Kevin Allen made a motion to move the March 17th meeting to March 24th, 2020 due to Spring Break. Lindsey Watts seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO MOVE THE MARCH 17TH MEETING TO MARCH 24TH, 2020 DUE TO SPRING BREAK.
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Training Session – City Manager informed the Commission that a training session will be held in the near future on K.O.M.A. and K.O.R.A. laws. Diane will check dates with you after the City Attorney gives us some dates. This will probably be held on a Saturday morning.
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Additional information – City Manager confirmed that he will be researching microphones, facebook live, and what occurred 15 years ago with Kevin Allen’s residency. He will bring back options at the next meeting.
Lindsay Madison remarked that the City of Pittsburg has a You Tube channel. You might check with them.
ADJOURNMENT:
Kevin Allen moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:39 p.m. Lindsey Watts seconded. All voted aye.
ADJOURNED MEETING AT 7:39 P.M.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is to be held on January 21st, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
RECORDED BY:
DIANE K. CLAY
Fort Scott City Commission Agenda Jan. 21
AGENDA
FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
FORT SCOTT CITY HALL
COMMISSION ROOM
123 SOUTH MAIN
JANUARY 21, 2020
6:00 P.M.
I. ROLL CALL:
K. ALLEN P. ALLEN NICHOLS WATTS MITCHELL
II. FLAG SALUTE:
III. INVOCATION: Pastor Paul Rooks, Grace Baptist Tabernacle
IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS:
V. CONSENT AGENDA:
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Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of January 7th, 2020.
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Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1254-A totaling $805,509.03.
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Request to Pay #2 – Strukel Electric, Inc. – $125,107.65 (Electric Vault Building – Airport)
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Consideration of Pay Request #5 – Crossland Construction – River Intake Project – $242,379.46
VII. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:
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APPEARANCE: Don George, Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks
B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute limit per citizen)
C. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS: None
VIII. CONSIDERATION:
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Consideration of approval of final plat for the property more commonly known as 401 Woodland Hill Boulevard – Approval of Ordinance No. 3557
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Consideration of Contract with Suez Treatment Solutions for SCADA upgrades to the ozone system at the Water Treatment Plant
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Consideration of purchase of Composite Wastewater Sampler to obtain samples for K.D.H.E. and waive the bidding process
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Consideration to solicit bids for cleaning and repainting of aquatic center pool
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Consideration of Audit contract for 2019 with Diehl, Banwart & Bolton
IV. COMMENTS:
- Director Updates:
- Commission:
- City Manager:
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:
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Personnel matters of non-elected personnel
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Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
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Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative or representatives of the body or agency
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Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships
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Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property
IV. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL
Bourbon County Commission Agenda for Jan. 21
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: January 21, 2020
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
9:00-9:45 – Jim Harris
9:45-10:00 – Jess Milburn, JC Restoration re: front steps, windows
10:00-10:30 – Jody Hoener, Business Incubator Guidelines
12:00-1:30 – Lunch
1:30-2:00 – Polsinelli Law Firm
2:00-2:15 – Robert Leisure, EMS Update
2:45-3:00 – Courthouse Security
3:00-3:15 – Barb Peine
3:15-3:30 – Kim Simons, Wind Turbines
3:30-3:45 – Mike Wunderly, Wind Turbines in Bourbon County
Infrastructure Revitalization Begins In Fort Scott
Fort Scott Set to Embark on Infrastructure Revitalization Project
Fort Scott is set to begin construction on a city-wide infrastructure revitalization project that will provide upgraded and improved environments for visitors, city staff, and the community-at-large. Through this project, the city is partnering with Schneider Electric, a global energy leader, who has helped identify energy savings and facilities upgrade opportunities at the following city facilities:
| · Airport
· Aquatic Center · Buck Run Community Center · City Hall · Davis Lift Station
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· Animal Shelter
· Fire Station #2 · Golf Course · Gunn Park · LaRoche Stadium · Memorial Hall
|
· Public Safety (Fire/Police)
· Public Works · Water Distribution · Water Production Plant · Wastewater Treatment
|
Citizens will notice a variety of improvements spread across multiple city facilities, parks and infrastructure. The budget-neutral project is being paid for through guaranteed energy, operational and maintenance savings over 20 years. The ability to leverage savings provides an opportunity to reinvest operating expenses back into needed capital improvements.
The energy-saving measures will provide funding for several city projects that have been unfunded in recent years. With a goal of anticipating and mitigating future needs, this strategic initiative also plans to reduce annual operating and maintenance costs that will create new revenue streams through improved city services and infrastructure.
Construction is slated to begin the first week of February and will continue through the fall of 2020. The first scope items to be installed will include energy-efficient lighting across multiple facilities The City and Schneider Electric will provide updates throughout the course of construction to the local community through monthly information sessions with the City Commission.
For more information on Schneider Electric, please visit www.enable.schneider-electric.com.
About Schneider Electric
At Schneider, we believe access to energy and digital is a basic human right. We empower all to do more with less, ensuring Life Is On everywhere, for everyone, at every moment. We provide energy and automation digital solutions for efficiency and sustainability. We combine world-leading energy technologies, real-time automation, software and services into integrated solutions for Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. We are committed to unleash the infinite possibilities of an open, global, innovative community that is passionate with our Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values. www.se.com
Sheriff Martin On Recent Raises in Bourbon County
Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin is unhappy with the raises of administrative county employees, he said. He would have preferred giving input into raises in his office, including the one given him by the Bourbon County Commissioners.
A raise for elected officials became effective Dec. 15, 2019, according, to Bourbon County Commission minutes. This raised the clerk and treasurer’s salary to $47,248 annually, the register of deeds to 44,821 and the sheriff’s salary to $60,000.
Martin said in his budget request he had asked for a three-percent raise for all his employees.
“I did not request that large amount” for the sheriff’s position, he said.
There were no across-the-board raises given by the commission.
Martin said he was not aware of any raises until he received an email from Bourbon County Clerk Kendall Mason on Dec. 18, 2019.
“At no other time was any raise amount ever discussed with me by the commission, not for myself or any member of my staff,” Martin said. ” I attended several commission meetings where I questioned the commission on budget figures for 2020 and, as usual, I was not ever given any answers. At no time after I submitted my 2020 budget did anyone on the commission engage myself or my jail administration in salary discussions.”
In 2015 Martin had paid for a wage comparison survey and presented it to that Bourbon County Commission because he wanted to bring the salaries of the county employees as a whole up to standard amounts.
He felt it fell on “deaf ears” at the time, he said. It was a different set of commissioners.
For the 2020 Sheriff’s Office budget he had requested a three percent raise for his employees.
Instead, Martin’s salary was raised from $45,000 to $60,000.
He contends that discussions with him and his staff would have been beneficial to the decision making process.
“I am never provided with verbal information or written information as to where the money is put, cut or moved to in the budgets,” Martin said. “My door is always open for any discussion.”
Martin has two salaried employees.
“One of the two fell below the new income guideline set by the Federal Wage Law and the US Department of Labor,” Martin said. “A captain at the correctional center fell under this ‘salaried employee category’ and therefore is required by law to have a salary increase. If this wage increase is not performed, this employee would be eligible for overtime. I can assure you that increasing this wage is far less harmful than allowing this employee to request overtime hours for all the overtime he works. I am still unaware if this salary increase has been added to the correctional center budget. The commission was made aware of this federal law… several months ago.”
Martin said the responsibility of the sheriff’s office falls to him.
“I am the face and the buck stops with me, so to speak, but they are the men and women with their lives on the line every, single day and every single night. Christmas, Easter, Monday through Sunday. They sign up to make a difference in their community where they live. It’s nice to be thanked and appreciated and compensated to prove yourself worthy.”
“Top-Heavy”
The county has two many administrative positions, Martin said.
“Our county is now so top-heavy with administration that the people in the offices and on the road and doing the jobs are unable to receive any fair raises and are far from a competitive wage for the jobs they are doing,” Martin said. “Our county has a road and bridge supervisor that makes over $60,880 a year plus benefits. This county has a part-time, county counselor who makes $64,000 a year for 25 hours a week and has a private practice on the side; this is in addition to the county attorney who makes $50,000 a year. This county now pays (not attacking the person) an economic development director… $70,000 a year plus benefits. As of January 1, we have a sheriff making $60,000., a county clerk, making $47,248 a treasurer making that same amount and a register of deeds making $44,821…We have three county commissioners who make $21,416 (each) per year plus benefits, which is another $64,248 plus benefits in a year.”
” I have been requesting additional deputies every year since I have taken office and every year, I am told that there is no money to spend, budgets are close, overspending and overtime are out of control,” Martin said. “Yet, we have almost $200,000 in salaries for administrative staff, who hold jobs that should be performed by our road and bridge director and crews, the elected county clerk, our elected county attorney, and our elected county commission. $200,000 would pay for other staff raises, staff who are on the ground working.”
“It would pay for a much-needed school resource officer for Uniontown Schools plus a courthouse security officer, which is mandated by the state,” he said. “I cannot get anyone to understand that when you pay a deputy a $35,000 a year salary, you are better off to hire two more deputies on the force and reducing the $60,000 in overtime pay. I am contending that if they would not have raised my pay $15,000, they could have very easily allowed me to hire one new deputy and they would have been ahead money. Where did all this money come from and how do we put these jobs back in the hands of the people who were elected to do them and eliminate all the huge salaries that we are paying right now.”
The sheriff’s office operates around the clock much like an ambulance service or hospital does, he said. And some of his employees are struggling financially.
“People do a great job for great pay,” Martin said. “People do a decent job for decent pay and proud people show up to work to draw a wage rather than go on welfare. Some of my employees can claim state insurance benefits for their families and that is shameful to think that we cannot provide a wage above the poverty level… I also have other employees who work two and three jobs and I cannot control what my employees do outside their duty time… during my time as a deputy, I worked three jobs to provide for my family and pay my bills.”
Governor applauds Congressional passage of USMCA
Citing its importance to Kansas exports and the state’s economy, Governor Laura Kelly and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam expressed praise today for Congressional passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“This is an important and welcome development in Kansas, especially as our farmers and ranchers struggle to rebuild after an historic year of natural disasters,” Governor Kelly said. “With more than 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside the United States, world markets offer tremendous growth opportunities for Kansas agriculture. USMCA will create enhanced export opportunities and help Kansans capitalize on the increased global demand for food and agriculture products.”
Secretary Beam also cited the positive impact for Kansas producers.
“This agreement is great news for Kansas, especially Kansas agriculture,” he said. “Mexico and Canada are consistently in the top three trade partners for Kansas so maintaining these strong relationships is critical for agricultural exports in the state.”
Canada and Mexico are Kansas’ first and third largest export markets for Kansas food and agricultural commodities, totaling nearly $1.58 billion in 2018 or 41.1% of our total trade.
USMCA is a significant development for Kansas farmers and ranchers. With a downturn in commodity prices, the agriculture sector is at a critical crossroads. The passage of USMCA provides Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses a degree of certainty during some uncertain times. It also instills confidence in the state’s top trade partners and neighbors that the U.S. can be counted on as reliable suppliers of food and agricultural commodities.
According to the office of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, under USMCA all food and agricultural products that have had zero tariffs under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will remain at zero tariffs. Since the original NAFTA did not eliminate all tariffs on agricultural trade between the United States and Canada, the USMCA will create new market access opportunities for United States exports to Canada of dairy, poultry, and eggs, and in exchange the United States will provide new access to Canada for some dairy, peanut, and a limited amount of sugar and sugar-containing products.
The Kelly Budget: Continuing Progress
Governor Laura Kelley’s plan keeps promises to Kansas schools, expands affordable healthcare, pays over $600 million in debt, provides property, food sales tax relief
Topeka, Kan. — The second budget recommendation offered by Governor Laura Kelly delivers on her continued commitment to rebuilding Kansas after a decade of crisis. It maintains funding for Kansas public schools, includes funding to expand Medicaid, continues to phase out the “Bank of KDOT,” pays over $600 million in debt and provides over $117 million in commonsense tax relief.
“Kansas has made tremendous strides in recovering from the last decade of fiscal chaos,” Kelly said. “This balanced budget builds on that progress and positions Kansas to begin a new decade of shared prosperity and growth. I look forward to input from lawmakers and working with them to enact it.”
Kelly’s budget restores fundamental principles of Kansas fiscal responsibility:
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- Achieves Structural Balance: The Governor’s Budget Recommendation maintains structural balance, ensuring that state expenditures do not exceed revenues. It also meaningfully reduces the state’s irresponsible reliance on one-time funds.
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- Rebuilds State Savings: The Kelly Budget includes a statutorily required ending balance totaling $627.8 million. The 8.0 percent ending balance exceeds the amount required by law, a reflection of Gov. Kelly’s commitment to fiscal discipline.
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- Reduces State Debt: The Kelly budget retires $602.5 million of debt in FY 2020. This includes fully repaying the $264.3 million balance of the loan issued in calendar year 2017 from the Pooled Money Investment Board. It also pays off the $69.8 million balance of IMPACT bonds at the Department of Commerce. Paying $268.4 million will eliminate KPERS layering payments that resulted from skipping normal contributions to the system in FY 2017 and FY 2019. Altogether, paying these debts early saves an estimated $212.6 million in interest, as well as freeing up the related debt payments in future years.
Additionally, the Kelly budget accomplishes critical policy goals:
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- Keeps Funding Promise to Kansas Schools: In June 2019, the Kansas Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Kansas had enacted a plan that fulfills the state’s constitutional obligation to adequately and fairly fund public schools. The Court endorsed the 2019 proposal offered by Governor Kelly and approved by the Legislature, which increases investment in education by roughly $90 million a year, accounting for inflationary increases at the rate of 1.44 percent through FY 2023. The Governor fully funded this plan in the FY 2021 budget, putting Kansas on track to increase school funding by $431.1 million through FY 2023.
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- Medicaid Expansion: The Governor’s recommendation includes $17.5 million to expand KanCare, the state’s Medicaid program. Expanding eligibility for the program will allow 150,000 low-income Kansans to access critical health-care coverage. This will not only improve the health and vitality of Kansas communities, information presented at the Governor’s Council on Medicaid Expansion showed that expanding Medicaid could also create new jobs across the state.
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- Closing the “Bank of KDOT”: Since taking office, Kelly has restored investment in Kansas roads and bridges by $213 million. This budget reduces State Highway Fund transfers by an additional $73.1 million in FY 2021. Assuming state revenues remain stable, this will keep Kansas on track to fully close the “Bank of KDOT” by the end of the Governor’s first term. This will enable Kansas to fulfill the promises of T-WORKS and also enact a new transportation plan in FY 2021 without a tax increase.
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- Targeted Food Sales Tax Relief: The Governor’s tax policy recommendations provide food sales tax and property tax relief, and level the playing field by modernizing antiquated sales tax laws. Replacing the current non-refundable food sales tax credit with a new refundable food sales tax credit will provide $53.2 million in food sales tax relief beginning in tax year 2020. Repealing the current non-refundable food sales tax credit after December 31, 2019, will save approximately $10 million in SGF receipts in FY 2021. Under the Governor’s proposal, the Department of Revenue estimates that more than 540,000 tax filers will claim $63.2 million in refundable food sales tax credits beginning in FY 2021.
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- Property Tax Relief: The Governor has also prioritized property tax relief. For the first time since 2003, resuming the State General Fund transfers to the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund is included in the Governor’s budget recommendation. This will provide $54.0 million in local property tax relief beginning in FY 2021.
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- Public Safety: To address the growing overpopulation issue in our prisons, the Governor recommends expanding bed capacity and treatment capacity by renovating unoccupied buildings near the Winfield Correctional Facility and the Lansing Correctional Facility. These renovated facilities will add dedicated substance use treatment beds for offenders who need it, as well as adding capacity for geriatric care for aging and seriously ill inmates.
“I appreciate the bipartisan collaboration between the Executive and Legislative branches throughout the last year to rebuild Kansas after a decade of crisis,” Kelly said. “This budget will help ensure our progress. It honors all the funding promises made by the 2019 Legislature, continues to sustainably and fairly re-invest in Kansas communities and provides much-needed tax relief in the form of a food sales tax rebate and property tax cuts. I am confident that if we work together to enact this commonsense agenda, Kansas will undoubtedly begin the new decade strongly positioned to prosper and grow.”
The Governor’s full budget recommendation can be viewed here.
KS Governor’s State of the State Address
Governor Kelly delivers the State of the State address
The following State of the State address is from Governor Laura Kelly:
Mr. Speaker, Madam President, Madam Chief Justice, Lt. Governor Rogers, members of the Legislature, Cabinet officers, leaders of the Kansas tribes, honored guests, and fellow Kansans.
It is my high honor to stand before you this evening to report on the progress of my administration, and to share my plans for the year ahead.
We have much to discuss tonight. But before I begin, please welcome back the third “First Gentleman” in Kansas history, my husband, Dr. Ted Daughety.
Ted still misses his garden and his darkroom, but he’s adjusting to our new home by adding some personal touches. He has taken an interest in putting the “Cedar” back in Cedar Crest with the planting of new trees. He also started a vegetable garden. He even has his own compost pile.
In addition to all of that, he continues to practice medicine full time. So, Ted and I have settled into life at the Governor’s Residence.
In fact, it was the backdrop for our family’s biggest news of 2019! It was a joy to watch our daughter Kathleen wed our new son-in-law, Mathias, at Cedar Crest earlier this year, with our younger daughter, Molly, standing by her sister’s side.
Speaking of siblings – my sister, Kay and my brother Paul are also here tonight from Colorado.
And listening in online from Richmond, Virginia, is my brother, Father Fred.
As everyone here knows, it is not easy to be related to someone who serves in public office. I am grateful to my family for the support they have provided from the very first day of this journey.
Since we’re talking about family members, I dare not exclude the four-legged variety. Frances, the First Cat of Kansas, sends her regards.
If there is one thing I didn’t expect this past year, it was the widespread interest in my cat. She’s made lots of new friends on social media. She gets more news coverage than I do.
Frances asked me to relay a special message to Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers, who is here with his wife, Kris.
Lynn — Frances said to tell you she’s very close to exceeding your following on Twitter. And that you need to step up your game.
As everyone here has no doubt come to know, Lynn Rogers is an exceptional lieutenant governor. In case you couldn’t tell, he’s also unfailingly good-natured.
Lynn hit the road almost as soon as we took our oaths of office last year, logging more than 17,000 miles on a statewide listening tour, engaging Kansans in our efforts to establish the Office of Rural Prosperity.
Housing shortages, affordable childcare, revitalizing Main Street corridors, protecting rural hospitals, expanding rural broadband — these are all concerns that weigh heavily on the minds of Kansans. With the right mix of state support and local ingenuity, I am confident that the Office of Rural Prosperity will serve as an invaluable partner for Kansas communities to sustain and enhance our state’s rural heritage.
Thank you, Lynn, for your work on this very important issue.
In fact, thank you to my entire Cabinet – seated in the west gallery, behind me.
No governor can succeed without a strong and supportive team, and I could not have asked for a more qualified group of leaders to help rebuild our state.
I realize, for those who have been around the Kansas Capitol a session or two, these annual messages might sometimes seem a bit routine. But tonight carries a special distinction.
For the first time in Kansas history, women sit at the helm of all three branches of Kansas government.
It is my privilege to serve as our state’s third female governor, alongside the first female Senate President, Susan Wagle. And the second female Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Marla Luckert.
Kansas reached this milestone at a fitting moment, as 2020 also marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.
Anniversaries and new years are always important opportunities to reflect on time gone by, and on progress made. We have another such opportunity this evening, as we usher in not just a new legislative session, but a new decade.
So let us go back for just a moment and remember where we’ve been.
Almost ten years ago — to the day — we gathered in this chamber for the 2010 state of the state address. Kansas found itself in the throes of the worst economic downturn in 80 years. The Great Recession had necessitated $1 billion dollars in spending cuts. Another $400 million dollar budget gap still loomed before us. It was brutal.
It’s probably for the best that we did not realize, in that moment, that this would be the brightest fiscal outlook Kansas would have for another seven years.
Of course, you know what happened next. A new administration was in place one year later, and the saga of the failed tax experiment began soon thereafter. Instead of recovering from the Great Recession alongside every other state in the nation, Kansas settled in for six more years of financial chaos. This time, it was self-inflicted.
By the time I stood before you as governor in 2019, Kansas was on life support. The state had racked up record amounts of debt, schools had been cut to the bone, taxes on groceries had been increased until they were the highest in the nation, agencies had been decimated, and Kansas had generally become a national model for what not to do.
After devastating cuts and relentless crises – a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers demonstrated courage and conviction when they joined forces in the face of adversity to stop the bleeding in 2017.
That bipartisan effort — one that so many of you helped bring to fruition — changed everything.
So, although it was a decade in which much went wrong, we rebounded in a way that only Kansas can.
Over the last 12 months, Kansas added 12,400 private sector jobs.
The state not only reached a new employment record, our unemployment rate fell to its lowest point in 40 years.
Since I became governor, we fulfilled our promise to properly fund Kansas schools.
We reinvested in public safety, and worked tirelessly to stabilize our foster care system.
We increased pay and lowered health insurance premiums for thousands of public employees and their families.
We’re paying off debt so we can eventually establish a state rainy day fund and better prepare for financial emergencies.
In US News and World Report’s “Best States” rankings, Kansas jumped seven spots in 2019. We now rank 15th highest in education. We scored 7th best in infrastructure.
In fact, I’m proud to report that we improved in almost every category, including the economy and fiscal stability.
I’m also proud to report that in CNBC’s annual “Top States for Business,” Kansas was declared the “comeback state of 2019.”
Above all, I am proud to report that Kansas has ended a turbulent decade on a high note. As we look to the future, the state of our state grows stronger every day.
We have so many reasons to be hopeful tonight. But make no mistake: one year of progress cannot erase a decade of damage. Two of the most important sectors of the Kansas economy remain incredibly fragile.
As a major Boeing supplier, Spirit AeroSystems was hit hard by the recent suspension of the 737 Max production. Even as we speak, thousands of Wichita families are suddenly fearful that soon they may be unable to provide for their families.
I’ve been in constant communication with local, state and federal officials since temporary layoffs were announced late last week. I instructed my Labor Secretary, Delia Garcia, to take an all-hands-on-deck approach to help workers, Spirit and other Kansas businesses that will be negatively impacted.
Unfortunately, Kansas agriculture also finds itself at a precarious moment.
Between historic flooding last spring and escalating trade tensions over the last two years, net farm incomes have dropped 50 percent from their peak in 2013.
Congress could certainly help, and they could start by ratifying the pending USMCA trade agreement.
I have been a vocal proponent of the USMCA agreement from the beginning. I commend the U.S. House of Representatives for passing this agreement, and urge the U.S. Senate to do the same.
It’s critical for Kansas. We are indeed an export state. And with us tonight, from our second largest customer, Canada, is Consul General Stephane Lessard.
Thank you for being here, Consul General.
When it comes to the livelihoods of Kansas families and businesses, we won’t wait on Washington and the USMCA agreement however. We must take matters into our own hands.
The International Trade Division at the Department of Commerce was dismantled in recent years. I’ve instructed my Commerce Secretary, David Toland, to focus on rebuilding this division.
As I said before, Kansas is an export state, and we cannot compete in a global economy without strong international trading partners. We must breathe new life into our efforts to increase exports and compel international companies to choose Kansas.
I’m not just focused on convincing companies to choose Kansas. I’m also focused on the people who choose Kansas.
The effort to reconnect people with their state government and to rebuild public trust — starts at the top.
From day one, I’ve wanted Kansans to hear from me about what we’re doing, and why we’re doing it. Kansans deserve to engage directly with their Governor.
That’s why I’ve hosted “Kansan to Kansan” townhall meetings regularly since I took office. This fall, when I was building the state budget, I went on a listening tour to hear directly from the people about their priorities.
I’ve talked extensively — and candidly — with Kansans about what we’ve accomplished, and where we’d like to go in the year ahead. In turn, they’ve spoken candidly with me about their concerns, and how state government can better serve them.
I’d like to share their thoughts and concerns with you, and what I think we can do about them, together, in 2020.
I promised Kansans that I would be “the education governor.” I consider the progress we’ve made on public education to be our most important accomplishment to date — but we have more to do.
Last year I stood here and asked you to put aside partisanship and work with me to finally provide schools with the resources they need to be successful. You did it, and I applaud you.
I was proud to stand with many of you that Saturday morning last April, as hundreds of public school teachers packed into the ceremonial office to witness the signing of legislation that would end a decades-long legal battle over school finance.
It was truly a remarkable moment. Not just because of what we accomplished, but how we accomplished it.
None of the teachers who attended the bill signing cared if it was a “Democrat” plan or a “Republican” plan. They cared only that their schools would be funded. That it might help improve Kansas teacher salaries, which rank 41st in the nation. They cared that it would ensure educators have what they need to serve Kansas children well.
Let’s keep that in mind as we forge ahead.
Restoring school funding was a critical first step. But now I challenge us all to engage in a bigger and bolder conversation about “what’s next.”
Soon after taking office, I established the Council on Education. I asked the Council to re-evaluate every corner of our educational ecosystem — early childhood, K-12, higher education and workforce development — and to bring those players to the same table. I also engaged business and industry, labor, and other stakeholders so we may cultivate the workforce that Kansas will need to compete in the years ahead.
It is time to align all of these moving parts so that we can put Kansas at the forefront of growth and innovation. The work of this Council will be essential in helping us shape the future of Kansas education, the Kansas workforce, and Kansas as a state.
I want to recognize the co-chairs of this council – Dr. Cindy Lane, the former KCK Public Schools Superintendent and Dr. Fred Dierksen, current Superintendent of Dodge City Public Schools, who are here tonight in the gallery. Thank you for all your hard work – and the hard work yet to come.
Our progress on education is a valuable reminder to all of us that Kansans do not keep partisan score — even when clever sports analogies are employed. Kansans care about results. That’s what we get when we work together.
We can deliver bipartisan results again in 2020.
And we can start with one of the most urgent issues we face.
This must be the year Kansas becomes the 37th state to expand Medicaid.
Apparently, you have heard that Kansas made a little bit of news on this front last week.
After weeks of tough negotiations and lots of give and take, we developed a proposal that will not only expand healthcare to 150,000 Kansans, but also has the potential to lower health insurance premiums in the marketplace.
It was an honor to stand with so many of you — Republican and Democrat, Representatives and Senators — who have been committed to getting this done for Kansas.
We have so many reasons to bring this across the finish line.
In July, a study of mortality rates in non-expansion states estimated that 288 Kansans have died prematurely every year from 2014 to 2017 specifically due to our failure to adopt expansion.
Another study, released in November, showed that expansion improves infant and maternal health.
Yet another found the rate of rural hospital closure increases significantly in non-expansion states like Kansas.
Just last week, a study was released that linked Medicaid Expansion to a decline in opioid abuse.
There is a stack of rigorous, nonpartisan evidence to illustrate how critical KanCare expansion is to the health and welfare of our state. It grows by the day.
So does public support.
The number of expansion states continues to increase. No state has reversed its decision to expand. And voters across the ideological spectrum continue to reaffirm their support for expansion in election after election.
I’m talking about in states like Kentucky. Louisiana. Virginia. States where access to affordable healthcare drove people to the polls.
I’m talking about Nebraska, where 54% of voters approved Medicaid Expansion by ballot initiative in 2018.
I’m talking about Oklahoma, where in October a record number of petitions were submitted to put Medicaid expansion on the 2020 ballot.
And, yes, I’m even talking about Missouri. Where expansion is well on its way to a statewide vote, with momentum growing by the day.
If nothing else, surely maintaining Kansas’ 159-year tradition of beating Missouri is something we can all get behind…
In all seriousness:
As I said last week, compromise is hard. It is messy. It is slow. But it is so worth it.
Now it’s up to all of you to finish the task.
When we do add this to our list of bipartisan accomplishments, it will not only save lives, it will close the book on a long, senseless, expensive political fight — making room to improve access to health care and grow the Kansas economy.
We are so close. Let’s get this done.
As we continue our work to rebuild Kansas, there’s one area where we mean it… literally. It’s time for us to develop a new, comprehensive transportation plan so that we can rebuild roads and bridges across our state.
My Secretary of Transportation, Julie Lorenz, and her team have spent months hosting community meetings to ensure that all Kansans – in communities large and small – have the opportunity to help shape the future of infrastructure in a way that meets local needs.
Infrastructure is about far more than just roads and bridges.
It’s the means by which our school buses safely transport our most precious cargo. It’s how we make Kansans’ daily commutes faster and safer so they can spend more time with their families. It means jobs. Thousands of jobs. It’s the gateway to rural broadband. And as an export state, it is how we get Kansas goods to market and keep our economy humming.
This will be the fourth time Kansas has pursued such an endeavor. Each plan has improved upon the plan before, adapting to changing needs throughout the state and building on lessons learned. Each plan has propelled Kansas into the future, making our transportation system one of the best in the nation.
There’s one lesson from the past, in particular, I hope you will keep in mind as we begin this process anew:
Even the best laid infrastructure plan will crumble if we do not maintain the resources we need as a state to see it through.
As promised, last year I officially began “closing down” the “Bank of KDOT.” I am fully committed to continuing that phase out throughout my first term so that we can fulfill the promises of the previous transportation plan and invest in the future.
But I’ve always been clear that this pledge comes with one, critical caveat: stable state revenues.
Rebuilding fiscal stability in Kansas state government has been one of my top priorities as governor. Last January, I presented a balanced budget to the Legislature without raising taxes. A budget that paid down debt. Re-invested in core services like education and healthcare. All while leaving the largest ending balance in more than a decade.
The budget didn’t quite return to me with all those features intact.
The budget that came back to my desk in May included $182 million dollars more in spending than I had recommended. It did not maintain the statutorily-required ending balance we need to cushion state investments in case of an emergency. It also spent more than we were taking in.
The good news is that Kansas’ economic outlook has stabilized, and even improved a bit. While the risk of a recession will always remain a possibility, the foreseeable future does not appear as ominous as it did last January.
That is why tomorrow, for the second year in a row, I will submit to you a balanced budget that continues our rebuilding efforts, that continues to pay down debt, and that honors my promise to cut taxes.
Kansas families are taxed more for food than anywhere else in the United States. These families shouldn’t have to pay more than their fair share, especially when it comes to the essentials. So my budget will take the first step in lowering taxes on groceries, starting with Kansans who need help the most.
I’ve always considered lowering the tax on groceries an urgent need. But ultimately we must work our way back to that longstanding notion of the “three-legged stool.” We must rebalance all of our revenue streams — income, sales, and property tax.
The Kansas tax structure has become more than a little lopsided in recent years, which is why my budget will also include property tax relief.
As funding for schools, cities and counties was cut over the last decade, local units of government were left with few options to make ends meet. Increasing property taxes was one of them.
This left local communities frustrated, and put a desperate strain on working Kansans and Kansans living on fixed incomes — especially our seniors. They need relief, and we can give it to them in 2020.
Together, the food and property tax relief I will offer will take meaningful strides in re-building our overall tax structure so that it is more fair and more fiscally responsible.
But it is only the first step of what must be a multi-phased, multi-year process.
I understand that any discussion of taxes is politically charged. But if we ever truly want to move forward, we must confront the stark inequities, outdated inefficiencies, and expensive loopholes riddled throughout our tax code.
To this end, I established a Council on Tax Reform last summer to develop such comprehensive, commonsense reforms.
I’d like to recognize former Democratic Senator Janis Lee, who is here with us in the gallery, and former Republican Senate President Steve Morris, for spearheading this bipartisan effort.
The Tax Council’s work will continue into 2020. In the meantime, the Council identified a targeted food sales tax cut through a refundable rebate and broad property tax relief as two initial steps we can and should take as a state to begin the long process of re-balancing our revenue streams.
Before I move on, I ask you to have a little faith.
As governor, I have worked diligently to honor every promise I’ve made to Kansans. I’ve also worked to include you as my partner in the governing process every step of the way. My commitment to working with you on tax reform is no different.
I began my remarks this evening with a quick stroll down memory lane —- but not because the last 10 years were filled with such pleasant memories.
I started there because I don’t want Kansas to finish there. We simply cannot go back.
So I want to be clear: to protect our recovery, and to ensure Kansas does not repeat the mistakes of the last decade, I will veto any tax bill that comes to my desk that throws our state back into fiscal crisis, or debt, or sends us back to court for underfunding our schools.
I hope you won’t stand for it either.
This has been an eventful year.
One year ago, our social safety net was in shreds.
Together, we took action. We hired dozens of new social workers across the state to better support vulnerable families. We created special response teams and amplified collaboration with the KBI to more quickly recover missing foster care youth. We brought nursing homes back from the brink of fiscal ruin without closing a single facility. We bolstered funding for mental health in an effort to c