Category Archives: Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda For Feb. 20

The following is the agenda for the Bourbon County Commission 9 a.m. Feb. 20.

Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

2nd Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: February 20, 2018

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

9:15Culvert request at 625 Maple Road

9:30 AT & T 225th & Locust

9:45 -Waiver & release from Liability/ Drywood

10:00- Fire District petition

10:15- Meeting to learn about Mills/Vision Meeting

10:30- 10:45- Executive Session Attorney- Client Relationship

11:00- 12:00- Revitalization Program –Agricultural, Commercial & Residential

12:00- 1:00 -Commissioners gone to Lunch

1:15- 1:30 -Smoking Policy

1:30- 1:45- Budget & AG Opinions

2:30- Employee Handbook

Justifications for Executive Session:

Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

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

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

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

Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

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

Minutes Of Fort Scott City Commission For Feb. 6

The following is the Fort Scott City Commission minutes for Feb. 6.

CITY OF FORT SCOTT

CITY COMMISSION MEETING

Minutes of February 6, 2018 Regular Meeting #3

The regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held February 6th, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Room, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas.

ROLL CALL:

Commissioners Adamson, Bartelsmeyer, Nichols and Parker were present with Mayor Mitchell presiding.

INVOCATION: Pastor Jason Shackleford, Margrave Church of Christ, said a prayer asking God for guidance for the city and all government and city officials.

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Travis Shelton, James Charlesworth, Venita Ballweber, Kenny Howard, Chad Brown, Jason Shackleford, Janet Braun, Shannon O’Neil, Jerry Morgan, Rachel Pruitt, Lindsay Madison, James Birket, Kevin Davidson, Clayton Miller, Darrell Parker, Frank Adamson, Paul Ballou, Rhonda Dunn, Deb Needleman, and Jason Silvers, representing the Fort Scott Tribune.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS: Introduction of new City employee – Deb Needleman, Human Resource Director introduced a new Police Officer: Kevin Davidson. He started on January 29th, 2018.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND APPROPRIATIONS/CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of January 16th, 2018

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1208-A totaling $639,873.81.

  1. Resolution 4-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure and Accessory Structure located at 1523 E. Wall Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.

  1. Resolution 5-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure and Accessory Structure located at 1601 E. Wall Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.

  1. Resolution 6-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure and Accessory Structure located at 13 N. Holbrook Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.

  1. Resolution 7-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure located at 523 S. Main Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.

  1. Resolution 8-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure located at 108 W. Oak Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.

  1. Resolution 9-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Dangerous and Unsafe Structure and Accessory Structure located at 309 S. Lowman Street – Public Hearing Date – 3/20/2018 – 6:15 p.m.

Bartelsmeyer moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED CONSENT AGENDA.

APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

  1. APPEARANCE: None

B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute

limit per citizen) – None

  1. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None

CONSIDERATION:

  1. Consideration of appointment to Fort Scott Planning Commission – one City resident – Diane Clay, City Clerk, informed the Commission that there was an opening on the Planning Commission for a City resident. There were two letters of interest received: Josh Jones and Frank Adamson. The Planning Commission met on January 22nd, 2018 and their recommendation was to approve the appointment of Josh Jones.

Parker moved to approve the appointment of Josh Jones to the Planning Commission board for a three year term. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED APPOINTMENT OF JOSH JONES TO THE FORT SCOTT PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A THREE YEAR TERM.

  1. Assignment of Charlesworth Contract – James Charlesworth appeared before the Commission and informed them that his company, Charlesworth & Associates has been in existence since 1977. On November 1st, 2017, the company sold to an insurance brokerage firm. He started Charlesworth Consulting, LLC combining the insurance consulting business and their employee benefit business into a new company. He asked for approval to change the name to Charlesworth Consulting, LLC. He will remain the City’s insurance broker. This is just an organizational name change.

Mitchell moved to approve the change of name from Charlesworth & Associates to Charlesworth Consulting, LLC. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED CHANGE OF NAME FROM CHARLESWORTH & ASSOCIATES TO CHARLESWORTH CONSULTING, LLC. AS THE CITY’S INSURANCE BROKER.

  1. Consideration of 2017 Audit Contract with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton – Jon Garrison, Director of Finance, informed the Commission that he is requesting approval of the 2017 Audit Contract with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPA’s. The cost of the audit remains the same as the previous year which is $18,300.

Bartelsmeyer moved to approve the 2017 Audit Contract in the amount of $18,300 with Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPA’s. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED 2017 AUDIT CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $18,300 WITH DIEHL, BANWART, BOLTON, CPA’S.

  1. Consideration to approve KDOT Form TRF 3 – Closeout of Downtown Brick Street and Sidewalk Replacement Project in 2010 – Jon Garrison, Director of Finance, informed the Commission that he is needing the KDOT Form TRF 3 signed by the Mayor which will close out the Downtown Brick Street and Sidewalk Replacement Project from 2010.

Bartelsmeyer moved to approve the signature of the KDOT Form TRF 3 closing out the Downtown Brick Street and Sidewalk Replacement Project from 2010. Mitchell seconded. All voted aye.

approved the signature of the KDOT Form TRF 3 closing out the Downtown Brick Street and Sidewalk Replacement Project from 2010.

  1. Consideration of increase in Woodland Hills Golf Course fees and change in membership renewal dates – Jon Garrison, Director of Finance, informed the Commission that the Golf Course Advisory Board recently met on February 1st, 2018 and discussed the fees at Woodland Hills Golf Course. Shannon O’Neil, Golf Pro Manager, had surveyed the area courses and their fees and shared them with the board. The Golf Course Advisory Board voted to recommend raising the fees to the following:

Weekday Weekend

9 hole green fees $10 to $11 $12 to $13

18 hole green fees $12 to $13 $14 to $15

Memberships: Single $400 to $440

Family (4) $550 to $595

Season Golf Cart $350 to $425

It was also recommended by the Golf Course Advisory Board to have all memberships renew on May 1st of each year. All memberships would need to be prorated this first year, and then next May all memberships would have the same renewal date.

Nichols moved to approve the increase in rates at Woodland Hills Golf Course and the change in membership renewal dates. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED INCREASE IN RATES AT WOODLAND HILLS GOLF COURSE AND THE CHANGE IN MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL DATES.

Shannon O’Neil, Golf Pro Manager, gave the Commission an update on this last year and the course. There were 9,069 golfers who played the course. There were 127 memberships sold with 90 of the memberships being single, 27 family, 6 junior and 4 with the family recreation pass. The course is listed as one of the top ten courses to play in the State of Kansas.

  1. Consideration to reject demolition bids for 1837 E. 1st – Rhonda Dunn, Community Development Director, asked the Commission to reject the demolition bids for 1837 E. 1st Street. This property has recently sold and the new owner plans to demolish the structure that is there and place a new modular home there.

Parker moved to reject the demolition bids at 1837 E. 1st Street. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO REJECT THE DEMOLITION BIDS AT 1837 E. 1ST STREET.

  1. Consideration of Tourism Center remodel bids – Dave Martin, City Manager asked the Commission to reject the two bids for remodeling the Tourism Center at 231 E. Wall. There were five contractors who attended a pre-bid meeting, but due to the big difference in the bids, it was determined that a bid specification sheet be created by Ag Engineering. This project will be re-bid after the bid specifications are created.

Bartelsmeyer moved to reject the two bids for the remodeling of the Tourism Center to be rebid at a later date. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO REJECT THE TWO BIDS FOR THE REMODEL AT THE TOURISM CENTER AT 231 E. WALL TO BE REBID AT A LATER DATE.

  1. Discussion of Utility Office hours – Deb Needleman, Human Resource Director, informed the Commission that back in September of 2017 the hours in the Utility Office were altered to 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday and the office was closed on Friday afternoons. There is quite a lot of people who want to come into City Hall and pay their utility bills on Friday afternoons and the telephone also rings a lot. She asked the Commission to allow the hours to return back to 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday effective February 26th, 2018.

Mitchell moved to move the Utility Office hours back to 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday effective February 26th, 2018. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

Approved to move the Utility office hours back to 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday effective February 26th, 2018.

  1. Consideration of tree removal from the west and south end of runway – Fort Scott Municipal Airport – Rachel Pruitt and Kenny Howard appeared before the Commission to request permission for tree removal from the west side and the south end of the Airport runway. This would be done by an in-kind donation and the City would not be out any money or time. If the Airport expansion project is approved and funded, these trees would need to be removed as part of the project. If the trees are removed at the present time, it would be before any environmentals would be needed. This is City property where the trees would be removed.

Bartelsmeyer moved to approve the removal of the trees from the west and south end of the runway. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED THE REMOVAL OF TREES FROM THE WEST AND SOUTH END OF THE RUNWAY AT THE AIRPORT FROM AN IN-KIND DONATION.

COMMISSION/STAFF:

  1. Director Updates: Paul Ballou, Fire Chief, gave the Commission an end of the year end update from 2017. They had almost 1,600 calls. There were more EMS calls and more transfers to area hospitals due to the closure of the ICU unit at Mercy. January 2018 has been very busy so far and more than 40 calls over 2017 have already occurred.

He also gave an update on the Dispatch enter and that the 1st week of March the Next Generation 911 will be installed. There are 60 to 70 centers in Kansas that are hosted through a system in Topeka. Texting to 911 will be offered also and 911 calls will be much easier to trace and follow.

Rhonda Dunn – Stout Building update – Rhonda updated the Commission and shared photos of the Stout building and the condition it is in. There are two large holes in the roof and the building is open to the elements. She received an estimate to have the roof repaired and the building boarded up and it was about $32,000. There could be some possible interest in the building and she is looking into that. Another option is demolition of the building. It is owned by the Rosalee Stout Trust. More information will be forthcoming.

Chad Brown – Chad shared photos of the City’s bucket truck. The City has two bucket trucks, one of which was donated from the County. The smaller bucket truck is used on a daily basis but is having issues with the aerial lift unit. It is costing quite a bit to repair it. He found a 2010 International C4900 truck with 176,000 on Purple Wave for $12,500 currently for bid. They actually have two of these trucks – one is a 2009 and one is a 2010 and they are both at $12,500. He asked for approval to spend up to $25,000 to purchase one of these trucks to replace the bucket truck the City currently has. The City’s current bucket truck, which is having issues with the aerial lift, will have the lift removed and the truck will be used on a daily basis as the truck is still in good condition. He and Tom Coffman, the City’s mechanic, will travel to Edmond, Oklahoma to look at the bucket truck tomorrow, February 7th, 2018.

Nichols moved to authorize up to $25,000 to be bid on the 2009 International or 2010 International bucket truck on Purple Wave. Bartelsmeyer seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO AUTHORIZE UP TO $25,000 TO BE BID ON THE 2009 INTERNATIONAL OR 2010 INTERNATIONAL BUCKET TRUCK ON PURPLE WAVE.

B. City Commission:

Adamson Nothing to report.

Bartelsmeyer Nothing to report.

Nichols Remarked that he likes the Director updates.

Parker – Asked about the stop lights at 3rd and National and if they can be changed to a four way stop.

Chad will check into this. He was waiting for warmer weather to change the intersection and 3rd at National.

Mitchell Nothing to report.

C. City Attorney: Nothing to report.

  1. Director of Finance: Remarked that he is looking at changes in the Utility billing system. The billing used to be broke out into five different billings and the City was split into four quadrants. He would like to merge all the billing into one billing group. There will be some changes made to the current ordinances before this can take place.

Jon also remarked that he and the City Manager have been having meetings with the City’s software company, Tyler Technologies, on issues we have been having.

  1. City Manager: Nothing to report.

ADJOURNMENT:

Bartelsmeyer moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:29 p.m. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

ADJOURNED MEETING AT 7:29 P.M.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is to be held on February 20th, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.

RECORDED BY:

____________________

DIANE K. CLAY

CITY CLERK

Fort Scott City Commission Meeting Agenda Feb. 20

The following is the agenda for the Fort Scott City Commission which will meet 6 p.m. Tuesday,  Feb. 20 at city hall, 123 S. Main.

The public is welcome.

I. ROLL CALL:

ADAMSON BARTELSMEYER NICHOLS PARKER MITCHELL

II. FLAG SALUTE

III. INVOCATION: Pastor Ian Johnson, Youth Minister, Community Christian Church

IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS:

Recognition of Fort Scott High School Girls Wrestling Team

Introduction of new City employees

V. CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of February 6th, 2018.

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1209-A totaling $320,132.82.

  1. Approval of Archer Daniels Midland Agreement – purchase of treated wastewater from City of Fort Scott

  1. Certificate of Appropriateness – Installation of Bicycle Racks in downtown area

  1. Certificate of Appropriateness – Approval of final Gordon Parks sign to be installed on Iron Star Building

VI. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

  1. APPEARANCE: None

B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute limit per citizen) –

  1. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS: None

VII. CONSIDERATION:

  1. Consideration of zoning change – A change of zoning from R-2 (Medium Density Residential District) to MU (Mixed Use District) – For Tract #1 at 1907 S. Horton – Approval of Ordinance No. 3530

  1. Consideration of Zoning change – A change of zoning from R-2 (Medium Density Residential District) to R-3 (High Density Residential District) for Tract #2 at 1920 S. Huntington – Approval of Ordinance No. 3531

  1. Consideration of playhouse placement

  1. Consideration of Fitness Equipment purchase – Buck Run Community Center

  1. Consideration of Natural Gas Supply Agreement with Constellation for Memorial Hall and the Public Works building

VIII. COMMENTS:

  1. Director Updates:
  1. Commission:
  1. City Attorney:
  1. Director of Finance:
  1. 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:

  • 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

Correction On Joe Banker Case

Officials met yesterday to redo a sentencing that brought it into compliance with the law.

Lawyers and Judge Amy Harth met in the small courtroom of the Bourbon County Courthouse Thursday morning to correct a sentencing error in the case of the State of Kansas VS Joseph  Banker.

Bourbon County Attorney Jackie Spradling and Defense Attorney Chris Meek met with Judge Harth via teleconference, with defendentJoseph Banker also present in the courtroom.

At the earlier sentencing on Feb. 2,   all parties gave statements regarding the sexual exploitation of a child charges against Banker, Harth said.

“Everything everyone said was taken into account,” Harth said. “It was compelling.”

At that time Judge Harth sentenced Banker to 60 months probation.

Meek, Spradling, and Harth have been corresponding via email since the sentencing, Meek said.

“Judge Harth gave the wrong probation during the sentencing (Feb.2),” Meek said in an interview earlier this week. “It should have been 36 months for probation and the post-release supervision is 60 months.”

Spradling agreed that Judge Harth inadvertently put 60 months probation, and the sentence should have been 36 months.

“I realized within five minutes of the mistake that day,” Judge Harth told the two attorneys Thursday. “The previous order was void. I am correcting it. ”

To view prior stories:

Banker Sentenced To 36 Months Probation

Court Hears From Mental Health Professionals in Banker Case

Banker Pleads No Contest

 

 

 

Lt. Governor Mann Visits Ft. Scott Munitions

Fort Scott Munitions President Robbie Forester, left, along with City of Fort Scott Community Development Director Rhonda Dunn greet Lt. Governor Tracey Mann Thursday morning in front of the business.. In the background from left is Office of the Governor’s Communication and Policy Specialist Daniel Seitz, and Kansas Director of Legislative Affairs Tim Shallenger. Behind Mann is David Soffer, special assistant to the Governor.

Lt. Governor Tracey Mann began his day in Fort Scott Thursday morning.

The newly appointed Kansas Lt. Governor went on a statewide tour, including two stops in Southeast Kansas.

Mann met with employees of Fort Scott Munitions, 523 E. Wall, for a tour of the business.

Fort Scott Munitions President Robbie Forester told FortScott.Biz the governor’s office requested the meeting with the business.

Fort Scott city officials Dave Martin,  Rhonda Dunn, and Rachel Pruitt came to greet the lt. governor’s entourage.

To the employees of the business and the city officials, Mann said the focus of the newly formed team of Governor Jeff Colyer is “reform, jobs, and education.”

Communication and Policy Specialist Daniel Seitz said the tour is to visit small businesses and some community colleges to talk about Governor Colyer’s vision for Kansas’ future.

Following a short tour of the business, the entourage headed south to Columbus to view Crossland Construction Co.

Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin, right, walks with Lt. Governor Tracey Mann into Fort Scott Munitions Thursday morning.
Lt. Governor Tracey Mann listens to Ryan Kraft during a tour of Fort Scott Munitions Thursday morning. Kraft created the business.

To learn more about Fort Scott Munitions:

Velocity Tactics holds Grand Opening of Wall Street storefront

Fort Scott Munitions Consolidating Name

About Mann

Mann was selected Feb. 13 to be Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer’s Lt. Governor.

Tracey Mann is the managing director and principal of Newmark Grubb Zimmer, a commercial real estate company headquartered in Kansas City. Prior to this, Mann served as senior program director for the National Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values, according to a press release.

Mann has previously served on the board of directors for the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership (KARL) program and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.  He is also a board member of the City Teen Center, a non-profit educational facility serving children in Salina.

Tracey Mann is a fifth-generation Kansan from Quinter, Kansas.  He regularly returns to work on the family farm.

He earned a degree in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University in 2000, where he also served as Student Body President. In 1997, Tracey served as Jerry Moran’s first intern in Washington, DC.

Tracey, his wife, Audrey and their four children live in Salina, Kansas.

Governor Colyer Announces Tracey Mann of Salina as Lieutenant Governor

Topeka – Governor Jeff Colyer today announced the selection of Tracey Mann to serve as Kansas Lieutenant Governor.

“I am pleased that Tracey has agreed to join our team as Lieutenant Governor”, said Colyer. “Tracey has been a leader on economic development and rural issues in Kansas for years, and I am excited to bring those skills to our team. Tracey truly knows what it means to listen, serve and lead.”

“I look forward to working with him in the weeks and months ahead to usher in a new day in Kansas politics and serve the people of this great state.”

Tracey Mann commented that he was impressed with Governor Colyer’s willingness to lead, saying “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve as Lieutenant Governor for Dr. Colyer. Over the years, I’ve been impressed with his willingness to serve as a leader on the hard issues.

“Governor Colyer’s track record shows he doesn’t shy away from tackling the difficult problems. I am excited to join him in serving the people of Kansas as we focus on reform, jobs and education.”

Kansas Farm Bureau CEO, Terry Holdren, added his endorsement of Mann as the new Lt. Governor, saying “Kansas farmers and ranchers, as the backbone of the state’s economy and heritage, expect good leadership from friends in positions across government,” said Holdren, “Tracey Mann is both a good friend of Kansas agriculture and a great leader. We look forward to working with him in this new role.”

Tracey Mann is the managing director and principal of Newmark Grubb Zimmer, a full service commercial real estate company headquartered in Kansas City. Before joining Newmark Grubb Zimmer, Mann served as senior program director for the National Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values.

Mann has previously served on the board of directors for the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership (KARL) program and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.  He is also a board member of the City Teen Center, a non-profit educational facility serving children in Salina.

Tracey Mann is a fifth-generation Kansan from Quinter, Kansas.  He regularly returns to work on the family farm. He earned a degree in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University in 2000, where he also served as Student Body President. In 1997, Tracey served as Jerry Moran’s first intern in Washington, DC.

Tracey, his wife, Audrey and their four children live in Salina, Kansas.

 

Fort Scott City Offices Closed Feb. 19

The City of Fort Scott City Offices will be closed on Monday, February 19th, 2018 in observance of the President’s Day holiday. The offices will reopen on Tuesday, February 20th, 2018.

The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Saturday, February 17th, 2018 for the President’s Day holiday. It will be open again on Tuesday, February 20th, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Woodland Hills Golf Course Board To Seek Fee Increase

Woodland Hills Golf Course Advisory Board, from left clockwise: Fort Scott City Clerk Diane Clay, John Leek, Kenneth Holt, Shannon O’Neil, Jon Kindlesparger, Steve Harry, Mitch Quick and Jon Garrison. The board had its quarlerly meeting Feb. 1 at the clubhouse.

The Woodland Hills Golf Course Advisory Board met Feb. 1 at the course clubhouse.

On the agenda was raising revenue for the course.

“It’s a good golf course,” Shannon O’Neil, clubhouse manager said. “Greens fees, we are 50 cents less than Girard, a couple bucks less than Four Oaks. ”

“We are trying to catch up with area courses,” Jon Kindlesparger, golf course superintendent said in a later interview.

“The season cart (rental) is the biggest discrepancy,” O’Neil said. When a large group plays they’ll all have one cart,  he noted

O’Neil said renting  a cart is a good deal for the golfers.

“It’s just like having your own cart, (but) based on availability. I can’t promise a cart in a tournament,” he said.

Currently, the golf cart season rental fee is $350 per year.

Following discussion by the board, it will seek approval from the city to raise the fee to $425.

Additional fee increases, if approved by the city commission:

Nine-hole greens fees will increase from $10 to $11, weekday; weekend fees from $12 to $15.

Single memberships will increase from  $400 to $440; family memberships (a family of four) from $550 to $595.

Staff of the golf course will attend Tuesdays Fort Scott City Commission meeting to seek approval for fee increases. Pictured are the current prices.

O’Neil said he would like to change the procedure for memberships.

“I’d like to have them due all at the same time,” he said. “If all are due at a certain date, as a business I can see if what we are doing is growing the business. It’s easier from a management perspective.  I’d like May 1 to be the (renewal) date.”

Jon Garrison, finance director for the City of Fort Scott agreed with the proposal and said it would be pro-rated the initial year.

The city owns the approximately 148- acre golf course.

O’Neil and  Kindlesparger were asked by Garrison to attend the next city commission meeting, Feb. 6 to seek approval of the fee increases.

Another item on the agenda was the new golf cart barn that is in the preliminary stage.

Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, is the firm hired to design the barn.

“I hope he gets the specs together, then we can go out to bid with it,” Garrison said.

“I hope it will be constructed this spring,” O’Neil said in a later interview.  “It will be a Morton Pole Barn. We’ll house 30 rental carts. We’ll sell 10 season cart passes a year.”

The barn will be located straight north of the clubhouse, “where the old clubhouse used to be,” O’Neil said.

Some of the statistics for the course:

There are 127 memberships.

There were 9,100 rounds of golf played on the course last year, of those, 5,100 were played by members, 4,000 were green fee rounds.

There are three full-time employees, six part-time employees during the season which runs April through October.

The new clubhouse was completed in February 2016.

There are 25 tournaments a year.

Uniontown and Fort Scott High Schools play at the course.

“We are unique here, a member of those golf teams can play here for free,” O’Neil said.

Fort Scott Community College is starting a girls golf program this year and will play at Woodland Hills, as well, he said.

The board is comprised of Steve Harry, Kenneth Holt, John Leek, Mitch Quick and Jeff Sweetser.

The board meets quarterly or as needed.

“We’ve got a good board,” Garrison said. “They use the course.”

“They are emotionally and financially invested,” O’Neil said.