Category Archives: Government

Fort Scott, Government

Fort Scott City Commission Meeting Agenda Feb. 20

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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

Bourbon County, Government

Correction On Joe Banker Case

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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

 

 

 

Area News, Business, Fort Scott, Government

Lt. Governor Mann Visits Ft. Scott Munitions

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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.

Area News, Government

Governor Colyer Announces Tracey Mann of Salina as Lieutenant Governor

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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, Government

Fort Scott City Offices Closed Feb. 19

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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.

Bourbon County, Government, Submitted

Agenda For Bourbon County Commission Feb. 6

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The Bourbon County Commissioners meet on the 2nd floor of the courthouse, 210 S. National, Fort Scott at 9 a.m. Tuesdays.

This is the February 6, 2018 agenda.

9:00-9:45-Jim Harris– Road Repair Cost & Bridge Information/Funding

9:30-Wavier and release from liability Garland Township-Justin Meeks 

10:30–11:00-Public Hearing-Re: possible Quarry Site 

11:00-Justin Meeks-Attorney Client Executive Session for 20 minutes to review legal  documents

11:15-Compensation Schedule-incentive pay

11:25-Executive Session for 5 minutes for Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisitions of real property

11:30-12:00-Information concerning old jail

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

1:00-2:00-Looking at bridge at 120th and Grand-3 Commissioners and Jim Harris

2:00-Lora Holdridge-Chamber Book

2:30-Executive Session for Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel-30 minute additional time if needed.

  Contract for ambulance services review

20 minute Executive Session for Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel.

1st District Commissioner is Lynne Oharah,2nd District-Jeff Fischer, 3rd District-Nick Ruhl, County Clerk-Kendell Mason.

 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

 

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Government

Woodland Hills Golf Course Board To Seek Fee Increase

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Government, Submitted

Highlights Of Fort Scott City Agenda For Feb. 6

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The following are highlights of the agenda for the Fort Scott City Commission to be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 6. at city hall, 123 S. Main.

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.

Items to be considered by the commission:

  1. Consideration of appointment to Fort Scott Planning Commission – one city resident
  1. Assignment of Charlesworth Contract
  1. Consideration of 2017 Audit Contract with Diehl, Banwart Bolton

  1. Consideration to approve KDOT Form TRF 3 – Closeout of Downtown Brick Street and Sidewalk Replacement Project in 2010

  1. Consideration of increase in Woodland Hills Golf Course fees and change in membership renewal dates

  1. Consideration to reject demolition bids for 1837 E. 1st
  1. Consideration of Tourism center upgrade bids
  1. Discussion of Utility Office hours
  1. Consideration of tree removal from west and south end of runway – Fort Scott Municipal Airport

Paul Ballou with Rhonda Dunn will give an update on the Stout Building.

To see the full agenda which includes minutes and financials click here:

2-6-2018 agenda packet

 

 

 

 

 

Area News, Government, Submitted

Gov. Colyer Scheduled To Stop In Pittsburg Feb. 2

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Governor Colyer will be making stops in locations across the state on a local media tour discussing his vision for Kansas.

On  Friday, February 2 at 10:30am-11:30am  he will be at Turner’s Coffee and donuts, 405 N Main Street, El Dorado, KS

At 12:15pm-12: 45 pm, Big Cheese Pizza, 103 W Main St, Independence, KS

At 2:00pm-2: 30 pm Signet Coffee Roaster, 109 N Broadway, Pittsburg, KS

On Saturday, February 3 at   9:15am-9: 30 am, Ad Astra Books and Coffee, 141 N Santa Fe Avenue, Salina, KS

At  10:45am-11: 15 am, Craft Coffee Parlor, 120 N Main St, McPherson, KS

At 12:00pm-12: 30 pm, Allie’s Deli, 101 N Main Street, Hutchinson, KS

At 2:30pm-3: 00 pm, Traditions Soda and Sandwich, 121 Grant Avenue, Garden City, KS

At 5:00pm-5: 30 pm, Gravel City Roasters, 608 Commercial Street, Emporia, KS

Area News, Government

Jeff Colyer Sworn In As Governor This Afternoon

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Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. was sworn in as the 47th governor of Kansas at 3 p.m. today in the Capitol rotunda in Topeka, accompanied by First Lady Ruth Colyer and their daughters, Serena and Dominique. Governor Colyer attended mass in Hays this morning with his classmates from Thomas More Prep-Marian High School. He then visited West Side Alternative School, which is also in Hays.

Governor Colyer said, “This public school is a unique partnership with the High Plains Mental Health Center that ensures special needs kids have the same opportunities for success as any other Kansan.”

When asked about his inauguration, Governor Colyer said, “Throughout my life, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to serve in a variety of ways including as a doctor, humanitarian and lieutenant governor. I’m excited to begin serving Kansans in an even greater way today as the governor of this beautiful state.”

Dr. Colyer is a fifth-generation Kansan from Hays who is dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives on the personal, state, national and international level. Over the last 25 years, Dr. Colyer has volunteered, as a surgeon, in dangerous war zones such as Afghanistan, Iraq, the Balkans, Libya, and Africa. He was an International Medical Corps volunteer and the only surgeon in southern Rwanda during the genocide that killed 800,000 people.

Dr. Colyer also served as a White House Fellow under President Ronald Reagan and President George H.W. Bush in international affairs.