Category Archives: Government

Government, Kansas

KDHE Looks At Accomplishments

Leave a comment

KDHE Looks Back at Accomplishments in 2018, Looks Forward to 2019

Areas include Public Health, Environment and Health Care Finance

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is looking forward to 2019 and looking back at some of its accomplishments in 2018.

 

“We made great strides in a number of areas,” said Secretary Jeff Andersen. “KDHE’s Divisions of Public Health, Environment and Health Care Finance all had great achievements of which the citizens of Kansas can be proud. We look forward to continuing that work in the coming year.”

 

Some of the achievements at KDHE included:

 

Public Health

  • Launching the Maternal Mortality Review which includes a review committee focused on implementing a comprehensive review of maternal and pregnancy-associated mortality.
  • Helping to organize and lead the Governor’s Substance Use Disorder Task Force chaired by KDHE Chief Medical Officer Dr. Greg Lakin, presenting a series of proposals to the Governor to combat the opioid epidemic in 2019 and beyond.
  • Introducing the “Count the Kicks” stillbirth prevention initiative with over 326 expectant Kansas mothers having downloaded and used the free CTK app.
  • The KDHE Office of Vital Statistics making birth certificates available online with the PayIt app and opening its new office in Topeka with increased space for customers and a new registration system on the way in early 2019.

 

Environment

  • Coordinating its Dry Cleaner Remediation Program, connecting 209 homes to city water in the Haysville area and coordinating with the City of Haysville to complete the design and installation of 8.7 miles of new city water main.
  • Initiating its Private Well Water campaign, including an instructional video for homeowners to properly take a water sample for nitrates and total coliform, a webpage, a public service announcement, flyer and social media infographics.
  • Assisting in the aftermath of natural disasters including the tornadoes in Eureka and flooding in many counties across the state.
  • Monitoring our rivers, streams, lakes and ponds for harmful algal blooms.

 

Health Care Finance

  • Approval of the state’s 1115 waiver extension application granting the state of Kansas the authority to operate KanCare, the state’s managed care program.
  • Awarding a new MCO contract to Aetna and holding statewide KanCare education meetings to explain the changes that will occur in 2019.
  • Effective Jan. 1, 2019, handling training and quality at the KanCare Clearinghouse for Medicaid eligibility. Effective, July 1, 2019, the state will take over responsibilities for the processing of elderly and disabled applications.

“These are only a few of our accomplishments during 2018,” said Secretary Andersen. “In 2019 we look forward to building on these and all of the areas KDHE addresses to follow our mission to protect and improve the health and environment of all Kansans.”

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Jan. 2

Leave a comment

Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

Date: January 2nd, 2019

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

10:00-10:30-Lora Holdridge and Clint Anderson-Executive Session-Non elected personnel-20 min.

11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks

Executive Session-Privileged in the attorney-client relationship-15 min.

Ambulance-EMS CLIA Application

12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch

1:30-Resolutions for 2019

Government, Kansas

Kansas Water Authority Approves 2019 Surplus Water Report

Leave a comment

Recently the Kansas Water Authority (KWA) met in Wichita for their December meeting. The KWA received updates on water priorities in the state but two main topics were the focus: 2019 Surplus Water Report and the Annual Report to the Governor and Legislature.

 

The KWA received updates on vital water projects and issues in the state including current interstate compacts, the Kansas Water Reservoir Protection Initiative, Harmful Algal Blooms as well as the Water Technology Farms.

The KWA approved the 2019 Surplus Water Report, and agreed to allow the Kansas Water Office to enter into Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Kansas River Reservoirs Flood and Sediment Study.

The KWA approved the 2019 Annual Report to the Governor and Legislature and they also heard a presentation regarding non-public household water wells. The host was American AgCredit and the lunch was sponsored by KITS and 96 Agri Sales.

 

The KWA is responsible for advising the Governor, Legislature and Director of the Kansas Water Office on water policy issues.

They also ensure that water policies and programs address the needs of all Kansans as well as serve as advisors of the Kansas Water Vision and Kansas Water Plan.

The KWA was established in 1981 and consists of 13 voting members who are appointed by the Governor or Legislative leadership. State agency directors serve as ex-officio members.

 

The next meeting will be in Topeka, Kansas in January. The KWA meetings are throughout the year and for additional information and other upcoming meetings, visit www.kwo.ks.gov.

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Is Moving Forward To Retain and Expand

Leave a comment
Jody Hoenor, Bourbon County Economic Director.

Bourbon County Economic Director Jody Hoener is working on a strategic plan.

“The overall economic development goal is to increase the tax base and lower taxes,” Hoener said. “I’ve been looking at ways to increase the population, looking at strategic activities and programs.”

“I’ve been putting together a strategic plan for the county,” she said. “It’s a process though. I’ve had talks with business and community members.”

“We will partner with the Chamber of Commerce to complete a business retention and expansion survey,” she said.

She hopes to be able to engage and fit small, medium and large businesses in the strategic plan.

Bourbon County Collaboration To Replace Ambulance Service

Bourbon County residents were stunned when Mercy Hospital Fort Scott announced that they would be closing Dec. 31.

Since then Hoenor, along with other county and city officials, have been collaborating on the retention of an ambulance service to fill the void following the closure of the hospital.

The Bourbon County Emergency Medical Services ambulances will be stationed where they currently are: one station at the Fort Scott Fire Department downtown and one station at the Mercy location south of town, Hoenor said.  Mercy donated four ambulance trucks.

“The idea is and the current understanding is that the current employees (will keep their job),” she said.

Mercy will be running the EMS until April 1, when the branding and signage will change, Hoener said.

“It’s been pretty fast, everybody understands the strong urgency to it,” she said.

Hoener’s office is located in the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National Avenue and  she can be reached at 620-223-3800 or mobile 620-215-5725 or www.bourboncountyks.org

 

 

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Dec. 27

Leave a comment

Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Date: December 27th, 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

10:00-11:00-2018 Budget Amendment Meeting

11:00-12:00-Justin Meeks

Executive Session-Privileged in the attorney-client relationship-15 min.

Ambulance-EMS CLIA Application

12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch

1:30-1:45-Liquor License

2:00-2:30-Bill Martin-Executive Session- Regarding Confidential Data-30 min.

Fort Scott, Government

Fort Scott Christmas Tree Disposal Pick Up Dates

Leave a comment

The City of Fort Scott Public Works Department will be picking up discarded Christmas trees at no charge for City residents again this year. The pickup dates will occur on Friday, December 28th, 2018, Friday, January 4th, 2019, Friday, January 11th, 2019, Friday, January 18th, 2019 and Friday, January 25th, 2019.

The Public Works Department asks that you place the tree at the curbside off the street and call City Hall at 223-0550 with your address and name to schedule the pickup.

The discarded trees will be used to enhance fish and wildlife habitat in the City owned water structure properties.

Fort Scott, Government

City Offices Closed For New Years

Leave a comment

The City of Fort Scott Administrative offices will be closed on Tuesday, January 1st, 2019 in observance of the New Year’s Day Holiday. The regular offices will reopen on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019.

The City’s tree and brush dump site located on North Hill will also be closed on Saturday, December 29th, 2018 for the New Year’s holiday. It will be open again on Thursday, January 3rd, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Government, Kansas

WIC Stays Open: Potential Government Shutdown

Leave a comment

Kansas WIC Program Would Remain Open During Potential Federal Government Shutdown

350 Kansas stores would continue to process WIC transactions

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is letting citizens know that if the Federal Government shuts down on Friday, Dec. 21, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program would continue to operate. This would include providing nutritional food benefits, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referral services. WIC is the USDA funded nutrition program for low-income pregnant women, infants and children from birth to age 5.

 

“All eligible participants would continue to receive WIC benefits and new applicants would be certified and receive benefits,” said Rachel Sisson, MS, Director of the KDHE Bureau of Family Health. “There are 350 stores in Kansas authorized to provide WIC foods to clients. During a shutdown, all stores would continue to process WIC transactions and would continue to be paid for food purchased by WIC participants.”

 

The WIC program is administered by KDHE through contracts with county health departments. There are 120 county WIC clinics in Kansas where eligible participants may apply for services.

 

Information about the Kansas WIC program is located on the web at www.kansaswic.org.

Fort Scott, Government

State of the City of Fort Scott

Leave a comment
Dave Martin, Fort Scott City Manager

Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin gave the attendees of the Chamber of Commerce weekly coffee an update on the 2018 happenings in the city on Dec. 20.

“We got a lot accomplished in 2018,” Martin said. “We had some things thrown at us, but I think we stepped up to the plate.”

The following, provided by Martin, are the completed projects that were a high priority:

 

Tourism:

The city welcomed more than 5,500 visitors to the new tourism office at the office shared with the Chamber of Commerce, 445 visitor tours on Dolly the Trolley since July, a new lavender festival event, a new Boos and Brews Event,  a new Veteran’s Weekend Celebration, the assumption of operations at the La Roche Complex and a Division 1 World Series proposal, the county law change on 30 percent food requirements allowed for the local microbrewery business.

Emergency services:

The city installed the Nex Gen Att and Hosted ITI at the police and fire department, signed a contract with the county to collaborate on Emergency Medical Services and will provide the Human Resource assistance with the services,  and added a police K-9 unit with no impact to the budget.

Human Resources:

As of December 2018, there are 97 full-time and 29 part-time employees of the City of Fort Scott. There are monthly KMU training sessions and continued education for all departments. The city is working with Craw-Kan Telephone on a phased upgrade to the IT infrastructure.  The city provided a physical activity initiative for its employees and also updated the employee handbook. The city provided an FSA vendor administration transition.

There are four city personnel retirements: Jon Garrison on Sept. 9, Kenny Howard on Dec. 28, Johnny Keating on Jan. 3. 2019, and Shaun West on Dec. 20. There will be a reception for Howard on Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. at city hall and reception for Keating on Jan 3 at 2 p.m. at the fire station.

Promotions this year: Rhonda Dunn to Director of Finance, Jerry Morgan to Streets Supervisor, Jason Pickert to Police Captain, Jacob May and Clint Roberts to Fire Dept. Captain, Alex Schafer, and Clint Lawrence to FSFD Lieutenant Reserves to full-time.

Dav Mohler and Cody McGehee graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.

New employees are Robert Uhler, Director of Community Development; Seth Simpson, airport manager; Bill Rost, WWC maintenance.

Those who have taken the Certified Public Manager designation, a program to prepare managers for careers in government: 2001-Dave Martin, 2014-Paul Ballou, 2015-Travis Shelton, 2016-Dave Bruner, and Traci Reed, 2017-Jason Pickert, 2018-Chad Brown and Larry Gazaway, 2019-Robert Uhler and Michael Mix.

Streets and streets:

The city spent $200,000 on streets in 2018.

The 2018 Sidewalk, Curb and Gutter Program approved six grants in the amount of $12,000 with  owner investment of $24,595.

Water utility:

The city maintained 220 miles of water and sewer lines, including 3,100 water connections, rebuilt pump no. 1 and the Fort Scott Community College booster update,  added pickleball court lighting, generator load bank, and valve leash, PACP Certification, Vactor training from Key Equipment, added GIS map update, announced refusal to accept grease loads, and provided multiple repairs to the sanitary sewer system.

Community Amenities:

There was a new public golf cart shed constructed, expansion of Craw-Kan Telephone Cooperative fiber network and updates at Lake Fort Scott.

Finance/Codes:

There were 309 building permits issued for revenue of $8,340.

The number of codes cases resulting in a letter or ticket was 473. There were 27 demolition projects: nine were torn down by the city at a cost of $31,043; ten were torn down by the owner which saved $35,000; four were owner repaired;  four are in process.

The three officers and director have achieved Kansas Certified  Code Enforcement Officer status.

Community Development:

A Fort Scott Landbank was established.

A new direction is being taken by the Food Alliance, with the possibility of a community food bank.

A healthcare task force was formed between the city and Bourbon County.

Economic Development:

Business assistance for relocation, expansion and new businesses was provided by Bourbon County Economic Develpment Council.

A City of Fort Scott Five-Year Comprehensive Plan was approved.

The city reapplied for Kansas Housing Tax Credits to support redevelopment of the Union Building, downtown. This project will add much-needed housing for the workforce.

The city approved nine Downtown Building Improvement Grants totaling $38,904 with an owner investment of $54,898.

The airport revenue increased 75-percent in jet fuel sales from 2017 to 2018.  The airport received $286,522 in Kansas Dept. of Transportation Aviation Grants from the Ks. Airport Improvement Program. Grants were completed for future airport expansion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Area News, Government, Kansas

KDOT requesting comments on Transportation Improvement Program Amendment

Leave a comment

 

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) requests comments on an amendment to the FFY 2019-2022 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) document.

The STIP is a project specific publication that lists all KDOT administered projects, regardless of funding source, and includes projects for counties and cities as well as projects on the State Highway System. The list of projects being amended to the STIP can be viewed at http://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burProgProjMgmt/stip/stip.asp

The approval of the STIP amendment requires a public comment period, which concludes Jan. 2, 2019. To make comments on the amendment, contact KDOT’s Bureau of Program and Project Management at (785) 296-2252.

This information is available in alternative accessible formats. To obtain an alternative format, contact the KDOT Office of Public Affairs, (785) 296-3585 (Voice/Hearing Impaired-711).

Government, Kansas

Hilderbrand Files To Prevent Transfers From Highway Fund

Leave a comment

KANSAS SENATOR RICHARD HILDERBRAND FILES SCR 1601

TO PREVENT THE TRANSFERS FROM THE STATE HIGHWAY FUND

GALENA- Senator Richard Hilderbrand (R-Galena) pre-files SCR 1601to prevent transfers and limit expenditures from the state highway fund to only those items related to transportation set forth in the amendment.

“The state of Kansas has swept $3.35 billion from the state highway fund over the last several years. This last fiscal year the state swept over $290 million. This has left a devastating effect on not only the safety but the long-term economic impact of our great state.

The state of Kansas currently has 25 T-Works projects delayed because of a lack of funding. The total cost to fund those 25 projects would be $553 million. In just two years after this bill becomes law, all 25 of those T-Works projects could be funded.

We must stop robbing from Peter to pay Paul, and bring fiscal accountability back to Kansas!

I will continue to work hard in Topeka to continue infrastructure investments in Southeast Kansas, to encourage growth and allow us to remain competitive throughout the state and entire nation.”