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City Works to Replenish Water to Marmaton River From Lake Fort Scott
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TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund announced today that Kansas has been awarded $40 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury for a new program, the Capital Projects Fund Accelerator (CPF Accelerator). The program will provide local communities with funding to build or renovate multi-purpose facilities that create new licensed child care slots and provide Kansans access to high-speed internet for digital work, health, and education supports.
“The Capital Projects Fund Accelerator Grant program is another example of how my administration is finding new ways to expand access to affordable, quality child care and other essential community services,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “This grant opportunity will enable more communities to work with local businesses to meet a pressing need for Kansas families.”
In June 2023, the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund’s Child Care Capacity Accelerator awarded more than $43 million to 52 organizations and partnerships across Kansas. The new CPF Accelerator grant opportunity builds on that momentum by providing prospective grantees a new funding source for the construction, renovation, or rehabilitation of community facilities and other capital improvement for community-driven projects and programs. This funding is the latest effort to support the state’s rapidly growing work in early childhood and boost communities in scaling up their facilities to serve families and children.
“The Capital Projects Fund Accelerator is another exciting chance to invest in the infrastructure needed to increase access to affordable, high-quality childcare as well as a full range of programs and services to help families meet basic needs,” said Melissa Rooker, Executive Director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund. “The Kansas Children’s Cabinet is proud to continue our work to champion community-driven solutions to the multi-faceted challenges facing families with young children today.”
The RFP is available here, with two submission deadline options. The first-round application deadline is Oct. 2, 2023, and the second-round deadline is Dec. 18, 2023. The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund encourages applicants to decide which deadline is appropriate for their project as there is no advantage or consequence in applying by either deadline. Applications will be submitted online via the Kansas CommonApp portal.
Kansas was previously awarded $83.5 million from the Capital Projects Fund to build reliable broadband infrastructure and extend high-speed internet to more than 24,500 homes, businesses, schools, health care facilities, and other public institutions in underserved counties across the state. A portion of Kansas’ $40 million award for the CPF Accelerator will be used to assist in the administration of the program. Combined with the Child Care Capacity Accelerator Grant programs, these two funding opportunities will infuse more than $83 million into Kansas’ early childhood care and education sector.
Click here to learn more about the Capital Projects Fund Accelerator.
Wishing Kansans a Happy Labor Day
Kansas is home to hard workers and major industries that support agriculture, aviation, health, science and more across our nation and the world. Thank you to all who contribute to make Kansas a great state to work, live and raise a family.
Miles Across Kansas
While traveling across Kansas during the August Work Period, I added almost 6600 miles to my truck. Thank you to all the Kansans I met with during my time back home.
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The local historic depiction of the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry Regiment is completed.
The mural faces the Fort Scott National Historic Site, the place of the mustering of the regiment during the American Civil War.
St. Louis artist Cbabi Bayoc worked on the mural for a week in August with temperatures over 100 degrees.
“The project took six days to complete,” Bayoc said in an interview. “I started spray painting the sketch on Monday and made final touches on it Saturday afternoon. The only long day was Wednesday which was crucial in getting it done on schedule.”
He worked from afternoon to evening because of the location of the mural on the north side of the building. That week of August 2023 the community experienced over 100 degrees daily.
“The heat was a definite factor,” Bayoc said. “It cut my days shorter than I am used to spending on murals of this scale. Also the rail and the steps made for some interesting body maneuvering to get the soldier on the left and the banner bottom middle done.”
Bayoc describes his work and its meaning.
“I chose the soldier with the flag because black folks always hoped going to battle for the country would gain their rights and respect as citizens,” he said. “The ad (To Arms! To Arms!) was crucial because putting guns in the hands of black soldiers was crucial to the (Civil War/slavery) times and foreshadowed their being the first regiment to see battle. I like the line created by the rifle and what it adds to the design. Their name and regiment number flank the left side and of course, elements from the battalion flag provide the backdrop.”
The public is invited to join the “Free To Serve” mural unveiling on Friday, October 6 from 4 to 4:30 p.m.
“We will veil the mural before out-of-town guests arrive for the Gordon Parks celebration for a more grand reveal, but until then the mural is available to be photographed,” Rachel French, coordinator of the project for the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Downtown Division said.
The Kansas Department of Commerce Office of Rural Prosperity awarded funding for the project, along with several local benefactors.
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Tiger Cheer! |
Front Row, sitting, from left: Ava Johnson; Katlyn Parker; Julia Maloun; Kinley Dillow; Jerri Smith Middle Row, kneeling, from left: Camrie Hunziker; Sadie Claypool; Emilly Moore; Jaidyn Crumby; Anna Farrington; Molly Claypool Back Row, from left: Elsa Bishop; Maddi Cook; Jocelyn Fess; Carsen Allen; Mesa Casper; Cadence Hunziker; Emersyn Logue; Gabbi Majors |
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Front Row: Assistant Coaches Brennen Feeback; Josh Messer; Alvin Metcalf; Jared Martin Back Row: Assistant Coach Adam Clements; Head Coach Bo Graham; Assistant Coach Matt Glades |
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Front Row, from left: Lennox Vann; Ty Marbery; Caden Bradley; Chase Hyer; Jasper Allison; Jacob Snyder; Cal Cosens; Cedrik Martin; Dub Chipman; Colton Rogers Second Row, from left: J.C. Gross; Morgan Shaw; Brody Gomez; Luke Harris; Jaden Garcia; Peyton Stowell; Eli Martin; Brady Messer; Malaki Cady; Nolan Madison; Landon Hill Third Row, from left: Donald Morris; Ryder Newton; Adam Wright; Chandler Bybee; Terrance Lee; Trace Metcalf; Dexter Williams; Wesley Cox; Blake Tomasi; Chris Belcher; Dayton Fly Middle Row, from left: Noah Miles; Mason Crume; Jacob Adams; Kaden Cannon; Gavin Miles; Maddox Robinson; Drayke Wood; Mason Smith; Teegan Stiles; Jacob Olive; Kassen Woods; Grace Anderson, manager Fifth Row, from left: Cooper Wilson; Cohen Bradley; Ostin Harrington; Gavin Griffiths; Daymeion Anderson; Treyton Valentine; Matt Weston; Shai Kennedy; Cohen Glessner; Maverick Cooper; Kaylee Coover, manager Sixth Row, from left: Sullivan Gonzalez; Lane Laird; Colson Gulager; Paxton Allen; Eli Lindo; Malike Bassett; Anthony Mitchell; Joseph Moberg; Skyler Goodbody; Aubrey Martin, manager |
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Varsity Lady Tiger Volleyball! |
Front Row, kneeling from left: Eden Haught; Hadlee Tuck; Hadley Forester; Raveyn Kegler; Avery Stewart Back Row: Head Coach Terra Kegler; Dakota Hazelbaker; Keegan Yarick; Kylee Comstock; Sydney Pruitt; Brylie Shaub; Assistant Coach Kevin Flanner |
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Junior Varsity Lady Tiger Volleyball! |
Front row, kneeling from left: Anna Farrington; Jillian Belcher; Kynlee Hampton; Mallorie Hall; Molly Hoyt; Gracin Pitts; Raylee Cowan Back row, standing from left: Rhyla Lewis; Jacee Rogers; Makayna Woody; Tuesday Glessner; Kinsey Simons; Aubrey Yarick; Simran Caldwell; Sadie Claypool; JV Coach Selena Alvarado |
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Front Row, sitting from left: manager Gabby Rusk; Brodie Wright; Deven Coulter; Maxi Leon; Junior Montanez; Andrew Lyon; Malachi Larsen; Tekoah Russell; Nicole Layton; managers Kenna Miles and Cadence Hull Second Row, kneeling from left: manager Lauren Hull; Aidan Tate; Alexis Daly; Addisyn Coon; Kaydan Russell; Nate Mintz; Bryson Bassett; Otto Voller; Joseph Joyce; Levi Fairchild; Jacob Eisenbrandt; manager JoDee Pollock Standing, from left: Raj Gugnani; Zaida Summers; Daxton Wyatt; Vladimir Clark; Aden Koppa; Kellen Pool; Lizzy Fairchild; Gabby Judson; Rayne Soverns; April Mayes; Ella Moore; Assistant Coach Shaunn Pytlowany and Head Coach Gary Floyd II |
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Tiger Cross Country! |
Front Row, seated from left: Jessie Harper; Alyssa Popp; Sofeea Anderson; Jocelyn Fess; Kodi Casper Middle Row, kneeling from left: Mason Mumbower; Josh Woellhof; Gavin Catalano; Jaxson Schafer; Landon McDaniel Back Row, standing: Abigail Eastwood, manager; Mesa Casper; Cody Geiger; Ben Davenport; Hunter Harrington; Trevin Worthing; Carsen Allen; Hannah Peck, manager |
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Lady Tiger Golf! |
Front Row, from left: Emma Martin; Riley Findley Middle, from left: Luci Dunkeson; Lillian Jackson; Alyssa Hunt Standing in the back: Head Coach Julie Heatherly and Assistant Coach Jon Barnes |
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JUNIORS HOST PROM!Each member of the Class of 2025 received the following email: “Please fill out the attached form to indicate if you plan to just pay for prom or if you are willing to help fundraise for prom. https://forms.gle/ Please encourage your student to respond. |
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Front Row, from left: Band Assistant Theresa Buntain; Rayne Soverns; Madalyn Ballou; Jaleigh-Auna Robinson; Julieanna Dixon; Drum Major Casey Gomez; Band Director Justin Robinson Second Row, from left: Milo Donnelly; Bryana Weber; Jayden Newman; April Mayes; Peighton Head; Jace Anderson Middle Row, from left: Dimple Williams; Kaiden Clary; Garrett Arvidson; Xandria Fowler; Ben Phillips Fourth Row, from left: Peighton Brown; Savanna Cunningham; Maya Ethridge; Finnegan Magee; Declan McHenry; Bradley Hicks; Chrislen Newman Back Row, from left: Gavin Griffiths; Canton Dean; Devlin Cole; Tayton Allen; Jonathan Wilkinson; Levi Holt; Dave Smith |
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USD 234 school lunch menus can be found on our website at usd234.org; through the Nutrislice school lunch app; or this link: Each student gets one free breakfast and one free lunch. Extra meals: $2.65 for an additional breakfast, $4.70 for an additional lunch |
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Katelyn earned this academic honor because of her GPA of 3.5 or higher and outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10 and/or AP Exams. She is being recognized as part of the National Rural/Small Town Recognition Program. Award winners are given the opportunity to include this academic honor on their college applications and many colleges intentionally recruit awardees through College Board’s Student Search Service. Congratulations Katelyn and keep up the good work! |
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There will not be a Bourbon County Commission meeting on September 4, 2023, due to the Labor Day holiday. The Commissioners will hold a meeting following the 5:30 p.m. budget hearing on September 7, 2023.
TOPEKA – The State of Kansas closed August with total tax collections at $640.1 million. That is $24.5 million, or 3.7%, below the estimate. Total tax collections are down 1.9% from August 2022.
Individual income tax collections were $299.3 million. That is $25.7 million, or 7.9% below the estimate, and down 2.6% from August 2022. Corporate income tax collections were $25.1 million, or 25.5%, higher than the estimate and up 62.3% from August 2022.
Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $292.4 million, which is $5.6 million, or 1.9%, below the estimate and down $10.5 million, or 3.5%, from August 2022.
Click here to view the August 2023 revenue numbers.
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TOPEKA – In a 2 to 1 vote this morning, the Kansas Corporation Commission approved a settlement agreement pertaining to Evergy’s application for a Demand-Side Management (DSM) Portfolio featuring nine energy efficiency programs aimed at helping customers save energy and lower their monthly bills. Today’s decision is not related to Evergy’s pending rate case, which is a separate docket.
Discussions on the Energy Efficiency program application have been ongoing between Evergy, Commission Staff, and other stakeholders since the application was filed in December 2021. Agreement on the program offerings came relatively quickly. However, determining the best way to measure and fund the programs resulted in differing opinions. Due to KCC staff concerns regarding potential cost, the Commission was presented with two proposals — a full slate of nine programs including PAYS® or a modified, lower cost option featuring only five programs.
The original nine-program offering was approved today with conditions attached to help ensure accurate performance measurements and fiscal accountability while avoiding duplication of funding available under the Inflation Reduction Act. The approved settlement agreement is expected to have a total bill impact of less than 1-2% to implement and maintain the energy efficiency programs, while producing lower overall costs for customers in the long run. These costs will not appear on customer bills until mid-2025 at the earliest.
Commissioner Dwight Keen filed a dissenting opinion (included in the docket with today’s order) explaining his preference for a cost effective alternative DSM Energy Efficiency proposal that he believes provides substantial benefits to Evergy ratepayers at a significantly lesser cost, and more directly addresses his concerns regarding a possible duplication of incentives contained in the Federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Today’s order states:
“The Commission’s view of “just and reasonable rates” and “the public interest” is broader than immediate bill impacts. The Commission must evaluate not just the cost of programs, but also what customers are receiving for that cost. Here, customers are gaining access to programs that allow them to better control their energy usage and their bills. The Commission received very positive feedback from the public that they want access to these types of programs.
“While there is ample evidence that the system as a whole will benefit from the KEEIA portfolio, the Commission is also compelled to provide opportunities for low and fixed income customers to control their bills. In the Commission’s view, programs serving these communities make rates more just and reasonable for all. The continued absence of energy efficiency tools for these communities contributes to less just and reasonable rates.”
The order also references the Kansas Energy Efficiency Investment Act (KEEIA) K.S.A. 66-1183, previously passed by the Kansas Legislature.
“Nearly ten years ago, the Kansas Legislature and Governor set State policy promoting the establishment of cost-effective energy efficiency programs. At that time, it became the policy of this State to help utility customers use energy more efficiently and in a manner that sustains or enhances those customers’ incentives to use energy more efficiently. The intent of this Order is to implement the goals of our State’s highest policymakers and ensure those Kansas residents and businesses with the greatest need to control their bills have options available to do so.”
The nine programs approved today include the following:
1) Whole Home Efficiency Program: Provides rebates, discounts, and on-bill financing for HVAC and building envelope measures in single and multifamily residences. It will also provide no cost energy assessments and discounted energy savings kits.
2) Home Energy Education Program: Helps rural and low-income customers use energy more efficiently through marketing, outreach, and education.
3) Home Demand Response Program: Helps customers reduce their energy use during peak demand periods. It also provides opportunities for customers to receive free thermostats and water heater controllers.
4) Hard-to-Reach Homes Program: Provides enhanced incentives, no-cost home upgrades, and no-cost energy assessments and savings kits for low-income and rural customers.
5) Whole Business Efficiency Program: Provides both variable and fixed incentives to help business customers install efficient equipment and building envelope improvements.
6) Business Energy Education Program: Provides tools, resources, and guidance for businesses interested in saving money on energy. The program focuses on small businesses.
7) Business Demand Response Program: Helps business customers decrease their energy usage during periods of peak demand.
8) Hard-to-Reach Businesses Program: Offers enhanced incentives to small businesses and non-profits.
9) Pilot Incubator Program: Creates a pathway to identify and evaluate new DSM program concepts to meet changing customer needs and integrate evolving technologies.
More details and the timeline for implementation will be shared as the programs are developed.
Today’s order is available here. A recording of today’s Business Meeting featuring comments by Commissioners, is available on the KCC YouTube channel.
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TOPEKA – (August 31, 2023) – Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach today issued the following statement in response to the Court’s order in Foster v. Stanek:
“The Court’s opinion was well reasoned and thorough. The trans activists in this case attempted to nullify state law. The Court held that SB 180 means what it says – birth certificates in Kansas must reflect biological sex. As long as I am attorney general, the laws of Kansas will be enforced as written. The Legislature decided that birth certificates must reflect biological reality, and they were quite clear in how they wrote the law. Today’s decision is a rejection of the activists’ and Governor Kelly’s attempt to twist the English language beyond recognition. The Court has told the Governor what the law clearly means. We now expect the Governor to follow the law and cease changing birth certificates to something other than biological sex at birth.”
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has made bridge funding awards to projects including one in Bourbon County.
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Stay Connected with Kansas Office of the Governor: |
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Per City Manager, Brad Matkin, Management Action #5 of the Water Warning Plan:
The City of Fort Scott Splash Pad will be closed Wednesday 8/30, Thursday 8/31, and Friday 9/1 reopening on Saturday 9/2, Sunday 9/3, and Monday 9/4 from 8am to 7pm. After Monday at 8pm the Splash Pad will be closed for the season.
Here is the plan in its entirety as it has been posted:
Water Warning Plan
DROUGHT RESPONSE
Effective 8/30/2023
The City of Fort Scott addresses its short-term water shortage problems through a series of stages based on conditions of supply and demand with accompanying triggers, goals, and actions. Each stage is more stringent in water use than the previous stage since water supply conditions are more deteriorated. The City Manager is authorized by ordinance to implement the appropriate conservation measures.
Water Warning
Goals:
The goals of this stage are to reduce peak demands by 20% and to reduce overall weekly consumption by 10%.
Triggers:
This stage is triggered by any one of the following conditions:
Education Actions
Management Actions: What measures the city will do
Regulation Actions:
As of right now, the City water supply is not affected by the “Water Emergency” set by the Governor of Kansas. That emergency was to allow the counties noted to request water to be taken out of “state” water sources. The City of Fort Scott owns Lake Fort Scott and Cedar Creek is not a state-owned lake, so permission is not required.
Lake Fort Scott, Cedar Creek, and Rock Creek are the three sources we use to get water for the City of Fort Scott river intake system.
As of right now, Cedar Creek has a good supply of water, but we are taking water from this source daily, and we have not taken water from Lake Fort Scott. If we are forced to take water out of Lake Fort Scott, we will issue a Water Warning Stage #2 which will require additional water restrictions.
We are in a drought situation that must be taken seriously, and the City of Fort Scott will do whatever possible to maintain good levels of water for the citizens. Please help us by following the restrictions that have been imposed.
If you have any questions, please contact me at the email address below.
Thank you,
Brad Matkin
City Manager
City of Fort Scott