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Fort Scott, Government

The March 18 FS City Commission Unapproved Minutes

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CITY OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION MEETING

 

 

Minutes of March 18, 2025                                              Regular Meeting

 

A regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held at 6:00PM in the City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. The meeting was streamed live on YouTube.

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:00PM. Roll call was taken. Commissioners Dyllon Olson, Matthew Wells, Tracy Dancer and Kathryn Salsbury were present with Mayor Tim Van Hoecke.

 

              In Attendance – Brad Matkin/City Manager, Bob Farmer/City Attorney, Jason Dickman/City Engineer-Earles Engineering & Inspections, Inc., Jason Pickert/Chief FSPD, Mary Wyatt/Planning, Housing & Business Development Director (officiating the meeting) Leroy Kruger/Codes Enforcement, Cory Bryars/Care to Share, Becky Johnson/SEK Multicounty Health Department (SEKMCHD), Michael Hoyt, and Anne Dare.

 

VAN HOECKE led the Pledge of Allegiance and WELLS said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City, the citizens, and our Government and City officials.

 

Approval of Agenda (3:37)

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to amend the agenda with the addition of Item D – New Business – Temporary Street Closure Application for Prom. OLSON seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to approve the agenda. SALSBURY seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Approval of Consent Agenda  (5:01)

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1380-A – Expense Approval Report – Payment Dates of February 27, 2025 – March 11, 2025 – $1,061,286.37

 

  1. Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting of March 4, 2025

 

  1. February Financials

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved to approve the Consent Agenda minus Item C to be moved under New Business.

 

MATKIN stated that $600,000.00 of the $1,061,286.37 is the amount paid to Freeman Hospital.

 

DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0

 

Public Comments (6:54) – None

 

Appearances (6:57)

Cory Bryan – FortFest 2025 – Park Closure request – Riverfront – Sept. 24 – 29, 2025

 

MOTION:  OLSON moved to approve the Park Closure request for Riverfront Park and reserve the Pavilion for FortFest 2025 from Wednesday, September 24th through Sunday, September 29th . SALSBURY seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Unfinished Business (9:52)

Consideration of Letter of Interest for Planning Commission Vacancy – Danny Brown had submitted a Letter of Interest for the Board of Zoning Appeals and was not selected. The City Commission asked the City Clerk to reach out to those who were not selected and ask if they were interested in the vacant position on the Planning Commission. Danny Brown submitted a Letter of Interest to be considered.

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to approve the appointment of Danny Brown to the Planning Commission. SALSBURY seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

New Business

Public Hearings

Consideration of RESOLUTION NO. 6-2025 – DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE AT 301 N. Jefferson (10:49)

 

MOTION:  OLSON moved to open the public hearing. DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED.

 

KRUGER:  “Basically to reiterate, on this structure, we did make contact with the owner, the owner doesn’t want any part of the house, says it’s nothing but bad memories and wants it tore down, doesn’t care anything about it.”

 

DANCER:  Did the owner by chance indicate that they might be willing to sign the property over to the land bank with a clear title?

 

KRUGER:  I didn’t ask about that. My feeling was it would be that she might but she’s really hard to get a hold of and hard to keep on the phone.

 

DANCER:  Is she current on taxes on that property?

 

KRUGER:  I don’t know.

 

VAN HOECKE:  Is there anyone here tonight representing 301 N. Jefferson? Any other questions for Codes on this property?

 

DANCER:  Do you think you could reach out to her and find out if she’d be willing to sign it over, if we could get a property with a clear title?

 

KRUGER:  I’d be willing to try for you. It took (20) or (30) calls to get as much as I got out of her, but I’ll sure give it an effort.

 

DANCER:  I’ve seen the pictures, and it’s got fairly recent siding.

 

KRUGER:  Actually, the siding is a complete band-aid for a mess.

 

DANCER:  Okay, even so, if we could get a clear title on that one, even if we had to knock it to the ground, we could possibly make good on another recent promise we had.

 

KRUGER:  I do know that several people in the neighborhood, once that property becomes clear of the house, are willing to buy it as is. I’ve been approached by (2) people from that neighborhood, that once that house is gone, they’re very interested in that property with or without title.

 

DANCER:  I’d be interested to see if you could get a clear title on that. If we could get something into the Land Bank with a clear title, that’s usable property.

 

KRUGER:  I will definitely make the attempt.

 

DANCER:  Unless somebody objects?

 

VAN HOECKE:  Any other comments or questions on this property?

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to close the public hearing (14:42). DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to table the item until Codes had a chance to reach the owner to consider transferring to the Land Bank with clear title. OLSON seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Consideration of RESOLUTION NO. 7-2025 DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE AT 501 S. Osbun – (15:26)

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to open the public hearing (15:39). SALSBURY seconded.

 

MOTION PASSED 5-0.

 

VAN HOECKE:  Is there anyone here representing 501 S. Osbun?

 

KRUGER:  I do not have anything new to add to this one.

 

WELLS:  They’re wanting to build a new house or bring in a double-wide or something?

 

KRUGER:  The last that I talked, she basically was in between jobs, couldn’t meet the deadline to tear it down herself; that was her intention to tear down the house and put something new there. Her intentions were to pay the City back once she gets back on her feet, but I don’t have anything new other than that.

 

VAN HOECKE:  How long ago was that conversation?

 

KRUGER:  Probably a month.

 

WELLS:  What was her timeline for being able to tear it down herself.

 

KRUGER:  I gave her a complete year. Basically, if she couldn’t tear it down by the first of this year, that would exceed her deadline. So, I gave her a year, she lost her job, so she can’t meet any kind of deadline.

 

VAN HOECKE:  Any other questions on this property?

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to close the public hearing.

 

Inaudible questions from the audience.

 

WELLS:  Apparently, she doesn’t want to donate the property, she wants to build a new house on the property, she wants us to tear it down.

 

MOTION CARRIED 4-1. 

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to approve Resolution No. 7-2025 directing the removal of the alleged unsafe dangerous structure at 501 S. Osbun.

 

DANCER asked for clarification from KRUGER if the house was currently occupied.  KRUGER stated that the house is not livable.

 

DANCER seconded. SALSBURY, VAN HOECKE, OLSON and DANCER voted yes.  WELLS voted no.

 

MOTION CARRIED 4-1. 

 

Consideration of RESOLUTION NO. 8-2025 DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE AT 314 S. Scott – (19:21)

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to open the public hearing. DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

VAN HOECKE:  Is there anyone here representing 314 S. Scott this evening that would like to make a public appearance?

 

KRUGER:  I don’t have anything new to add on this one. Basically we have never made contact with this gentleman. I will remind you that this is the structure that people were having campfires in the garage and flopping in, so just food for thought in your consideration.

 

VAN HOECKE:  And you’ve presented this one to us before?

 

KRUGER:  Yes.

 

DANCER:  Have we used any kind of service like skip tracing, private eye, or something like that. You have your hands full doing Codes stuff, but somebody specialized in finding people?

 

KRUGER:  I know how to do that kind of work, that’s just not part of our procedure. I know where this guy’s at, he’s in the county out by Fulton, it’s just he didn’t make contact with us.

 

DANCER:  Again, hope for a clear title?

 

KRUGER:  This one I don’t know. Like I said, I never made any kind of contact with guy. I do know this one is behind on taxes and it’s a real mess.

 

DANCER:  I think County typically serves by mail. If we had personal delivery, personal service and that would constitute, right?

 

KRUGER: Yes. We meet our standard.

 

DANCER:  Right, but if we had personal service, then we could get a clear title.

 

OLSON:  When you say clear title, what are you meaning? Because all we’re doing is tearing it down and applying a special assessment and the rest is out of our control.

 

Inaudible comments from the audience.

 

WELLS:  We found this stuff out from the lawyer that came to the meeting the other night.

 

KRUGER:  That would be the same with 301, that might be the easier round.

 

SALSBURY:  That’s different, we had been told that if we were torn down we couldn’t get clear title very easily.

 

WELLS:  The lawyer that was here the other night, I believe we live streamed that, he had some very interesting information to provide for us.

 

VAN HOECKE: Are there any other questions for Officer Kruger?

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to close the public hearing (22:37). OLSON seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Request for Temporary Street Closure for Prom Walk Up on April 5, 2025

MOTION:  DANCER moved to approve the request street closure of Judson and Oak for April 5, 2025. SALSBURY seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Action Items:

Consideration of Bids for Easement Machine – (25:28)

 

MATKIN left the room at (25:30)

 

LEMKE explained Wastewater Collections Department has been looking to purchase an Easement Machine to be used for flushing the sanitary sewer and mains. It will work with the Vactor truck. Currently a manual line must be used to flush the lines. The hard, physical work has the potential for operator injuries. The easement machine allows the crew to get into places they would normally not be able to easily to flush the lines.

 

MATKIN returned to the meeting (27:18)

 

LEMKE went out for bids for an easement machine and (3) companies responded. The low bid was $71,100.00 and the highest bid was $93,874.52. He is requesting approval to accept the low bid from Key Equipment. MATKIN confirmed that it was budgeted for $100,000.00 in 2025.

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved to purchase the Key machine that has been presented by Mr. Lemke for the easement machine in the amount of $71,100.00. OLSON seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

MATKIN asked to return to Item C to complete the motion on 314 S. Scott.

 

Consideration of RESOLUTION NO. 8-2025 DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE AT 314 S. Scott – (30:59)

MOTION:  DANCER moved to proceed with Resolution No. 8-2025 for the removal of an alleged unsafe and dangerous structure at 314 S. Scott. WELLS seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

MATKIN asked the Commission if they would reconsider visiting Item A at 301 N. Jefferson.

 

WELLS left the meeting (31:55)

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to reopen the consideration of Resolution no. 6-2025 – directing the repair or removal of an alleged unsafe and dangerous structure at 301 N. Jefferson. SALSBURY seconded. SALSBURY, VAN HOECKE, OLSON and DANCER voted yes. WELLS was not present for the vote.

 

MOTION CARRIED 4-0.

 

WELLS returned to the meeting (32:55)

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to direct the removal of an alleged unsafe and dangerous structure at 301 N. Jefferson. VAN HOECKE seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Consideration of Ground Lease Bids – Field A (33:24)

MATKIN stated (2) bids were received. $14,250.00 and $12,852.00. He is recommending acceptance the high bid for the 85-acres of land on the west side of Field A.

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved to approve the bid for $14,250.00 a year (2025 Lease) for the 85-acres. OLSON seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Consideration of Greens Mower Purchase – (34:14) WYATT stated there were (3) bids submitted in the packet for the purchase of the greens mower.  She stated that last year they had agreed not to purchase a new greens mower but decided on (2) used mowers; only (1) was purchased last year. It is currently operating well. There is another greens mower they wish to use as a backup because it does have an issue with the starter and is not always reliable. They have one other greens mower that scalps the greens. She is recommending approval to purchase the 2021 Eclipse model 322 with 980 hours giving the department (2) operating greens mowers that are reliable with (1) backup.

 

Discussion was had about the bid discount.

 

ACTION:  WYATT to get clarification on the purchase price.

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved that we buy the Eclipse mower based upon the price presented unless the John Deere comes back at $21,000.00. If it does come back at $21,000.00 then the Commission would request an opportunity to re-evaluate. OLSON seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Status of 323 W. Wall – (40:47)

WELLS stated that the lady is willing to donate it to the Land Bank per Pat Bishop/Land Bank Manager who has made contact with her. He stated that he has made contact with her as well as KRUGER and she is willing to donate the house to the Land Bank and we are waiting to hear back from her on the donation process.

 

KRUGER stated the only contact he has had recently was a set up for Commissioner Wells to speak with her. KRUGER did get a phone call last week from the granddaughter who advised him that the mother and grandmother asked her to try to secure a loan for repair of the house. He stated that she asked about the condition of the house. KRUGER took photos and sent them to her via text for her to make her own decision. He stated that her response was that she wanted no part of taking a loan out on the house and that she was going to speak with the mother and grandmother to inform them that the house was not worth saving. KRUGER stated those are the only conversations he has had.

 

WELLS stated he spoke to her about a week and a half ago and he did not ask Mr. Bishop when his last conversation was with her. WELLS stated that BISHOP told him that the mother and grandmother told him they were looking to donate it to the Land Bank.

 

Discussion was had about what would happen if it was donated to the Land Bank and the contractors who have shown interest in saving the home.

 

KRUGER stated that we have already had the public hearing.

 

MOTION: VAN HOECKE moved to go forward with bids for demolition of 323 W. Wall. SALSBURY seconded.

 

MATKIN suggested that if the interested contractors come forward, the Commission might want to reconsider.  VAN HOECKE stated to get the process started and it can be halted if that happens.

 

DANCER, SALSBURY, VAN HOECKE and OLSON voted yes.  WELLS voted no.

 

MOTION CARRIED 4-1.

 

Consideration of RESOLUTION NO. 9-2025 – RESOLUTION AND NOTICE OF HEARING WITH REFERENCE TO ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE AT 121 S. MARGRAVE (45:39) – KRUGER presented the property and asked for approval of the resolution to proceed with the demolition process. WELLS stated that he is the current property owner.  Discussion was had about the condition of the structure and the intentions to refurbish the home.

 

WELLS agreed to abstain from any vote on this property.

 

MOTION:  OLSON moved to table this item until the second meeting in April.

 

KRUGER asked WELLS for a timeline on securing the bank loan. WELLS stated he would reach back out to him next week.

 

WELLS clarified that the title was transferred to one of his companies. He stated that he did not know that this home was up for demolition when he started the process.

 

Further discussion was had on how WELLS acquired the property.

 

 

MOTION:  DANCER moved to table Resolution No. 9-2025 regarding and alleged unsafe or dangerous structure at 121 S. Margrave until the second meeting in April of 2025. SALSBURY seconded. SALSBURY, VAN HOECKE, OLSON and DANCER voted yes.  WELLS abstained.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Consideration of Lease Agreement for LaRoche Baseball Complex, City of Fort Scott, and Mid America Baseball League – (54:34)

MATKIN stated that MidAmerica Baseball League would like to sign a (5)-year, rent-free lease with the City of Fort Scott for the use of LaRoche Baseball Complex. The City would receive $.50 per ticket sold and they would help with some additional upkeep of the stadium and payment of the groundskeeper.

 

Discussion was had regarding the cost of upkeep verses return as well as damage and liability.

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved to sign the lease agreement for the LaRoche Baseball Complex between the City of Fort Scott and Mid America Baseball League. OLSON seconded.

 

VAN HOECKE thanked MATKIN for his hard work of bringing this to our City.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Consideration of Monetary Partnership agreement between the City of Fort Scott and Mid America Baseball League – (59:24)

MATKIN requested approval of $50,000.00. He stated that $30,000.00 would come from the Economic Development fund and $20,000.00 would come from the Tourism fund.

 

MOTION:  OLSON moved to approve the monetary partnership agreement between the City of Fort Scott and the Mid America Baseball League with $30,000.00 coming from Economic Development and $20,000.00 coming from Tourism. WELLS seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Consideration for the City to write a letter to Congress or issue a resolution to send to Congressional Representative to Protect SNAP/No Kid Hungry – (1:01:55)

 

MATKIN left the meeting (1:02:02) and returned (1:04:43)

 

WELLS submitted his proposal followed by discussion. (Full proposal available at the City of Fort Scott YouTube Channel /3-18-2025 City Commission Meeting beginning at 1:01:56)

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved that a letter be presented for Commissioners to sign using their title on the issue to send to Congress, Congressional Representatives to protect SNAP.  OLSON seconded.

 

OLSON, WELLS and SALSBURY voted yes.  DANCER and VAN HOECKE voted no.

 

MOTION CARRIED 3-2.

 

ACTION:  WELLS will present a letter for review of the Commission.

 

Consideration for approval for Commissioner Wells to sign a letter to Secretary Rubio and Secretary Noem to immediately restart the US Refugee Resettlement Program

WELLS submitted his proposal followed by discussion. (Full proposal available at the City of Fort Scott YouTube Channel /3-18-2025 City Commission Meeting beginning at 1:20:00)

 

MATKIN clarified that the letter will not be written on City of Fort Scott letterhead.

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved for approval to sign a letter to Secretary Rubio and Secretary Noem to immediately restart the US Refugee Resettlement Program with his Fort Scott City Commissioner title.

 

FARMER left the meeting (1:28:51) and returned (1:30:51).

 

OLSON seconded.

 

WELLS clarified that his motion was that he will be signing (with his title of Fort Scott City Commissioner) a letter that has already been signed by over (200) other elected nonpartisan City Commissioners and City Mayors.

 

OLSON, and WELLS voted yes.  VAN HOECKE, DANCER and SALSBURY voted no.

 

MOTION FAILED 2-3.

 

Consideration to sign a letter to save our historic site from the damaging impacts of the mass firings

WELLS submitted his proposal followed by discussion. (Full proposal available at the City of Fort Scott YouTube Channel /3-18-2025 City Commission Meeting beginning at 1:35:32)

 

MOTION:  WELLS moved that the City Commissioners join him in signing this letter to be sent to our local representatives. VAN HOECKE seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Consideration to approve installation of Family Station(s) in public areas – (1:49:16)

JOHNSON submitted a proposal and asked for permission to install the station(s). Discussion was had regarding possible locations. The Multi-County Breastfeeding Coalition is looking for collaboration with entities in the community and grants to help fund the project. They are asking the City for in-kind donation. She also wanted to inform the public of a Lactation Tent that they will be seeing within the counties.

 

MOTION:  VAN HOECKE moved to approve installation of a Family Station in a public area determined mutually by SEK Multi-County Health Department and the City of Fort Scott.  SALSBURY seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

 

Consideration of Addendum No. 4 – Wastewater Evaluation and Design Contractor for Davis Lift Station Project – (1:58:42)

DICKMAN stated that this lift station is very large, mostly underground and in a flood plain.  Underneath the station are piers that go down to bedrock which was discovered only recently. Initially they considered having those as part of the new wet well that would house the pump for the storm water overflows because it would be the same depth and would be on piers as well. He stated that they overestimated (possibly overdesigned) and received quotes from contractors in the $200,000.00 range. The intent of this addendum is to have a geotechnical engineer do a boring at the location of the wet well, design the piers, and supply a report with recommendations. The addendum includes the cost of the drilling, report and recommendation as well as updating the plans. The final cost estimate as it sets now (without the addendum) is $200,000.00 to complete the project. However, with the report and findings it could potentially cut the cost in half; the intent is to save $100,000.00 on the final build to do the wet well.

 

MOTION:  OLSON moved to approve Addendum No. 4 for the wastewater evaluation and design contract for Davis Lift Station project. DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.     

 

Request to Pay – Schneider Electric – Annual Renewal of Service Agreement – $12,894.00 (2:03:06)

Discussion was had regarding the history of the contract and the future benefits of continuing this service agreement or exploring other options.

 

MOTION:  SALSBURY moved to not proceed with the Schneider contract again. DANCER seconded.

 

MOTION CARRIED 5-0.

     

ACTION:  MATKIN will look into wireless options for thermostat controls.

 

Reports and Comments

CITY MANAGER (2:09:35)

– Dance Party at Memorial Hall, Saturday at 7:00PM

– Designing and going out for bids for updating Memorial Hall bathrooms

– Marquee sign will be moved from Buck Run to Memorial Hall

 

CITY ENGINEER (2:11:39)

– Horton Street update – grinding is complete, fog seal weather permitting, cure for (14) days before striping can be done. Speed limit is temporarily lowered to 30 mph for friction factor of fog seal. Substantial completion date, based on contract days is 3/24/2025 – will do walk through. Punch list to be completed. Final closeout change order to come and final completion should be April 13, 2025.

–  17th and Eddy concrete completed – MATKIN

–  CCLIP due March 28, 2025

–  KDOT Wall Street field check March 26, 2025 – asking for new schedule for construction beginning next year.

 

CITY ATTORNEY (2:17:26) – No comments.

 

COMMISSIONER SALSBURY (2:17:47) – inaudible

 

COMMISSIONER WELLS (2:18:03)

–  Crossing light on 6th St. and Horton St.

–  Work Session for storage containers rescheduled

–  New ordinance for Land Bank to add County Commissioner

 

MATKIN left the meeting (2:20:55) and returned (2:22:49)

 

–  Permission to go to County Commission for TEAP study discussion – no objections

 

COMMISSIONER OLSON (2:26:09) – No comment

 

COMMISSIONER DANCER (2:26:13) – No comment

 

COMMISSIONER VAN HOECKE (2:26:15)

–  New baseball team

–  Bids for 118 E. Wall

–  Lenten Fish Fry – Mary Queen of Angels – Fridays 5-7PM – Cost is free will donation

–  Dance Party at Memorial Hall – 7PM – Friday

–  Bike sidewalk signs for Main Street

 

Adjourn

MOTION:  DANCER moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:31PM (2:31:48). SALSBURY seconded.

 

MARCH 18, 2025, MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:31PM.

 

Submitted by Lisa A. Lewis, City Clerk

Government, Kansas

KS 2025 Agriculture Commodity Safety Net Programs  Enrollment Is Down, Deadline April 15

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Agricultural Producers Have Until April 15 to Enroll in USDA’s Key Commodity Safety Net Programs for the 2025 Crop Year  

Kansas Enrollment Currently At 70% of Expected

 

Manhattan KS, March 27, 2025 – Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2025 crop year have until April 15, 2025, to revise elections and sign contracts. Both safety net programs, delivered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provide vital income support to eligible farmers who experience substantial declines in crop prices or revenues for the 2025 crop year. In Kansas, producers have completed 72,222 contracts to date, representing 70% of the more than 104,500 expected contracts.

 

“Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage programs provide excellent risk protection, for market declines, at no cost to the producer,” said Joshua Ridder, deputy state executive director for FSA in Kansas.  “If you haven’t made your program election or signed a contract, please contact your local FSA county office as soon as possible to set an appointment so you don’t miss the April 15 deadline.”

 

Producers can elect coverage and enroll in ARC-County or PLC, which provide crop-by-crop protection, or ARC-Individual, which protects the entire farm. Although election changes for 2025 are optional, producers must enroll, with a signed contract, each year. If a producer has a multi-year contract on the farm, the contract will continue for 2025 unless an election change is made.

 

If producers do not submit their election revision by the April 15, 2025, deadline, the election remains the same as their 2024 election for eligible commodities on the farm. Also, producers who do not complete enrollment and sign their contract by the deadline will not be enrolled in ARC or PLC for the 2025 year and will not receive a payment if one is triggered. Farm owners can only enroll in these programs if they have a share interest in the commodity.

 

Producers are eligible to enroll farms with base acres for the following commodities:  barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium and short grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat.

 

Web-Based Decision Tools    

Many universities, including Kansas State University’s  AgManager.info , offer web-based decision tools to help producers make informed, educated decisions using crop data specific to their respective farming operations. Producers are encouraged to use the tool of their choice to support their ARC and PLC elections.
Crop Insurance Considerations 

Producers are reminded that enrolling in ARC or PLC programs can impact eligibility for some crop insurance products offered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA). Producers who elect and enroll in PLC also have the option of purchasing Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) through their Approved Insurance Provider, but producers of covered commodities who elect ARC are ineligible for SCO on their planted acres.

 

Unlike SCO, RMA’s Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) is unaffected by participating in ARC for the same crop, on the same acres. Producers may elect ECO regardless of their farm program election.

 

Upland cotton farmers who enroll seed cotton base acres in ARC or PLC are ineligible for the stacked income protection plan, or STAX, on their planted cotton acres.

 

Optimizing FSA Office Visits

Agricultural producers visiting FSA to complete ARC/PLC elections and enrollment are encouraged to also conduct other FSA program business during their scheduled appointment including completing farm loan applications and applying for the recently announced Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP). 

 

Sign up for ECAP began on March 19, 2025. ECAP, authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025, provides up to $10 billion to agricultural producers for the 2024 crop year. Administered by FSA, ECAP will help agricultural producers mitigate the impacts of increased input costs and falling commodity prices. Congress gave USDA 90 days to implement the program, and that deadline was met. Producers of eligible commodities must submit ECAP applications to their local FSA county office  by Aug. 15, 2025. Only one application is required for all ECAP eligible commodities nationwide. ECAP applications can be submitted to FSA in-person, electronically using Box and One-Span, by fax or by applying online at fsa.usda.gov/ecap  utilizing a secure login.gov account. For more information, please visit the ECAP website or review the ECAP Fact Sheet.

 

More details are forthcoming on more than $20 billion to be made available through the American Relief Act, 2025, for producers who suffered losses from natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 including $2 billion set aside for livestock producers and other funds that will be administered through block grants with states.

 

More Information

To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and view other farm records data and customer information by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today.

FSA helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners invest in, improve, protect and expand their agricultural operations through the delivery of agricultural programs for all Americans. FSA implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs, and manages conservation, commodity, disaster recovery and marketing programs through a national network of state and county offices and locally elected county committees. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

 

Government, Kansas

Protect Your Genetic Data Amid 23andMe Bankruptcy

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Consumer Advisory for Kansans

TOPEKA – (March 27, 2025) – Attorney General Kris Kobach today issued a consumer alert warning Kansas resident of the recent bankruptcy filing by 23andMe, a direct-to-consumer genetic testing and information company. 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 23. The company said in a press release, “There are no changes to the way the Company stores, manages, or protects customer data.” However, the bankruptcy raises the risk that 23andMe may attempt to sell Kansans’ genetic data and other private information as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.

“Protecting Kansans’ personal information and genetic data is of the utmost importance to our office. Because of the company’s current financial situation, we encourage Kansans to consider requesting deletion of their genetic data held by 23andMe,” Assistant Attorney General Sarah Dietz said.

Kansas residents should be aware of their rights and the protections afforded to their genetic data under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) and the Wayne Owen Act.

Since this data is incredibly personal and sensitive, it’s important to understand your rights under Kansas’s privacy laws, including how to delete your genetic data from 23andMe.

How to Take Action and Protect Your Genetic Data
If you wish to rescind access to your genetic information and request the destruction of your test sample, follow these steps:

How to delete genetic data from 23andMe

  1. Sign in to your 23andMe account at www.23andme.com.
  2. Navigate to your profile’s “Settings” section.
  3. Scroll down to the “23andMe Data” section at the bottom of the page.
  4. Click “View” next to the “23andMe Data” heading.
  5. If you would like to keep a copy of your genetic data, download your data before continuing.
  6. Locate the delete data option.
  7. Select “Permanently Delete Data”.
  8. Check your email for a confirmation link and follow it to complete the deletion process.

How to destroy your 23andMe Test Sample 
If you previously chose to allow 23andMe to store your saliva sample and DNA but would now like to opt-out, you can update your settings by going to “Preferences” on your account page.

To Revoke Permission for Your Genetic Data to be Used for Research:
If you previously consented to 23andMe and third-party researchers to use your genetic data and sample for research, you may withdraw consent from the account settings page under “Research and Product Consents.”

Please visit the Office of the Kansas Attorney General’s website for more information on your rights under the KCPA and the Wayne Owen Act, guidance in managing your data, or to file a complaint.

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Government, Kansas

U.S. 69 Overlay Project in Bourbon and Linn Counties: March 31 to December

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Monday, March 31, the Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin resurfacing work on U.S. 69 in Bourbon and Linn counties. An overlay will be placed on the northbound lanes of U.S. 69, starting at the south U.S. 54 junction in Fort Scott and continuing north for 25.6 miles to K-52 near Pleasanton.

 

Traffic will be carried through the work zone with alternating lane closures and intermittent ramp closures. Weather permitting, the road work should be finished by mid-December. Pearson Construction, of Wichita, is the primary contractor on the $17.6 million resurfacing work.

 

Check KDOT’s updated traveler information website, www.Kandrive.gov, for more highway conditions and construction details. Persons with questions may contact Construction Manager Warren Ebberts at (620) 901-6549 or Public Information Officer Priscilla Petersen at (620) 902-6433.

 

 

 

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Bourbon County, Elections, Government

Bourbon County Republicans Are Accepting Applications For 3rd District Commissioner

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Due to the recent vacation of the county commissioner seat by Leroy Kruger, the Bourbon County Republicans will be accepting applications to fulfill this important role. Interested Republican residents of Bourbon County District 3 (definition below) seeking to fill the county commission seat should send a letter of interest with qualifications, rationale and reasons why they should be selected to: Kaety Bowers, Chairwoman, email bourbon.county.republicans@gmail.com. The deadline is Thursday, April 3, 2025 by 5pm.

The Bourbon County District 3 Appointment Area is defined as the area designated as District 3 (prior to the geographical redistricting done to increase the Bourbon County commissioner total from three to five). See the map above for details; District 3 is labeled and shaded red.

Any questions regarding your address and its location within the district should be directed to Susan Walker, Bourbon County Clerk; phone 620-223-3800 ext. 191

Area News, Government, Kansas

Fort Scott Native Lori Bolton Fleming In Line For KS Court of Appeals Judge

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Lori Bolton Fleming. Taken from the kscourts.gov website.


Governor Laura Kelly announced on March 4 the appointment of Judge Lori Bolton Fleming to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Henry Green on the Kansas Court of Appeals, according to a press release from the governor.

That is the second of four steps in the process of filling the vacancy.

The next step was for the Senate Judicial to pick her for that role and the final step is for approval from the Kansas Senate, sometime in the next few weeks, Fleming said in an interview.

Fleming is a Fort Scott High School graduate and also taught there for a year, she said.

She was inspired to attend law school by some of her students who were in the foster care system.

“They were involved in the juvenile justice system, and I hoped to advocate, be a good voice for kids,” she said.

Bolton Fleming lives in Pittsburg, Kansas, and is the Chief Judge for the 11th Judicial District, which includes Cherokee, Labette, and Crawford counties. 

“I am confident Judge Bolton Fleming will be an exceptional addition to the Kansas Court of Appeals,” Governor Laura Kelly said in the press release. “Her extensive legal career, commitment to public service, and strong reputation will make her an excellent Court of Appeals Judge.”  

Fleming’s Background

Governor Sam Brownback appointed Bolton Fleming as a district court judge in 2012. As a district court judge, she handles a wide variety of cases including felony criminal, child in need of care, Chapter 60 civil, and domestic cases. She has conducted jury trials for high-level criminal and civil cases as well as bench trials and has frequently been invited to sit with the Kansas Court of Appeals and the Kansas Supreme Court to hear and assist in deciding cases. In total, she has rendered opinions in 38 cases as an assigned appellate judge.  

Bolton Fleming was appointed as chief judge by the Kansas Supreme Court in 2021. In this role, she oversees the operations of the 11th Judicial District, which covers five courthouses in southeast Kansas.  As chief judge, she is responsible for the creation of the 11th Judicial District’s first recovery court and serves as the administrator of the program.

“It is my honor to be selected by Governor Kelly to serve on the Kansas Court of Appeals,” said Fleming. “I intend to work hard every day to be the best possible appellate judge for all Kansans.” 

She has spent her entire legal career in southeast Kansas and would be one of the few rural voices on the Kansas Court of Appeals. The majority of the justices come from Wichita, Topeka or Kansas City.

“I feel it’s important to have rural representation on the Court of Appeals,” she said.

Prior to her judicial appointment, Bolton Fleming served as an assistant county attorney in Crawford County before specializing in legal research and writing for Spigarelli Law Firm. She then practiced with Wilbert and Towner law firm, working on criminal, civil, juvenile, business, adoption, and probate cases.    

Bolton Fleming is active in her local community through many volunteer efforts, including partnering with Pittsburg State University to create a pre-law internship program to help address the rural attorney shortage. She has also served on several Kansas Supreme Court committees, including the Rural Justice Initiative, the Pretrial Justice Task Force, the Kansas Digital Evidence Advisory Group, the COVID Jury Trial Advisory Group, and the Cybersecurity Committee.  

Prior to joining the legal profession, Bolton Fleming served as an elementary music and English teacher at Fort Scott High School and Leavenworth Public Schools.  

Bolton Fleming graduated from the Washburn University School of Law in 2001, where she served as the editor-in-chief of the Washburn Law Journal. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Pittsburg State University in 1996.   

Government, Kansas

Cold Weather Rule and the LIEAP application period end soon

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TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) wants to remind utility customers that there are two important dates coming up that they should be aware of.  First, the Cold Weather Rule ends on Monday, March 31. The Cold Weather Rule protects residential customers, served by KCC regulated utilities, from disconnection when temperatures are forecast to drop below 35 degrees.

In addition, Monday is the deadline to apply for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, known as LIEAP. Applications for the federally funded program must be received by the Kansas Department of Children and Families by 5 p.m. on Monday.  Information about the program is available at https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/EnergyAssistance.aspx

When the Cold Weather Rule is in effect, regulated utilities are required to offer a 12-month payment plan upon request, even if a previous payment plan has been broken. When that protection ends on Monday, failure to make arrangements or failure to adhere to an already established payment plan could result in disconnection. Reconnection after March 31 may require past due balances be paid in full, depending on the utility’s policy. That is why it is important to call now – while regulated utilities are still required to offer the Cold Weather Rule 12-month payment plan.

The KCC urges all customers facing financial difficulties to act now to stay connected. To find out more about utility assistance programs in your area, please contact your utility or the KCC Consumer Protection Office at 800-662-0027 or 785-271-3140. Utility assistance program information is also posted on the KCC’s website.

It is important to note that the KCC does not regulate co-ops or municipal utilities, although many of those utilities also offer a cold weather payment plan. For a complete list of utilities regulated by the KCC visit: http://kcc.ks.gov/about-us/jurisdiction

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Government, Kansas

KS Dairy Producers Reminded to Obtain 2025 Dairy Margin Coverage by March 31   

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Manhattan, Kansas March 25, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging dairy producers to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), an important safety net program that helps offset milk and feed price differences. This year’s DMC signup began Jan. 29 and the deadline to enroll is March 31, 2025.

“We encourage producers to join the 67 dairy operations in Kansas that have already signed up for this important safety net program in advance of the deadline,” said USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Deputy State Executive Director Joshua Ridder “At $0.15 per hundredweight for $9.50 coverage, risk protection through Dairy Margin Coverage is a cost-effective tool to manage risk and provide security for your operations.”

The American Relief Act, 2025 extended provisions of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) authorizing DMC for coverage year 2025.

DMC provides dairy operations with risk management coverage that pays producers when the difference (the margin) between the national price of milk and the average cost of feed falls below a certain level selected by the program participants.

DMC offers different levels of coverage minus a $100 administrative fee. The administrative fee is waived for dairy producers who are considered limited resource, beginning, socially disadvantaged or a military veteran.

DMC payments are calculated using updated feed and premium hay costs, making the program more reflective of actual dairy producer expenses.  These updated feed calculations use 100% premium alfalfa hay.

For more information on DMC, visit the or contact your local USDA Service Center.

 

 

 

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

 

Government, Kansas

Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson

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Note: Bourbon County is represented by Kansas Senator Tim Shallenberger and Representative Rich James. They have not responded to requests for a weekly newsletter. In the interest of providing legislative information, Senator Tyson provides a weekly newsletter. U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt has recently started providing information at the federal level.

Caryn Tyson

March 21, 2025

 

It was a difficult week in the legislature.  Over 80 bills were worked on the Senate floor.  It was intense and made for a long week.  There were too many bills to discuss in this update.  All the legislation is posted at www.KSLegislature.gov.

 

Property Taxes are a concern for most Kansans.  The Senate Tax Committee held hearings on the House position of limiting taxable valuation increases in House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 5011 and repealing part of the Truth in Taxation, Revenue Neutral notices, in House Bill (HB) 2396.  The Committee didn’t support the House averaging over several years to limit tax values and instead supported the 3% tax value limit passed in Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1603, 28 to 12 on February 5th.  So, the Committee voted to put the same language in 1603 into 5011.  The Senate then passed 5011 on a bipartisan vote of 30 to 10.  I voted Yes.

 

The Tax Committee also rejected repealing Revenue Neutral notices, but did move forward on a protest petition that would block local governments from increasing their property tax revenues (i.e. taxes).  The Senate lowered the threshold to 3% or an inflation index, whichever is lower, plus new construction and voted on bonds.  If the local government unit increases property taxes greater than that amount, voters could block the increase by signing a protest petition.  Some of the logistics still need to be worked out, but it is being considered.  One thing that most of us can agree on is that the current system is taxing people out of their homes and needs attention.

 

Slowing State Government Growth by passing SB 259, automatic income tax reductions would be set in place based on taxes collected the previous year.  For years Kansas taxpayers have been paying more, growing the beast that is big government.  SB 259 would trigger a personal income tax cut for the next year when taxes collected are greater than inflation until the personal income tax bracket is 4.5%.  Once 4.5% is reached, the trigger would be used to decrease corporate and privilege taxes until comparable reductions are reached.  The bill passed 30 to 10.  I voted Yes.

 

Illegals Voting in Kansas elections would be exposed if HB 2020 becomes law.  It would require the Department of Revenue to notify the Secretary of State of any noncitizens drivers licenses issued.  The Secretary would then be required to investigate any names on the noncitizen list with voter registrations and direct county clerks to remove the registered voter from the voter rolls.  The bill passed 32 to 8.  I voted Yes.

 

Special Elections that often increase taxes will only be held in April, August, or November if HB 2022 becomes law with the Senate changes.  A recent election in Sedgewick County cost taxpayers $136,000.  If it would have been on the August or November ballot, there wouldn’t have been an extra expense.  I voted yes.  It passed 24 to 16.

 

Artificial Intelligence generated visual sexual images of children will be a sex crime if HB 2183 becomes law.  It passed the Senate unanimously.

 

Prayers for those who have lost loved ones.  It was a difficult week in the Kansas Senate, as a few senators lost loved ones.  It is one of the hardest things we face in life.  For all who have lost a loved one, their life was a gift from God and may their memory continue to bless you.

 

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.

Caryn

 

Government, Kansas

K-52 resurfacing project will begin soon in Linn County

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The week of March 31, the Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin a resurfacing project on K-52 in Linn County. The 14-mile project area includes two highway sections: from K-31 northeast to the U.S. 69 south junction, and from the U.S. 69 north junction east to the Kansas-Missouri state line.

 

Project activity includes a mill and overlay. Flaggers and a pilot car with guide one-lane traffic through the work zone during weekday daylight hours; expect delays of 15 minutes or less. Weather permitting, the work should be completed by June.

 

KDOT awarded Bettis Asphalt & Construction Inc., of Topeka, the $3.2 million construction contract. Persons with questions may contact Ian Stringham, (785) 433-6116, or Priscilla Petersen, (620) 902-6433.

KDOT urges drivers to slow down and obey the posted signs in all work zones. For information on this project and other construction activity on state highways in Kansas, visit www.kandrive.gov or call 5-1-1.