Category Archives: Housing
Lisa Dillon: New FS Housing and Community Development Coordinator
Lisa Dillon started as the new City of Fort Scott Housing and Community Development Coordinator on September 23.
Her wages will be split over a couple of different funds including economic development, FS City Manager Brad Matkin said.
“I graduated from high school in 1986 and later attended Fort Scott Community College. I have gained valuable insights into community development and social issues with prior employment and volunteering ventures with different communities through the years,” Dillon said.
She has experience in real estate, residential lending, and community programs that assisted families.
The following was provided by Matkin about the roles that Dillon and her department head, Mary Wyatt, play.
Planning, Housing, and Business Development Department
The Planning, Housing, and Business Development Department plays a vital role in shaping the future growth and sustainability of a community. It focuses on urban planning, housing initiatives, and business development strategies, ensuring they are integrated to create a vibrant and resilient community. This includes planning, implementing, and evaluating programs that foster economic growth, improve public infrastructure, enhance housing options, and strengthen community ties.
Director of Planning, Housing, and Business Development: Mary Wyatt
- Oversee the Housing and Community Development Coordinator, Tourism and Public Relations Coordinator, Codes Department, and Woodland Hills Golf Course.
- Work closely with the Kansas Department of Commerce on promoting Fort Scott to entice businesses to come to our community.
- Ensure the City of Fort Scott is competitive regionally attracting prospective companies to the City.
- Work with the area Chamber of Commerce to strengthen relationships with existing businesses.
- In partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and local realtors, develops, and maintains a comprehensive inventory of available buildings and sites in the community.
- Provide education to possible new businesses for grants, funding, and locations.
- Report to the commission quarterly on findings, wins, and expectations of the Planning, Housing, and Business Development Department.
- Develop short- and long-range economic development plans.
- Lead efforts to attract new businesses to the City of Fort Scott or Bourbon County.
- Develop incentive programs to encourage business investment in the community.
- Represent the City of Fort Scott at regional and national economic development conferences and trade shows.
- Study and monitor the up-to-date market statistics and demographics for existing businesses, labor shed, and market data for businesses interested in relocating or locating in Fort Scott.
Housing and Community Development Manager: Lisa Dillon
- City liaison for the City of Fort Scott Land Bank
- Educate investors on housing incentives
- Legislative liaison working with Kansas League of Municipalities to influence state and federal legislation.
- Develop, implement, and manage housing and community development programs.
- Oversee the administration of grants and funding for housing and community development projects.
- Ensure that all housing and development projects comply with local, state, and federal regulations.
- Collaborate with the Codes Department to provide support and assistance
- Prepare and submit required reports and documentation to regulatory bodies.
- Continued education in housing, codes, and community development regulations.
- Identify and secure funding sources for housing and community development
- Report quarterly on housing developments and community activities to the City Commission
- Help the Director of Planning, Housing, and Business Development with incentive programs to encourage business investment in the community.
- Promote the development of affordable housing and improve existing housing stock with the assistance of the Codes department.
- Work with the City of Fort Scott’s bond counselor to promote and execute the city’s RHID program.
- Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment
Her office is located at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street Fort Scott, and her phone number is 620.223.0550.
Buildings Scheduled for Demolition in Fort Scott: A Long Process
On September 3rd, the Fort Scott City Commission voted to demolish several blighted buildings.
The purpose and goal of the Fort Scott Codes Department is to enforce all codes, ordinances, and regulations adopted by the City of Fort Scott to ensure the safety and aesthetic value of all properties and establish a standard of property maintenance, according to the city’s website.
The city has a process to allow extended time for property owners to repair the buildings.
Properties in a state of deterioration are turned into the city by community members for the most part, said Leroy Kruger, who works in the codes department.
This begins a process that starts with a letter to the property owner asking them to repair the house up to city codes and to give the codes department a phone call, within 30 days of receiving the letter.
“If we haven’t heard from them, we send out a condemnation letter,” Kruger said.
“We give 30 more days, if we haven’t heard from them, we turn it over to the city commissioners, and they vote on it,” he said.
“The next step is to advertise (in the Fort Scott Tribune) that we are going to tear it down. Then we have a public meeting,” Kruger said.
“Homeowners or any interested parties get another letter to come and speak to the commission,” he said.
“If no one shows up, the next step is to tear it down.”
“We try to get three bids submitted to the commission (for demolition) and they decide who gets the bid.” he said.
Once torn down to ground level, if the owners want to sell the property, a special assessment fee is given them to recoup the cost of the demolition.
“There’s quite a few blighted properties in Fort Scott,” Kruger said. “We have to stay in a budget for the year. Usually, there are two to three properties at a time.”
At the September 3 Fort Scott City Commission Meeting six properties were submitted.
“If these six go through, we’ve done 10 or 11 properties this year. I think the six have eaten up our budget,” Kruger said.
The codes department office is located in City Hall at 123 S. Main Street and can by reached by calling 620.223.0550.
Norm Nation is the supervisor and lead codes inspector.
On September 3rd, the Fort Scott City Commission voted to demolish several buildings. Here are the addresses and photos of the buildings taken from Google Street View.
Upper Floor Housing in Kansas Main Street Communities Are Eligible For Grants
Upper Floor Housing Grants Available for Designated Main Street Communities
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland announced today $400,000 is available under the Residential Opportunities on Main Street (ROOMS) grant program to support new upper-floor housing in commercial buildings in Designated Kansas Main Street communities.
“Main Street communities across the state long have been revitalizing their historic business districts and supporting economic vitality,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Increasing the amount of available upper-floor housing is essential to maximizing the economic potential of Main Streets across Kansas. ROOMS grants provide another powerful tool to breathe new life into their downtown areas.”
Upper-floor investments create new housing opportunities and can play an important role in addressing the shortage of quality housing, which regularly is identified as a major issue throughout Kansas. Upper-floor housing enhances the overall livability and functionality of downtowns. It also can lead to increased investment, improved infrastructure, a positive cycle of economic growth, a stronger tax base, and a greater sense of place and community identity.
“These types of projects are expensive and require funding from multiple sources,” Kansas Main Street Director Scott Sewell said. “The ROOMS grants offer a tremendous opportunity to help make these kinds of projects happen.”
ROOMS funds will be available to applicants within active Designated Kansas Main Street communities for projects that can be shown to lead directly to housing creation or retention in upper floors of existing buildings in the designated downtown area. Projects must incorporate Main Street design standards and follow local ordinances and code for improvements. Each eligible applicant may receive a single $50,000 grant.
To view a webinar recording about the ROOMS grant program, click here. For more information about the Kansas Main Street program, click here.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
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New Apartments Are Coming To Fort Scott
The former Fort Scott Manor Nursing Home, 736 Heylman Street, will soon be 24 standard market apartments.
Shane Lamb, president of Rural Asset Management and Rural Redevelopment Group, De Soto, KS. decided to take on the development project, even after not receiving grants to help.
“We didn’t receive any state or federal grants or funds,” he said. “We did apply for them but did not receive any. I am doing this on our own.”
“The rental complex hasn’t been named yet,” he said. “We will in the coming weeks.”
The building is approximately 20,000 square feet. “It’s been completely gutted and new everything,” Lamb said.
Lamb purchased the Fort Scott Manor property in January of 2022, he said. “It was closed down by the state several years ago, then went through bankruptcy proceedings. I believe it had been closed for three years.”
The Fort Scott property will not be low-income apartment rentals but instead will be for the standard market.
“We focus on rural towns and rural housing,” he said. “Typically, we purchase nursing homes, schools, hospitals…single-use vacant properties we convert to housing.”
“We should have the majority of the repairs done in the next six months and plan to have it 100 percent completed and occupied by winter,” Lamb said.
Lamb said he always tries to use qualified local contractors and buy materials locally.
“I always try to keep the money local,” he said. “It doesn’t work 100 percent of the time. Sometimes you can’t find local partners to meet those deadlines…because they are so busy.”
Lamb said there was a glitch in the Iola project that paused it for several years.
“W had a neighbor that was on a city council that blocked rezoning for almost 4 years,” Lamb said in a later interview. “The project has since started and is being remodeled as we speak. The project is slated to be done within a year.”
Restoration of Historic Building at 6th and Main Is In The Works
The historic building at 6th and Main Streets in Fort Scott is in the process of being restored.
The building is owned by Al and Luanna Niece and was purchased in June 2023, according to a prior interview.
Nieces Are Working to Renovate the Payne Building At 6th and Main
“It’s a total restoration of the building,” said Chase Halsey, Co-Vice President of Mid-Continental Restoration, Fort Scott.
Koehn Construction, Fredonia, is the general contractor of the project and Mid-Continental is a sub-contractor doing the masonry restoration, which includes the brick replacement, stone replacement, tuckpointing, and stripping of the building, and in addition, will be doing the new window installations, Halsey said.
Koehn Construction did the demolition of the interior and are “pouring concrete in the basement. Getting more of the fittings in. We are pouring the slab this week,” said Brandon Koehn, a manager at Koehn Construction.
Luanna Neice said she thought they were right on schedule “probably next week steele will go up on the inside.”
The building is two stories with a walk-out basement, Koehn said, and the inside had been destroyed by a fire.
Koehn said the building should be mostly complete by mid-summer.
The building will house two apartments on the second floor, an ice cream shop on the first floor, which is street level and the basement is slated to be a gentleman’s bar, according to Niece.
Jeff Armstrong: New Realtor in Fort Scott
Jeff Armstrong obtained his real estate license in the fall of 2021. and he joined Front Door Real Estate in August of 2022.
“I look forward to assisting sellers/buyers through the quagmire of home real estate,” he said. “Besides children, home ownership is one of the largest and possibly most stressful financial responsibilities for adults. My purpose as a real estate agent is to work alongside the client to facilitate transactions, clarify areas of uncertainty, listen and identify the client’s needs/wants, and create an atmosphere of trust.”
“There are many high-quality realtors in Fort Scott, so I am constantly reading, listening, and learning to provide the exceptional service clients deserve,” he said.
“My original purpose of getting my license revolved around owning and managing a piece of commercial real estate in town, however, like many short-term goals, I pivoted,” he said.
“I run and operate a pressure washing business (Armstrong Pressure Washing) out of Fort Scott and did some work for Jared (Leek) back in early 2022,” he said. “We were just talking and I mentioned I recently earned my real estate license and he graciously asked if I would have interest in joining Front Door.”
“The wealth of knowledge and expertise at Front Door Real Estate made the decision simple,” he said. “I am spoiled to be a part of such an amazing group of professionals. Real estate transactions do demand a certain level of knowledge and problem-solving, but can be wasted without trust, integrity, and communication. Much like any service profession, real estate is fueled by relationships.”
“Housing markets go up and down, but how we work for our clients supersedes those events and smooths out the rough times and enhances the joyous moments.”
When asked what his community involvement/hobbies/interests are:
“As each day passes, I find that my faith in Jesus Christ becomes more and more important to me and all that I do should be done to glorify His holy name. With kids in middle school and high school, most of my extra time revolves around them and their engagements. I also own and operate my pressure washing business during the spring/summer/fall months.”
“I am supported and encouraged by my gorgeous wife Jamie and blessed with my two children, Kendal and Jax,” he said. “My parents, Steve and Janet, provide me wisdom and encouragement even as an adult.”
Contact Info: 620-224-3036, jeff@myfdre.com, Facebook @jeffarmstrong-realtor, 113 S. Main Street
Nieces Are Working to Renovate the Payne Building At 6th and Main
Al and Luanna Niece, from Blanco County, TX, purchased the dilapidated building at 6th and Main in June 2023 to renovate.
Al Niece owns Niece Equipment of Kansas and has had a plant in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park, since 2012. The company manufactures, sells, and leases water trucks, fuel/lube trucks, and water towers, according to its website.
“We fell in love with Fort Scott, the community, the downtown,” Luanna said. “We are trying to give back.”
The building was built in 1889, with A. B. Payne as the owner. It was built for apartments and a printing shop, Luanna said. The name of the building was Shultz and Paine.
One interesting fact discovered in looking at the history of the building: “The building’s owner was friends with Mark Twain,” she said. Twain was a humorist, journalist, lecturer, and novelist who died in 1910.
The Nieces plan to make two apartments on the top floor, one for themselves and one for a rental.
The street-level floor will be renovated to make an old-fashioned “soda jerk fountain and ice cream shop” with candy and “simple foods like hot dogs”, she said.
The basement will be Al’s hangout, “Like in the movie ‘Speak Easy’, a gentleman’s bar,” she said. “It will be his mancave, probably called ‘Al’s’.”
“We hope to have renderings (of the future building plans) in about a month,” Al said. They met with the builder last week and hope to be open by next summer, he said.
Koen Construction is the builder, Al said.
What attracted the Nieces was that “this building is a stand-alone one,” she said. “And it has a lot next to it, land. About 6,000-10,000 square feet.”
The Nieces also own the building that houses the Brickstreet BBQ Restaurant, the River Room Event Center, and the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team office on North National.
New Presbyterian Village Director: Marla Heckman
Marla Heckman, 52, is the new Fort Scott Presbyterian Village Executive Director.
Heckman is new to Fort Scott.
“My husband, John, was born in Fort Scott,” she said. ” We were planning on retiring and moving here someday. There was some property that was going up for sale close to our family, so we decided to change our plans and move back sooner.”
Heckman started on September 5, 2023, as the Executive Director, “overseeing this wonderful community. I am so excited to work with the amazing TEAM here,” she said.
She received her education from the University of Oklahoma and is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator.
Heckman has 36 years in Healthcare-Independent Living, Assisted Living, Residential Care, Skilled Nursing, and Long-term Care.
“I served on the board for Care Providers Oklahoma, as well as, the Oklahoma State Department of Health Informal Dispute Resolution panel,” she said.
In her spare time she “loves spending time with family and friends.”
“I have never lived anywhere but Oklahoma, so I am excited to start some new hobbies, maybe gardening and having some chickens,” she said. “I look forward to being involved in the community and helping whenever possible.”
She has four children and 13 grandchildren.
Heckman replaces Ginger Nance as the executive director.
FS Land Bank Meets August 21
FORT SCOTT LAND BANK
Board of Trustees Meeting
August 21, 2023, 4 p.m. at City Hall
On The AGENDA
208 N. Crawford
323 W. 2nd
114 S. Barbee
116 N. Caldwell
111 S. Little
602 S. Heylman
102 W. Oak/108 W. Oak
Kansas Housing Update
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House To Be Auctioned To Benefit Fort Scott Parks
The vacant house at 1311 S. National Avenue has the beginning work of rehabilitation done by several volunteers and others.
“We were notified by the Fort Scott Codes Department in 2017 of a house on National that they thought could be rehabbed,” said Carolyn Sinn, a member of the Youth Activity Team, which took on the project to repair then sell the house to benefit Fort Scott’s Ellis Park.
A veteran living in the home at the time was relocated.
“He was relocated with help from a lot of people in the community,” Sinn said. “To a quality place.”
The city thought the house was salvageable and YAT paid $4, 101 for it, which included the prior years taxes, she said.
The Youth Activities Team, the Good Neighbor Action Team and the Fort Scott Fire Department helped with the demolition, Sinn said.
A new roof and windows (paid for by Peerless Products, Fort Scott) were put on the house.
“We hired Amish carpenters to repair the porch and stabilize the garage,” she said. “Jeff Allen did some electrical work for us a donation.”
Then the COVID-19 Pandemic happened.
“The work got stopped,” she said. “During COVID, materials got out of control.”
All together they have invested approximately $26,000 in the house.
“When it was over, we looked at it again and decided to sell the house and hopefully get it back on the tax rolls,” Sinn said.
The YAT asked the City of Fort Scott to auction it off and any money made will be transferred to the parks committee, to be used for sensory park equipment, she said. Sensory equipment allows more easily accessed playgrounds for children of all abilities.
The City of Fort Scott voted to allow the YAT to sell the house at the commission meeting on May 16, 2023.
The original YAT was comprised of Sinn, Eric Bailey, Laura George, Tom Roberts, Paul Martin, Larry Fink and Diana Mitchell.
Following the sale of the house, the YAT will be dissolved, Sinn said.
“We have a lot of enthusiastic people in the community now,” she said.
Through the years YAT has raised money for upgrades and improvement to Ellis Park, on 12th Street, near the Fort Scott Middle School.
They installed lighting, put in a sand volleyball court, a basketball court, a walking trail, and UMB Bank helped with building a pavilion at the park.
“With the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team we raised $37,600 for the sensory equipment in the park,” Sinn said. “That money we gave to the city parks committee for sensory equipment in the park on Dec. 14, 2022.”