Category Archives: Housing

Government, Housing, Kansas

Governor: Temporary Eviction/Foreclosure Prohibitions

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Governor Kelly announces Executive Order to ­temporarily prohibit evictions and foreclosures

                                                                                                                                                                      

Governor Kelly on Tuesday announced Executive Order #20-06 to temporarily prohibit evictions and foreclosures across the state in an effort to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

 

Due to negative economic impacts of COVID-19, Governor Kelly and her administration decided to take steps to support Kansans who may miss mortgage or rent payments as a result of lost wages and other income.

 

“We understand that this pandemic is creating unprecedented challenges for people across the state,” Kelly said. “Kansas families need our support, and my administration is committed to doing everything it can to make sure Kansans can stay in their homes and businesses. It’s a necessary step to further protect Kansans’ health and safety.”

 

The Executive Order temporarily prohibits all financial institutions operating in Kansas from initiating any mortgage foreclosure efforts or judicial proceedings, and any commercial or residential eviction efforts or judicial proceedings until May 1, 2020.

  

This order comes after a State of Disaster Emergency for the State of Kansas was proclaimed by Kelly on March 12, 2020.

 

Please find Executive Order #20-06 attached.

Business, Fort Scott, Housing

Union Building Update: Completion Date Now December 2020

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The First and Main building as seen from National Avenue on Nov. 4, 2019.

 

The renovation of a  downtown late-1800s building has been at a standstill.

 

Work began in 2018 on the Union Building, at First and Main Street, and stopped for many months in 2019 and into 2020.

 

The inside was gutted and will be built back to make it into apartments, according to the developer.

 

 

“We replaced the  (first) contractor” Tony Krsnich, president and CEO of Flint Hills Holdings, told FortScott.Biz.

 

 

A new process began of moving forward on the project, he said.

 

 

Architects and engineers have been working on plans for the gutted Union Building for weeks,  Krsnich, said.

 

 

 

The three-story building is being converted into apartments for the general public and rent will be based on income, Krsnich said in a prior interview.

 

 

To see prior stories on the project:

Historic Redo Back On Track.

Stout Building-Going, Union Block Building-New Apartments

Demo Work Has Started On Union Block Building

 

 

“Architects and engineers work from their offices most of the time,” Krsnich said. “They’ve been on site along with subs every week for the past five weeks or so.”

 

Hans Thomas and Associates, K.C. MO are the architects, Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, is the civil engineer, Rau Construction, Overland Park is the general contractor, and Joe Towns, Lee’s Summit, MO is the structural engineer, Krsnich said.

 

The developer, Flint Hills Holdings, is located at 2315 W. 65th, Mission Hills, KS.

 

Completion of the project is expected to be in December currently, he said.

 

 

Union Building, First and Main streets, Fort Scott. June 2018, before inside demolition began.

 

Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Health Care, Housing

New Businesses Downtown

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Lindsay Madison, executive director of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, speaks to the Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet attendees on Jan. 28 at Papa Don’s Restaurant on Main Street.

There is much happening in downtown Fort Scott.

New businesses that have opened up downtown were highlighted at the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet on Jan. 28. The meeting took place at Papa Don’s Restaurant.

Luther’s BBQ Restaurant, Moe’s Bread bakery, Ascension Via Christi’s medical office, Modern Woodmen of America office, the Bolton Law Firm, Visage Skin Care Spa-were mentioned by Chamber Executive Director Lindsay Madison to the group.

 

Up Dog Yoga, a fitness center, opened up at 12B North Main in September.

 

Common Grounds Coffee Shop, 10 E. Wall, is tentatively slated to be completed in April, Madison said. They will move from their current site on Main Street to a larger building.

 

Additionally, Structure by Margo, a beauty salon, will open next month at 19 S. National Ave.

 

And the Unsung Heroes Park, between Wall and First Street on Main Street is slated for completion this year.

 

Mayco Ace Hardware was recently approved for a loan for rehabilitating it’s building, Fort Scott Economic Director Rachel Pruitt told the meet and greet attendees.

 

The historic building at First and Main Street, is back on track to be made into apartments as well.

 

“We are moving forward,” Tony Krsnich, CEO of Flint Hills Holdings Group, told FortScott.Biz. “A new contractor, Rau Construction, Overland Park, will be starting in the next few weeks.”

“It will be made into 25 apartments, rents that accommodate a wide range of rents, from $300 up,” Krsnich said. “They will be one and two-bedroom units.

On the Main Street first floor there will be a commons area and some apartments also, he said.

The tentative date for completion is Sept. 1, Krsnich said.

 

Madison stated January is the start of a new year for grants for businesses and that Fort Scott is an eCommunity which strives to encourage entrepreneurship.

 

 

Fort Scott, Housing

Apartments Available at FS Housing

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The Fort Scott Housing Authority has available or will be coming available shortly apartments listed below.

 

1 –  efficiency

7 – one-bedroom units

3 – two-bedroom units

4 – three-bedroom units

 

If you know of anyone needing affordable housing please feel free to give them my contact information. We have an application process and we can mail them out or it may be picked up at our office location.

 

Submitted by

 

 

Patty Simpson

Executive Director

Fort Scott Housing Authority

315 Scott Avenue

Fort Scott, KS  66701

Ph: 620-223-4570

[email protected]

 

Business, Fort Scott, Health Care, Housing

Fort Scott Presbyterian Village honored for achievements

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WICHITA, Kan. — Fort Scott Presbyterian Village was recognized with an Emerald Award Level One from PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America) for reaching goals in fiscal year 2019, July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019.

The recognition came through PMMA’s Emerald Awards Program, designed to encourage its 16 locations and two hospices to achieve high levels of resident and employee satisfaction, meet financial goals, build philanthropic support for the organization’s mission and meet marketing goals. There are 11 areas measured for the Emerald Awards.

To receive an emerald, a community has to meet its goals in all 11 areas. This is Fort Scott Presbyterian Village’s second consecutive Emerald Award Level One. Team members from the community attended PMMA’s annual Emerald Award Banquet November 13 at the Broadview Hotel in Wichita to accept the award.

“We are pleased to present Fort Scott Presbyterian Village with its second Emerald Award. This recognition is a visible sign of the Fort Scott team’s commitment to the mission of PMMA of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values,” said Bruce Shogren, chief executive officer for PMMA.

PMMA has been providing quality senior services guided by Christian values in Kansas and Missouri for more 70 years.

For more information about Fort Scott Presbyterian Village, contact Marketing Director Becky Kellum at 620-223-5550 or [email protected].

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Fort Scott Presbyterian Village has been offering independent and assisted living apartments for seniors from southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri since 1994. Learn more at FortScottPresbyterianVillage.org. PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with 16 locations and 2 hospices in Kansas and Missouri, and a new campus under development in Colorado Springs. Learn more at PMMA.org.

Bourbon County, Business, Health Care, Housing, Jobs

BoCo Inter-Agency Coalition Minutes of Dec. 4

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Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition General Membership Meeting Minutes, submitted by Chairwoman Billie Jo Drake.

December 4, 2019

  1. Welcome and Board update: Twenty-three members representing twenty-one agencies attended. Billie Jo announced that Nancy Van Etten will be filling the vacancy on the Coalition Board; Nancy will be replacing DeAnn Cambers who has relocated to Crawford County.
  1. Member introductions and announcements:
  • Billie Jo shared information provided by Kerry Pommier, Eugene Ware Counselor, regarding the Community Conversation on the effects of childhood trauma to be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17, at Fort Scott High School. Guest speaker will be Monica Murnan, a member of the Kansas Legislature and Director of Student Support Services at Greenbush. For more information, call 620-223-3380 or email [email protected] .
  • Michelle Stevenson, Fort Scott Pre-School Program, shared that the finance simulation organized by Lewis Dunkeson, FSHS, went very well.
  • Shannon Stancer, TFI Family Services, announced that they are in need of drivers.
  • Jean Tucker, Feeding Families, stated that the program is continuing to feed 135 – 200 meals every Wednesday evening.
  • Allen Schellack, Salvation Army, still needs volunteers to ring bells during the Christmas season. Last year over $7,000 was raised for use in Bourbon County; this year’s goal is $10,000.
  • Gary Murrell, Beacon, shared changes in Beacon hours for the holiday season: December 24 hours will be changed from the usual evening hours to 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Beacon will be closed on December 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, and January 1. Beacon will reopen with regular hours on January 2. Gary also reminded members that Beacon clients must be signed up in order to receive food in January. The only date left for sign-up is December 10 during the evening hours.
  • Caleb Smith, Kansas Appleseed, announced that he is planning a Hunger Action Summit on January 17 at the Pittsburg Library.
  • Steve Jameson, SEK-CAP, noted that he is working on guidelines to help adults with mental health issues.
  • Nancy Van Etten, American Red Cross, provided information on the upcoming blood drive: December 17 and 18 at Buck Run Community Center. They still need volunteers to help with escorting; call 215-9749 if you could help.
  • Jennifer Graber and Christine Abbott, Kansas Works, shared that the Annual Job Fair (all ages) and Youth Summit (16-24 year olds) will be April 2 at the Pittsburg Memorial Hall. Christine also shared copies of their new flyer.
  • Michelle Lyon, DCF, reminded members that LIEAP applications will be open January 21, the day after Martin Luther King Day, and will be open until March 31. She encouraged those that receive a denial to follow-up and provide what was missing in the original application. Many times making the corrections will result in an approval.
  • Sandra Haggard, RSVP, stated that she will be doing another Opioid Safety Seminar in the spring. Currently, Sandy has senior volunteers helping at the Beacon and with the veterans activities.
  • Robin Griffin, Thrive Allen County, is working on bike share programs, bicycle trail systems, and opioid prevention.
  • Barbara Longhofer, Kansas Guardianship Program, provided brochures about her program; she now has four volunteers working in the Fort Scott area.
  1. Program: Gary Miller, Angels Home Care Health. Angels Care Home Health provides services to seniors who are fifty-five (55) and older. Gary shared flyers listing all the services they can provide. He noted that they are beginning to see three generational homes and seniors who need assistance with rent and utilities. They do work closely with CHC; their program is covered 100% by Medicare. For those seniors who do not qualify for Medicare, Angels Care will work with their insurance or assist to find another home health facility that is affordable to the client. Further information can be found at angelscarehealth.com or 620-232-2922.
  1. February program will be presented by MeagThe han Russell, USD 235. Meaghan will tell us about their Teammates program. Barbara Longhofer, Kansas Guardianship Program, will present the March program.
  1. Open Forum: Billie Jo reminded members that there will be no General Membership meeting in January due to the first Wednesday being January 1.
  1. Adjournment: Next meeting will be February 5, 2020.
Bourbon County, Business, Health Care, Housing, Jobs

Agenda for the Bourbon County Coalition Dec. 4

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Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition general membership meets each first Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 123 Scott. There will be no January 2020 meeting.

The meeting agenda for December 4, 2019

  1. Welcome and Board update by Billie Jo Drake, chairwoman:
  1. Member introductions and announcements:
  1. Program: Gary Miller, Angels Home Care Health
  1. February program will be presented by Meaghan Russell, USD 235. Meaghan will tell us about their Teammates program.
  1. Open Forum:
  1. Adjournment: Next meeting will be February 5, 2020.
Business, Fort Scott, Housing

Historic Redo Back On Track

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The residential development at 1st and Main Street is now on track for a summer 2020 opening. This is a 2018 photo.

Though there has been no activity for months on the building at First and Main Street, that will change soon, said the developer.

“As happens from time to time, we are in the process of switching general contractors,” Tony Krsnich, president and CEO of Flint Hills Holding, 2315 W. 65th, Mission Hills, KS. said.

“We are getting ready to start construction back up in 30 days,” He said.

The three-story building is being converted into 25 “high-end” apartments, he said. “They are for the general public and rent will be based on income.”

“It will be historically preserved,” Krsnich said. “It will pretty much look like it did when built.”

What was known as the Stout Building, adjacent to the west at First and National Avenue was torn down.

“The old Stout Building was endangered and needed to be razed,” he said. “It will be used as green space and a parking area for downtown.”

“The project is fully financed and construction is expected to resume within the next few weeks,” Rachel Pruitt, Fort Scott Economic Director said. “The City looks forward to seeing the construction restarting and is thankful for the additional investment from Flint Hills Holdings. ”

The First and Main building as seen from National Avenue on Nov. 4. The Stout Building was razed on this space and will be made into a green space and parking lot for downtown Fort Scott.

 

Business, Fort Scott, Housing, Jobs

Website Being Developed to Aid Renting Houses/Apts. in Fort Scott

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Frank Adamson. Submitted photo.
Over the last year, local businessman Frank Adamson has been developing a rental property website called GrowFortScott.
He is currently accepting landlords and local businesses to the website and joining is free.
“The platform was designed to gather the local rental market and renters, to one place, to fulfill their combined needs,” Adamson said.
“We understood that endless calls between landlords and potential renters seemed a bit outdated.”
Click below to view the site:

“Inspiration for the site came from Ryan Sparks in Iola,” he said. “He has www.growiola.com. However, there have been many people involved with the development of the (GrowFortScott) project. Local landlords and business owners have contributed. And most importantly Isaac Robinson, formally from Uniontown,  facilitated the website construction. YouAreNowOnline.com.”

“I am the main developer of the site functionality and concept. I have spent many hours making sure that all of the functions were “User-Friendly” before launching the platform to the community,” he said.

There are three core components to the service: rentals and renters, local businesses and local job openings.

 

“We have been developing relationships with local landlords and businesses to find out what some of their needs and wants would be,” he said. “We identified the biggest needs and have developed around them.”
When fully functional, the website  www.GrowFortScott.com will consolidate rental properties, from multiple landlords, that are available now.
“You can search for rent, bedrooms, bathrooms and if it is pet-friendly,” he said. “View multiple photos and read the description of the rental. All from the comfort of wherever you may be. Then once you have determined what rental you would like to inquire about, you fill out an on-line application to the landlord. They will receive it, review it and respond to you. You will then be able to schedule a time to meet at the rental and finalize the renting of the property.”
“Access to local businesses and local jobs just fit as an intricate part of the community,” Adamson said. “We have made it simple for the local businesses to join and provide simple access to their business location, basic information, and potential job openings they may have.”
Frank and his wife, Cheryl Adamson are the owners of the Courtland Hotel and Spa.
Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Housing

Stutesman’s Realty Expands and Moves: Offers Office Space To Businesses

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The interior of the Stutesman’s Action  Realty  Fort Scott office space’s common area features tin ceilings and exposed walls.

Stutesman’s Action Realty has extended its reach in Fort Scott.

“We’ve grown the last two years,” said Amanda Bourassa, a broker for the real estate business, said. “We needed more space to continue to serve our clients.”

Amanda Bourassa, Real Estate Broker for Stuteman’s Action Realty, at the 120 E. Wall, Fort Scott location. Pictured is the conference room.

She loves the location of the new space.

“It’s downtown, in the center of everything and it has a view of the Fort (Scott National Historic Site),” she said.

“We wanted to show a permanent presence here in Fort Scott and Bourbon County,” she said. “To show we are committed to not only our clients who are buying and selling but also our community.”

The realty signed a 10-year lease with Pat and Stacy Wood for the space and began a remodel in June, she said.

“We all have our own homes and investment properties,” she said. “We believe this will help with serving our clients.”

The new office is located at 120 E. Wall and officially opened its doors on Sept. 3.

Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Stutesman’s Action Realty, 120 E. Wall is the white building in the photo.

The 1,600 square-foot space has been completely remodeled by her husband, Tim, with Stutesman’s Action Realty paying for the reno.

There are now five agents working for the agency: Bourassa is the broker; agents are Stacy Wood, who joined in December 2018; Kaci Kurtz who joined in November 2018, along with Bailey Lyons and Scott Theis.

Stutesman’s Action Realty, 120 E. Wall.

In addition to the realty business, the Bourassa’s finished out two additional offices in the new space, that are available for lease.

The business will host a Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee and ribbon cutting at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12.

In addition, on Wednesday, October 2, the business will have a Celebration of Success Open House from 3-6 p.m.

“This is open to the public for people to see the reno and meet with agents if they want to do so,” Bourassa said.

For more information, the toll-free number is 833-286-8400 or www.actionsold.com.

Bourassa can be reached at 417-684-5681.

The original office of the realty is still located in Nevada, MO.

Business, Fort Scott, Housing

Stout Building-Going, Union Block Building-New Apartments

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Flexbuild has demolition containers in front of the Union Block Building on North Main Street in Fort Scott’s Historic District.

There will be lots of activity at the corner of First and Main Streets in the next few weeks, according to Paul Wagner, Co-Founder of Flexbuild, Merriam. Flexbuild is the general contractor for the demolition of the Stout Building and the renewing of the Union Block Building in downtown historic Fort Scott.

The Union Block building, three storefronts at 18, 20 and 22 South Main are in the “build-back” phase, now, following demolition phase, Wagner said. The project is slated for completion for the end of 2019, he said.

“The buildings have been gutted by Skitch’s Hauling, Excavation, and Demolition,” Wagner said. “He has done a great job.”

These buildings will be transformed into 25 market-rate apartments ranging from 750 to 1,100 square feet in size. In addition, there will be a community room, exercise room, and an office area.

“The community rooms will be in the front, where the glass is,” Wagner said. “Everything else will be apartments. These are nice accommodations. In the back of the north building, there will be a courtyard for residents.”

“Just recently we got the building permit (from the city),” Wagner said. “Westar (Energy) is moving the electrical lines out of the way, to keep us safe. And  we got the state fire marshall approval, which is a big step.”

Flexbuild is moving from demolition to reconstructing on the Union Block Building and is currently working with a local quarry to fill the crawlspace under the buildings, he said.

Tony Kresnich, Flint Hills Holdings, holds the contract for the project, Wagner said. Neil Sommers, Louisburg, is the architect.

“We are trying to do as many local subs as possible,” he said. “Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, concrete, masonry, painting and carpentry. Between subs and my workers, there will be 15-20 workers.”

The Stout Building, National Avenue and First Street will be demolished in the next two weeks, according to the general contractor for the project.

The Stout Building, at National Avenue and First Street, will be completely demolished and a parking lot/park rebuilt on the spot, Wagner said.

The Union Block buildings were built in the 1880-90s, Wagner was told.