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Fort Scott, Government, Submitted

Fort Scott City Commission Minutes June 5

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CITY OF FORT SCOTT

CITY COMMISSION MEETING

Minutes of June 5, 2018, Regular Meeting #11

The regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held June 5th, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Room, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas.

ROLL CALL:

Commissioners Adamson, Bartelsmeyer, Nichols, and Parker were present with Mayor Mitchell presiding.

INVOCATION: Pastor Norman Tillotson, First Baptist Church, said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City and all government and City officials.

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Janet Braun, Denton Wescoat, Rachel Pruitt, Dicie Nicklaus, William W. Polk, Bill Peterson, CLP-Peterson, Dan Doherty, Janice Allen, Abby Humble, Sarah Steele, Michael Mix, Pat Lyons, Joel Riggs, Steve James, Mark Gilmore, Karina Kantilal, Rhonda Dunn, Travis Shelton, Norman Tillotson, Paul Ballou, Clayton Miller, and Jason Silvers, representing the Fort Scott Tribune.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS: None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND APPROPRIATIONS/CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of May 15th, 2018.

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1216-A totaling $653,024.45.

  1. Resolution No. 28-2018 – Notice of Hearing With Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure and Accessory Structure located at 608 S. Broadway – Public Hearing Date – 7/17/2018 at 6:15 p.m.

  1. Resolution No. 29-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 1914 E. Wall Street – Public Hearing Date – 7/17/2018 at 6:15 p.m.

  1. Certificate of Appropriateness – Sign at 23 S. Main

Bartelsmeyer moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED CONSENT AGENDA.

APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

  1. APPEARANCE:

Pickleball Court – Michael Mix, Public Utilities Director, shared photos of the pickleball court located at 9th and Burke with the City Commission. New lighting has recently been installed and the courts are being used a lot. He introduced Janice Allen and Mark Gilmore, both of who are active pickleball court players.

Mark Gilmore thanked the City of Fort Scott for their commitment in developing this pickleball court. They had a tournament a couple of weeks ago which brought out a lot of people. He has played over 50 people already.

Janice Allen said that she loves the courts and loves to play. She knows of people from Nevada and Joplin that come to Fort Scott to play. She plays every morning and evening. She also thanked the City for the nice courts to play on.

Dave Bruner – Red Cross Smoke Detector Update and Presentation of Check to Dicie Nicklaus, Disaster Program Manager for American Red Cross – Dave Bruner, Deputy Fire Marshal, informed the Commission that the Fire Department partnered up with American Red Cross about a month ago to install fire alarms in people’s homes for the Sound the Alarm Campaign. On May 6th, 2018, there were 314 alarms installed in 130 homes on that day. He thanked Dicie Nicklaus with the American Red Cross for their assistance with this program. He presented a check for $500.00 to Dicie for the Sound the Alarm Campaign. He thanked all the team of volunteers from the City, Buck Run and various businesses and organizations who assisted where needed.

Dicie Nicklaus, American Red Cross, thanked the Fort Scott Fire Department and the City of Fort Scott for the fantastic numbers from Fort Scott. She thanked the City for the donation to American Red Cross also. She announced that this campaign will continue in Fort Scott and expand to businesses and groups.

Fort Scott High School – Amber Toth’s class – Ms. Toth’s class consisting of Abby Humble and Karina Kantilal presented their Fort Scott project to the City Commission. It consisted of a project to make canoe and kayak rentals available on the Marmaton River. It would be completed in three phases: Gunn Park to Bridal Veil Park, Bridal Veil to Riverfront, and Riverfront to Mill Creek. Their estimated costs were $38,260.

City Commissioners thanked the students for their hard work on this project.

B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute

limit per citizen) – None

  1. PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Mitchell moved to open the Public Hearing at 6:27 p.m. Adamson seconded. Motion carried.

OPENED PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:27 P.M.

6:15 p.m. Resolution 23-2018 directing the repair or removal of an unsafe and dangerous structure located at 504 S. Judson Street – Rhonda Dunn, Codes Director, informed the Commission that this structure is owned by a brother and sister. The sister lives in Springfield and the brother is currently incarcerated in Larned. She stated that the sister’s daughter came to town to go through the house and remove any personal belongings but this is a hoarder house and in terrible condition. The roof is in bad shape also. She asked for approval to remove this structure in 30 days if repairs are not made.

Nichols moved to approve Resolution No. 23-2018 authorizing this structure to be repaired or removed in 30 days. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 23-2018 DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 504 S. JUDSON STREET. STRUCTURE MUST BE BROUGHT UP TO 2012 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE BY JULY 13TH, 2018 OR DEMOLITION PROCEEDINGS WILL BEGIN.

Discussion of 523 S. Main demolition – Rhonda Dunn gave an update on 523 S. Main and asked that this structure is removed from the dangerous and unsafe status and from the demolition list. The owners, Lloyd McKenney Trust, have boarded up the windows and cleaned up around the structure and it looks much better already.

Commission discussed setting a time frame to insure the structure repairs are kept up.

Parker moved to revisit this structure at 523 S. Main in 120 days to insure that repairs are being made. Mitchell seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO REVISIT THE STRUCTURE AT 523 S. MAIN IN 120 DAYS TO INSURE THE REPAIRS ARE KEPT UP.

Discussion of 1523 E. Wall demolition – Rhonda Dunn gave an update on 1523 E. Wall and informed the Commission that repairs have been made to this structure by the Brumback family. There is more work to do but she asked that it be removed from the dangerous and unsafe status at this time but set a time frame to revisit it.

Bartelsmeyer moved to revisit this structure at 1523 E. Wall in 60 days to insure that repairs are being made. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO REVISIT THE STRUCTURE AT 1523 E. WALL STREET IN 60 DAYS TO INSURE THE REPAIRS ARE KEPT UP.

Discussion of 309 S. Lowman demolition – Rhonda Dunn informed the Commission that the property owner of 309 S. Lowman had a contract with Kevin Allen – Skitch’s to demolish this property. She visited with Kevin Allen and he said he would have this demolished by the end of June. She asked the Commission to rescind the demolition bids for 309 S. Lowman.

Bartelsmeyer moved to rescind the bids for 309 S. Lowman. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO RESCIND BIDS FOR 309 S. LOWMAN STREET.

Discussion of 13 N. Holbrook demolition – Rhonda Dunn informed the Commission that the property owner has demolished this property but has not cleaned up the debris. She asked for 30-45 more days for him to clean up this property.

Discussion of 310 N. Cleveland demolition – Rhonda Dunn informed the Commission that the property owner has made no improvements to this structure. He has had no water since 2014 and no electricity since 2016. She has tried to meet with them but they will not answer the door. She spoke to the Fort Scott Housing Authority about possible openings they would have where this couple could move into and they do have openings. They were present earlier at the meeting and she spoke to them. She will meet with them on Friday to discuss other housing possibilities. If this is not successful, this structure may have to go through the court system to remove them from the structure.

Bartelsmeyer moved to close the Public Hearing at 6:40 p.m. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:40 P.M.

CONSIDERATION:

  1. Approval of Ordinance No. 3534 authorizing the City to issue Taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds, Series 2018 (Price Chopper Project) for the purpose of the acquisition, construction, renovation and equipping of a commercial facility; and authorizing certain other documents and actions in connection therewith – $5,900,000 – Sarah Steele, Gilmore & Bell, P.C., appeared before the Commission to request approval of the Ordinance approving the sales tax exemption. She said that Joel Riggs and Steve James were both present also.

Joe Riggs thanked that City Commission for all their support since the store opened four months ago.

Bartelsmeyer moved to approve Ordinance 3534 authorizing Taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds for the Price Chopper project. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED ORDINANCE NO. 3534 AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS TO ISSUE ITS TAXABLE INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2018 (PRICE CHOPPER PROJECT) FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION AND EQUIPPING OF A COMMERCIAL FACILITY; AND AUTHORIZING CERTAIN OTHER DOCUMENTS AND ACTIONS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. – $6,250,000

City Attorney also recommended authorizing the Mayor to sign any pertinent documentation in regards to this bond issue.

Mitchell moved to authorize the Mayor to sign any other pertinent documentation in regards to the bond issue. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED FOR THE MAYOR TO SIGN ANY OTHER PERTINENT DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS BOND ISSUE.

COMMISSION/STAFF:

  1. Director Updates: Rhonda Dunn – Rhonda updated the Commission on this last weekend’s Good Ol’ Days event. She felt like the event went smoothly. The committee takes the month of July off and then starts again in August to plan the following year’s event. She did feel the crowd was down this year. They will work to reboot this for 2019 to attract more people. She thanked all the City crews and Police and Fire Departments for the great job they do.

Stout Building – Rhonda informed the Commission that she will be moving forward with the demolition of this building. The adjacent property owner would like to see a parking lot for their residents. She is currently working with the property owner on this.

Ordinance Change – Rhonda said that she will be working with the Planning Commission in the near future to change the ordinance for the Central Business District and living on the first floor of a building.

Weeds – Rhonda said that her department has mailed out over 200 weeds letters since May 1st. They are also working on inoperable vehicles.

Land Bank – Rhonda said that she would like to see the Land Bank ordinance on the June 19th Commission meeting agenda.

B. City Commission:

Adamson – Nothing to report.

Bartelsmeyer – Nothing to report.

Nichols – Nothing to report.

Parker – Nothing to report.

Mitchell – Nothing to report.

C. City Attorney: Nothing to report.

  1. Director of Finance: Nothing to report.

  1. City Manager:

  1. Good Ol’ Days Committee – City Manager thanked this committee for their hard work in pulling off this event every year. They will work with Velocity next year also.

ADJOURNMENT:

Parker moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:54 p.m. Bartelsmeyer seconded. All voted aye.

ADJOURNED MEETING AT 6:54 P.M.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is to be held on June 19th, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.

RECORDED BY:

____________________

DIANE K. CLAY

CITY CLERK

Fort Scott, Government, Submitted

Agenda For Fort Scott City Commission June 19

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Agenda for the the Fort Scott City Commission, 6 p.m. June 19 at City Hall, 123 S. Main.

I. ROLL CALL:

ADAMSON BARTELSMEYER NICHOLS PARKER MITCHELL

II. FLAG SALUTE

III. INVOCATION: Pastor Steve Cole, First United Methodist Church

IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS:

V. CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of June 5th, 2018.

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1217-A totaling $309,518.34.

  1. Fireworks Waiver – July 4th, 2018

  1. Parade Permit – Burke Street Parade – July 4th, 2018

  1. Cereal Malt Beverage Application – Lady Elks Lodge #579 – June 23rd, 2018 – Briggs Car Show

VII. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

  1. APPEARANCE:

Jana Walker – Closure of Burke Street

B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute limit per citizen)

C. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS:

6:15 p.m. Resolution 30-2018 directing the repair or removal of an unsafe and dangerous structure and accessory structure located at 211 N. Lincoln Street

6:15 p.m. Resolution 26-2018 directing the repair or removal of an unsafe and dangerous structure located at 1306 E. Wall Street

VIII. CONSIDERATION:

  1. Consideration of placing stone at Heritage Park in front of rose garden in memory of Dola Cress

  1. Consideration of appointment – Fort Scott Housing Authority Board

  1. Consideration of OCR Agreement

  1. Consideration of approval of AWOS upgrade grant from K.D.O.T. for Airport

  1. Consideration of approval of PAPI & REIL grant from K.D.O.T. for Airport

  1. Consideration of Change Order #1 – Regional Tourism Center – $1,315.00

  1. Consideration of Land Bank Ordinance No. 3535 adoption

  1. Consideration of changing FSA (Flexible Spending Account) vendor

IX. COMMENTS:

  1. Director Updates: Jon Garrison
  1. Commission:
  1. City Attorney:
  1. Director of Finance:
  1. City Manager:

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

I MOVE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE

SESSION FOR ________________________________ IN ORDER TO

(see below justification)

DISCUSS ______________________________________. THE

EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE ___________ MINUTES AND THE OPEN

MEETING TO RESUME AT ________________.

Justifications for Executive Sessions:

  • Personnel matters of non-elected personnel

  • Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

  • Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative or representatives of the body or agency

  • Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

  • Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

X. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL

Business, Kansas, Submitted

Training Costs For Employers, Apprentices and Institutions

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Kansas awarded $1.2 million additional grant funding for Statewide Apprenticeship Program

 

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Commerce been awarded $1.2 million in additional grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship to help grow the statewide Registered Apprenticeship Program. This new funding follows an initial $1 million in grant funding the agency earlier received. The funds are being used to offset training costs for employers, apprentices and training institutions.

The Registered Apprenticeship Program is built upon an employer-driven model that combines on-the-job learning with the related technical instruction that increases an apprentice’s skill level and wages. It is a proven model for businesses to recruit, train and retain highly skilled workers.

“Since the reinvigoration of the program two years ago, we have observed a marked increase in advanced manufacturing, medical, electrical, plumbing and other high demand occupations in need of trained employees,” says Gary Westerman, State Manager of the Registered Apprenticeship Program. “The Registered Apprenticeship Team has taken several steps in identifying needs of Kansas employers and determining which fields are in the greatest needs of a workforce trained through the Registered Apprenticeship Program.”

There are presently 1,743 registered apprentices in Kansas, receiving both on-the-job training and paid employment with 393 apprentices achieving “Journeyperson “status within the past 18 months from ­­­246 employers. Through this program, apprentices receive on-the-job training from an experienced mentor for at least a full year, providing a living wage while training for a career position. They also earn credentials which can be carried forward throughout their careers. At the same time, employers benefit by meeting their growing need for a trained workforce, experience lower turnover costs, and higher productivity and reduce their costs of recruiting personnel.

“Registered Apprenticeship can improve a company’s workforce situation dramatically, including staff retention, skill knowledge, and safety, along with reducing training costs and increasing a company’s ability to develop their own talent pipeline,” said Westerman.

Currently, the Kansas Department of Commerce staff, the Registered Apprenticeship Team, and Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) partners are working with local high schools and military installations across Kansas to demonstrate that receiving technical training and certification is a valid option to a traditional four-year college path — especially in meeting today’s workforce needs.

For more information on the Registered Apprenticeship Program, visit ksapprenticeship.org.

Bourbon County, K-State Extension, Submitted

Bonding Thru Board Games

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Joy Miller, K-State Research and Extension Southwind District, Family and Consumer Science, 620-223-3720 or [email protected]

 

Board games can help connect family and friends in ways that video games can’

Playing board games gets everyone in the same room and helps family members across generations connect, compete, and have a great time together. Board games are easy, inexpensive, and have benefits well beyond the activity itself. Games are an entertaining and painless way to help kids build essential learning skills on the sly or by accidental learning, which means there’s no anxiety or resistance.

The book “Family Treasures: Creating Strong Families” by John DeFrain, covers six qualities that strong, successful families around the world exhibit: enjoyable time together; appreciation and affection for each other; positive communication; spiritual well-being (values, beliefs, life skills); successful management of stress and crisis; and commitment to each other.

If we don’t carve out time as a family, none of those traits will be achieved. Those traits are built in a scaffolding manner – one brings the other. Board games foster that face-to-face time interaction needed to connect deeply with each other and to develop the other traits of strong families.

Social and emotional health – Research shows the link between social and emotional skills and school success is so strong that it is a greater predictor of children’s academic performance than their family background and cognitive abilities. Learning is a social process. Children cannot learn if they struggle with following directions, getting along with their peers and controlling their emotions in any setting.

Every face-to-face game provides a ‘social experiment’ where players learn self-regulation and social skills to play successfully with others, a lot goes on under the surface, even when playing the simplest of games. Children identify and regulate their emotions and behavior, learn to calm down when upset without hurting others, and learn how to win – or lose – with grace and good manners. 

Playing games fosters persistence, a willingness to try new things, conversation, cooperative play and thinking of appropriate solutions to conflict. Games also help children learn to interpret others’ behavior and emotions, and can reinforce children’s feeling good about themselves and others.

Basic math concepts – Even some of the simplest board games give children a sense of numbers. For example, the numeral 4 represents four objects, which is greater than 3 and less than 5. Some games introduce geometry concepts with shapes and patterns, how to classify items

Bourbon County, K-State Extension, Submitted

Sericea Lespedeza Weed Control in Rangeland and Pasture

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Christopher Petty, M.S. Extension Agent Livestock Production and Forage Management K-State Research and Extension Southwind Extension District 210 S. National Fort Scott, KS 66701 (620) 223-3720 Work (620)224-6031 Cell [email protected]

According to Walt Fick, a K-State Research and Extension Range Specialist, Sericea lespedeza has been a statewide noxious weed in Kansas since July 1, 2000. Despite control efforts, this introduced, invasive species continues to persist on rangeland, pasture, and CRP acres in the state. Sericea lespedeza has a tremendous seed bank that helps reestablish stands following control efforts. Sericea lespedeza currently infests nearly 500,000 acres in Kansas.

There are no known biological controls that can be effectively used on sericea lespedeza. However, grazing with sheep and goats can suppress sericea lespedeza stands and produce a saleable product. Cattle supplemented with corn steep liquor (CSL) have been shown to consume more sericea lespedeza than animals not supplemented with CSL. Frequent mowing will reduce sericea lespedeza, but is also damaging to plants that might be growing/competing with sericea. A single mowing in mid- to late-July will eventually reduce stands of sericea lespedeza to some extent but has not eliminated sericea, even after several years of mowing. A late-summer mowing will eliminate most seed production. Application of appropriate herbicides about 4-6 weeks after mowing will help reduce sericea lespedeza stands, but will also damage other forbs. Prescribed burning in April seems to stimulate seed germination. Burning in August and early September nearly eliminates seed production.

Herbicides applied at the correct time and under favorable environmental conditions can significantly reduce sericea lespedeza, but retreatment has proven to be required. Early summer is a good time to consider spraying sericea lespedeza. Plants are in a vegetative growth stage and previous research has indicated good to excellent control at this time.

Remedy Ultra (triclopyr) and PastureGard HL (triclopyr + fluroxypyr) can provide effective control when applied during June and into early July when the sericea plants are in a vegetative growth stage.

Products containing metsulfuron, such as Escort XP, Cimarron Plus, and Chaparral, are generally more effective in the late summer when sericea lespedeza is actively blooming.. Use a non-ionic surfactant with all of these products. These products containing metsulfuron may stunt tall fescue.

For spot applications, mix 0.5 fl oz PastureGard HL per gallon of water, use a 1 percent solution of Remedy Ultra in water or 1 gram Escort XP per gallon of water.

Herbicide treatments will need to be repeated at least every 2 to 4 years to keep this invasive species in check. Initial treatments should reduce dense stands to the point where spot treatment can be used in future years. Left untreated, sericea lespedeza will quickly dominate a site, greatly reducing forage production and species diversity.

If you are unfamiliar with sericea lespedeza, learn how to identify the species and get started with a control program. Be persistent with control efforts to keep this invasive species at manageable populations. Contact Southwind Extension District Agent Christopher Petty at 620-223-3720 or by e-mail at [email protected] for more information.

Area News, Submitted

Jimmy DeYoung to Speak at First Southern Baptist Church June 20

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Jimmy DeYoung is a world-renowned author and prophet of Gods Word.  This rally he will be talking on the subject “Presidents, Politics, and Prophecy”.

The Rally will be held at First Southern Baptist  Church, 1888 S. Main at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2018.

The doors will open at 6:00 pm to visit with Mr. DeYoung or look through his book collection.

VCY of Wisconsin will be bringing singers as well.  After the message, refreshments will be served in our fellowship hall.  All are welcome.

For additional information call 620-223-2986 or go to vcyamerica.org or fortscottsbc.com

Mercy Hospital, Submitted

Paid Parental Leave Available To Mercy Workers

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Mercy Offers Paid Parental Leave to 40K Co-workers

Paid leave also extends to foster and adoptive parents, both moms, and dads

ST. LOUIS (June 13, 2018) – While paid parental leave is fairly standard in other developed countries, it’s less common in the U.S., particularly in the healthcare industry. Two weeks of paid parental leave are now available to nearly 40,000 Mercy co-workers across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. To learn more about opportunities at Mercy, visit bit.ly/Mercy-Careers.

“This is awesome,” said Sherise Beckham, a registered dietitian at a Mercy Hospital Fort Scott. “I am proud to work for a hospital that cares about their employees…especially us working mommas!”

In 2017, Mercy surveyed co-workers about benefits and services. Mercy listened and then took action.

“Paid parental leave was one of the top concerns,” said Cindy Rosburg, Mercy’s chief human resources officer. “In the U.S., only about 10 percent of healthcare organizations offer paid parental leave. Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, never married or had children herself, but she adopted children. She founded the order in Ireland almost 200 years ago to help address critical human needs, especially those of children and mothers. For Mercy, providing paid parental leave is the right thing to do. Catherine would be proud.”

For co-workers, it’s no small change. Heather Schroeder, a registered nurse in Ozark, Missouri, has fostered children for nearly four years.

“Placement of foster children comes with the same joy and challenges as a birth or adoption,” she said. “To be honest, foster placements often come with more challenges because you are unable to prepare for the children in your home before they come and there are many requirements and tasks to complete within the first week they are placed. I am so thankful to work for Mercy and appreciate that every family, no matter how God chooses to bring them together, is valued.”

For Mercy, it’s a significant commitment. With 54 percent of Mercy’s nursing workforce under age 40, compared with an industry average of 37 percent, Mercy has a higher ratio of employees at the prime age for having children. In 2017 alone, nearly 1,000 Mercy co-workers gave birth. Although the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires all large employers to provide 12 weeks of unpaid leave, the U.S. has no law requiring paid leave.

In addition to paid parental leave, Mercy is piloting a program to provide child and elder care assistance. Mercy also recently rolled out a program for co-workers to refinance student loans, as well as share the benefit with family and friends. One co-worker refinanced a $314,244 loan, the largest submitted to date, and will likely save almost $80,000 over the life of the loan.

Like paid parental leave, these were some of the co-workers’ top concerns.

Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2018, 2017 and 2016 by IBM Watson Health, serves millions annually. Mercy includes more than 40 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, 800 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 44,000 co-workers and 2,100 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In addition, Mercy’s IT division, Mercy Technology Services, supply chain organization, ROi, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients in more than 20 states coast to coast.