9-1-2026 City Commission Minutes DRAFT
Fort Scott City Commission Meeting Minutes – September 1, 2026, 6:00 PM
- I. Call to Order – The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. The meeting was streamed live on YouTube. Commissioners Matthew Wells, Tracy Dancer, Tim Van Hoecke, and Julie Buchta were present with Mayor Kathryn Salsbury.
- II. Pledge of Allegiance – Led by Mayor Salsbury. Invocation by Commissioner Wells.
- III. Approval of Agenda – Agenda was amended to include the Appearance of Stephen Mitchell for an IT update. Motion by Van Hoecke, seconded by Dancer. Motion Carried 5-0.
- IV. Consent Agenda – Motion by Van Hoecke, seconded by Dancer. Motion Carried 5-0.
- A. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1415-A – Expense Approval Report – Payment Dates of August 13, 2026 – August 25, 2026: $496,968.67
- B. Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting of August 18, 2026
- C. Request to Pay Earles Engineering & Inspection, LLC – Invoice #18780 – EEI Project No. 26-08 Topo Wall Street – Phase 3 – Survey Completed 100%: $20,000.00
- D. Request to Pay Mid-Continental Restoration – Invoice #15415-01 – Wall Street Retaining Wall Repairs at approximately 1402 E. Wall St: $27,122.56
- V. Public Comment
- Betty Breault – Addressed the Commission regarding homelessness, rental rates affecting seniors and disabled individuals on fixed incomes.
- VI. Appearances
- Rachel Carpenter, Director of Human Resources & Community Development – Requested the Commission consider accepting the Transportation Alternatives Grant for a trail along Buck Run Creek and approving the required 20% local match. Fort Scott was one of 33 projects awarded statewide. Total participating cost: $1,813,560; grant award: $1,451,000; city match: $362,712. Project letting scheduled for February 2028; preliminary engineering may occur in 2027. Funding for the local match may come from the Federal Fund Exchange and the Special Parks and Recreation Fund.
- Stephen Mitchell, IT – Provided an overview and update on a recent ransomware incident, its response, and future network security planning. The incident was identified and contained the previous Tuesday morning, limiting impacts to several non-critical machines at City Hall, the golf course, airport, and freshwater facility; public safety and SCADA systems remained unaffected due to network isolation. Approximately one week of data was lost on two machines; full operations were restored by Sunday. The suspected entry point was a phishing email; an antivirus software issue related to a Microsoft update was also identified and patched. In response, the City revamped its network to isolate individual sites, plans to increase OneDrive backup retention, and is evaluating a transition toward a zero-trust architecture, including potentially replacing local Active Directory with Microsoft Intune.
- VII. Unfinished Business
- Consideration to Approve Mill Levy and Publication of Public Hearing on September 15, 2026 – Ben Hart (Baker Tilly) presented budget options for the public hearing on September 15, 2026. Both options proposed a mill levy of 42.551 mills vs. a revenue-neutral rate of 41.472 mills (achieving revenue neutrality would require approximately $57,000 in reductions). Option A included the sale of eight lake lots to pay down $7.9 million in debt, placing county dispatch reimbursement into a capital improvements fund. Option B excluded lake lot sales and used the dispatch reimbursement for regular annual debt service. Motion by Wells to eliminate the $38,976 general fund demolition budget for one year, reducing the tax levy by approximately one-half mill. Wells, Dancer, and Salsbury voted yes; Van Hoecke and Buchta voted no. Motion Carried 3-2.
- Consideration of Ordinance No. 3801 – An Ordinance to Amend Municipal Code 5.08 – Alcoholic Liquor; 5.12 Cereal Malt Beverages and 5.14 Cereal Malt Beverages – Beer Gardens – First reading of proposed amendments conducted. Motion by Wells to table until the second meeting in September to allow the Commission more time to review. Motion Carried 5-0.
- Status Update for 118 E. Wall – Discussion regarding acquisition. Owner requested either a cash settlement or a combination of cash and a tax credit. Commission declined to make a cash offer. The LLC that previously owned the building is no longer in existence; ownership has reverted to the individual owner. Motion by Wells to take the necessary legal and grant-related steps to obtain possession of the building to preserve the property. Motion Carried 5-0.
- VIII. New Business – Action Items
- Consideration of Resolution No. 33-2026 – Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 507 W. 18th Street – Leroy Kruger reported the owner had promised to begin demolition but has not followed through. Motion by Wells, seconded by Dancer. Motion Carried 5-0.
- Consideration of Resolution No. 34-2026 – Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 611 W. 5th Street – Kruger reported the property has changed hands multiple times; current owners agree demolition is needed but lack funds; numerous complaints regarding junk and disrepair. Motion by Van Hoecke, seconded by Dancer. Motion Carried 5-0.
- Consideration of Resolution No. 35-2026 – Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 735 S. Little – Kruger reported the property has changed hands multiple times; current owners agree demolition is needed but lack funds; numerous complaints regarding junk and disrepair. Motion by Van Hoecke, seconded by Wells. Motion Carried 5-0.
- Consideration of Resolution No. 36-2026 – Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 416 S. Barbee – Kruger reported the structure is gutted and fire damaged; plywood covering the front door has been compromised; property backs up to a grade school. Motion by Wells. Motion Carried 5-0.
- Consideration of Resolution No. 37-2026 – Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 418 S. Barbee – Kruger reported the structure is gutted and fire damaged. Motion by Van Hoecke, seconded by Dancer. Motion Carried 5-0.
- Consideration of Resolution No. 38-2026 – Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 108 N. Judson – Kruger reported the property has been under owner-finance contract, previously red-tagged, with severe roof damage and exposed openings posing a risk to adjacent houses. A motion to table (Wells) died for lack of a second. Motion by Van Hoecke, seconded by Dancer; Salsbury, Buchta, Van Hoecke, and Dancer voted yes; Wells voted no. Motion Carried 4-1.
- Consideration to Appoint Cindy Bartelsmeyer to Current Vacancy of the Fort Scott Land Bank – Motion by Dancer, seconded by Buchta. Motion Carried 5-0.
- Consideration to Accept Recommendation of Bid Award to Mid-Continental Restoration for Repairs to Memorial Hall – Bid totaled $538,000 (below the initial budget estimate of more than $700,000) for the Memorial Hall window and exterior restoration project; Mid-Continental Restoration was the sole bidder. The City’s required $184,000 match has already been funded. Award is subject to approval by the Kansas Department of Commerce. Motion by Buchta, seconded by Dancer. Motion Carried 5-0.
- Discussion of CLG (Certified Local Government) – Discussion led by Buchta regarding historic preservation regulations under Ordinances 3782 and 3798, enforcement requirements, penalties, and the role of the CLG in coordinating with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The Commission discussed retaining the CLG while revising local guidelines to emphasize education, assistance, and preservation incentives. Motion by Van Hoecke to schedule a Work Session on September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM (prior to the regular City Commission meeting) to revise the historic preservation ordinance. Motion Carried 5-0. The Fort Scott Historic Resource & Preservation Commission (FSHRPC) meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 22nd.
- IX. Reports and Comments
- City Engineer: Davis Lift Station update; Wall Street Phase 3 update
- City Attorney: Moody Building update
- City Manager: Wall Street milling; Cape Seal starting; Homeless Alliance meeting September 9 at 5:30 PM
- Commissioner Wells: Railroad spur approved; KDOT Hwy Maintenance status; Downtown enforcement
- Commissioner Dancer: None
- Commissioner Buchta: Comments on CLG Ordinance discussion
- Commissioner Van Hoecke: Summer Jam success; Commissioners meet with City Manager weekly; Budget discussion comments
- Commissioner/Mayor Salsbury: 2nd Street
- X. Executive Session – Motion by Van Hoecke to recess into Executive Session for the purpose of technology investment pursuant to K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(4) (financial affairs or trade secrets exception), with the five Commissioners, City Manager, and City Attorney present. Open meeting resumed at 9:37 PM. Motion by Van Hoecke to come out of Executive Session without action, seconded by Dancer. Motion Carried 5-0.
- XI. Adjourn – Motion by Van Hoecke, seconded by Salsbury. Meeting adjourned at 9:33 PM.