CITY OF FORT SCOTT
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of August 23, 2022 Special Meeting #12
A special meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held August 23rd, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. in the City Commission Meeting Room, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners Josh Jones, Tim Van Hoecke, Shane Walker, Matthew Wells were present with Mayor Kathryn Harrington presiding.
AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Travis Shelton, Lisa Lewis, Brad Matkin, Betty Breault, Devin Tally, and Susan Bancroft.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Public Hearing: 5:00 p.m. Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing
- Jones moved to open the Public Hearing at 5:00 p.m. M. Wells seconded. All voted aye.
OPENED PUBLIC HEARING AT 5:00 P.M.
Adoption of Revenue Neutral Rate Resolution No. 33-2022 – City Manager stated that this meeting is held to discuss the current Revenue Neutral Rate which is currently 45.222 to the proposed amount for 2023 in the amount of 46.756. This will keep the mill levy flat.
Comments were taken from the audience.
Betty Breault said that she is a taxpayer, and she believes that the taxpayers should have the right to vote for a tax. She believes that state, local, and county governments should be monitored to make sure that the taxpayer’s dollars are spent correctly. She said that if there has been misappropriation of funds that people that work in that position should be held responsible for their actions. She believes that the utility companies should be monitored also. Once again, she believes that the taxpayers should be allowed to vote for any tax increases.
- Jones moved to close the Public Hearing at 5:05 p.m. T. Van Hoecke seconded. All voted aye.
CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING AT 5:05 P.M.
Josh stated that he is not in favor of the Revenue Neutral Rate and the amount it is proposed. He said that not once has he heard a citizen say they moved from Fort Scott due to a pothole, but from the amount of taxes they have to pay. He mentioned that the payroll at the Golf Course has increased $90,000.00. He also about the sale of the First Source building and those funds. He said that there are other areas we can cut.
City Manager said that the First Source funds are being used for Bourbon County R.E.D.I. and the Land Bank funding.
Discussion was held regarding what was being paid to Bourbon County R.E.D.I.
Susan informed the Commission that they have cut about $100,000 since 2020. This was mostly from the Codes fund.
Susan said that the proposed budget needs to be published by September 3rd, 2022 which would allow for one more budget work session. She recommended that the Commission adopt the Revenue Neutral Rate Resolution with the wording that the City of Fort Scott would not exceed the proposed mill levy of 46.756 mills.
Josh said that he has gone through the budget line item by line item. He asked if the others had done that. He believes we will have a bigger carryover than last year.
- Jones moved to not approve the Revenue Neutral Rate Resolution. M. Wells seconded. J. Jones, M. Wells and K. Harrington voted in favor of not approving the resolution. T. Van Hoecke and S. Walker voted in favor of approving the resolution. Motion denied 3-2.
DENIED APPROVING THE REVENUE NEUTRAL RATE RESOLUTION.
Commissioners decided to have a special meeting on Friday, August 26th, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. to discuss the Revenue Neutral Rate Resolution and the wording change, and the publication of the 2023 Budget Hearing Notice.
CONSIDERATION:
Consideration of publication of public hearing notice for 2023 Budget – City Manager
- Harrington voted to table the publication of the 2023 Budget. S. Walker seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO TABLE THE PUBLICATION OF THE 2023 BUDGET AT THIS TIME.
Consideration of Certificate of Appropriateness for signage at 17 S Main Street – Pizza Republic – City Clerk informed the Commission that the Design Review Board had verbally approved the signage for 17 S. Main Street.
- Wells moved to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness for signage at 17 S. Main Street. T. Van Hoecke seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR SIGNAGE AT 17 S. MAIN STREET – PIZZA REPUBLIC.
ADJOURNMENT:
- Jones moved to adjourn the special meeting at 5:30 p.m. S. Walker seconded. All voted aye.
ADJOURNED MEETING AT 5:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane K. Clay, MMC
City Clerk