Public Comments
Michael Hoyt reminded the commission that from 6a.m. to 6p.m. on April 22-23 at Veterans Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, assistance will be available to help veterans to file claims.
Appearances
The commissioners approved the parade permit for the Fort Scott High School All Class Reunion Parade to take place at 6 p.m. on June 27.
Unfinished Business
121 Margrave, tabled from 3/18/2025
Commissioner Matthew Wells, whose construction company owns and is remodeling the property, gave the commission an update. He said that once utilities are turned back on they will start foundation work in the next 90 days and work on the addition in 120 days. Codes officer Leroy Kruger asked that they fill in the old cistern on the property for safety’s sake, which Wells agreed to. The commission then voted to table the discussion for 120 days.
118 E. Wells proposals discussion
City Manager Brad Matkin said that the city of Fort Scott has asked the owner to sign a liability waiver, allow codes time to go in once a year to inspect the building, and get insurance in order to continue conduction business in the building. The owner cannot get insurance because of the red tag. Matkin asked that the commission approve a plan to allow the city attorney to write up a simple letter saying that they will remove the red tag for 30 days, during which time no business can be done at the location, but the insurance company can look at the building to see if they will insure it.
A $1 million in liability is what the city usually requires.
Kruger expects them to only be able to get liability. His understanding is that this 30 days is to get insurance in order to be able to sign the other contract, to be able to sign the release of liability then open for business.
The city’s lawyer says that the release of liability may not fully protect Fort Scott.
The owners asked Kruger if the city would like to purchase the building. Kruger said that whatever the commission decides to do will set a precedence and there are two or three other buildings that he’s already started the work on, so “this is going to come up again in the very near future.”
Wells said that a similar situation happened in Miami Dade and the liability waiver did not protect the city. He also said that if the building fails, at least one other one will go down with it because they share a wall.
Matkin suggested giving the owner the opportunity to get insurance and give them 6 months for them to give the codes officers their game plan whether to fix or sell. The building will continue to require repairs, but let the owners decide what they do with it.
Commissioner Kathryn Salsbury expressed concern that the city had told the owners what they needed to do in order to conduct business, so the city needs to stick to that agreement.
The city lawyer said, “I think this hole gets deeper every time we talk about it…I don’t think you’re legally bound to continue down that path.” Because so many other issues have come up with the building and it’s situation. “I think you are free to try to structure or craft a different path that makes sense.”
Kruger said it was important that the city spell out what they expect to happen over time with time frames on it. “It would be unfair for us to make them jump through hoops and them not know what to expect and then I go shut them down in 6 months.”
Mayor Timothy Van Hoeke summed up the commissions position that they don’s want to buy and fix the building, nor do they want to pull the red flag.
The current bids to do all needed repairs will cost a minimum of $412,000.
Van Hoeke asked for details about the owner’s desire to sell it.
The commission voted to move the decision of what to do to the May 20 meeting to see what develops. Wells opposed.
New Business
Purchase of a Fire Truck
Chief Dave Bruner spoke to the commission about the new trucks his department needs. After forming a committee and doing research, he came with his committee’s suggestions.
Ford F550 Rescue truck replacement
The department has had the current truck for 11 years and it has been involved in nearly 90% of total call volume. The truck’s expected lifespan of 10 years is passed and it’s becoming less reliable. When it had 50,000 they replaced the engine and the transmission at 30,000. The pump on it is 22 years old.
The price to replace it from Hay’s Fire Equipment is $255,686.
The capital improvement budget will pay for the chasis at $61,971, then they build the truck over the next 12-18 months, at which time the remaining price is paid.
The commission approved purchase.
Pumper
The capital improvement plan for 2026 has $850,000 budgeted to replace the 1997 E1 Truck. They currently have a 2019 pumper a 2020 tower, and 2009 pumper, the rescue truck and this 1997 truck. It is the last truck in the fleet they are looking to replace.
The committee talked about purchasing used, new, or re-configuring the current truck. The cost of trucks has risen 40% compared to previous years, and the cost continues to rise between 3-7% annually. Part of the cost increase is global supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and increase demand for updated safety features, as well as the new emissions requirements coming in 2027, which will increase the cost of fire trucks by between $64,000 and $120,000. In 2019, the city paid $465,000 for Engine One. That same truck costs $938,000 today. There was a good deal of discuss about the rising cost of equipment and the city’s best course of action. 1:04
Refurbishing the current truck would be $602,547 and take 12-15 months, and would require the department to rent a truck to replace during the refurbishment. Also, the insurance on it would only cover a 1997 truck value, making replacement in case of loss cost-prohibitive.
He said he would prefer to pay off the current truck before adding a new one, but is concerned about the increase in costs. With current recommendation of purchasing from Spartan Apparatus for $784,702, the 11 month build time would make payment for the truck due in February of 2026.
The commission asked for more details on some of the bids and confirmation that the price will be locked in. This gives city workers time to go out for bids on the lease to purchase the truck.
The commission also approved the purchase of a new mower for the park to replace the 2013 mower.
Revised Employee Handbook
Brad Matkin gave the commission a revised version in December and asked for their feedback. Salisbury moved to schedule a work session for 5 p.m. May 6 to discuss the employee handbook. Commission approved.
Reports and Comments
Jason Hickman gave the Horton Street update. Fog seal was started last week and will be finished this week.
Commission approved the motion to have Earl’s Engineering, the city’s engineer, do the design for the match project on East National.
Brad Matkin reported that the free Saturday night concert is moved to Memorial Hall this week at 7p.m.. The Teresa Deaton Band will be performing.
Commissioner comments
Wells: Friends of the Fort used Memorial Hall for their dance the other night. It was in great shape, kudos to Norman Nation.
He asked about the Wall Street city lot that the freight house sits on. He was told it was deeded to a group with a 2 year limitation on completing their project, which they failed to do. That group then deeded it to somebody else without the authority to do so. City has the right to enforce the original contract to claw the lot back.
Wells ended his comments by reminding those present of Romans 3:23. He said everybody makes mistakes, but it’s about how you respond to those mistakes and move forward. Please keep that in mind.
Commissioner Tracy Dancer said, “I would like to apologize to Brad.” 1:42
Van Hoeke: said that for a lot of people around the world right now, this is Holy Week, keep in mind the reason for the season. Hopefully you’ll be able to take in the true meaning of what this time means.
Ended with executive sessions to deal with non-elected personnel issues.