Jan. 20, 2025 County Commissioner meeting part 2

Most of the first hour of the meeting was discussing salaries of elected officials and was reported on in an earlier story on Jan. 21.

The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.

After returning from a 5 minute break, the commission approved the resolution on flood plane management, the public hearing for which was held at the last meeting on 1/13/25.

Commissioner Dave Beerbower then made a motion to meet himself with public works to see their plan and come up with ideas to share with the commission regarding any changes they could make with road treatment during inclement weather. This was to take the place of the idea discussed at the Jan. 13 meeting of the whole commission having a work session on the topic. Commission approved the motion.

During the Public Comment portion of the meeting, J.D. Hanley, Osage Township Trustee and culvert supervisor for Bourbon County Public Works, expressed appreciation for professionalism on the part of the commission. He said he was not speaking to the commission as trustee or culvert supervisor, but as a citizen of Bourbon County.

“You are a huge breath of fresh air,” he said. He went on to say that the community is looking to the commission to make the county better. You have the opportunity to decide if you want to be a politician or a public servant. This choice will show in every decision you make. Please ask yourself, “Will my decision be in the best interests of Bourbon County?” Establish your purpose as being a public servant. Let your goal be to bring unity back to our community. Please let all members of county government treat one another with respect. It’s the commission’s job to get into the various department’s business and ask questions. Citizens should communicate directly with their commissioners, not use Facebook to broadcast the county’s differences and short-comings. Thank you for including God back into the commission and the dealings of the county.

Next, Zach Ross, former deputy, came to speak as a tax payer. He expressed concerned about the new position of Sheriff’s advisor. Sheriff Bill Martin entered the meeting to address Ross’s concerns. he said that the new advisor, Brian Murphy, is the former sheriff of Allen County with more than 30 years of experience. He knows how to deal with commissioners, the public, budgets, employees, etc. He is going work full time, on the road and taking calls.

Martin said, “There’s nothing wrong with hiring advisors” to help him with his job, citing that many people in the public and private sector use advisors. He also stressed that he has an open-door policy for anyone to come discuss questions or problems with him.

Ross expressed concern that the money for the financial advisor and advisor to the sheriff could be used to increase the pay for deputies and fill open positions.

“In the state of things we are in the county I agree the advisement may be needed, but is this the time and the place to spend the $80,000?” he asked.

Nick Graham, also addressed the commission during public comments, saying, “This may not have been the best first week for a new county commission, but we are glad you are here. I hope you take it as a learning experience and keep moving forward. You are the first county commission in the 20 years I’ve been in politics that is here for the right reasons.”

Brad Matkin, Fort Scott City Manager invited the commissioners, clerk, appraiser, and whomever the commission sees fit to bring, to a combined county/city work session on Thurs. Feb. 6 at 5:30 at Memorial Hall in Ft. Scott, with supper and drinks provided by the city. The agenda for the meeting will be made public. The public are welcome to attend and the meeting will be live-streamed on Facebook.

“This is something we’ve got to do. We’ve got to be on the same page,” Matkin said. “We’ve tried in the past but it didn’t work because of egos, but that won’t be the case this time.”

Matkin went on to encourage the commission: “I appreciate you guys doing this [serving as commissioners]. You need anything from me, you ask me.”

“Do not use the rumor mill,” he said. “If you use Facebook to determine your way of managing here, it’s not going to be good.”

Shayla Snider addressed Pike Lake Reservoir project, asking the commissioners their positions on the issue.

Whisenhunt said he is “150% against the reservoir project. I’ll do everything I can to make sure it doesn’t come back.”

Kruger said he didn’t know enough to speak on it.

Beerbower said he’s been against it from the beginning. It wasn’t operated properly from the beginning, and includes a cemetery. “I believe in property rights for the property owners.”

Michael Hoyt asked about moving forward on the change to 5 commissioner districts. He was told that legal descriptions of the new districts are needed before the maps can be published.

Hoyt suggested that the county not ask for permission for a special election, but “ask forgiveness after we do it.” He is concerned that by doing it the state way, we will mix a partisan election (city, school board, college) with a non-partisan election (county commissioners). he recommended getting the party officials of both Republicans and Democrats to solicit for names for the positions and just have the election.

The commission held executive sessions to talk with County Counselor Candidates Matthew Bonner, Jacob Bylanumburg. Another executive session was held for the commission to discuss the hiring of one of the three candidates they spoke with to be the new county counselor.

Beerbower made the motion to hire Jacob Bylanumberg for County Counselor. Whisenhunt seconded. The motion passed with Kruger opposing.

A representative of Kingbird Solar Energy, LLC came to ask the commission to terminate agreements made with the county in 2024 so the company can start fresh working with the new commission. The development agreement, decommissioning agreement, and road and maintenance agreement were all terminated by the county.

2024 end of year review and financial transfers with County Clerk Susan Walker was next. The review will be published, per state statutes.

First, the County Sheriff’s account was negative $10,000 for cash. The Commission needed to move money to pay accounts payable from either the jail sales tax or general fund.

Whisenhunt moved to pull it from the general fund, and the commission approved.

Walker said that funds that did not hit the targeted budget carryover were Election, Road and Bridge, Landfill, and Sewer Repayment, which means they have to cut their budgets by the amount they are short.

She explained the financial report to the commission, saying that they would receive an email report each month.

Bourbon County will pay Freeman all of the EMS taxes collected, per their agreement. Michael Hoyt pointed out that the vote for the sales tax was to pay Freemen once the emergency room is opened, and Walker agreed with him. However, the agreement the county made with Freeman means they will be getting all the revenues from the EMS tax starting now.

Kruger spoke with Freeman, and they mailed the signed agreement on Monday. “I do have a copy of that signed agreement on my phone,” he said.

Budgets categories that went over at the end of 2024 were: Commission by $9,000, Clerks by $5,000; coroner by $32,000, juvenile detention by $7,000, and courthouse general by $9,000.

Walker said the commission has $541,000 left in their budget remaining. She said this is because every department not listed as going over held the line and didn’t overspend.  They deserve a thank you from the commission “because they are the one’s that are truly trying to make a difference and only spend what they have to.”

Whisenhunt made a motion to move $20,000 to cover overages from the sheriff’s department.

Commissioner comments:

Kruger: Freeman had first board meeting at the hospital last Friday. “Everything is a go out there.”

Whisenhunt: “This commission is new and we will stumble, but we will find our feet.” Give us a brief grace period. We are getting training. Please contact us directly for answers to your issues and questions.

2 thoughts on “Jan. 20, 2025 County Commissioner meeting part 2”

  1. My comment may have implied I was suggesting an illegal act; to the contrary our County officials may hold a special election by resolution. Sooner than better “with Five” for better government!

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