Bourbon County Commissioners considered using Emerson for the county’s payroll and benefits. Tim Emerson Jr. whose firm is in Kansas City, MO presented his company’s services and recommendations to the commissioners. This was done in response to the County Clerk’s office when they presented their 2026 budget request to hire another employee to deal with their work load.
Commissioner Mika Milburn said she wants to set up a sustainable process and create continuity so that the information needed for the payroll process doesn’t reside in one individual.
Emerson is from Ft. Scott originally and has worked with Dr. Steve Cohen, head of Bourbon County HR. Emerson recommends that each department submit time and attendance with final oversight by one person at the county level.
County Clerk Susan Walker had many logistical questions for Emerson about how the company he recommends to handle the county’s payroll would interface with the county’s current system. She also questioned the bringing in of Emerson in particular.
“Why are they not bid out like other things?…there could be other opportunities,” she asked. “Are we going to put these things out to bid, or are we just going to get one vendor out to look at it?”
“This would be an added cost, in my opinion, to the county. If my budget request cannot be funded, then that’s all you need to say…I was not consulted about any of this,” said Walker.
Commissioner David Beerbower wrapped up the comments in the meeting and said the process is just starting. No official decision was made.
Old Business
Hospital Equipment
Beerbower spoke with man from the gov.deals auction service. They are planning to be down during the week to get an auction date set and get the equipment out of the building.
Milburn asked to see the contract with gov.deals. The commission will address it in its July 28 meeting.
Fence Viewing
County Counselor Bob Johnson advised the commission to create a procedure for handling fence viewing requests.
“The biggest decision is whether you guys want to do it or whether you want to appoint someone,” he said. He also cautioned the commission about the liability they would be opening themselves up to if they got involved in fence viewing.
Beerbower asked how the state statute applies. Johnson said they should decide if they want to do the fence viewing themselves or appoint designees. He offered to get information from other Kansas county counselors, and Walker offered to get input from KCAMP, the county’s liability insurance provider.
The commission tabled the issue until the Aug. 17 meeting.
Termination of Juvenile Detention Agreement
The commission missed the July 1 window to end the current contract for Juvenile Detention services with the Girard Juvenile Detention Center. The county is unable to change services until 2027.
Beerbower moved to terminate juvenile detention services with the Girard Juvenile Detention Center for the 2027 budget year. The motion passed unanimously.
Public Works Safety Audit
The proposed public works safety audit is, “Just to clear things up and make sure we were up to speed, up to compliance,” said Milburn. The contractor will spend 2 days at Public Works at a cost of $1,500-2,000 and will deliver an analysis and plan to address the department’s safety.
Commissioner Samuel Tran commended the current safety program at Public Works. He said the audit is to make sure they are as safe as they should be by having another set of eyes on the program.
Walker suggested that they look into getting an audit from KWORKS, the county’s workman’s comp insurance provider.
The public works director agreed to do that and the issue was tabled until the July 28.
Commission Liaison Group
Tran wrote and read a letter to fellow commissioners stating that currently all commissioners are generalists needing to know everything about each department in the county. He proposed assigning specific functions within the county to each commissioner in order to focus each commissioner’s time, energy, and effort into improving these functions. He also acknowledged that with the expansion to five commissioners, they will have to reallocate those functions.
Tran made a motion to formulate the commissioner liaison group with himself caring for Public Works, Milburn caring for the courthouse and the county offices it houses, and Beerbower caring for the departments of the Sheriff, EMS, and Emergency Management.
His motion passed unanimously.
Zoning Discussion & Work Sessions
“We need to determine what we’ll do next,” with zoning, said Beerbower.
Milburn said it’s determined by statute.
County Counselor Johnson said the statute says the county needs a 5-9-member planning commission or zoning board, which would take the county commission’s recommendation and hold a public hearing, then they would report back to the county commissioners.
The next step is to draw up a resolution to establish a planning commission, which does not necessarily mean the county is zoned. The ultimate decision still rests with the commission.
Johnson will meet with the commission on Aug. 4 to discuss the resolution.
Hiring and Firing of Bourbon County Employees Memorandum
Beerbower brought a memorandum to the commission because of a lack in the current handbook. Termination is in the discipline steps of the handbook. The handbook also lacks job performance guidance.
The HR department is in the process of updating the handbook, but in the interim, hires and fires will be reported to the HR department and approved by the board of County Commissioners.
Tran expressed the desire to know the status of the various departments within the county. Milburn said she wants the departments to utilize the HR department for all hiring and firing, but that they should not necessarily require the approval of the commission.
Beerbower said he would bring a re-written memorandum to the July 28 meeting.
Public Comments for Items Not on The Agenda
Clay Campbell on Public Works
“I’m here right now to tell you guys that we have a problem at Public Works,” he said. “We’re in trouble,” because more people are leaving. “There is a morale problem out there (at public works).”
Campbell works 3 days a week as a mower for the public works department and offered to speak to the commission on behalf of his fellow department members. He expressed concern about the people trying to make a living by working for Public Works. There’s a pay issue and insurance issues, and rumors of more problems to come. “I don’t know how these young men working out there are supporting a family,” he said.
Even though free use of the landfill is a taxable benefit, removing it was “a slap in the face” to the public works employees.
“No matter how this goes down, we care,” said Tran. “Somebody spent a lot of money that we didn’t have, so now we have to pick up the pieces,” and the citizens and employees of the county will bear that burden.
Clint Walker: Budget and First Responders
Walker came with newspapers from surrounding counties to give to the commissioners to give them information. He referred to a sheriff that raised $1.4 million by housing prisoners.
Randy McNulty: Solar Farm
McNulty lives between Bronson and Uniontown north of 54 Hwy. He is wondering about the status of the solar farm going in across the road from his house. He knows the county had to sign off on the approval for it. The taxpayers didn’t know it was coming and it’s reducing his property values. He also expressed concern about the health ramifications of solar panels for his farm animals and bees. Gail George owns the land across the street from him.
“It’s hard to get any information about what’s going on,” he said. “I don’t know if anybody cares.”
Milburn said she was working on getting solar projects in the county mapped out.
Tran told him to keep coming to the commission meetings and keep after them to get the information and help he needs.
New Business
SEK Regional Planning Commission
Greg Motley spoke to the commissioner about the “Make my Move” program for helping those moving from a urban setting to a rural setting. The state of Kansas has entered an agreement witht he program providers, paying 80% of the costs. SEKRPC will manage it for SEK. It would cost the county $12,500, which would get them onto the international website for people looking to move to a rural area, allowing them to design their web page and listing.
“I think our county has the best amenities of all the other SEK counties,” and can distinguish itself by showing them said Motley. SEKRPC is the county’s economic development resource. He suggested approaching the city to pay part of the $12,500, since they have the main employers in Bourbon County.
No action was taken.
Dispatch/911
Brad Matkin, Fort Scott City Manager, Ben Hart, and Sheriff Bill Martin spoke with the commission about changing who is in charge of the E911 services in Bourbon County.
Fort Scott has been providing Bourbon County with E911 services for the last 3 years. The city receives 57% of the 911 calls serviced and the county the remaining 43%. The county pays $50,000 to the city for the service. The city also receives $90,000 in tax dollars to help fund the service. The city pays all wages, benefits, training, and upgrades to the department. Total operating budget for the E911 department is $550,000.
Matkin feels it’s time for the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Department to take over this service. Discussions with Sheriff Bill Martin and his financial advisor, Ben Hart, show them to be confident that it can be done financially, starting in 2026.
Bourbon County would receive a complete turn-key E911 communications department with a dedicated 8-member team, as well as all the equipment. Also $350,000 per year from Fort Scott for its share of the department in 2026 and 2027, with a planned adjustment in 2028 if the county’s financials would bear that. The county would keep the $50,000 they’ve been paying the City of Fort Scott, as well as the E911 tax of about $90,000.
“The county would need to budget $80,000-$100,000 for the department. This department is absolutely vital to our county as a whole, and it makes complete sense for the sheriff’s department to manage this department and eventually grow it into it’s own entity,” said Matkin.
“It spreads the expense more fairly if it’s a county tax,” said County Clerk Susan Walker.
“It’s coming out of taxes one way or the other,” said Beerbower.
Walker said that working out the logistics of this change will take its own work session.
“This is coming out of left field,” said Samuel Tran. “Either we grab a hold of it or shove it off until next year.” He was in favor of working on it in next year’s budget.
Tran asked what the biggest driving factor of asking for the change over is. Matkin said it will help the city’s budget and it makes sense to put it under the sheriff’s department.
Hart said that some of the sheriff’s revenue has increased and could be used to cover 911 services.
Matkin said he hasn’t come to the county for this until now because of the empty pond that the county has been, historically.
“I don’t think we have a choice,” said Milburn. “By statute, it’s ours and they’re giving it back.”
“Let’s see what we can do to make this work,” said Beerbower.
The commission decided to schedule a work session with the city and the county’s budget advisory committee.
Boards assigned to Commissioners
Each commissioner serves on a number of boards to represent the county. They decided that Beerbower will serve on the Juvenile Detention, Mental Health, and Health Department boards; Tran asked for the Rural Planning Commission, Area on Aging, and Bourbon County Senior Citizens. Milburn took Soil Conservation and the Fair Board.
Precincts Resolution 28-25
The commission approved the legal descriptions that will set up the precincts for moving from 3 to 5 commissioners.
Insurance Committee Guidelines Request
Milburn said that it is time to get letters of interest to create the advisory committee.
Two letters have been submitted so far. They are to keep the budget in mind, talk with other employees, and review recommendations.
Beerbower suggested sending out memos to the department heads. Kaety Bowers, parliamentarian, suggested asking department heads for their recommendations.
“I’d like the employees to have an input, so I hope they send in some letters,” said Milburn.
Open enrollment for insurance for county employees is in October, so there’s a limited time frame. The deadline for letters of interest is set for Aug. 4.
An audience member said it’s needed and encouraged employees to take part.
“If we’re going to formulate these committees, we’re not going to ignore these committees,” said Tran.
Marion Township Request
Tran heard from Steve Guyger, who requested a culvert across from the cemetery in Marion Township, asking for assistance with manpower to install it.
Tran said that the issue is not the cost but the precedent set for other entities. The plastic culverts the county has offered to install were used with the windmills when they were putting in temporary entrances and were given to the county after those entrances were removed.
“When you look at it in the broad scheme of things, it’s neighbors helping neighbors,” said Beerbower.
“The townships and cemeteries have very little funding coming in to them,” said Walker.
Tran specified that they will take requests like this on a case-by-case basis. He then moved that they approve Guyger’s request. The commission agreed.
Department Updates
Public Works
Public Works Director Eric Bailey said they have had Internet problems at Public Works and at the landfill, which takes down the credit card system. He expressed concern with the county’s new tech company being located in Joplin, not Fort Scott. Milburn said the kinks should be worked out soon.
Bailey also asked about the radio towers and the repeater. The county’s IT department has handled that in the past, but the repeater was down this weekend. Radios are essential for working in areas of the county that do not have cell cervice.
The Landfill Cost Closure Worksheet shows that $209, 017 must be set aside to close and reclaim the landfill. This must be turned in to the state to be in compliance. The commission voted to approve the worksheet and ensure that the needed funds are in reserve.
The five year solid waste plan needs renewal in 2028. Committee members need to be updated now, as all five that were on the committee in 2023 are not available to serve any more. Tran will work on filling that as the new liaison to the commission for Public Works.
Bailey updated the commission on the employee losses in Public Works, which will have no asphalt crew in two weeks.
“We will asphalt everything that we can asphalt with the crew that we have until we run out of crew members, but we’re not going to be able to get everything done that we said we’d get done,” said Bailey.
Tran expressed approval of allowing the current asphalt crew to work overtime for as long as possible to get as much asphalt laid as possible.
Commission Comments
Milburn addressed the problems of rising costs and the need to cut budgets. She said the county can’t continue to spend as they have and cuts are coming. The county’s main priority is public safety. “What, where, and how do we reorganize in a way that best serves our taxpayers?”
Tran said he’s learned a lot in the last week, and he is so proud of the caliber of people in Bourbon County. He’s racking his brain to find a way to fix all this without raising taxes. He asked for patience as they change things and find what works. He expressed the desire to continue to hear from the citizens of Bourbon County.