Fort Scott City Commission Meeting Minutes Outline – June 2, 2026, 6:00 PM

• I. Call to Order & Roll Call

  • Commissioners Present: Matthew Wells, Tracy Dancer, Tim Van Hoecke (via Teams), Julie Buchta, and Mayor Kathryn Salsbury (via Teams)

  • Presiding Officer: Julie Buchta

• II. Pledge of Allegiance & Invocation

• III. Approval of Agenda

  • Amendment to include an Executive Session after Reports and Comments (Approved 5-0)

• IV. Consent Agenda

  • A. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1409-A (Payment Dates of May 14, 2026 – May 27, 2026): $456,069.98 (Approved 5-0)

• V. Public Comment

  • Speaker: Michael Hoyt regarding public record requests

• VI. Appearances & Presentations

  • 1. Kristene, Gavin, and Aleksei Gemsky – Bourbon County 4-H Presentation

  • 2. Deana Betts / Core Community – Update on poverty reduction programs

• VII. New Business & Action Items

  • A. Consideration of Architectural Contract – Memorial Hall Roof Replacement & Masonry Repairs (Approved 5-0) (Page 1)

  • B. Consideration of Engineering Proposal – E. Wall Street Phase III & E. National Phase I (Approved 5-0) (Page 1)

• VIII. Reports and Comments

  • City Commissioners, City Attorney, City Manager, and City Engineer Updates

• IX. Executive Session

  • Preliminary discussion regarding the acquisition of real property under K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(6)

• X. Adjournment

Detailed Meeting Summary

1. Attendance, Agenda Approvals, and Openings

• Meeting Structure: The regular session of the Fort Scott City Commission commenced at 6:00 PM at City Hall (123 S. Main Street), alongside a live broadcast on YouTube.

• Quorum & Administrative Presence: A full board was established with Commissioners Matthew Wells and Tracy Dancer physically present, while Commissioner Tim Van Hoecke and Mayor Kathryn Salsbury participated remotely via Microsoft Teams. Commissioner Julie Buchta presided over the session. Key city administrative staff in attendance included City Manager Brad Matkin, City Attorney Bob Farmer, Police Chief Jason Pickert, City Clerk Lisa Lewis, and City Engineer Jason Dickman representing Earles Engineering & Inspections LLC.

• Agenda and Consent Items: Following the opening rituals, Commissioner Wells moved to amend the agenda to insert an Executive Session directly after the standard reports and comments. The amendment and the final agenda both passed unanimously 5-0. The Commission then unanimously approved Consent Agenda Item A, validating Appropriation Ordinance 1409-A for city payouts totaling $456,069.98 over the late-May billing cycle.

2. Public Comments and Community Appearances

• Citizen Forum: Resident Michael Hoyt addressed the commission during the public comment window, discussing administrative procedures regarding open records requests and past documentation accuracy.

• 4-H Youth Development: Members of the Bourbon County 4-H program—Kristene, Gavin, and Aleksei Gemsky—provided an informational presentation highlighting local youth projects, agricultural education, and upcoming community events.

• Core Community Progress Report: Deana Betts presented a detailed progress update on the operations of Core Community. Her presentation centered on the organization’s systematic, relationship-based programming aimed at helping local families transition out of poverty through education, community support networks, and financial literacy.

3. New Business Capital Infrastructure Approvals

• Memorial Hall Renovations: The Commission evaluated the specialized architectural services contract required to manage structural restorations at Memorial Hall. Following a brief discussion on funding lines and timeline protections, a motion to award the contract for the comprehensive Memorial Hall roof replacement and associated exterior masonry repairs was approved 5-0.

• Major Street and Traffic Engineering: The second action item focused on long-term infrastructure planning. The Commission reviewed a combined engineering proposal submitted by Earles Engineering & Inspections LLC covering two critical corridors. The board voted 5-0 to approve the engineering services contract to advance design and survey operations for East Wall Street Phase III and East National Phase I.

4. Administrative Reports and Executive Session

• Department Updates: Staff and leadership provided a series of operational updates before entering closed session:

  • City Commission: Members brought forward logistical items, including pedestrian safety around school zones (9th, 10th, and 11th streets), crosswalk repainting schedules, lake lot encroachment issues, and upcoming common consumption area planning.

  • City Manager & Staff: Brad Matkin outlined street closures for the upcoming Good Ol’ Days festival, highlighted the construction progress on the Gunn Park retaining wall, and previewed city-issued alcohol license updates for the next agenda. The City Engineer provided status updates on the Davis Lift Station and required railroad permitting.

• Property Acquisition Recess: Commissioner Buchta read a formal motion to recess the open meeting into an Executive Session. The stated justification was to conduct preliminary negotiations regarding the potential acquisition of real property, fulfilling the legal exception under Kansas Statute K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(6). The session included the five Commissioners, the City Manager, and the City Attorney. The executive session concluded at 8:48 PM, and the board returned to the open chamber, stating that no official action had been taken during the closed portion of the meeting.