The commission conducted a shorter-than-usual meeting on March 10 to allow for time to have an open work session on the 2026 budget.
Commissioner David Beerbower questioned the wisdom of holding abbreviated meetings because the commission has so much business to cover. He then amended the meeting agenda to hold two executive sessions for non-elected personnel issues and add public comments after that.
The commission approved accounts payable, payroll, tax roll corrections, and the January financials.
Regional Planning Commission Appointee
Commissioner Leroy Kruger nominated Mary Wyatt as representative for the county on the Regional Planning Commission board. She also does this service for the city of Ft. Scott. He said Mr. Harrington is the current representative. Mary Wyatt pointed out to Kruger that the position is up for reappointment and asked for the position.
Beerbower and Whisenhunt wanted more time to look into it, so the issue was tabled until the next meeting.
Marion Township Clerk Approval
Kruger made motion to approve the appointment of Brent Smith as clerk for Marion township and it was approved unanimously.
The commission then went into their first executive session with Eric Bailey and Kevin Davidson, all three commissioners and the county clerk, Susan Walker.
They resumed normal session with action.
Commissioner Brandon Whisenhunt made the motion to pay the employees that were on duty during the snow storm for five hours of straight time additional pay during the time that the courthouse was closed. That include departments of Public Works, Sherriff’s Department, EMS, and Landfill. Motion carried unanimously.
A second executive session for 5 minutes with three commissioners was held, but the action wasn’t streamed to YouTube. Neither was the beginning of the public comments section.
Public Comments:
Michael Hoyt spoke to the commission about their budget work sessions.
“There’s only one person you have to listen to, and that’s the clerk,” he said.
Hoyt asked to be read in on the budget sessions, since they are open to the public. He wants access to the copy of the budget that the commissioners are looking at during the sessions. He said he would print off his own copies so as not to add to the county’s expense.
He also said that the department heads should sit on the front row in the county budget meetings to facilitate easier conversation with the commission.
Commissioner comments
Beerbower referred to the city press conference he planned to attend along with Kruger, and possibly Whisenhunt on March 11.
Kruger announced that the county will be moving the hospital equipment into the Public Works Department’s new building on March 11 to get it out of the hospital’s way to give the county time to set up for a professional auction to raise more funds for the county.
Whisenhunt had directions for the clerk to collect bids on courthouse repairs, roof bids on the annex and EMS building, and pest control bids.
“We also need to start putting out bids on all the county hay ground,” and look into trash service bid, he said.
Whisenhunt instructed the clerk to add fees on the next agenda, from the department heads. “Each department needs to come in,” either the heads or a designate from the department to the commissioner meeting.
Kruger still waiting on word from attornies before further action on zoning.
The meeting adjourned. After a brief break they started open work session on the 2026 budget.