CITY OF FORT SCOTT

CITY COMMISSION MEETING

Minutes of January 15, 2019 Regular Meeting #1

The regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held January 15^th, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Room, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas.

ROLL CALL:

Commissioners Adamson, Bartelsmeyer, Nichols, and Parker were present with Mayor Mitchell presiding.

INVOCATION: Pastor Norman Tillotson, First Baptist Church, said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City, our Government and City officials.

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Arnold Schofield, Travis Shelton, Rhonda Dunn, Darrell Parker, Larry Gazaway, Deb Needleman, Rachel Pruitt, Pastor Norman Tillotson, Seth Simpson, Jennifer LaRoche, Billy Keith, Mark McCoy, Chad Brown, Jody Hoener, Frank Adamson, Kevin Allen, Lindsay Madison, Clayton Miller, and representing the press, Jason Silvers, Fort Scott Tribune.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS: Recognition of Alpha Money and Randy Ballweber – Codes Certification – (Rescheduled to February 5^th, 2019 meeting)

APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND APPROPRIATIONS/CONSENT AGENDA:

1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of December 18^th, 2018.

2. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1230-A totaling $581,238.41.

3. Resolution 1-2019 designating the official City newspaper.

4. Resolution 2-2019 designating the official City depositories for public funds

5. Certificate of Appropriateness – 7 South National Avenue and 6 East Wall

6. Certificate of Appropriateness – 10-12 East Wall Street

7. Certificate of Appropriateness – 124 E. Wall Street

8. Resolution 3-2019 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 1612 E. Oak – Public Hearing Date – 3/5/2019 at 6:15 p.m.

Commissioner Parker asked about Item G, the Certificate of Appropriateness for 124 E. Wall. She reviewed the information in the packet and asked if this outdoor addition needed approval from SHIPO. She asked if more detailed drawings were needed from the property owner.

Arnold Schofield, Chairman, Design Review Board, was present and said that SHIPO is more concerned with alterations to the exterior and interior, and outside features are left to the local government officials to approve. The original photos submitted were not to the Board’s liking, but Rachel added the dimensions to the photos as she was also at the meeting and then showed them to the Board, and this was ultimately approved.

A discussion was also held about the outside park area and if the property owner was responsible for any liability. Jody Hoener said that she has talked to her insurance carrier already on this. It is a private playground area.

Bartlesmeyer moved the Consent Agenda. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED CONSENT AGENDA.

REORGANIZATION OF CITY COMMISSION AND ELECTION OF MAYOR, COMMISSION PRESIDENT, B.C.E.D.C.I. REPRESENTATIVE, AND FORT SCOTT HOUSING AUTHORITY DELEGATE.

1. 1. Election of Mayor

Commissioners thanked JoLynne Mitchel for the great job she did serving as Mayor the last two and a half years.

Bartelsmeyer moved to appoint Jeanie Parker as Mayor of the City of Fort Scott. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPOINTED JEANIE PARKER AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT.

City Clerk, Diane Clay, administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected Mayor, Jeanie Parker.

1. 2. Election of Commission President

Nichols moved to appoint Cindy Bartelsmeyer as President of the Fort Scott City Commission. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

APPOINTED CINDY BARTELSMEYER AS PRESIDENT OF THE FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION.

1. 3. Election of Bourbon County Economic Development Council Inc. Representative

Bartelsmeyer moved to appoint Dr. Randy Nichols as the City’s representative on the Bourbon County Economic Development Council, Inc. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

APPOINTED DR. RANDY NICHOLS AS THE CITY’S REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE BOURBON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, INC.

1. 4. Election of Fort Scott Housing Authority Delegate

Mitchell moved to appoint Cheryl Adamson as the City’s representative on the Fort Scott Housing Authority Board. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

APPOINTED CHERYL ADAMSON AS THE CITY’S REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE FORT SCOTT HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD.

APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

1. APPEARANCE: Mark McCoy – Discussion on Visioning Committee – Mr. McCoy appeared before the Commission to discuss the idea of a joint City/County form of government. There is one county in the State of Kansas that has this form of government and that is in Wyandotte County. He asked for the Commission to consider putting a task force together to research this option.

City Manager said that City staff has been looking at this. We have to do what is best for the citizens of Fort Scott. He asked the Commission to consider supporting the visioning committee.

Adamson moved to approve to support the visioning committee and their research. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO SUPPORT THE VISIONING COMMITTEE AND THEIR RESEARCH INTO A JOINT CITY/COUNTY FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute

limit per citizen) – None

3. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None

CONSIDERATION:

1. Airport Electric Vault Upgrade – Rachel Pruitt, Economic Development Director, introduced Seth Simpson, Airport Manager, to the Commission. She informed the Commission that there is $150,000 in F.A.A. entitlement funds that need to be spent or they will expire. They would like to upgrade the electrical at the airport.

Seth Simpson informed them that a new structure will be built on the east side of the outside of the hangar. The structure will house all the electrical for the airport. LED lights will be installed which will be more energy efficient.

Rachel informed the Commission that she and Seth are meeting with the F.A.A. tomorrow afternoon. The grants have not been awarded yet.

2. Consideration to Solicit Bids – Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (16) – Paul Ballou, Fire Chief, informed the Commission that the Fire Department received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to replace the self-contained breathing apparatuses that are currently used by the Fire Department personnel during firefighting and hazardous environments. This grant was awarded in July of 2018. He asked for approval to solicit bids for 16 self-contained breathing apparatuses which the grant will pay for.

Mitchell moved to approve to solicit bids for 16 self-contained breathing apparatuses. Bartelsmeyer seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO SOLICIT BIDS FOR 16 SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUSES.

COMMISSION/STAFF:

1. Director Updates:

Deb Needleman – KCAMP – Deb informed the Commission that the City’s insurance group, KCAMP, has a Risk Avoidance Grant program. She applied for a grant and the City was awarded $2,000. This amount was used to purchase light bars for the Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief’s vehicles. She will apply again next year.

Frank Adamson – City Manager asked Frank Adamson to update the Commission on the Fisher Park project.

Frank said he started working on this project about three years ago. This project is to install a parking lot on the west side of Main Street to alleviate parking on Main Street when games are held. He has raised about $8,400. He has visited with AG Engineering who has estimated it will cost about $8,500 to design the parking lot. There will be some opposition due to the house that is located to the north side of the proposed area.

City Manager asked the Commission to discuss the proposed area with AG Engineering to see if it is feasible for a parking lot.

Nichols moved to allow the City Manager and Frank Adamson to visit with AG Engineering to see if the proposed area is feasible for a parking lot. Mitchell seconded. Bartelsmeyer, Mitchell, Nichols, and Parker voted aye. Adamson abstained. Motion carried.

Approved to allow the City Manager and Frank Adamson to visit with AG Engineering to see if the proposed area is feasible for a parking lot.

Rachel Pruitt – Rachel said she had several updates to give:

Price Chopper Incentives – Rachel informed the Commission that with the closure of Price Chopper, she wanted to point out that no taxpayer dollars are affected by the closing. Price Chopper had performance-based tax incentives with the CID and the TIF. She knew there had been several comments about how much taxpayer dollars were invested and there were none.

Fort Scott Lofts – Rachel shared photos of the floor plan for the Union Block building which will house Fort Scott Lofts. They plan to have nine units on the 1^st floor. This will go through the Planning Commission process as they will need a Conditional Use Permit to allow residential living on the first floor of the building.

County Survey – Rachel said she just received, this afternoon, a copy of a survey that the County plans to send out. It is called the Bourbon County Business Retention and Expansion Survey. It is sponsored by Bourbon County, Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, and Live Local. It is a 13 page questionnaire. The City was not aware of this survey and she was told that the County Commission approved the survey today. There are specific City questions on this questionnaire and she would have liked for the City to be involved since there are specific City questions.

City Manager said that the City is not involved in this survey and if the County is going to do one, the City should have been asked about it. The City knows what our goals are: Lower taxes, Healthcare, and Streets. That is the City’s mission. The City should have seen this questionnaire first. He checked with the Chamber’s president and he had not seen this questionnaire either.

Commissioner Bartelsmeyer said that this questionnaire is not confidential due to the questions asked.

Commissioner Nichols said that he sits on one of the boards that is sponsoring this and had no idea about it.

City Manager stated that the City is not involved in it and does not support it.

Thanks – Rachel thanked the City Commissioners for serving on the board. They all do a great job!

B. City Commission:

Nichols – Congratulated Jeanie Parker on becoming Mayor and thanked JoLynne for serving as Mayor.

Adamson – Remarked that it was a pleasure to have JoLynne as Mayor.

Mitchell – Congratulated Jeanie Parker on becoming Mayor. She thanked Rachel for all her hard work.

Bartelsmeyer – She also expressed her congratulations to Jeanie Parker and thanked JoLynne for the great job she did while being Mayor.

Parker – Thanked JoLynne for her terms as Mayor and stated this will be a challenge but she will do her best as Mayor.

C. City Attorney: Nothing to report.

3. City Manager:

1. City Manager thanked JoLynne for the great job she did while she was Mayor. She always handled herself in a good manner.

2. Flag Pole at Skubitz Plaza – City Manager said that there was a letter to the editor in Saturday’s newspaper regarding the flag pole at Skubitz Plaza. This will have to go through the Design Review Board, and ultimately, the City Commission before any approval is given. It is still in the design stage and could take quite some time. The City will discuss any problems with this when more information is available.

3. Tourism – City Manager thanked Larry Gazaway for the great job he is doing traveling to trade shows and marketing Fort Scott and the LaRoche Baseball Complex. He appreciates his hard work.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mitchell moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:16 p.m. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

ADJOURNED MEETING AT 7:16 P.M.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is to be held on February 5^th, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.

RECORDED BY:

DIANE K. CLAY

CITY CLERK