New Commission voted for four year moratorium on solar

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

Two new commissioners began their duties at the Jan. 13th meeting, wrapping it up by voting unanimously for a 48 month moratorium on solar projects.

The new commission consists of Brandon Whisenhunt for District 1, David Beerbower for District 2, and Leroy Kruger for District 3.

The meeting began with a Flood Plane Management Public Hearing.

Brian Allen of Bourbon County Emergency Management explained that every time the federal government changes the flood maps, the county has to redo the resolution to allow those who live in the flood plane to have flood insurance.

Regarding the changes to the maps, he said that more territory went out than came in to the flood plane.

The new maps will be available for public viewing at the courthouse until the next commissioner meeting on Jan. 20.

The commission tabled the flood plane resolution until the Jan. 20 meeting.

Brian Allen also reported on a study from Texas A&M about the dangers of lithium ion battery fires associated with solar projects, but said he was still searching for information on panel fires.

During public comments, Pete Hornsby asked the commission to consider all the citizens of Bourbon County. He expressed faith in the commission.

Nick Grand spoke about the commissioners’ time. “I have full faith you’re going to do your jobs to the fullest…You got a lot on your plate,” he said. He encouraged them not to devalue their time in light of the importance of family and the brevity of life. Grand claimed that Bourbon County commissioners are already underpaid, compared to nearby counties and should consider, if possible, giving themselves a raise to previous pay levels or even above.

Theresa Davenport, president, and Corey Bryars, VP of the board of Care to Share gave an update to the county about what their organization has been doing to help cancer victims in Bourbon, Lynn, and Crawford Counties. They were not requesting anything from the county.

Board Members: Richard Long, Leah Lewis, Clay Campbell were also at the meeting. Clay Campbell gave a brief testimony of how much Care to Share helped his family during cancer. He joined the organization as soon as he was able to retire. He asked those in attendance to please consider volunteering and donating items to fundraisers. “It’s been a good adventure.”

Care the Share was founded in 2007. It covers Bourbon, Lynn, and Crawford Counties and is 100% volunteer based. Their mission is to provide friendship and support through emotional and financial assistance to cancer fighters and their care givers because we care to share.

Intake coordinators assess needs on an individual basis from financial help to physical help. “We want to help people financially, but we want to help them emotionally too,” said Davenport.

Davenport encouraged those present to volunteer in a number of ways. “Anybody can do anything.”

Care to Share now has a van and a ride coordinator, Dale Cathy. They also facilitate a cancer support group meeting four times a year. The next one is March 1.

Bryars reported that in 2024 Care to Share gave $100,000 back to the community, as they did in 2022 and 2023. He explained that means about 10 times per day, someone is having a need met by Care to Share.

Money is raised by donations and memorials. Largest donation was $5000, but the bulk of the $300,000 raised over the last three years was in small increments that “all add up.” Money also comes in from grants. “Timken threw a $70,000 grant our way last year,” Bryars said, earmarked for a mobile community stage, which Care to Share now has available to loan to the community for a donation.

He listed a number of fundraising events with sponsors, including FortFest, a golf event, and February Fling this Feb. 15 with a piano player who does Elton John- and Billy Joel- type tributes. He said they are hoping for more help alongside the city of Fort Scott to host events and performers from outside the area to bring in more funds as well.

Bourbon County is the largest recipient of funds from Care to Share and donations from the county match expenditures within it.

Because of God and the community’s help, “We’ve never had to turn anybody down,” said Davenport.

“We’ve given out over $1.6 million dollars back to the community since founding,” said Bryars. “$20 at a time. I mean, it’s hard for me to comprehend.”

Care to Share has moved into new office at 9 E. Wall and will have a community open house soon. They are open for walk-ins, Mon. Wed. Fri. 11-2. There is also Care to Share merchandise for sale and plans to have other vendors selling items with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Care to Share. Through subletting some of the space and donations, current rent for the space is costing Care to Share nothing out of pocket other than utilities.

The commission held three separate executive sessions to discuss non-elected personnel. They also spoke in executive session with County Counselor Candidate Bob Johnson. Who lives in Humbolt and has been practicing law for 28 years, and county counselor for 24 years.  No other candidates for the position attended the meeting.

No action was taken to fill the vacant position.

The monthly report from public works included annual interim bridge inspections, mandated by KDOT, with 22 structures due for inspect. Commission voted, per recommendation to hire Schwab Eton to do the inspections as they have for the last 20 years for $11,025.

The Blake Quarry blast last week produced 47000 tons. They are now waiting for weather to cooperate to start crushing the rock.

There will be a FEMA flood followup meeting Thursday to get back on track after the holidays and get funding brought in.

Ice storm went really well as far as the county’s work goes, pre-treating for faster melt-off after the event with a salt gravel mix.

Regarding the  snow storm dropping 3-5 inches of wet snow, which packed down and slicked up, the county was able to clear and plow the roads by the afternoon.

Whisenhunt mention an accident on Yale Road which brought up the question of having the county grade gravel roads in snow and ice. Beerbower suggested a work session to assess what the current plan and any changes.

The commission expressed gratitude to road crews for their hard work during the storms.

County Clerk Susan Walker spoke to the commission about a number of items. She mentioned that there are lots of statutes that the commission and other elected officials are governed by, and gave the commissioners a collection of laws that apply to commission for publication, public hearings, etc.

Susan Walker said Amy Kramer said the State messed up in distributing tax funds to the county. Bourbon County received a distribution that should have gone to cities in the county, “so we’ll have to cut checks to them,” Walker explained. Then they will have to move the money that goes into public works in the public safety fund. “We have a lot of fixing we’ve got to do,” she said.

Walker explained that Freeman contract audit committee Payment of $500,000 cannot be made from sale tax, since it’s not the county’s money, they really only have $50,000, which would be the December distribution for the sales tax funds.

“What I need you guys to make a motion on is for me to reallocate the sales tax money that was already spent for Freeman to be taken out of the general equipment reserve fund in the amount of $114,837.39,” she said.

That takes the general reserve fund down to $48,517.95 as of the end of 2024.

The next hiccup, she said, is that the county has not gotten a contract back from Freeman, so the commission needs to create a point of contact for Freeman. “I’m kind of uncomfortable because we have sent money to them, so we need to get on this as soon as possible,” she said.

Leroy Kruger was made the point of contact for Freeman going forward.

The commissioners also approved a salary resolution for elected and appointed officials, the heads of departments.

Walker explained that the County Clerk, Treasurer, Register of Deeds are underpaid in Bourbon County compared to similar counties, and the new schedule brings the pay up to a more comparable pay rate. This was made possible because the various departments did a good job of keeping a carryover in their budgets this last year. The sheriff has been increased from $60,000 to $70,000. County Attorney and EMS director have received increases as well.

Beerbower asked about pay raises for corrections officers and public works employees. He also asked for another week to look at the numbers.

Whisenhunt said he had been one of those who worked hard to put together the 2025 budget, which allows for this new pay schedule and he wanted to approve it.

Kruger made the motion to approve the resolution. It carried 2/1 with Beerbower voting against.

Human Resources liaison for the county commission is now Kruger.

During commissioner comments Beerbower made a motion to discuss a moratorium on solar.

He then read a rough draft of a resolution he had written, based on a template from other counties doing the same thing, regarding a non-expiring moratorium on the construction and operation of solar projects commonly referred to as the Hinton Creek, Kingsburg, and Tennison Creek solar projects, and all other similar projects. The resolution mentioned that these cannot be effectively responded to by the Bourbon County fire department to negate such risks to the public health and welfare of the citizens of the county.

Whisenhunt explained that Bourbon Co rural fire is not equipped to fight a solar panel fire. Turnout gear alone is $3700 per fireman, let alone the pumps and equipment. The county doesn’t have the budget to bring it up to that standard.

A citizen handed out a copy of a lawyer-reviewed resolution for a 48 month moratorium.

Whisenhunt made the motion to adopt the resolution to enact a moratorium on solar projects for 48 months, good until Jan. 13, 2029, and the commission approved it unanimously.

Beerbower shared his vision statement for Bourbon County, ” I envision a board of leaders where the same old same old is not an option, where innovation and traditional values together cultivate a thriving community fostering growth in our future generations.”

Kruger said his vision is to give the voice back to the people and offer an attentive ear, doing the best he can to make a good decision that benefits the majority.

Whisenhunt thanked the county for their support and asked that the citizens would “keep letting us know what we’re doing wrong and right so we know what direction to go.”

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