Samuel Tran joined the Bourbon County Commission for their June 23 meeting as the newly appointed commissioner for District 1.
Also new to the table was Kaety Bowers, serving as the parliamentarian for the commission. Her roll is that of an impartial assistant to Commissioner David Beerbower as the commission chair in running an efficient meeting per resolution 1125, which the commission signed in January, 2025. The new vice-chair for the commission is Mika Milburn.
KCAMP Information
Davie Lamb spoke to the commissioners about the benefits of KCAMP, which is pool-owned by the member counties, not an insurance company. KCAMP provides coverage for property and liability for Bourbon County. Formed in 1991, they cover 81 Kansas counties and several municipalities. Their board is made up of three clerks, three commissioners, and a sheriff from member counties.
Computer Services
Steve Prasko of Advantage Computers and Jayhawk Software in Iola, KS, and Jason Rincker from Stronghold Data of Joplin, MO each spoke to the commission about the computer services they could offer to the county.
Old Business
Juvenile Detention Center
Mike Walden, director for the SEK Juvenile Detention Center in Crawford County, brought administrators from the facility and some of the center’s board members to the meeting to speak with the commission about the history of the center, anticipated changes in the law regarding the detention of juveniles, and the importance of Bourbon County continuing to use it as its juvenile detention resource.
Walden said that Bourbon County is 1/10 owner of the $400,000 Juvenile Detention Center, which they will forfeit if they choose to house juveniles in a different facility, which was discussed at the June 16 meeting.
He said that the center was built in 1994 in an effort to meet the requirements of the 1980 law regarding the housing of juvenile criminals. He also said that a state study shows that no single county can afford a facility that meets the federal standards, and SEK is the poorest area of Kansas, thus they must work together. A juvenile justice plan is required for each county, and being part-owners of the facility in Crawford meets that requirement. Until 2006, the facility was run on a per-diam basis, but that made budgeting hard for commissions, so they changed to a funding formula, which takes into account the last 4 years of use by the county as well as the population and valuation of the county. Larger counties pay more.
To work for the facility, you must be 21 and have some training in sociology and psychology, per state regulations. They work with Pitts State and their social program students to help the residents of the center.
Walden said that the current intake system isn’t working, and juvenile criminals are slipping through the cracks and not being held accountable.
According to the Kansas Juvenile Justice Oversight Committee there were 7552 contacts between law enforcement and juveniles in 2017. “The state has struggled with placement of juveniles,” creating a dangerous situation for workers and juveniles, said Walden.
“I guarantee you we’re going to treat them better than anywhere else they’re going to go,” said Walden.
In 1992 Bourbon County signed an interlocal agreement with the Juvenile Detention Center.
By using facilities outside of Southeast Kansas, money Bourbon County is being sent to other regions. “We are part of you,” he said.
He encouraged the commissioners to come see the facility and see what’s being done there.
Milburn asked if they would come to the table to work out a different agreement, and Walden said that would be up to the board of directors and encouraged them to speak with them.
No Bourbon County representative has been to a facility board of directors meeting since 2022. The board’s next meeting is July 23.
Tran said the agreement should be revisited and the facility’s board of directors should invite the commissioners to come to the table.
Sheriff Bill Martin asked for a breakdown of the financial investment that the county has in the center. He also said that the codes for space and light requirements for detention centers are the same for adults and juveniles.
Milburn asked Walden to reach out and build a relationship with Sheriff Martin. Walden said that he would do that and wants to be included in any future discussions about juvenile detention services.
“We’re looking at our budget and we have our numbers,” said Beerbower.
SEK Mental Health Budget
Nathan Fawson CEO of Southeast Kansas Mental Health explained that his organization serves five counties in Kansas and employs more than 500 individuals, 60 of whom are therapists. Bourbon County has 80 SEK Mental Health workers as well as a federally certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic.
“I believe Fort Scott is very unique in the partnership that we have with SEK Mental Health,” said Fort Scott School Superintendent Destry Brown. SEK mental health partners with many organizations in Bourbon County, including schools, to serve the mental health needs of the community. There are now on-site therapists at each school provided by SEK Mental Health, all under parent approval and on a sliding scale for students. Case managers in each school oversee and work with teachers to help the kids. “Behavior health has gotten to be a huge issue in every school,” said Brown.
Bonny Smith from the audience spoke to the commission about the importance of including the parents in the help given to the children as well as for the staff of the school. First responders and law enforcement also need the help that Mental Health offers, she said.
“We are so grateful,” Fawson said, referring to the partnerships they have in the community, for the county’s support over the years, and the opportunity to serve in the county.
Tran asked how many patients they serve in a year. In 2024 they provided 35,482 services in Bourbon County alone.
Milburn said that SEK Mental Health needed county funding at the founding, but they are now self-sustaining and don’t need the county’s funding.
She said that the county helped the organization stand financially before it could stand on its own. Times have changed since the county started supporting SEK Mental Health, and SEK Mental Health now has more support throughout the community.
Milburn had a new resolution to propose, repealing the April 1961 resolution regarding SEK Mental Health. Her resolution proposed to keep a county commissioner as a member on the mental health board, but to repeal the 1/2 mill tax levy that had been supporting them.
“I want to offer them our support, not monetarily anymore – because they are there [referring to SEK Mental Health’s financial stability]- but we want them here in our community,” said Milburn.
“We have become more self-sustaining than we have been previously…we’re grateful but we’re not pressed in that regard in the moment, and as such we are less dependent on the county for financial support than we once were,” said Fawson.
Commissioners voted to table the issue for one week.
Budget Committee resignation of Marla Heckman & Assign Replacement
Beerbower nominated Joseph Smith to replace Heckman. Nomination carried.
Public Comments for Items Not on The Agenda
Mr. Emerson spoke to the commission about solar panels. He asked about the lawsuit that the county took over. “I surely hope that nothing will be signed until we get zoning,” he said. He also referred to a lawsuit between Jackson County and a solar company, expressing concern about environmental protection surveys not being done. He encouraged the commission to get more information before signing anything.
Michael Hoyt talked to the commission about tax abatement. He said he had brought to the attention of the commission earlier this year that the property at 401 Woodland is tax-abated at a value of $3.9 million, meaning $600,000 in taxes have not been collected.
“It’s only fair that we bring to the attention of the other taxing entities that their budgets in 23, 24, and 25 were based on that valuation in the budget and they don’t know they don’t have that money coming,” he said.
He also said that the property that’s out there now is classified as a charitable hospital but it hasn’t been one since Mercy left. It’s unconscionable that they are designated as a philanthropic hospital, he said, and he hopes to be able to resolve it.
New Business
NRP
Matt Quick, county appraiser, spoke to the commission about the Neighborhood Revitalization Program rebate again. He said that two years ago the county changed it from a 5-year program to a 10-year one. That change did not cause an increase in applications, but it has caused a diminishing return for the county.
Tran asked for the number of buildings in the program and what the benefit would be to the county. Quick said he would get those numbers for him.
Tran asked to wait to make a decision until the next meeting after he gets his numbers. The issue was tabled.
Appraiser Contract
County appraisers serve a 4-year term. This July, Matt Quick needs to re-up with the state, which requires a resolution from the commission. Commissioners voted to table it until next week.
Formation of Benefits Committee
Milburn proposed forming a Bourbon County Committee for Employee Benefits, to explore and find insurance options and benefit plans for county employees. It would consist of several employees, the benefits officer, and a commissioner.
Both Beerbower and Tran were in favor of the idea.
Susan Walker said that the committee members will need HIPPA training because they will have access to the health information for county employees.
Letters of interest are to be submitted to the commission.
The committee resolution was approved.
Elevator Repairs
The elevator in the courthouse is down. The judge sent a letter to the commission encouraging them to repair the elevator. There will be some jury trials at the courthouse in the near future.
A power surge caused the computer boards to fail, which the county will file an insurance claim for, but they need to do a quick, temporary fix to make the courthouse accessible for trials this week.
Beerbower moved to approve the $30,000 in funding needed for immediate repairs. Commission approved.
The meeting ended with executive sessions. The Commissioner Comments section of the meeting was not broadcast on YouTube.