FORT SCOTT — Bourbon County employees can no longer use county vehicles, equipment or property for personal purposes, and commissioners can’t grant exceptions, under a policy adopted Nov. 2. The vote was 3-1, with Commissioner Joe Allen voting against.

Commissioner Mika Milburn-Kee removed language that would have let the commission approve exceptions, saying that if the reason for the policy is liability, there should be no exceptions by anyone. “Everything here belongs to the taxpayers,” she said.

County Counselor Bob Johnson said a waiver wouldn’t solve it. “When you sign a waiver, you can waive liability, but you don’t waive negligence on the part of the owner, and that’s the problem,” he said.

Commissioner David Beerbower said he asked KCAMP’s risk manager whether KCAMP, the county’s insurance pool, prohibits personal use, and the answer was “absolutely.” Allen said a KCAMP underwriter was still researching his questions on liability and waivers and had not gotten back to him by the meeting. Beerbower’s amendments changed “may not be used” to “will not be used” and struck a paragraph on reporting fringe benefits.

Read the full story on the Nov. 2 meeting.