CITY OF FORT SCOTT
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of May 21, 2024 Regular Meeting
The regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held May 21, 2024, at 6:00PM (Time stamp: 0:09) in the City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. (Time stamps according to YouTube recording of meeting).
Roll Call
Meeting called to order at 6:00PM (Time stamp: 0:22). Commissioners Matthew Wells, Tim VanHoecke, Melissa Guns, and Dyllon Olson were present with Mayor Tracy Dancer.
Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation
- Dancer led the Pledge of Allegiance and T. VanHoecke said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City, our Government and City officials.
Audience in Attendance – Brad Matkin/City Manager, Bob Farmer/City Attorney, Jason Dickman/City Engineer-Earles Engineering, Jason Pickert/Chief of Police, Leroy Kruger/Codes Inspector, Lisa Lewis/City Clerk, Robert Harrington/REDI, Tayton Majors/REDI, Mark McCoy/REDI, Michael Hoyt, Robert Coon, Kim Coon, and Jose Montanez.
Approval of Agenda (Time stamp 2:17)
- Olson requested that (2) items be added to the agenda: 1) Consideration to accept the resignation of Robert Coon from the Land Bank Board of Trustees/New Business/Action Items; and 2) Discussion of the barber shop on Wall Street/Appearances.
MOTION: D. Olson moved to approve the agenda with the requested amendments. T. VanHoecke seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.
Consent Agenda (Time stamp 3:22)
– Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1360-A – Expense Approval Report – Payment Dates – May 1, 2024 – May 14, 2024 – $488,204.78
– Approval of Minutes for May 7, 2024
– April Financials
MOTION: T. VanHoecke moved to approve the Consent Agenda. D. Olson seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.
Public Comment – No public comment.
Appearances
Shawn O’Brien (Time stamp – 4:40) – addressed the Commission for consideration of a request Temporary Street Closures for Good Ol’ Days.
MOTION: M. Guns moved to approve the temporary closures as submitted and discussed for the Good Ol’ Days. M. Wells seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.
Shawn O’Brien (Time stamp – 8:37) – addressed the Commission regarding the request for a parade permit from the Chamber of Commerce for Good Ol’ Days.
MOTION: T. VanHoecke moved to approve the parade permit as submitted. M. Guns seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.
Patrick Wood (Time stamp – 10:22) – addressed the Commission regarding his development Broken Oak Housing Community, 1920 Huntington, by Patrick J. Wood Properties, LLC requesting that it be considered for an RHID. This current project is for 6 duplexes.
MOTION: M. Wells moved to proceed with for the “Horton Street project.” D. Olson seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.
Robert Harrington (Time stamp 15:06) – addressed the Commission with a quarterly report of the activities of Bourbon County REDI. T. Dancer requested a written report be submitted summarizing that was presented. R. Harrington agreed to create a document.
Brad Matkin (Time stamp 23:42) – updated the Commission with graphic handouts on the WWTP in the absence of Scott Flater/Water Utilities Director.
Jose Montanez (Time stamp 28:43) – addressed the Commission regarding the condition of his business on Wall Street that was condemned for structural issues.
Robert Coon (Time stamp 37:49) answered questions asked of him by the Commission regarding his building which was condemned as well due to the safety issues of the adjoining barber shop. Jason Dickman/City Engineer (Time stamp 45:00) was requested to comment on his observations of the building. B. Farmer/City Attorney (Time stamp 47:50) stated that everything discussed is a private matter and there is no obligation to the City other than public safety which has already been addressed. Leroy Kruger/Codes Inspector (Time stamp 50:54) was asked to comment.
Public Hearings:
314 S. Eddy – Consideration to Repair or Remove Unsafe and Dangerous Structure and Accessory Structure
MOTION: (Time stamp 1:17:06) T. VanHoecke moved to open the Public Hearing at 7:17PM. M. Guns seconded the motion. All voted yes.
RESOLUTION NO. 16-2024 – RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE(S) AND ACCESSORY STRUCTURE(S) PARCEL #006-119-30-0-30-25-010-00-0 LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS FORT SCOTT, LOT 8 BLK 132 IN BOURBON COUNTY, IN THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS [314 S. EDDY], FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.
- Farmer left the meeting at (Time stamp 1:17:49)
- Guns returned to the meeting at (Time stamp 1:18:03)
- Kruger/Codes Inspector spoke about the history the Codes Department had with the structures. No one was present to speak for the hearing.
- Farmer returned to the meeting at (Time stamp 1:19:30)
ACTION: (Time stamp 1:19:44) – B. Matkin requested that L. Kruger submit a statement in writing from the living relative regarding the status of the ownership of 314 S. Eddy and the statement he made for no interest to repair.
MOTION: (Time stamp 1:22:53) T. VanHoecke moved to close the Public Hearing at 7:22PM. D. Olson seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.
MOTION: M. Guns moved to remove the structure and accessory structure at 314 S. Eddy. T. VanHoecke seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.
306 S. Lowman – Consideration to Repair or Remove Unsafe and Dangerous Structure and Accessory Structure
MOTION: (Time stamp 1:24:04) – T. VanHoecke moved to open the Public Hearing at 7:24PM. D. Olson seconded the motion. All voted yes.
RESOLUTION NO. 17-2024 – RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE(S) AND ACCESSORY
STRUCTURE(S) PARCEL #006-119-30-0-30-27-002-00-0 LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS FORT SCOTT, S 25’ LOT 4 BLK 130 IN BOURBON COUNTY, IN THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS [306 S. LOWMAN], FORT SCOTT, KS 66701
MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.
- Kruger/Codes Inspector spoke about the history the Codes Department had with the structures. No one was present to speak for the hearing.
MOTION: (Time stamp 1:25:29) T. VanHoecke moved to close the Public Hearing at 7:25PM. D. Olson seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION: M. Guns moved to remove the structure and accessory structure at 306 S. Lowman. T. VanHoecke seconded the motion. T. VanHoecke, M. Guns and T. Dancer voted yes. D. Olson and M. Wells voted no.
MOTION PASSED BY 3-2 VOTE.
Action Items
Consideration of Letters of Interest for Fort Scott Public Library Board (Time stamp 1:27:45) – M. Wells stated that (2) letters of interest were received for the open position. The library board met and agreed to recommend candidate Aaron Judy.
MOTION: M. Wells moved to appoint Aaron Judy to the Library Board. M. Guns seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.
ACTION: M. Wells stated that the Library Director Jennifer Gum-Fowler is creating a list of Board Members and their terms to be emailed to the City Clerk.
Consideration to Accept the Letter of Resignation from Robert Coon and of Letters of Interest for the Land Bank Board
MOTION: (Time stamp 1:30:13) T. VanHoecke moved to accept the resignation of Robert Coon from the Land Bank board. D. Olson seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.
The City Clerk clarified that the resignation of Robert Coon creates another vacancy on the Land Bank Board of Trustees. The Letter of Interest to be considered is to fill an existing vacancy.
MOTION: (Time stamp 1:31:07) T. VanHoecke moved to accept the recommendation of the Land Bank for Judy Earp to be appointed to the Fort Scott Land Bank.
- Olson asked that the motion be amended to include the language of “for a 3-year term” if the ordinance is amended. T. VanHoecke agreed to the amendment. M. Wells seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MOTION PASSED BY 5-0 VOTE.
Acceptance of Letter of Resignation from Commissioner/President M. Guns – M. Guns read her Letter of Resignation to the Commission. Her departure is due to a job relocation for her husband out of state.
- Matkin left the meeting at (Time stamp 1:36:12)
Discussion was had about the date of May 31, 2024. M. Guns agreed to amend her resignation date to May 22, 2024.
MOTION: (Time stamp 1:27:35) – T. VanHoecke moved to accept the resignation of Commissioner Melissa Guns from the Fort Scott City Commission effective as of May 22, 2024. D. Olson seconded the motion.
- Matkin returned to the meeting at (Time stamp 1:38:02)
- Guns, T. VanHoecke, D. Olson and T. Dancer voted yes. M. Wells voted no.
- Wells left the meeting at (Time stamp 1:38:28)
MOTION APPROVED BY 4-1 VOTE.
- Wells returned to the meeting at (Time stamp 1:39:38)
Reports and Comments
- City Manager Comments (Time stamp 1:38:57)
– Solar Traffic Systems – signed by CM – only half payment required
– Diehl, Banwart and Bolton on next agenda (audit)
– Meeting with all Directors and BakerTilly for budget
– Wind storm damage – Brush Dump will remain open
– Working on FEMA paperwork for previous storm/flood damage
– Luau for the Splash Pad opening was a success, very well attended. Thank you to all City Staff who helped bring it together.
- Engineering Comments (Time stamp 1:43:36)
– Comments back from KDHE regarding the water plant that will go to S. Flater to be completed.
– Pre-Construction meeting with Heck & Wicker for Horton & 6th Street Project – start date is July 8, 2024. Advanced warning signs may go up prior for public.
- Commissioners Comments
– M. Guns (Time stamp 1:44:42)
– M. Wells (Time stamp 1:46:13)
– T. VanHoecke (Time stamp 1:47:49)
– D. Olson (Time stamp 1:49:19)
– T. Dancer (Time stamp 1:53:07)
ACTION: City Clerk directed to set up a stand-alone Work Session for the discussion of Lake Lots including a site visit by the Commissioners.
- City Attorney Comments (Time stamp 1:54:10)
MOTION: (Time stamp 1:54:43) – M. Guns moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:54PM. T. VanHoecke seconded the motion. All voted yes.
MAY 21, 2024, MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:54PM
_______________________________________________________________________
Respectfully submitted by:
Lisa A. Lewis, City Clerk