CITY OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION MEETING
unapproved
Minutes of September 16, 2025 Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held in the City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. The meeting was streamed live on YouTube.
The meeting was called to order at 6:00PM. Roll call was taken. Commissioners Kathryn Salsbury, Tracy Dancer, Dyllon Olson, and Matthew Wells were present with Mayor Tim Van Hoecke.
In Attendance – Brad Matkin/City Manager, Bob Farmer/City Attorney, Jason Dickman/City Engineer-Earles Engineering & Inspections, Inc., Leroy Kruger/Codes Enforcement, Mary Wyatt/Planning, Housing & Business Development Director, Tom Coffman/Public Works Director, Lisa Lewis/City Clerk, Stephen Mitchell/USD234 Director of Technology, Destry Brown/Superintendent USD234, Pete Allen, Devin Reichard, Michael Hoyt, and Julie Buchta.
VAN HOECKE led the Pledge of Allegiance and said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City, the Citizens, our Government and City officials.
Approval of Agenda – Request to amend the agenda with the removal of Consideration of Application – CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Grant – New Business – Action Item E.
MOTION: OLSON moved to approve the agenda as amended. SALSBURY seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Consent Agenda
MOTION: SALSBURY moved to approve the Consent Agenda. OLSON seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Public Comment – No public comment
Appearances
Devin Reichard – Request for Parade Permit – Pioneer Harvest Fiesta – October 2, 2025.
MOTION: WELLS moved to approve the Parade Permit for Pioneer Harvest Festival. SALSBURY seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Unfinished Business:
Land Lease Agreement
Discussion was had regarding the options for which the City would use this document for leasing City owned property. WELLS asked that in the document it be included that the lessee will be responsible for the property taxes.
ACTION: WELLS will email FARMER the statute information he received regarding (90) year vs. (99) year verbiage.
MOTION: SALSBURY moved to have FARMER research the (99) year option and present a final version to vote on at the next meeting. WELLS seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Food Truck Ordinance
Discussion was had about the potential ordinance, business licenses, enforcement, and cost.
ACTION: MATKIN will check with other municipalities regarding online permitting.
WELLS called the question.
ACTION: MATKIN and FARMER will create verbiage as an addendum to municipal code pertaining to Solicitors, Canvassers and Peddlers to specifically address food trucks by the next meeting.
CHAMPS Bowl Game
MOTION: SALSBURY moved to rescind the $30,000.00 donation for the CHAMPS Bowl for this year. OLSON seconded.
OLSON, DANCER, SALSBURY and VAN HOECKE voted yes. WELLS abstained.
MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
Public Hearing
Consideration of Resolution No. 25-2025 A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE AT 18 S. HOLBROOK
MOTION: WELLS moved to open the public hearing. SALSBURY seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
KRUGER gave an overview of the structure and its violations. There were no other comments from the public.
MATKIN left the meeting at 6:50PM
MOTION: VAN HOECKE moved to close the public hearing. DANCER seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
MOTION: WELLS moved to table the decision for (60) days so the Land Bank has an opportunity to look at it, to reach out to the County to see if it will be in the tax sale this year and explore a couple of opportunities before we move forward with the process on this particular house. DANCER seconded.
SALSBURY, OLSON, WELLS and DANCER voted yes. VAN HOECKE voted no.
MOTION CARRIED 4-1.
Consideration of Resolution No. 26-2025 A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE AT 402 N. SHUTE
MOTION: VAN HOECKE moved to open the public hearing. SALSBURY seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
KRUGER gave an overview of the structure and its violations. There were no other comments from the public.
MOTION: DANCER moved to close the public hearing. VAN HOECKE seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
MOTION: DANCER moved to approve Resolution No. 26-2025 A Resolution Directing the Removal of an Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 402 N. Shute. VAN HOECKE seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
MATKIN returned to the meeting at 7:02PM
Consideration of Resolution No. 27-2025 A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN ALLEGED UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE AT 205 N. LINCOLN
MOTION: DANCER moved to open the public hearing. VAN HOECKE seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
KRUGER gave an overview of the structure and its violations. There were no other comments from the public.
MOTION: DANCER moved to close the public hearing. VAN HOECKE seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
MOTION: DANCER moved to approve Resolution No. 27-2025 A Resolution Directing the Removal of an Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure at 205 N. Lincoln. SALSBURY seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
FARMER left the meeting at 7:03PM
Devin Reichard appeared regarding the parade permit. He believed the meeting began at 7:00PM. MATKIN told him the permit had already been approved.
Consideration to Trade the 963k Track Loader for a 2023 Volvo EC160EL Crawler Excavator
COFFMAN explained that the trade consideration is because parts for the existing model are not available due to its age. The only cost incurred would be freight of approximately $1,200.00 and would be through G. W. Van Keppel Company.
FARMER returned to the meeting at 7:05PM
MOTION: WELLS moved to approve the straight across the board trade. DANCER seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
IT Update
MITCHELL reported there were contact changes for the first year. There is also a shift in priorities for the next (60) days with the police department at highest priority. Updates given networks, firewalls, equipment, ticketing system, and backup system.
VAN HOECKE left the meeting at 7:18PM and returned at 7:20PM
Wyatt addressed the Commission to request two changes to the grant application process. First, she proposed requiring applicants to include a brief description of their business project and how the funding would impact their business. Second, she suggested a procedural clarification: that City staff should score the applications using the approved rubric and submit those scores to the Commission. Applicants would then appear before the Commission for questions, after which the Commission would award the grants. The Commission discussed the efficiency of this proposed process.
MOTION: WELLS moved to approve the changes suggested by City staff to make the process move forward more efficiently. SALSBURY seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Planning, Housing and Business Development Update
Wyatt provided an overview of her responsibilities, including managing grants—those awarded, currently being written, and pending notification. In the Business Development Department, she focuses on retaining existing businesses and helping recruit new ones to Fort Scott. She also gave an overview of all three departments she oversees and answered questions from the Commission. Lisa Dillon will soon present a more detailed housing update.
Consideration of Second Amendment to Freeman ER Funding Agreement – Approved by Bourbon County Commission – September 8, 2025
ACTION: MATKIN will reach out to Freeman Hospital regarding the City being included the quarterly written itemized accountings.
MOTION: WELLS moved to send the document back to the County and ask for the City to be included in the furnishing of the quarterly written itemized accounting. OLSON seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Approval to Go Out for Codes Mowing Bids – 3 Year Contract
MOTION: WELLS moved to go out for mowing bids for (3) years. DANCER seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Consideration of CCLIP Project Programming Request
DICKMAN explained this is Phase III of the project. It has been awarded. The next steps would be to formally accept the award and go out for Statements of Qualification for Engineering design work.
ACTION: DICKMAN will send the City Manager and City Clerk the documents for the next step.
MOTION: WELLS moved to go forward with the project programming request for the third phase of the CCLIP project. OLSON seconded.
MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
Reports and Comments
CITY ENGINEER
– E. National Project Update
ACTION: DICKMAN will get updated exhibits to WYATT to submit for the Cost Share Program (CCLIP) of 3rd Street from E. National to US69.
– Lee Circle Drive base
CITY ATTORNEY – No comment
CITY MANAGER
– Naturalization at the Fort – September 17, 2025
– FEMA update – new projects 4th & Little and Pawn Shop waterway
ACTION: MATKIN will provide a City Manager Communicator by end of the week.
COMMISSIONER SALSBURY
– Shipping container ordinance on next agenda
– Confirmed the City does not have ducks or geese at Gunn Park
COMMISSIONER OLSON
– Comments on freedom of speech
COMMISSIONER WELLS
– Design Review Board and bylaws for CLG
– Codes Department and Fire Department
– Overpass and at-grade study requests status update
– Comments on freedom of speech
COMMISSIONER DANCER
– Moody building status
ACTION: MATKIN will meet with FARMER for plan of action on the next agenda.
– Items passed at table need to be posted on website
– Expense Report was not included in the packet and website
COMMISSIONER VAN HOECKE
– Response to comments made on local social media post about him and other rhetoric
– Naturalization Ceremony
– City work sites are not open to the public for safety reasons
MATKIN commented on Commission decorum and community reactions to decisions.
Adjourn
MOTION: VAN HOECKE moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:49PM. SALSBURY seconded.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2025, MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:49PM.
Submitted by Lisa A. Lewis, City Clerk