Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Minutes of Nov. 10, 2020

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November 10, 2020                                                             Tuesday 9:00 AM

 

The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with Commissioner Oharah, Commissioner Fisher, the County Counselor and the County Clerk present. Also present where the following, (some were present for the entire meeting some were present for a portion of the meeting) Jason Silver’s with the Fort Scott Tribune, Jim Harris, Nancy Van Etten, Mr. and Mrs. Clint Walker, Shane Wood, Deb McKinney, Anne Dare and Nancy Mayes.

 

Lynn made a motion to go into a 10 minute executive session for non-elected personnel, Jeff second the motion and the motion passed, (present for the session were the Commissioners, Justin Meeks and Eric Bailey (by telephone). No action was taken.

 

Eric Bailey (by phone) discussed Elm Creek Lake; he said they have identified an area on the northeast corner of the dam that is causing problems; they are waiting on Frank Young to get back to discuss if it’s solid rock or shale and then get information on a cost of drilling in that area.

 

Eric Bailey said the pothole patcher is working in the northwest area of the County and will be heading to the southeast area. They are also still installing culverts.

 

Lynne reported that the Uniontown School asked that Maple and 75th be closed on November 11th, for the Veterans Day parade, Eric said he would take care of this.

 

Eric reported that they had blasted at the Blake quarry and now will move to the Shepherd quarry to prepare to do a blast there.

 

Jeff question if the bridge load rating signs we’re all posted around the county, especially in the southwest portion of the county.  He said with the wind development starting, we need to make sure the signs are posted.  Eric said he would check for the signs. Jeff said that we needed to make sure they were following the counties right of way standards.

 

Jeff Fisher read a letter of support for CHC SEK (the primary care provider occupying Mercy Hospital building); the letter was to support for them to apply to be a public transportation provider. Jeff made a motion to give the chairman permission to sign the letter of support, Lynn seconded and the motion passed and Lynn signed the letter of support.

 

Monica Murnan with Greenbush discussed the Spark grant funds; she said they were at the point of the grant process where the Commissioners may need to make some adjustments. She said a lot of the community businesses understand the gift that this is regarding mitigating COVID-19. Monica said we may have about $10,000 not assigned and will need to delegate that money elsewhere in December. Monica will meet with the Commissioners again on December 1 and December 8. Monica said they are following up with grant recipients gathering the needed data. She said if a recipient wants to spend money where it was not allocated she will bring those issues to the Commissioners to see if they want to allow them to spend it out of a different category. She said they were going to pull the MOU for Little Tigers Daycare since they hadn’t heard from them.

 

Jody Hoener met with the Commissioners; she said the City of Chanute’s IT department had been awarded a $1.6 million grant for connectivity. Jody contacted them to learn to see if there was anything for our community. She got contacts at the State level for any possible future connectivity grants.  Monica suggested that Jody contact the City of Pittsburg and the Pittsburg schools regarding the grants as well.

 

Jody Hoener gave a BWERC update; she said the BWERC location is open at 17 S. Main Street. She said they are seeing a need for businesses to get assistance. Jody asked if she could move the furniture from her office at the Courthouse to the BWERC location (she said the furniture was purchased with Healthy Bourbon County Action team money), Lynn asked that they discuss this next week when Clifton was going to be there.

 

The Commissioners discussed the sewer district hookup; Justin has been working with Susan Bancroft at the City of Fort Scott regarding the sewer district.  Justin gave the Commissioners an updated service agreement for them to review.  They will discuss this again next week. There was concern over locations on Indian road wanting to connect to the sewer district and whether or not the sewer could handle all of the additional connections. Shane Wood said he had bought a lot at the Fort Scott Lake and was initially told it had sewer on the lot, he said he had worked with Michael Mix at the City of Fort Scott who told him he had sewer on the lot but he couldn’t find it, it didn’t have sewer but was told to find the line of where it connects, he didn’t have a line and said it would be about $20,000 for him to get on the sewer district, when he initially was told he had sewer. His property is on the East side of the Lake. It was stated that there is a need for sewer policies but the policies needed to be upfront so people knew what they we’re getting into. Jeff Fisher said he was OK with waiving the fees for Saint Martin’s and the Woods property, but with the proposed condominium development at the Lake they realized the sewer board needed to be organized with an inter-local agreement. Jeff Fisher said there might eventually be a fire station near the lake which could help with the insurance ratings there. Nancy Van Etten spoke as the lake advisory chairperson; she also wanted to review the document from Justin Meeks. Nancy presented a letter asking to move land from the Bourbon County fire District #3 to Scott Township fire district #5. Justin responded to her letter with a letter that said he felt the Bourbon County Commissioners had no authority over these fire districts. He said the petition is not substantial and is not in the required form and thus is not valid as presented.

 

Bill Martin, Bobby Reed, Ben Cole and Rachel Thompson (videotaping) met with the Commissioners regarding the COVID-19 leave time; Bobby discussed the COVID-19 pandemic he said he is pro employee and thinks the County handbook needs to revised to define what the County can do for employees who have contracted Covid at work. He said he had an employee that went into the hospital due to COVID-19, he said this employee had no sick or vacation time and used all of the 80 hours of COVID-19 leave time given to them. Bobby felt we needed to do something for all employees, he said he thought the County needed to take better care of our employees. Lynne said he talked to KCAMP regarding the 80 hours of Covid leave time, emergency personnel could be excluded from this 80 hour policy and that it would be up to the elected officials to allow them to use this leave time.  Bobby wants something beyond the 80 hours for the employees. Bill said the outdated policy needs to be addressed. Bill said this could affect all of the employees, Bobby said he contacted KCAMP and Kworcc and that Covid is not covered under work comp. Bobby said the Covid leave time runs out on December 31 and asked what we were going to do after that. Jeff Fisher said he saw everyone in the room except Bill and Bobby wearing their masks right, (Bill and Bobby did not have their masks covering their nose) Bobby said everyone has their own opinion on wearing masks. Lynne said they would have a discussion over this.

 

Greg Motley with BEDCO met with the Commissioners with a BEDCO budget request. He discussed economic development and suggested the most advantageous structure for economic development is a 501(c) (3), which could qualify them for a range of grants and programs that municipalities cannot. He discuss Thrive Allen County which has a seven-figure budget and eight employees, he said they help municipalities write grants and provide other services which helps keep the expenses incurred local. He asked for the Bourbon County Commission to fund the initial effort in the amount of $130,000. Greg said their focus would be to bring outside money to us. The Commissioners did not make a decision on this but will discuss this again next week.

 

Patty West, Lynette Westhoff and Brad Hartman met with the Commissioners regarding the Counties property and work comp. insurance. Patty and Lynette had been gathering data to quote the counties 2021 insurance, but were recently told that the Commissioners had decided to stay with KCAMP and Kworcc for the 2021 year. Patty said they were very disappointed that they were shut down in the quoting process.  Lynne said the County had not put the insurance up for bid for 2021, but said they would put it up for bid for the 2022 year.  Jeff said our current insurance companies also provides a lot of risk management services, Patty said their companies can also offer this.  Bill Martin said he had sent a mass email to different Sheriff’s departments, he said he believed in buying and living local.  He said KCAMP is located in Topeka and their board is made up of all County officials, he said EMC is located in Iowa and the directors are not local.  Bill said some of the counties were in support of KCAMP and some were in support of EMC; Bill said he recommended KCAMP, he said the biggest liability for the County is the Sheriff’s department and the jail.  Lynnette asked Bill for the copies of the emails he received so that she could research the statements made regarding claims for EMC.  If the County selected Travelers Insurance Patty West would be the local contact and if the County selected EMC Insurance Lynnette Westhoff would be the local contact, but both would be available to assist the County.

Justin Meeks said there was an issue brought up by Michael Hoyt; he said a protest petition was filed regarding the City of Fort Scott purchasing a fire truck, Justin said general obligation bonds were not being used to purchase the truck and said grant money is being used to purchase the truck.  Justin said Mr. Hoyt was submitting a question to the AG’s office regarding this issue.  Justin said he would issue a formal letter to Mr. Hoyt.

Jeff made a motion to go into a 20 minute executive session for confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships, Lynne seconded and the motion passed, (the session included the Commissioners, Jody Hoener, Justin Meeks and Bill Brittain).  No action was taken.

Jeff made a motion to go into a 10 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel, Lynne seconded and the motion passed, (the session included the Commissioners and Jody Hoener).  No action was taken.

 

The 2020 General Election canvass is scheduled for 10:00 am, November 12th; the Commissioners are the canvassing board (Lynne and Jeff plan to attend).

 

Jeff made a motion to allow Lynne to sign a non-disclosure agreement; Lynne seconded and signed the agreement.

 

Eddie Harrison asked the Commissioners what the status was regarding the leak at Elm Creek Lake; the Commissioners said Eric Bailey reported that Ag Engineering said the problem is located at the northeast corner of the lake and said they were going to drill samples there.

 

Don George with KDWP met with the Commissioners regarding Elm Creek Lake; he said Elm Creek is a WPA project with quality workmanship.  Don said they want to be involved with the project and said when they were looking for grant money for the Lake he might be their source.  He said their grant money would need to be applied for by the 2nd week of May and said the grants max out at $40,000.  He asked that the Commissioners call him and said together they would look at other projects in the County that are part of KDWP.  Jeff asked Don George to contact Frank Young regarding Elm Creek Lake.

 

Deb McCoy and Nancy Van Etten met with the Commissioners regarding Fire District #3 and #5 and the possibility of transferring land from one to the other.  Justin said they needed to learn how the Scott Fire District was formed.  Jeff said that Scott (FD #5) wants to build a fire station near the west side of the Lake.

 

Lynne made a motion to amend the agenda to allow for executive sessions, Jeff seconded and the motion passed.

 

Lynne made a motion to go into a 30 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel, Jeff seconded and the motion passed, (the session included the Commissioners, Justin Meeks, Eric Bailey (by phone) and Kendell Mason).  No action was taken.

 

Jeff made a motion to go into a 15 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel and to move the session to a different location on County property due to confidentiality, Lynne seconded and the motion passed, (the session included the Commissioners, Eric Bailey (by phone) and Justin Meeks.  No action was taken.

 

Lynne made a motion to go into a 10 minute executive session for personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel and to move the session to a different location on County property due to confidentiality, Jeff seconded and the motion passed, (the session included the Commissioners, Clifton Beth and Eric Bailey (by phone), and Justin Meeks.  After the session, Jeff made a motion to give Lynne the authority at his discretion to handle a non-elected personnel issue, Lynne seconded the motion and the motion passed.  Justin Meeks said he would be doing some HR functions with Lynne in the next 48 hours and said KAC had been contacted this morning regarding an issue.

 

At 1:20, Jeff made a motion to adjourn, Lynne seconded and all approved.

 

THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS

(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman

(ss) Jeff Fischer, Commissioner

(ss) Clifton Beth, Commissioner

ATTEST:

Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk

November 24, 2020, Approved Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Holiday Connections – Getting Comfortable With Zoom

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Barbara Stockebrand. K-State Extension Agent. Submitted photo.

There has been a lot of buzz about Zoom meetings. In many households, it has become an everyday term in describing how someone was going to go about their work or school day, or meet with family or friends.

With the holiday season here, many families may be opting to connect through Zoom rather than having the large family gathering.

If you are one of those who would like to learn how to be a part of a Zoom meeting, whether for educational purposes or just for fun with others, a hands-on practice session is being offered through Southwind Extension District.

Barbara Stockebrand, Southwind District Agent will be offering two opportunities for a little experience with the Zoom program format.

The sessions will take place December 8 at 10:30 a.m. and December 10 at 3:30 p.m. Both sessions will cover the same information.

Participants can register for either session by calling 620-625-8620 or emailing [email protected]. Sessions will be limited to six participants each.

Participants need to have an email address as well as a laptop or desktop with a web cam, or an iPad or smartphone. Instructions will be sent prior to the sessions on how to download the app. If responses require more sessions, we will be glad to set them up!

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Obituary

Obituary of Alvin Ruddick

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Alvin Matthews Ruddick, age 87, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday, November 23, 2020, at the Cox Barton County Memorial Hospital Emergency Room in Lamar, MO.

He was born January 13, 1933, in Kansas City, MO, the son of Alvin Earl and Mary Olivia Matthews Ruddick. He graduated from FSHS with the class of 1950. Al graduated from Drury College in 1954. He was President of the Beta Iota Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order at Drury.

He married Betty Pauli on July 16, 1955, in Kansas City, MO

. In 1953, Al purchased a cabin at the Lake of the Ozarks. The lake became an integral part of Ruddick family life. Al enjoyed fishing and skiing. He hunted elk in Colorado for 25 years. He bred and sold 92 English Pointers.

Al took over the Ruddick’s family furniture business, Ruddick’s Inc. in 1954 when his father retired. He sold the business in 2000. He was past President of Kiwanis Club (1954), past President of the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, a member of the NRA, and served on the U234 School Board for 8 years. He served the Kansas State Commerce Division and the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Mercy Hospital Endowment Board. He was a member of the Masons, the Shriners, and the Scottish Rite. Al was a member of the First United Methodist Church and participated in numerous committees and the church choir most of his adult life.

Survivors include his wife Betty, Ft. Scott; four daughters, Lori Ruddick, Nevada, MO, Lisa Rucker and husband Ron, St. Louis, MO, Linda Burger, St. Louis, MO, Leslie Ogden and husband Chris, Lee’s Summit, MO; seven grandchildren Jeremy Ruddick, Abby Simmons, Haley Trainor, Aaron Rucker, Samatha Burger, Nick Ogden, and Hannah Ogden; and two great-grandsons, Cooper Ruddick, and Jackson Simmons.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Due to COVID-19, private family services will be held with burial following in U. S. National Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Government, Kansas

Kansas Native American Heritage Month

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Governor Laura Kelly Proclaims November as Native American Indian Heritage Month

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly this month proclaimed November as Native American Indian Heritage Month and encouraged Kansans to strive to learn more about the rich and diverse indigenous cultures of the four tribes of Kansas.

“Native American Indian Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories, and to acknowledge the important contributions of American Indians and indigenous peoples,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The Kansas tribes are valuable partners to the State, and to the communities and economies near their reservations.”

There are over 570 federally recognized tribes in the United States, and Kansas had once been home to many American Indian tribes. Some of the Tribes that are considered to be native to present day Kansas include the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kansa, Kiowa, Osage, Pawnee, and the Wichita. Kansas was also inhabited by many emigrant tribes. The emigrant Indians are those people who had been moved to a new geographic region after being displaced from their original homelands.

Nearly 30 tribes were given land in the Kansas Territory with the assurance of the federal government that they would not be moved again. However, the Kansas Territory was opened for settlement in 1854 and once again the tribes were forced to move off the land.

Kansas is home to four Indian tribes:

  • The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska located in White Cloud, KS
  • The Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas located in Horton, KS
  • The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation located in Mayetta, KS
  • The Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska located in Reserve, KS

Each tribe has a rich history and works maintain their own language, ceremonies and customs. And, while it is easy to view the tribes from a historic lens by visiting museums and reading history books, it is important to remember that the tribes are modern sovereign governments, as well as citizens of Kansas.

Visit the Kansas Native American Affairs website to learn more about their history, culture and the contemporary operations of their governments. You can also learn more about the Kansas tribes by visiting one of the three tribal museums and the Kansas Museum of History.

View the proclamation here.

Bourbon County, Entertainment, Exercise, Fort Scott

New Skating Rink on the Horizon For Fort Scott

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Buck Run Community Center is the site chosen for the skating rink. It is located at 735 S. Scott, just east of the aquatic center.

A new skating rink is on the horizon for Fort Scott.

“This project came from community discussion about a need for more kid-friendly activities,” said Allyson Turvey, Fort Scott Tourism and Community Development Manager.  “Memorial Hall was used as a roller rink back in the ’80s, so the initial idea was really just to give that another go. It will benefit the community’s youth, and will hopefully draw families from the larger region as well. ”

“Originally we had hoped to use Memorial Hall, but the cost to resurface the floor is simply too high,” she said.  “So for now we are focusing our attention on the old gym at Buck Run. Ideally if this goes well we could eventually look to investing in the floor of Memorial Hall since it is a larger venue.”

Allyson Turvey. Submitted photo.

 

Turvey is the project leader.

 

“Leah Bowman has helped a lot with research,” she said. “But this project simply wouldn’t be possible without the tremendous amount of community support we’ve received”

“Craig Campbell and Angie Rhodes Kemmerer along with her class have been heavily involved in the planning, and have also thrown out many ideas we had not considered. It’s also fantastic to have a project with not just community involvement, but student involvement. Students are excited and working really hard to make this thing a success.”

Logistics such as staffing, insurance needs, and safety requirements are being considered.

“But we really have two priorities at this point, the rink itself, and the skates,” Turvey said. ” Without these pieces locked down, we won’t be able to move forward. We’ve now decided on the ideal location, so we need to find the skates. The cost to purchase enough skates to run this type of facility isn’t really feasible, so Angie and Craig have put us in touch with roller skate rental companies. We’re hopeful to have a solution for skates soon.”

 

The skating rink project is for the area youth.

 

“The target population for the rink is of course local youth,” she said.  “It’s been a widely held opinion that Fort Scott needs more activities for kids. This will certainly meet that objective. The students that have been helping with the project are really excited about the possibilities and have lots of ideas of how we can make it successful.”

 

“Our goal is to make this happen by the beginning of the year,” Turvey said. ” We do have logistics that will need to be worked out very quickly. And as I mentioned the whole project currently hinges on securing roller skates”.

 

 

What is the cost to the city?

“At this point, I don’t have an exact cost estimate to offer, but the use of Buck Run will allow for fairly low startup costs,” she said. ” Use of Memorial Hall for this project would have required a significant initial investment. We don’t feel this is a feasible solution at this time, and are working to make this project as cost effective as possible.”

 

 

Government, Kansas

Grants to Aid Early Childhood Education

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Governor Laura Kelly Announces More Than $2.1 Million in Grants to Address Gaps in Early Childhood Care and Education

TOPEKA –Governor Laura Kelly today announced more than $2.1 million in grant funding to fuel 59 ‘All in for Kansas Kids’ Quality Subgrants. The grants will help communities, service and child care providers, and other early childhood champions address needs and gaps in the early childhood care and education system through locally-driven ideas and approaches.

Grantees from organizations and child care providers large and small from across the state will use their awards to develop and implement new approaches that help children and families in their communities thrive. More than 140 applications were submitted, each focusing on addressing gaps in access, availability, and quality of child care, as well as community-level supports for families.

“Investing in early childhood care and education system is the one of the best ways we can improve outcomes for Kansas families and communities,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “As we continue to rebuild our state’s foundation, supporting our kids’ development from Day One will boost our communities, help recruit businesses, and encourage those in our current and future workforces to stay in the places they grew up.”

Funding for the subgrants was made possible by the federal Preschool Development Birth Through Five Renewal Grant, a 3-year grant awarded to Kansas in April 2020. Many funded projects will receive multi-year support in alignment with the federal grant to create long-term, sustainable changes.

The work is being guided by the All in for Kansas Kids Strategic Plan, which maps the state’s future direction for early childhood. Grantees directly responded to findings from the statewide needs assessment conducted in 2019. More than 6,100 Kansans elevated a range of challenges that became the focus of the grant award categories: child care access, rural child care, connecting families to services, kindergarten readiness, and quality of care.

Grantees were awarded from all regions of the state and include targeted supports to help expand access to high quality child care in communities such as Leoti, Washington, Independence, St. Francis, Valley Falls, Ness City, and Ellsworth, and in Thomas, Finney, Sumner, and Allen Counties. Grants will also support regional efforts to bridge gaps for families in counties surrounding sprawling Kansas communities like Lawrence, Wichita, Kansas City, and Emporia.

“Kansans across the state recognize the importance of providing their children with the best start in life possible,” Melissa Rooker, executive director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, said. “We are pleased to support local early childhood care and education experts and provide financial resources to allow them to implement community-driven strategies.”

To learn more about specific funded programs and activities and connect with the All in for Kansas Kids Strategic Planning efforts to strengthen the Kansas early childhood care and education system, please visit the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund website http://AllinforKansasKids.org.

Funds for All in For Kansas Kids activities are partially provided through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Renewal 90TP0078-01-00 ($8,943,000) was awarded to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund.  The Kansas State Department of Education, the Kansas Department for Children and Families, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are leading this work with the Children’s Cabinet. This information or content and conclusions should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HHS, ACF, or the U.S. Government. Any food or refreshments are not paid for by federal funds.

View the list of programs funded by the grants.

 

Area News

Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips

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Keep Your Family Safe With These Carbon Monoxide Tips

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Nov. 24, 2020 – November is Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month and Kansas Gas Service is sharing information to help avoid carbon monoxide exposure.

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide, sometimes called “CO,” is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas created by the incomplete or improper burning of fuel and can occur any time of year. Overexposure can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, which can result in illness or even death

How can you reduce the probability of carbon monoxide exposure?

  • Install and maintain a carbon monoxide detector, available at most retail and hardware stores.
  • Pay attention to the color of the flame on your natural gas appliances – a yellow flame instead of a blue flame is a potential warning sign that the appliance is not operating or venting properly. If you see a yellow flame, turn off your burner and call Kansas Gas Service.
  • Never use a natural gas range or outdoor space heater to heat your home.
  • Check for proper ventilation of your appliances and chimney flues.
  • Maintenance is key! Clean or replace your furnace filters regularly and have a qualified contractor inspect your heating equipment and natural gas appliances annually.

What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure?

  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Fatigue
  • Vomiting

If you experience the symptoms mentioned above or suspect the presence of carbon monoxide, immediately leave the house or building, then call 911 to request medical assistance.

Visit KansasGasService.com/carbonmonoxide or connect with Kansas Gas Service on Facebook or Twitter for more resources, information and tips.

About Kansas Gas Service

Kansas Gas Service delivers safe, clean and reliable natural gas to more than 639,000 customers in 360 communities in Kansas. We are the largest natural gas distributor in the state, in terms of customers.

We are a division of ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS), a stand-alone, 100 percent regulated, publicly traded natural gas utility that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “OGS.” ONE Gas is included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index, and is one of the largest natural gas utilities in the United States.

Bourbon County

Wayne Thorpe Receives Don Rezac Memorial Award

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Wayne and Peg Thorpe. Submitted photo.

Wayne Thorpe, a 50 year Supervisor on the Bourbon County Conservation District,  won the Don Rezac Memorial award on Monday, November, 23, according to  Bourbon County Conservation District Manager Mandy Shoemaker.

In the February, 1969 minutes for the Bourbon Co. Conservation District, it was suggested the Secretary should contact Wayne Thorpe to serve as an advisor, according to a press release from Shoemaker. Wayne accepted the Advisor position and attended his first meeting in March, 1969. Almost 1 year later, in January, 1970, Wayne became a Supervisor. In February, 1971, Wayne became the Treasurer and has held that office to this present day, 49 years later.

Wayne has served faithfully as a Supervisor for 50 years and has missed only 1 board meeting (Feb. 1999). More often than not, board meeting minutes end with “motion by Wayne Thorpe to adjourn”. Wayne was and is always ready to finish business so he could visit with the other board members and advisors.

Wayne served on the District’s Youth Committee from 1970 till 2008. He was responsible for getting the poster contest together and working with the many other youth activities throughout the year with the local schools. Every year the District has sent 1 or 2 students to the Kansas Range Youth Camp thanks to the Youth Committee.

In January, 1985, Wayne was involved with the development of the Marmaton Watershed #102. He approved for the District to be an information gathering center for landowners to give their ideas and input regarding the Marmaton Watershed District during that time. He was also involved in approving Technical Assistance from the Conservation District to the Watershed.

In 1991, John W. Reh, Assistant State Conservationist, sent the District a letter looking for participants on the State Reclamation Committee. Wayne was appointed by the District Board to represent Bourbon Co.

Wayne has served on the KACD Grassland Committee and has attended almost all of the KACD Conventions since 1970.

Other meetings Wayne has attended over the years: NACD Annual Meeting

Legislative Fairs at the State Capitol

Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce events & meetings Banker’s Tour for conservation awards

Spring and Fall KACD Workshops

The District has had several drills over the years and Wayne was always glad to help work on them when needed. Outside of being a 50 year member of the Bourbon Co Conservation District, Wayne has farmed, raised beef cattle, and dairy cattle.

He is a 40+ year member of the Mirza Shrine Club. Wayne served as President of the Bourbon Co. Shrine Club and has donated countless hours volunteering.

Wayne also volunteers every year for the Salvation Army as a Bell Ringer.

There isn’t anything that Wayne wouldn’t do to promote conservation and help landowners accomplish that. His dedication and quality service to the Bourbon Co Conservation District is why we would like to nominate Wayne Thorpe to receive the Don Rezac Memorial Award.

Sincerely,

Kathy Valentine, Chairman Ronnie Brown, Vice-Chairman Joe Ludlum, Supervisor Deb Lust and Mandy Shoemaker, District Manager.

 

Don Rezac was a lifelong Kansas farmer and rancher. He started his career with only six sows and one boar and went on to become president of Rezac Land and Livestock, according to a press release from Shoemaker.

He was a passionate conservationist who served as a supervisor of the Pottawatomie County Conservation District for 41 years, from 1969 to 2010, and served as director of Area IV for the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts from 1995 to 2007.

Don served in the Kansas House of Representatives from 1982 to 1994. In addition, he was active in many local organizations, including the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Farmers Union, Kansas and Onaga Young Farmers and the Kansas Soybean Association. In 1987, he became only the fifth Kansan in history to receive the National 4-H Alumni Award. Don and his wife, Barbara, were named Master Farmer-Homemaker by Kansas State University in 1996 for their contributions to agriculture and community. He was also an active member of the Onaga school board from 1971 to 1982.

Don Rezac has been described as a man of integrity, intelligence and humor. He will be remembered for his lifelong commitment to public service to his state and community, and to our good fortune, the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts.

Required Criteria:

  • Candidate has been a district supervisor for a minimum of six years.

  • Candidate has attended the KACD Convention on a regular basis and been active in KACD activities.

Other Criteria for Favorable Consideration:

  • Candidate has served on the KACD Board of Directors

  • Candidate has served as a State Conservation Commissioner

  • Candidate has been involved in outside activities (elected positions, community groups, other state and local associations)

The Kansas Association of Conservation Districts is a voluntary, nongovernmental, nonprofit, incorporated organization that was established in 1944, two years before the National Association of Conservation Districts was formed.  Its members are the conservation districts located in the state’s 105 counties.

The KACD Board of Directors is composed of five elected members, each of whom represents one of five geographical areas of the state.

 

Obituary

Obituary of Lewis K. Bailey

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Lewis Kenneth Bailey

Lewis Kenneth Bailey passed in peace on the morning of November 20, 2020, when he went home to be with his Lord and Savior. Lewis’s seventy-eight years on Earth were well spent, and his legacy as a compassionate, dedicated family man will be remembered by many.

Lewis was born in Garnett, Kansas, on March 10, 1942, to Fred and Isabella Elline (Mowat) Bailey.

Lewis was born with a sparkle in his eye, a grin that lit up the room, and a heart of gold.

Lewis’s love lives on through his two children, Tim (Shayla) and Kimberly, and his adored grandchildren: Allexis, Allie, Rayna, Kandace, and Brinley. Many extended family members and friends also felt the warmth and kindness of Lewis’s caring heart. Lewis joined his wife, Joan, and son-in-law Jess, upon arrival to his Heavenly Home.

That caring heart was often accompanied by an ornery twinkle in Lewis’s eye, and he loved sharing stories with family. A favorite family memory is that of Lewis recalling how ornery he was at three years old. When a kindly neighbor asked his name, Lewis is all sincerity responded, “Lewis, Come Back Here”. Apparently, he was very good at keeping his mother on her toes.

Lewis built a life around helping others. A hard worker to the core, Lewis donated much of his time and talent to making life better for others. Whether painting houses, mowing lawns, or raking leaves, Lweis did everything with full effort and an eye for detail.

His tendency to give his all also served Lewis well during his time as a soldier and 106-Gunner in the Vietnam War. Lewis was combat-wounded and received the Purple Heart commendation which was a great source of pride for him. Lewis was proud to be an American and was red, white, and blue through and through.

Lewis’s love of country was only slightly less than his love for his wife, Joan Evelyn. Handsome in uniform upon returning from war, Lewis caught Joan’s eye by purchasing popsicles for the children she was babysitting. Lewis’s family always remarks on that special beginning when enjoying a patriotic “bomb pop” from the freezer.
Lewis and Joan married on July 25, 1969, and moved to Fort Scott, Kansas, shortly after.

During this time, Lewis was able to attend Fort Scott Community College for two years. This was a treasured time in his life as he enjoyed attending art and photography classes. Several of Lewis’s projects from this time are still cherished by the family.

Lewis brought his hard-working nature to family-life as a dedicated husband and father. Whether tossing a baseball with Tim or playing Barbies with Kimberly, Lewis gave his children love, support and encouragement until his very last breath.

Lewis’s dedication also served him career-wise as he worked a variety of careers, most notably taking care and maintaining the SRS building in Fort Scott for 18 years.

In his leisure time, Lewis enjoyed fishing and passed his fondness along to his children. Lewis’s creativity and eye for detail were also apparent as he enjoyed woodworking and created many projects around the home.

While at home, Lewis loved to cheer on the Kansas City Cheifs and especially loved watching the games with his family.

Tim and Kim will miss the patient and kind man they were blessed to call “Dad” every day, but know they couldn’t ask for a more dedicated loving, hard-working guardian angel to watch over the entire family.

Graveside services will be held Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 11:00 AM, at the U. S. National Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested the Bethel Community Church and may be and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Government, Kansas

Kansas Main Street Program Applications Open December 10

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Governor Laura Kelly Announces Three New Openings in Program to Revitalize Downtown Corridors, Strengthen Economic Development

 

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced the Kansas Main Street program will be accepting applications for up to three new communities in the state interested in joining. The Main Street program – designed to develop and strengthen downtown corridors – has been a proven success for rural communities throughout the state.

“My administration re-implemented Main Street in 2019 because we are committed to providing Kansas communities with the tools and resources they need to prosper,” Governor Kelly said. “Through the program, businesses can access essential technical services, networking, and other training opportunities that will assist their efforts to recruit and retain businesses, and keep talented young professionals in the towns they grew up in. I encourage any community looking to revitalize their downtown to apply.”

During the first 27 years of this program, more than $600 million in redevelopment was invested in designated Kansas Main Street communities. During that same time, nearly 4,000 small businesses were started, creating more than 8,600 new jobs.

Communities wishing to submit applications will be required to first attend an application workshop, scheduled for 2 p.m., Thursday, December 10. This virtual workshop will explain the Main Street Approach, and the process for successfully completing the application. To register for this workshop, visit this link. Applications must be submitted no later than January 29, 2021, and new communities selected as part of a competitive process will be announced in mid-February.

The Kansas Main Street program, originally launched in 1985 has helped dozens of mostly rural communities work toward ensuring their downtowns remain viable. The program was ended by the Brownback administration in 2012 and brought back in late 2019 under the directive of Governor Kelly and Lieutenant Governor Lynn Rogers’ Office of Rural Prosperity. There currently are 25 designated Kansas Main Street communities in the program, with all participating in a competitive process to be selected for the program.

The Kansas Main Street program is a cornerstone of the Community Development Division at the Kansas Department of Commerce.

“The Main Street model works, period,” Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Now that Governor Kelly and the Office of Rural Prosperity have reinstated the Kansas Main Streets, our communities once again have the tools they need to breathe new life into their communities and historic commercial districts. This is a terrific opportunity for communities to change their trajectory by committing themselves to a focused effort to strengthen their downtowns.”

The Kansas Main Street program is affiliated with the National Main Street Center. Main Street is a self-help, technical assistance program that targets revitalization and preservation of downtown districts through the development of a comprehensive strategy based on four points: organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring. While there are no federal funds provided directly to Main Street communities, designated cities are eligible for training and technical assistance designed to help them become self-sufficient in downtown revitalization.

“The Main Street Approach has been around nationally since the 1980s and is a proven economic development tool, especially for small, rural communities,” said Scott Sewell, director of the Kansas Main Street program. “Opening up the program to more communities in Kansas is yet another positive step for the State of Kansas.”

For more information on the Kansas Main Street program, contact Scott Sewell, Director of Kansas Main Street, at (785) 296-7288 or [email protected].

Bourbon County Local News