Bourbon County Commission Minutes of June 2
May 26, 2020 Tuesday 9:00 am
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners, the County Counselor and the County Clerk present.
Shane Walker was also present for a portion of the meeting.
Jim Harris with Road & Bridge met with the Commissioners; he said his crew is mowing the grass near the blacktop roads, responding to calls and doing general maintenance, they are patching on 250th (south of the 4 way stop), they did ditching on Hackberry west of 215th, they put in culverts, they are crushing at the Thomas Quarry and they plan to do a blast at the Blake Quarry in approximately 2 weeks. Jim said they are dragging the roads, Jerad has been working with FEMA, the overlay equipment is ready for the season and they are wedging on the Landfill road. Jim said there is water standing on Indian Road near the Lake; they will try to open up some areas for drainage there. They are installing a crossing at the Landfill gate; Jim said they have the floor and the walls poured for the crossing, Jeff said where the wing walls were installed the transition at the ends might need a headwall.
Lynne reported that the bridge on Osage between 75th & 85th was plugged up. He also reported a request for gravel at 115th & Range Road going east for approximately ¾ mile. He also reported a drainage issue (he said culverts may need to be installed) at 167th Terrace and Prairie Road. Lynne reported patching needs done on 125th north of Tomahawk Road.
Nick reported a soft spot in the road on 240th between Poplar and Range Road.
Jeff reported that east of Birch on 145th is impassible for a passenger car due to a drainage issue there, he also reported a drainage issue on Birch going north on 145th.
Lynne made a motion that he sign a release from liability for a beaver issue at 235th & Range Road, Nick seconded and all approved, Lynne signed the document and gave it to Jim Harris for the landowner at that address.
Lynne said he had been on the radio today discussing public works, he said the priority roads right now were Indian and the Landfill Road.
The Commissioners discussed reopening the Courthouse (the Courthouse has been closed to the public since March 17th due to COVID-19; the north side of the Courthouse will be open by appointment only, there will be a buzzer installed at the front northeast door for visitors with an appointment on the north end of the building (the south side of the Courthouse will still be closed to the public, visitors for the south side will need to work with those offices to conduct business). The Treasurer’s office will be conducting business with customers in a glass office; the Clerk’s office will conduct business through a window in the Clerk’s office. There will be 6’ distance markers installed on the floor. Justin Meeks said District Court isn’t planning on doing live court for a while, he said only one person will be allowed on the elevator at a time. Lynne said the department heads will be issued non-contact thermometers (Lynne said they could be used on employees and if an employee had a temperature they should be sent home and the individual should contact the health department and follow the health department’s recommendations). Nick made a motion to re-open the Courthouse on June 1st (by appointment only), Jeff seconded and all approved.
Weather permitting the Commission meeting on June 2nd will be held on the front east steps.
At 9:23, Jeff made a motion to adjourn, Nick seconded and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman
(ss) Jeff Fischer, Commissioner
(ss) Nick Ruhl, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk
June 2, 2020, Approved Date
USD 234 BOE Minutes of June 8
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met virtually on Monday, June 8, for their regular monthly meeting.
President David Stewart opened the meeting. The board approved the official agenda. The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:
A. Minutes
B. Bills and Claims
C. Payroll – May 20, 2020 – $1,402,646.19
D. Financial Report
E. Activity Fund Accounts
F. Gift Lists
G. 2020-21 Fundraisers
H. 2020-21 Extended Trips
I. 2020-21 Site Council Members
Administrators from each building gave individual school reports in addition to Site Council reports.
Superintendent Ted Hessong reported on the Return-to-School Committee, a book study on Breaking with Tradition, July 10 guidance from KSDE, Extended School Year (ESY), KSHSAA summer conditioning, installation of bleachers, and plans for high school graduation on August 1.
Gina Shelton, Business Manager, discussed property tax receipts, CARES money, remote work, and food service.
Board members reviewed the last day enrollment count. In addition, the board approved the following items:
· Roof payment
· Property/Casualty/Boiler Insurance for the 2020-21 school year
· Pre-Funding Early Retirement from the 2019-20 budget
· Purchase of an activity bus
· Summer Camps
Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting. The board then went into executive session to discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations and returned to open meeting.
The board approved the following employment matters:
A. Retirement of Billie Young, high school kitchen manager, effective June 20, 2020
B. Resignation of Sandra Beth, middle school paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year
C. Transfer of Cheryl Marsh, interim high school kitchen manager, to the position of high school kitchen manager for the 2020-21 school year
D. Transfer of Brenda Hathaway, interim high school 6.5-hour ticket clerk, to the position of high school 6.5-hour ticket clerk for the 2020-21 school year
E. Transfer of Ginger Hueston, Winfield Scott 6.5-hour cook, to high school 6.5 hour cook for the 2020-21 school year
F. Employment of central office classified staff for the 2020-21 school year
G. Employment of a technology classified employee for the 2020-21 school year
H. Employment of food service classified employees for the 2020-21 school year
I. Employment of transportation classified employees for the 2020-21 school year
J. Employment of maintenance/custodial classified employees for the 2020-21 school year
K. Employment of high school classified employees for the 2020-21 school year
L. Employment of middle school classified employees for the 2020-21 school year
M. Employment of Eugene Ware classified employees for the 2020-21 school year
N. Employment of Winfield Scott classified employees for the 2020-21 school year
O. Employment of Fort Scott Preschool Center classified employees for the 2020-21 school year
P. Resignation of Stuart Troutman as high school freshman boys’ assistant basketball coach, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year
Q. Resignation of Sara Jackman as a high school assistant girls’ softball coach, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year
R. Resignation of Jeff Armstrong as high school boys’ head track coach, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year
S. Employment of high school supplemental employees for the 2020-21 school year
T. Employment of middle school supplemental employees for the 2020-21 school year
U. Employment of Eugene Ware supplemental employees for the 2020-21 school year
V. Employment of Winfield Scott supplemental employees for the 2020-21 school year
The board adjourned.
USD 235 Provides Meal Program in Summer 2020
The Uniontown School District is providing a meal program to its’ districts’ children through June 25.
The first day for meals was June 2.
In addition, summer school children receive activity packets.
“We usually have kids in the building for summer school,” Tara Gorman, third-grade teacher at West Bourbon Elementary School, said. “We couldn’t because of the pandemic. This is our alternative plan, if they signed up for activity packets.”
“This week is a book, they get a book once a week, a craft kit and a couple of games to work on with siblings,” Gorman said. “This week they will be building paper airplanes and testing paper airplanes.”
Breakfast and lunch are available to children ages 1-18 in this program, with no eligibility or paperwork required to receive the food.
Multiple days breakfast and lunch will be provided to each child on Tuesday and Thursday of each week through June 25.
USD 235 Food Service Director Michelle DeMott said food is prepared on Mondays and Wednesdays and delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Parents are asked to call DeMott at 620-238-4968 to sign up.
DeMott will ask for some information of either a pickup point or a rural address for delivery.
Deliveries will be between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Pickup points are the West Bourbon Elementary School on at the front of the building, Marmaton Community Church in Redfield, the city park in Mapleton, in front of the Bronson Meat Locker in Bronson.
Pickup points open from 11 to 11:20 a.m.
Southeast Kansas Library System Newsletter June 2020
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The SEKnFind Newsletter
June 2020
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Kansas COVID 19 Recovery: SPARK Meets
SPARK Taskforce Executive & Steering Committees Hold Joint Meeting on CARES Act Funding Distribution
Today, Governor Laura Kelly’s Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce held the first joint meeting between Executive and Steering Committees to create the framework for the distribution of up to $525 million for Kansans, businesses, and communities to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19.
“Kansans have been through so much these past few months,” Governor Kelly said. “I’m proud of my administration’s efforts to work with our local and federal partners to ensure Kansas families and businesses get the resources they need to recover from the economic damage of COVID-19. We will swiftly disperse these funds, so Kansans can get back to work and to support community preparedness in the event cases begin to rise again.”
This will be the 2nd distribution proposal for the $1,034,052,049 of federal funds Kansas received under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Last week, the Executive Committee approved a proposal to distribute an initial round of $400 million in funding to local governments to help address the health and economic challenges inflicted by COVID-19.
“We need to leverage these dollars to benefit Kansans now and, in the future,” Cheryl Harrison-Lee, SPARK executive director, said. “To do that, we need to seek the best ideas from both the public and private sectors for how to make investments that will improve health and economic outcomes across our state. As a former city administrator, I’ve seen first-hand how partnerships with the public and private sectors can deliver projects expediently and generate lasting economic growth.”
The CARES Act requires these funds to be spent by December 30, 2020, which will require entities to work quickly to be eligible for funding.
Committee members spent the bulk of the meeting developing potential investment criteria focused around four sectors: health, infrastructure, education and economic development.
“I appreciate the thoughtfulness and ingenuity our committee members brought to our discussions about investment priorities,” Lyle Butler, SPARK executive committee chair, said. “I’m confident we’ll be able to tap into the entrepreneurial spirit of Kansans to make strategic investments that not only accelerate our economic recovery but also generate new opportunities for growth.”
The Fort Scott Police Department Daily Reports June 7- 8
Click below:
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports June 9
Governor Kelly signs bipartisan COVID-19 response bill
Governor Laura Kelly on June 8 signed the bipartisan COVID-19 response bill, House Bill 2016 into law.
“From day one, my administration has worked keeping Kansans healthy, and protecting the economic future of Kansas’ businesses and communities,” Governor Kelly said. “That means reaching across the aisle to get things done. This bill contains essential provisions that will allow us to continue to deliver critical health and economic services to communities and businesses throughout the state during this pandemic.”
The bill addresses the ongoing COVID-19 emergency and its effects, both economic and health-related. It provides the Legislature with the ability to more effectively engage in oversight while the Legislature is not in session while Governor Kelly retains the emergency authority to act as needed during the pandemic.
Though there are a number of COVID-19 response measures contained in the bill, the key provision extends the current emergency declaration through September 15, 2020, providing stability and certainty for the state’s ongoing emergency response efforts. Beyond September 15, the State Finance Council may extend the declaration by a vote of 6 legislative members.
The bill also contains the provisions of a number of executive orders that the Governor has issued during the pandemic, including allowing for expanded telemedicine, temporary licensure of out-of-state medical providers, electronic notarization of documents and certain liquor sales.
While the bill does provide some liability protection for medical providers and businesses, these elements are written very narrowly to apply to certain aspects of the COVID-19 response, and for most businesses the liability protection only applies when the business acts within the scope of public health requirements.
House Bill 2016 becomes effective upon publication in an emergency edition the Kansas Register to be published tomorrow.
Phase 3 of Reopen Plan Started Today, June 8
Governor Laura Kelly Recommends Communities Move into Phase 3 of “Ad Astra” Plan
TOPEKA, Kan. — Governor Laura Kelly announced that her administration, as well as officials with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, recommend that most local communities consider moving into Phase 3 of “Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas,” Monday, June 8, as scheduled.
“I know that many Kansans are anxious to return to many of the summer activities they love, and I’m pleased that we continue to make progress that will allow them to do so safely,” Governor Kelly said.
“Because of Kansans’ hard work – and after careful consideration, Secretary Norman’s team at KDHE have found that COVID-19 disease spread and hospitalizations across Kansas have generally continued to trend downward – and testing capacity has increased,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Therefore, we feel comfortable recommending that most local communities consider moving into phase three.”
The new emergency disaster declaration issued by the Governor on May 26 transfers reopening decisions back to local officials, which means counties moving into Phase 3 of the plan is only a recommendation. However, the State continues to monitor health metrics daily, and remains committed to supporting local communities in a safe, gradual transition.
“Our recommendation to move into Phase 3 does not mean the threat of COVID-19 is over,” Governor Kelly said. “Please remember: this virus remains highly transmissible, it has a long incubation period, and cases are frequently asymptomatic. Please continue using proper safety precautions.”
Key Phase 3 highlights for communities:
- Mass gatherings of more than 45 individuals are not recommended;
- All education, activities, venues and establishments may operate and are recommended to follow all public health guidelines;
- On-site staffing has no recommended restrictions;
- Nonessential travel may resume, provided travelers follow KDHE travel and quarantine guidelines for travel to high-risk areas.
As always, Kansans should continue to adhere to hygiene and social distancing protocols, including:
- Washing hands frequently, while avoiding contact with one’s face;
- Remaining home when sick or running a fever;
- Following isolation and quarantine orders issued by state or local health officers;
- Wearing a cloth face mask when in public;
“Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas,” is available in full at covid.ks.gov, in addition to industry-specific guidance for Kansas businesses.
Bourbon County Commission Agenda for June 9
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: June 9, 2020
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE FRONT STEPS OF THE COURTHOUSE WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING IN PLACE
9:00 – 9:15 Jim Harris
9:15 – 9:30 Commissioners to Review Annual Summaries
9:30 – 9:45 Commissioners to Review Fireworks Sales Permits
9:45 – 10:15 Jody Hoener, Review CDBG-CV Application Scoring
10:15 – 10:30 Jody Hoener, Executive Session, Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships
CHC/SEK Update by CEO Krista Postai
The worldwide COVID 19 Pandemic has affected society in the last three months for all segments, especially health care.
“COVID certainly dominated our activities and thinking, for two solid months,and we’re just now getting back to thinking ahead,” CHS/SEK President and CEO Krista Postai said.
“We did commit to remaining in the (former Mercy) hospital once the county assumes responsibility,” she said. “We are planning some minor remodeling including enlarging the pharmacy and moving all of our diagnostics (including mammography) into the clinic space freeing up the former diagnostic space for Ascension/Via Christi.”
“We are starting to see more people in the clinic now as the state is ‘opening up’,” Postai said. “At one point about one-third of our visits were through televideo or on the telephone but we definitely find that folks in Ft. Scott prefer face-to-face visits. We’re not quite back to normal activity level but getting there.”
“In addition to testing for COVID, we are now offering the antibody testing with a doctor’s order,” Postai said. “This is used to see if you had the virus and have since developed antibodies that could help protect you for getting it again. Although the science is still out on that, as some people seem to be susceptible to having it a second time. So far everyone we have tested thus far have been negative.”
“We have added staff including mental health,” she said.
CHC/SEK welcomed Tien Nguyen, a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner to it’s Behavioral Health Services team, according to a press release.
Psychiatric NPs assess and diagnose patients, provide psychotherapy and prescribe medication.
In addition, six nurse practitioners were added to the team.
“CHC/SEK welcomed its first class of nurse practitioner residents, thanks to a partnership between the Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing at Pittsburg State University and the health center. The new residency program is the first such program in Southeast Kansas,” according to the CHC/SEK Facebook page.
“With guidance from their professional preceptors, six nurse practitioners — Lorraine Lorentz, Kelly McGuire, Kelly Mishmash, Brice Saunders, Maranda Scott, and Mayra Watson — will care for patients in Coffeyville, Fort Scott, Pittsburg, and Miami, Oklahoma clinics.”