Fort Scott, Government

City Seeking Citizens For Boards

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The City of Fort Scott is seeking citizens for boards.

Please see below the above openings for City of Fort Scott Boards:

  • Five openings (Four City residents – One County resident) on the Fort Scott Planning Commission.

  • Three openings (Three City residents) on the Design Review Board

  • Two openings on the Airport Advisory Board.

  • One opening (One County resident) on the Golf Course Advisory Board

Planning Commission

The function of the Planning Commission is to review and adopt (as well as update) the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Fort Scott, to establish zoning districts and allowable uses, to review zoning regulations within the City and to review requests for special permits or conditional uses within certain zoning districts in the City. Also reviews site plans for planned areas and is responsible for zoning within the 3 mile limit of the City of Fort Scott. Their recommendations are given to the City Commission for final approval. They meet on an “as needed” basis.

Design Review Board

The function of the Design Review Board is to review requests for Certificate of Appropriateness in the historic district of our downtown. They meet on an “as needed” basis.

Airport Advisory Board

The function of the Airport Advisory Board is to advise the City Manager and City Commissioners on matters pertaining to the continued growth and improvement of the airport. Their recommendations are given to the City Commission for final approval.

Golf Course Advisory Board

The function of the Golf Course Advisory Board is to advise the City Commission in all matters referred to them regarding the Woodland Hills Golf Course. They will also independently evaluate all aspects of the operation of the Golf Course and make recommendations to the City Commission and City Manager. They meet on an “as needed” basis.

If you have a desire to serve on any of these Boards and meet the above requirements, please submit a letter of interest to the City Clerk, Diane Clay, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. She will then submit your letter of interest for consideration by the City Commission.

All of the boards and commissions serve on a volunteer basis and are not compensated.

If you would like more information on any of these boards, please contact Diane Clay, City Clerk at 620-223-0550 or [email protected]. Please submit your letter of interest by December 13th, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.

Bourbon County, Fort Scott

December Events at Fort Scott Public Library

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Submitted by Valetta Cannon, Fort Scott Public Library, Youth Librarian & Assistant Director
December Events at the Fort Scott Public Library
Tuesday, December 3

Royalty Storytime, 10 a.m. at Fort Scott Public Library

Wednesday, December 4
Royalty Storytime, 10 a.m. at Fort Scott Public Library

Wednesday, December 4
Adult Coloring, 2 – 4 p.m. at Fort Scott Public Library

Wednesday, December 4
FIGHTERS Teen & Tween GroupCommunity Service, 4:15 p.m. at Fort Scott Public Library

 
Monday, December 9
Maker Monday: Winter Crafts, 4 – 5 p.m. at Fort Scott Public Library

Tuesday, December 10
Dragons & Fantasy Creatures Storytime, 10 a.m. at Fort Scott Public Library

 
Wednesday, December 11
Dragons & Fantasy Creatures Storytime, 10 a.m. at Fort Scott Public Library 
 
Wednesday, December 11
Adult Coloring, 2 – 4 p.m. at Fort Scott Public Library

Wednesday, December 11
FIGHTERS Teen & Tween Holiday Craft Night, 4:15 at Fort Scott Public Library


Monday, December 16

5th Annual Holiday Family Party, 4 – 5:30 p.m. at Fort Scott Public Library
 
Tuesday, December 17
Holidays Storytime, 10 a.m. at Fort Scott Public Library
 
Wednesday, December 18
Holidays Storytime, 10 a.m. at Fort Scott Public Library 
 
Wednesday, December 18
Adult Coloring, 2 – 4 p.m. at Fort Scott Public Library
 
Wednesday, December 18
FIGHTERS Teen & Tween Holiday Games Party, 4 – 6 p.m. at Fort Scott Public Library
 
December 23 – January 1 – No Library Programs due to Holidays.
Area News

Evergy Participates in Utility Scam Awareness Week 

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Nov. 19, 2019 – Evergy is standing with more than 100 utility companies throughout North America this week in support of the fourth annual Utility Scam Awareness Week. Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS) promotes this week each year to educate consumers and small business owners about the tactics scammers use to attack consumers.

 

“Evergy is uniting in this effort to ensure our customers know the signs of a scam and avoid being duped by con artists,” said Jeff Beasley, Evergy vice president, customer operations. “We want to help keep people from falling prey to any malicious fraud schemes regarding utilities.”

 

Evergy offers these safety tips for customers:

  • Verify the person you’re engaging is with Evergy by asking to see company identification or by calling the Customer Contact Center before giving credit card, debit card, Social Security, ATM, checking or savings account numbers to anyone who comes to your home, calls, text and/or sends an email requesting this information about your utility bill. If you can’t verify that you’re speaking with an Evergy employee, do not give them this information.
  • Be suspicious if you receive an email about your utility bill if you have not requested online communications from Evergy.
  • For customers using Evergy’s online bill pay system, always make online payments directly through evergy.com.
  • Never provide personal information via email or click any suspicious links.

Signs of a potential scam include:

  • Threat to disconnect: Scammers may aggressively tell the customer his or her utility bill is past due and service will be disconnected – usually within an hour – if a payment is not made.
  • Request for immediate payment: Scammers may instruct the customer to buy a prepaid card – widely available at retail stores – then call them back supposedly to make a bill payment.
  • Request for prepaid card: When the customer calls back, the caller asks the customer for the prepaid card’s number, which grants the scammer instant access to the card’s funds, and the victim’s money is gone.

The phone scammer is often a live person posing as an Evergy employee who notifies the customer of a past due bill and demands immediate payment to avoid service disconnection. Scammers also can manipulate the caller ID to look like the company phone number. In some instances, the caller requests that the customer purchase a money gram to pay their bill.

 

If the customer is unable to make an immediate payment or does not answer, the caller gives out a return phone number unassociated with Evergy or the utility for customers to call back. When calling, customers are often prompted by a convincing, but fraudulent recording with instructions to make to make their payment with a live person. This phone number is not associated with Evergy.

 

Due to valued customer reports, Evergy has worked in conjunction with UUAS to quickly shutdown many of these fraudulent numbers and derail scams. In such cases, it is extremely valuable for the reporting customer to obtain and provide the scammer’s requested callback number.

 

UUAS is dedicated to combating utility scams by providing a forum for utilities and trade associations to share data and best practices, in addition to working together to implement initiatives to inform and protect customers.

 

If you have questions about the legitimacy of a bill, phone call or email regarding a utility bill, do not provide your personal or banking information to anyone. Contact the Evergy Customer Contact Center at the number located on your bill or at evergy.com.

 

If you feel you have been a victim of a scam, please work with your local law enforcement agency to report the crime. For more information, visit Evergy Utility Scams. Evergy will share more tips about protecting yourself against scammers on our social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter) as well this week.

Fort Scott, Government

Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board Formed

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A board has been formed to help the local government entities keep informed of safety and other issues at Lake Fort Scott.
The chairman of the board will be determined at the first meeting, according to Robert Uhler, Fort Scott Community Development Director.
“The chairman will be determined at the first meeting. I am sending out a Doodle Poll this week to plan for the first meeting.”
“We thought it would be a good idea to start an advisory to help guide the city in all things happening at the lake,” he said. “Just like we have the design review board for the downtown historic district and the airport advisory board for the airport.”
Robert Uhler

The Fort Scott Lake Advisory Board had its organizing meeting at the Sleep Inn Hotel Meeting Room on Oct. 17, 2019.

Fort Scott City Manager David Martin called the meeting to order and explained that he is getting the group started, but would have Uhler facilitate the lake advisory board meetings, according to a press release from the city.

 Uhler then had the attendees introduce themselves and give a brief explanation of their interest in serving on the advisory board, according to the press release.

He explained the system of voting for the candidates for the board.

After a brief discussion, the attendees then voted to complete the board as per city ordinances.

After counting the votes, the following names were submitted to the Fort Scott City Commission on Nov. 5 for approval to serve on the board:

The east side lake representatives are Nancy Van Etten and Shane Wood; west side representative’s are Tom Brink and Dean Striler.

The at-large representative is Nancy Maze.

Other representatives are Jolynne Mitchell, Fort Scott City Commissioner; Jeff Fisher, Bourbon County Commissioner; Don Banwart and Marcy Myer, both city/county residents.

Others who attended the meeting:  Becky Howard, Richard Clark, Valerie Graham, Tom Graham, Harold Martin, Jon Eden, Bob Talbot,  Debbie Talbot, Dana Davis, Kerry Van Etten, Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin, Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Major Bobbie Reed and Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Director Lindsay Madison.

 

Lake Fort Scott is located on Indian Road, southwest of Fort Scott.
Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Succession planning important in rural communities

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Carla Nemecek is Southwind District Director and agent.

 

Submitted by Carla Nemecek, Southwind Extension District Director

Kansas rural business owners, farm and ranch families continuously look at best options for feasibility and profitability– they attend educational meetings, try out new practices, assess any risks involved and talk with their neighbor or consultant. They make numerous decisions from day to day that will affect the operation both now and in the future. The holiday season is a good time to initiate those conversations with family and close friends.

Future sustainability of our local communities also depends on whether the family owned business has planned for succession. The average age of U.S. producers continues to rise and families will need to explore options for the transitional feasibility of current and future operators. Succession planning is a step-by-step process where families work together to develop a plan to incorporate the next owner and pass on knowledge and resources that will sustain the operation.

It can be challenging and difficult to begin developing a succession plan and find guidance moving forward. This is where a succession planning facilitator plays a key role.

The facilitator can help the family identify strengths, barriers and opportunities as they pass the farm business on to the next generation. They guide family members to resources and individuals who can help them find the information they need to develop an effective succession plan with help from facilitators and mediators from Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services, a program administered by K-State Research and Extension.

A facilitated meeting is described as guiding participants through shared discussions about important issues. Facilitators help families set an agenda and guide the process for planning their succession. The facilitator works to enable all voices to be heard within a respectful environment. While the facilitator remains neutral with the content of the discussion, they help everyone keep track of the substantive issues and options raised by the family as they chart their path forward.

Trained facilitators have experience working with Kansas farm and ranch families. They offer guidance and support as families cultivate options for creating a succession plan. Facilitation services can be requested by calling Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services at 800-321-3276.

Families may also visit the succession planning website and navigate through a variety of resources, such as “Transition Planning: 12 Steps to Keep the Family Farming” and more topic-focused areas such as estate planning or “FamilyTALK.” The website is available at Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services.

Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services is administered by K-State Research and Extension. The program supports Kansas producers in resolving a variety of agricultural-related concerns and maintains confidentiality during the process. Information and guidance on any ag-related issue will be provided at no cost through our toll-free hotline, 1-800-321-3276 FREE or visit our website at Kansas Agricultural Mediation Services.


Carla Nemecek
Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent
[email protected]
620-365-2242
1 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749

…
Obituary

Obituary of Rodger Quick

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Rodger Morris Quick

Rodger Morris Quick, age 72, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, passed away Sunday evening, November 17, 2019, at his home after a long battle with heart disease.

He was born October 11, 1947, in Ft. Scott, the son of Morris David and Ethel Delma (VanDyke) Quick. Rodger attended Redfield grade school and graduated from Uniontown high school with the class of 1965.

He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966-1970, stationed at Whiteman Airforce base and in the Aleutian Islands.

He enjoyed all sports; playing baseball, football, and basketball in high school and American Legion baseball during summers. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping. He loved attending grandsons’ and nephews’ activities.

One of his greatest pleasures was his family. He spent many summers coaching Redfield boy’s baseball teams. He was the number one fan of his daughters’ softball and volleyball careers.

On June 22, 1968, he married Susan Campbell at Bethel Community Church. He retired from Fort Scott National Historic Site in 2009. He was a member of the Redfield Methodist Church.

Rodger is survived by his wife, Susan of the home; 2 daughters, Becky Warfield and husband Sean, and Jodi Murrow and husband Nick; 2 grandsons, Gavin Warfield and Cooper Murrow, all of Ft. Scott; mother-in-law, Clara “Babe” Campbell; sister, Sharon Jubert; sister-in-law, Bonnie Quick; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John and Cindy Bowman; niece, Debbie Palamaris; nephews, Mike, Mitch and Matt Quick, and Dru, Cole and Alex Bowman; and several great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Ethel Quick; a brother, Tom Quick; and father-in-law, Gerald Campbell.

Memorial services will be held at 11:30 AM Friday, November 22nd, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.

Military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 V.F.W.

The family will receive friends from 10:30 AM Friday until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Fort Scott, Government

Fort Scott City Commission Updated Agenda for November 19

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AGENDA

FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION

FORT SCOTT CITY HALL

COMMISSION ROOM

123 SOUTH MAIN

NOVEMBER 19, 2019

6:00 P.M.

I. ROLL CALL:

ADAMSON BARTELSMEYER MITCHELL NICHOLS PARKER

II. FLAG SALUTE

III. INVOCATION: Pastor Allen Schellack, Compassionate Ministries

IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS:

V. CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of November 5th, 2019.

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1250-A totaling $295,043.24.

  1. Christmas Parade Permit Form- December 3rd, 2019.

  1. Certificate of Appropriateness – 3 W. Oak Signage

Patio Seating with gates

Addition of Outbuilding

  1. Certificate of Appropriateness – 5 East Wall Street – Sign

  1. Certificate of Appropriateness – 24 N. National – Addition to building

  1. Resolution No. 25-2019 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to alleged unsafe and dangerous structure located at 510 S Heylman Street – Public Hearing Date – 1/7/2020 at 6:15 p.m.

  1. Resolution No. 27-2019 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to alleged unsafe and dangerous structure located at 501 S. Osbun Street – Public Hearing Date – 1/7/2020 at 6:15 p.m.

VII. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

  1. APPEARANCE: Seth Needham

B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute limit per citizen)

C. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS:

6:00 p.m. Lake Sewer District Sewer Increase Public Hearing

VIII. CONSIDERATION:

  1. Consideration of Resolution No. 26-2019 authorizing for sale of General Obligation Temporary Notes, Series 2019-1, of the City of Fort Scott, Kansas – River Intake Project

  1. Approval of financials

IX. COMMENTS:

  1. Director Updates: Allyson Turvey

Robert Uhler

  1. Commission:
  1. City Manager:

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

I MOVE THAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE

SESSION FOR ________________________________ IN ORDER TO

(see below justification)

DISCUSS ______________________________________. THE

EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE ___________ MINUTES AND THE OPEN

MEETING TO RESUME AT ________________.

Justifications for Executive Sessions:

  • Personnel matters of non-elected personnel

  • Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

  • Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative or representatives of the body or agency

  • Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

  • Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

X. MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT: ROLL CALL

Obituary

Obituary of Austin Colwell Holeman

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Austin Colwell Holeman passed away Friday, November 15, 2019, at Freeman Hospital, Joplin, MO.   Colwell was 92.

He had suffered numerous health issues in his last months and it was time for God to call him home.  Colwell was born in a farmhouse northwest of Bronson, KS and was a life-long farmer and stockman in the Bronson area.  The only time Colwell was away from the Bronson area was a tour of duty serving his country in the Korean conflict, where he served in the US Army as a corpsman and x-ray technician in a MASH unit.

Colwell loved the outdoors, and spent much of his time hunting, trapping, tending the livestock and operating one of his Allis Chalmers tractors.  He loved working harvest and assisted many friends and neighbors with haying, silage chopping and grain harvest.

After retiring from full time farming, he and Hope would travel to the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas in the cold winter months to spend time with friends and family in the more agreeable climate.

Colwell was a life-time member of the American Legion and a lifelong member of the Bronson United Methodist Church.

Colwell leaves behind his wife of 69 years, Hope Elaine (Burtch) Holeman and two sons; Robert Austin Holeman of Parsons, KS and William Burtch Holeman and wife Lora of Bronson, KS.

He also leaves behind seven grandchildren; Justin Daniel Holeman and wife Jamie, William Austin Holeman, Jessica Nicole (Holeman) Laforge and husband Jordan, Joshua Chance Holeman, Joel Austin Holeman, Andrew Olin Scott Holeman, Adrienne Hope Holeman and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, November 23rd at the Bronson United Methodist Church.

Friends and relatives are invited to come share their remembrances of Colwell’s life.

Burial will follow in Bronson Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the American Legion Post #385 of Moran.

Arrangement are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel of Ft. Scott, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to the American Legion Post #385 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.

Bourbon County, Government

Bourbon County Commission Agenda for Nov. 19

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

1st Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: November 19, 2019

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

9:00-9:45 – Jim Harris

9:45-10:00 – Patty Love – Executive Session – Non-elected

10:00-10:30 – Jody Hoener – Property Tax & NRP

10:30-11:00 – David Neville – Elevator Repair

11:00-11:15 – Justin Meeks – Executive Session

Bourbon County, Business, Jobs

Free Luncheon For Local Entrepreneurs Nov. 19

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Calling all local entrepreneurs &
aspiring entrepreneurs!
You are invited to a
FREE LUNCHEON
in celebration of
Global Entrepreneurship Week!
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
12 to 1pm
Empress Event Center
Downtown Fort Scott, 7 N. Main St.
(parking in both front & back)
Click here to RSVP for lunch.
Agenda will feature:
Erin Vann & Trisha Newton
Local entrepreneurs
with remarks on experience
with e-commerce business Highway3
In addition to:
Several FSHS Students
in the Business/Entrepreneurship Class
sharing their YEC Projects they are working on in preparation for a March contest hosted by the
Bourbon County E-Community.
With time for networking and questions.
We hope you will join us!
For more info. on GEW, click here.
For info. on YEC, click here.
Event hosted by:
Bourbon County E-Community
A program of the
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
In partnership with Network Kansas

Bourbon County Local News