The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at noon on Thursday, July 10 in the Cleaver-Burris-Boileau Hall to address the RNR rate for the 2025-26 budget, approve personnel items, and meet in executive session to discuss personnel matters.
Commissioners Discuss Animal Control in July 7 Meeting
Bourbon County Commission Agenda
Public Hearing Plaster Road Vacation
The commissioners approved resolution 2325 vacating Plaster Road. No one came to the meeting to speak in the public hearing.
Old Business
Dissolution of Zoning Advisory Board
The bylaws of the board state that the committee will be dissolved after their presentation to the board of commissioners. Commissioner David Beerbower moved to approve resolution 2425 to dissolve the board. The motion passed.
Employee Benefit Committee
The commission approved resolution 2525, establishing a committee to assist in making decisions regarding the insurance provided to county employees. The committee will be made up of several county employees and some elected officials, and will meet with the county’s insurance broker quarterly. This resolution repeals resolution 1925.
Resolution 2625, appointing a parliamentarian appointed to fulfill resolutions 0925, 1025, and 1125 for the orderly and effective conduct of county commissioner meetings was also approved.
Animal Control
Beerbower looked into property owned by the county that could be used for animal control purposed. The commission discussed using a portion of the county’s property on Native Road, the former dump, near Oakgrove Cemetery. This was in response to a county citizen in a previous meeting saying she would be willing to apply for grants and work to get animal control up and running in Bourbon County. That person was not at the July 7 meeting.
Some audience members expressed concern about the landfill use time restriction. The project is awaiting legal counsel regarding the feasibility of using the proposed land, and a group to come forward to take on the project.
“There is definitely a need in this county, county-wide,” said Beerbower, since the county has no animal control and the city has no room to partner with the county to house homeless animals.
Milburn suggested a county effort to spay and neuter, possibly partnering with someone else on the job, but an audience member pointed out that one problem with that is proof of ownership for those animals brought in to receive such services.
Beerbower suggested using the county’s grant research people to look for more money to meet the need for animal control in the county.
Stronghold
Commissioner Mika Milburn, said that the county has an internal contract with Stronghold to service computer needs. They cover Fort Scott as well, and will be on site Mondays and Fridays to work out any kinks. There will be a meeting at 4:30 Thursday with Stronghold, the City of Fort Scott, and Bourbon County.
Cameras
Beerbower proposed a security camera use policy that he wants to incorporate into the employee handbook.
The county currently doesn’t have a camera policy and, “I think we need one…we face liability if we don’t have some type of policy in place,” said Beerbower.
The item was tabled to the 21st for time to gather information.
Public Comments for Items Not on The Agenda
Pete Owenby asked the commissioners about the hospital. Greg Motley came to the table to address the commission and answer questions. Motley serves on the Freeman Fort Scott Board of Directors.
He said that the construction is “virtually done.” They were held up by modifications needed on the proprietary fire suppression system, but that has been completed. The next step is approval from state and federal inspectors.
“Freeman has done everything they can,” said Motley. He is impressed with what he’s seen of Freeman personnel.
Legacy still owns the building behind the ambulance building. It has fallen off the radar since the previous county attorney left his position, but was supposed to be deeded back to the county.
The new attorney, Bill Johnson, will look into it.
New Business
Policy & Procedures
Beerbower proposed a memorandum for a temporary policy regarding hiring and terminating employment. There is no policy on hiring in the handbook at present. The termination policy is in the handbook as a disciplinary action. There is also no job performance evaluation policy in the handbook at this time. Beerbower’s proposed memorandum would be an interim set of guidelines until the policy handbook is complete.
“I’m astounded that this wasn’t in place previously,” said Commissioner Samuel Tran.
Milburn suggested consulting the HR firm that the county uses. Beerbower agreed and moved to table the item until July 21.
Commission Comments
Milburn received some hate mail this week and addressed the senders in a written statement.
Tran agreed with Milburn, saying that the executive sessions may seem frustrating, but there are rules they must follow.
“The three of us are doing the best that we can,” he said. “There’s a lot of people within this county that are doing a really, really good job.”
He thanked the clerk, treasurer, and others involved for their work on the budget.
“We’ll keep pushing,” and doing more for the county he said.
Beerbower said he supports freedom of speech, and said that, “As Americans we should have common respect for each other.”
Regarding litigation with solar, it’s common knowledge and public information that they are reaching a settlement. Once that’s complete and signed, the public will have access to the information. “There has been no deal made,” as of this time, he said.
Learn How Recent Federal Bill Will Affect Families
Submitted by
Jessica Herrera Russell
Senior Communications Manager for Kansas Action For Children
Now that the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” has been passed and signed into law, advocacy groups like Kansas Action for Children are diving deeper into the provisions to understand exactly how everyday Kansans will be impacted. Join the KAC experts on Tuesday, July 15, at 11:30 a.m. (CT) to learn what the bill means for kids and families. After the briefing, KAC policy advisors will be available for questions.
REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/uTupmf1VQROKaVvHCR29kw
Featuring:
- Emily Barnes, Education Policy Advisor, KAC
- Heather Braum, Senior Policy Advisor, KAC
- Dustin Hare, Economic Security Policy Advisor, KAC
- Nathan Kessler, Fiscal Policy Manager, KAC
During the call, we’ll cover what happened with Medicaid, SNAP, taxes, education, and more, including:
- How SNAP is in danger of ending in Kansas – if state lawmakers don’t choose to pay the required cost share
- Changes to child care tax credits
- Implications for the health care system
- Kansas kids losing access to the federal child tax credit
Federal Funding Freeze Will Affect USD 234
All American schools, including local schools, will be impacted by the funding freeze that President Trump has directed the U.S. Department of Education to delay, pending a review.
Destry Brown, superintendent of USD 234, Fort Scott’s school district, wrote the following about how the funding freeze will affect his district.
“The federal funding freeze has affected two of our Title funds.
“The first is Title IIA. This money is used for professional development for our teachers and administrators. Title IIA provides $120,000 toward professional development. This accounts for 90% of our professional development budget. The impact of withholding that funding is that we will not be able to send staff for professional development. The State no longer provides funds to be specifically used for professional development any longer. As we prepare our budget for this school year, we do not expect to be able to fill this gap in funding.
“The other fund that is impacted is Title IV. This fund provides funding for innovative programs that enhance Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math programs in the district, to provide more hands-on, interactive learning activities for our students. Title IV provides $38,000 to the district for these activities. The loss in funding will impact our ability to provide some of these updates and enhancements. Any updates will be funded through our regular supply and equipment accounts for each building.
“Currently, the State (of Kansas government) has advised us to budget as if we will receive the funds and spend as if we will not. The State expects to hear more about this funding later this month. Our understanding is that the money is being held while the US Department of Education evaluates these two programs.”
To contact your elected representatives with your views on this matter, according to the Bourbon County, KS website:
US Senator
Roger Marshall – (R)
PO Box 1588
Great Bend, KS 67530
(202) 224-4774
Jerry Moran – (R)
PO Box 1372
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620-232-2286
Derek Schmidt (R)
1223 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6601
Let’s Flamingle Shopping Event Downtown & Around Fort Scott, This Weekend
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Return On Investment Study Released by KS Commerce Dept.
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FSCC Trustees Meet July 10 For A Special Meeting
The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at noon on Thursday, July 10 in the Cleaver-Burris-Boileau Hall to address the RNR rate for the 2025-26 budget and approve personnel items.
Submitted by
Juley McDaniel
Director of Human Resources
Fort Scott Community College
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports July 9
Obituary of Charles Paul Sellers
Charles Paul Sellers, 65, passed away at the VA home in Warrensburg, Missouri, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. He was born August 4, 1959, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the son of Garland Dell Sellers and Norma Jean (Quick) Sellers. He married Amy Seal July 29, 2016, in Miami, Oklahoma, and she survives of the home.
Charles graduated from Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1977. He was an Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts, and he served in the United States Navy, retiring as Chief Petty Officer on December 24, 1998. He attained Master Mason June 11, 1979. Charles was a Facility Manager for St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa. He was also a Teaching Pastor at New Freedom Church in Sioux City, as well as pastoring at Gospel Mission. He received two Master’s Degrees, Human Resources and Hospital Administration, from Briar Cliff University, where he was an Adjunct Professor.
In addition to his wife Amy, Charles is also survived by his mother, Norma; his children, Tawnya Elisabeth Riddell (Mike), of Grants Pass, Oregon, David Paul Sellers (Rachael), of Rathdrum, Idaho, Cassandra Lynn Covelli (PJ), of Tampa, Florida, and step children , Mia Perry, of Mission, Kansas, Kyle Perry (Katilyn), of Olathe, Kansas, Ryan Porter (Rhiannon), of Jacksonville, Texas; two brothers, Donald Sellers (Debbie), of Wellsville, Kansas, and James Sellers (Jackie), of Fort Scott, Kansas; and three grandchildren, Matthew, Rylee, and Dawson, and three step grandchildren, Keyleigh, Ava, and Wesley. He was preceded in death by his father, and his second wife, Cindy Syrcle, both respectfully in 2015.
Following cremation, Pastor Christopher Eshelman will officiate graveside services at 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 11, 2025, at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kansas, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. The family will receive friends prior to services on Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home, and leave for the cemetery at 10:45 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Veteran’s Community Project either online at https://www.veteranscommunityproject.org/kansascity or may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS, 66701. Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.
Chamber Coffee hosted by CarHelp Full-Service Repair Shop
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Nevada Blood Drive Is July 24
Tri-Valley Foundation Truck Raffle Winner Announced
25th Raffle Drawing Winner Announced
On Friday, June 20th, the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation drew a winning ticket for their 25th Annual Truck Raffle Drawing. This year’s winner was Joe Love from Colorado. Joe is pictured above standing next to his 2025 Ford F150 Platinum Edition Truck. The Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation thank everyone who entered in this year’s raffle drawing. One thousand six hundred eighty-three tickets were sold. All funds raised from the raffle drawing go towards providing quality and affordable housing for persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities in Allen, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties in SE Kansas. Raffle License: RAF000005.