Entertainment, Fort Scott

Holiday Fun: Burke Street Independence Day Parade

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In this 2011 photo, Margaret Humphrey is at the left with grandson, Elliott Norman; daughter, Kristen Humphrey Norman; husband, Merle, and grand-daughter, Violet. In front are grandchildren Leo and Meg Norman.

The 36th Annual Burke Street Parade is July 4th on the city’s west side, near Gunn Park.

The event is pretty disorganized, said Margaret Doherty Humphrey, but lots of fun. The Humphreys live at 1024 S. Burke.

The parade starts with patriotic singing led by Phil Hammonds, Jill Gorman, and Susan Foster.

“We started the singing after 9-11 (the terrorist bombings in New York), Humphrey said.

People wear patriotic attire, kids decorate their bikes, scooters or buggies and line up at 10th and Burke streets at 10 a.m.

There is no parking on Burke Street between 10th and 12th streets during the time of the event.

The public is invited to sit or stand on the curbs lining the street during the parade.

And people are invited to don a patriotic outfit and join in the fun.

“Frank Halsey will line them up at 10th and Burke,” Humphrey said.

Frank and his wife, Deb are hosting the cookie social following the short parade at 1222 Burke Street. People may donate cookies for the social the day before the parade, to the Halseys home.

“Every year someone (on Burke Street) hosts the cookies and drinks,” Humphrey said.

“Please no big vehicles and watch for children who are all over the place,” Humphrey said. “It’s very disorganized, they go up and down and back and forth.”

For more information call Margaret Humphrey 223-0388 or Theresa Bahr 223-1582.

“Or Barbara Albright, the official distributor of information,” Humphrey said.

“Severe storms or lightning cancels the parade…but we conquered the rain last year,” Humphrey said.

Fort Scott, Government, Submitted

Fort Scott City Commission Minutes June 5

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CITY OF FORT SCOTT

CITY COMMISSION MEETING

Minutes of June 5, 2018, Regular Meeting #11

The regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held June 5th, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Room, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas.

ROLL CALL:

Commissioners Adamson, Bartelsmeyer, Nichols, and Parker were present with Mayor Mitchell presiding.

INVOCATION: Pastor Norman Tillotson, First Baptist Church, said a prayer asking God for guidance for the City and all government and City officials.

AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Janet Braun, Denton Wescoat, Rachel Pruitt, Dicie Nicklaus, William W. Polk, Bill Peterson, CLP-Peterson, Dan Doherty, Janice Allen, Abby Humble, Sarah Steele, Michael Mix, Pat Lyons, Joel Riggs, Steve James, Mark Gilmore, Karina Kantilal, Rhonda Dunn, Travis Shelton, Norman Tillotson, Paul Ballou, Clayton Miller, and Jason Silvers, representing the Fort Scott Tribune.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS: None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND APPROPRIATIONS/CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of May 15th, 2018.

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1216-A totaling $653,024.45.

  1. Resolution No. 28-2018 – Notice of Hearing With Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure and Accessory Structure located at 608 S. Broadway – Public Hearing Date – 7/17/2018 at 6:15 p.m.

  1. Resolution No. 29-2018 – Notice of Hearing with Reference to Alleged Unsafe and Dangerous Structure located at 1914 E. Wall Street – Public Hearing Date – 7/17/2018 at 6:15 p.m.

  1. Certificate of Appropriateness – Sign at 23 S. Main

Bartelsmeyer moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED CONSENT AGENDA.

APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

  1. APPEARANCE:

Pickleball Court – Michael Mix, Public Utilities Director, shared photos of the pickleball court located at 9th and Burke with the City Commission. New lighting has recently been installed and the courts are being used a lot. He introduced Janice Allen and Mark Gilmore, both of who are active pickleball court players.

Mark Gilmore thanked the City of Fort Scott for their commitment in developing this pickleball court. They had a tournament a couple of weeks ago which brought out a lot of people. He has played over 50 people already.

Janice Allen said that she loves the courts and loves to play. She knows of people from Nevada and Joplin that come to Fort Scott to play. She plays every morning and evening. She also thanked the City for the nice courts to play on.

Dave Bruner – Red Cross Smoke Detector Update and Presentation of Check to Dicie Nicklaus, Disaster Program Manager for American Red Cross – Dave Bruner, Deputy Fire Marshal, informed the Commission that the Fire Department partnered up with American Red Cross about a month ago to install fire alarms in people’s homes for the Sound the Alarm Campaign. On May 6th, 2018, there were 314 alarms installed in 130 homes on that day. He thanked Dicie Nicklaus with the American Red Cross for their assistance with this program. He presented a check for $500.00 to Dicie for the Sound the Alarm Campaign. He thanked all the team of volunteers from the City, Buck Run and various businesses and organizations who assisted where needed.

Dicie Nicklaus, American Red Cross, thanked the Fort Scott Fire Department and the City of Fort Scott for the fantastic numbers from Fort Scott. She thanked the City for the donation to American Red Cross also. She announced that this campaign will continue in Fort Scott and expand to businesses and groups.

Fort Scott High School – Amber Toth’s class – Ms. Toth’s class consisting of Abby Humble and Karina Kantilal presented their Fort Scott project to the City Commission. It consisted of a project to make canoe and kayak rentals available on the Marmaton River. It would be completed in three phases: Gunn Park to Bridal Veil Park, Bridal Veil to Riverfront, and Riverfront to Mill Creek. Their estimated costs were $38,260.

City Commissioners thanked the students for their hard work on this project.

B. CITIZEN COMMENTS (Concerning Items Not on Agenda – 3 minute

limit per citizen) – None

  1. PUBLIC HEARINGS:

Mitchell moved to open the Public Hearing at 6:27 p.m. Adamson seconded. Motion carried.

OPENED PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:27 P.M.

6:15 p.m. Resolution 23-2018 directing the repair or removal of an unsafe and dangerous structure located at 504 S. Judson Street – Rhonda Dunn, Codes Director, informed the Commission that this structure is owned by a brother and sister. The sister lives in Springfield and the brother is currently incarcerated in Larned. She stated that the sister’s daughter came to town to go through the house and remove any personal belongings but this is a hoarder house and in terrible condition. The roof is in bad shape also. She asked for approval to remove this structure in 30 days if repairs are not made.

Nichols moved to approve Resolution No. 23-2018 authorizing this structure to be repaired or removed in 30 days. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 23-2018 DIRECTING THE REPAIR OR REMOVAL OF AN UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 504 S. JUDSON STREET. STRUCTURE MUST BE BROUGHT UP TO 2012 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE BY JULY 13TH, 2018 OR DEMOLITION PROCEEDINGS WILL BEGIN.

Discussion of 523 S. Main demolition – Rhonda Dunn gave an update on 523 S. Main and asked that this structure is removed from the dangerous and unsafe status and from the demolition list. The owners, Lloyd McKenney Trust, have boarded up the windows and cleaned up around the structure and it looks much better already.

Commission discussed setting a time frame to insure the structure repairs are kept up.

Parker moved to revisit this structure at 523 S. Main in 120 days to insure that repairs are being made. Mitchell seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO REVISIT THE STRUCTURE AT 523 S. MAIN IN 120 DAYS TO INSURE THE REPAIRS ARE KEPT UP.

Discussion of 1523 E. Wall demolition – Rhonda Dunn gave an update on 1523 E. Wall and informed the Commission that repairs have been made to this structure by the Brumback family. There is more work to do but she asked that it be removed from the dangerous and unsafe status at this time but set a time frame to revisit it.

Bartelsmeyer moved to revisit this structure at 1523 E. Wall in 60 days to insure that repairs are being made. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO REVISIT THE STRUCTURE AT 1523 E. WALL STREET IN 60 DAYS TO INSURE THE REPAIRS ARE KEPT UP.

Discussion of 309 S. Lowman demolition – Rhonda Dunn informed the Commission that the property owner of 309 S. Lowman had a contract with Kevin Allen – Skitch’s to demolish this property. She visited with Kevin Allen and he said he would have this demolished by the end of June. She asked the Commission to rescind the demolition bids for 309 S. Lowman.

Bartelsmeyer moved to rescind the bids for 309 S. Lowman. Adamson seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED TO RESCIND BIDS FOR 309 S. LOWMAN STREET.

Discussion of 13 N. Holbrook demolition – Rhonda Dunn informed the Commission that the property owner has demolished this property but has not cleaned up the debris. She asked for 30-45 more days for him to clean up this property.

Discussion of 310 N. Cleveland demolition – Rhonda Dunn informed the Commission that the property owner has made no improvements to this structure. He has had no water since 2014 and no electricity since 2016. She has tried to meet with them but they will not answer the door. She spoke to the Fort Scott Housing Authority about possible openings they would have where this couple could move into and they do have openings. They were present earlier at the meeting and she spoke to them. She will meet with them on Friday to discuss other housing possibilities. If this is not successful, this structure may have to go through the court system to remove them from the structure.

Bartelsmeyer moved to close the Public Hearing at 6:40 p.m. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:40 P.M.

CONSIDERATION:

  1. Approval of Ordinance No. 3534 authorizing the City to issue Taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds, Series 2018 (Price Chopper Project) for the purpose of the acquisition, construction, renovation and equipping of a commercial facility; and authorizing certain other documents and actions in connection therewith – $5,900,000 – Sarah Steele, Gilmore & Bell, P.C., appeared before the Commission to request approval of the Ordinance approving the sales tax exemption. She said that Joel Riggs and Steve James were both present also.

Joe Riggs thanked that City Commission for all their support since the store opened four months ago.

Bartelsmeyer moved to approve Ordinance 3534 authorizing Taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds for the Price Chopper project. Parker seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED ORDINANCE NO. 3534 AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS TO ISSUE ITS TAXABLE INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2018 (PRICE CHOPPER PROJECT) FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION AND EQUIPPING OF A COMMERCIAL FACILITY; AND AUTHORIZING CERTAIN OTHER DOCUMENTS AND ACTIONS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. – $6,250,000

City Attorney also recommended authorizing the Mayor to sign any pertinent documentation in regards to this bond issue.

Mitchell moved to authorize the Mayor to sign any other pertinent documentation in regards to the bond issue. Nichols seconded. All voted aye.

APPROVED FOR THE MAYOR TO SIGN ANY OTHER PERTINENT DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS BOND ISSUE.

COMMISSION/STAFF:

  1. Director Updates: Rhonda Dunn – Rhonda updated the Commission on this last weekend’s Good Ol’ Days event. She felt like the event went smoothly. The committee takes the month of July off and then starts again in August to plan the following year’s event. She did feel the crowd was down this year. They will work to reboot this for 2019 to attract more people. She thanked all the City crews and Police and Fire Departments for the great job they do.

Stout Building – Rhonda informed the Commission that she will be moving forward with the demolition of this building. The adjacent property owner would like to see a parking lot for their residents. She is currently working with the property owner on this.

Ordinance Change – Rhonda said that she will be working with the Planning Commission in the near future to change the ordinance for the Central Business District and living on the first floor of a building.

Weeds – Rhonda said that her department has mailed out over 200 weeds letters since May 1st. They are also working on inoperable vehicles.

Land Bank – Rhonda said that she would like to see the Land Bank ordinance on the June 19th Commission meeting agenda.

B. City Commission:

Adamson – Nothing to report.

Bartelsmeyer – Nothing to report.

Nichols – Nothing to report.

Parker – Nothing to report.

Mitchell – Nothing to report.

C. City Attorney: Nothing to report.

  1. Director of Finance: Nothing to report.

  1. City Manager:

  1. Good Ol’ Days Committee – City Manager thanked this committee for their hard work in pulling off this event every year. They will work with Velocity next year also.

ADJOURNMENT:

Parker moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:54 p.m. Bartelsmeyer seconded. All voted aye.

ADJOURNED MEETING AT 6:54 P.M.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is to be held on June 19th, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.

RECORDED BY:

____________________

DIANE K. CLAY

CITY CLERK

Fort Scott, Government, Submitted

Agenda For Fort Scott City Commission June 19

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Agenda for the the Fort Scott City Commission, 6 p.m. June 19 at City Hall, 123 S. Main.

I. ROLL CALL:

ADAMSON BARTELSMEYER NICHOLS PARKER MITCHELL

II. FLAG SALUTE

III. INVOCATION: Pastor Steve Cole, First United Methodist Church

IV. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS:

V. CONSENT AGENDA:

  1. Approval of minutes of the regular meeting of June 5th, 2018.

  1. Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1217-A totaling $309,518.34.

  1. Fireworks Waiver – July 4th, 2018

  1. Parade Permit – Burke Street Parade – July 4th, 2018

  1. Cereal Malt Beverage Application – Lady Elks Lodge #579 – June 23rd, 2018 – Briggs Car Show

VII. APPEARANCE/COMMENTS/PUBLIC HEARING:

  1. APPEARANCE:

Jana Walker – Closure of Burke Street

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

C. PUBLIC HEARINGS/COMMENTS:

6:15 p.m. Resolution 30-2018 directing the repair or removal of an unsafe and dangerous structure and accessory structure located at 211 N. Lincoln Street

6:15 p.m. Resolution 26-2018 directing the repair or removal of an unsafe and dangerous structure located at 1306 E. Wall Street

VIII. CONSIDERATION:

  1. Consideration of placing stone at Heritage Park in front of rose garden in memory of Dola Cress

  1. Consideration of appointment – Fort Scott Housing Authority Board

  1. Consideration of OCR Agreement

  1. Consideration of approval of AWOS upgrade grant from K.D.O.T. for Airport

  1. Consideration of approval of PAPI & REIL grant from K.D.O.T. for Airport

  1. Consideration of Change Order #1 – Regional Tourism Center – $1,315.00

  1. Consideration of Land Bank Ordinance No. 3535 adoption

  1. Consideration of changing FSA (Flexible Spending Account) vendor

IX. COMMENTS:

  1. Director Updates: Jon Garrison
  1. Commission:
  1. City Attorney:
  1. Director of Finance:
  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

Business, Kansas, Submitted

Training Costs For Employers, Apprentices and Institutions

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Kansas awarded $1.2 million additional grant funding for Statewide Apprenticeship Program

 

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Commerce been awarded $1.2 million in additional grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship to help grow the statewide Registered Apprenticeship Program. This new funding follows an initial $1 million in grant funding the agency earlier received. The funds are being used to offset training costs for employers, apprentices and training institutions.

The Registered Apprenticeship Program is built upon an employer-driven model that combines on-the-job learning with the related technical instruction that increases an apprentice’s skill level and wages. It is a proven model for businesses to recruit, train and retain highly skilled workers.

“Since the reinvigoration of the program two years ago, we have observed a marked increase in advanced manufacturing, medical, electrical, plumbing and other high demand occupations in need of trained employees,” says Gary Westerman, State Manager of the Registered Apprenticeship Program. “The Registered Apprenticeship Team has taken several steps in identifying needs of Kansas employers and determining which fields are in the greatest needs of a workforce trained through the Registered Apprenticeship Program.”

There are presently 1,743 registered apprentices in Kansas, receiving both on-the-job training and paid employment with 393 apprentices achieving “Journeyperson “status within the past 18 months from ­­­246 employers. Through this program, apprentices receive on-the-job training from an experienced mentor for at least a full year, providing a living wage while training for a career position. They also earn credentials which can be carried forward throughout their careers. At the same time, employers benefit by meeting their growing need for a trained workforce, experience lower turnover costs, and higher productivity and reduce their costs of recruiting personnel.

“Registered Apprenticeship can improve a company’s workforce situation dramatically, including staff retention, skill knowledge, and safety, along with reducing training costs and increasing a company’s ability to develop their own talent pipeline,” said Westerman.

Currently, the Kansas Department of Commerce staff, the Registered Apprenticeship Team, and Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) partners are working with local high schools and military installations across Kansas to demonstrate that receiving technical training and certification is a valid option to a traditional four-year college path — especially in meeting today’s workforce needs.

For more information on the Registered Apprenticeship Program, visit ksapprenticeship.org.

Bourbon County, K-State Extension, Submitted

Bonding Thru Board Games

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Joy Miller, K-State Research and Extension Southwind District, Family and Consumer Science, 620-223-3720 or [email protected]

 

Board games can help connect family and friends in ways that video games can’

Playing board games gets everyone in the same room and helps family members across generations connect, compete, and have a great time together. Board games are easy, inexpensive, and have benefits well beyond the activity itself. Games are an entertaining and painless way to help kids build essential learning skills on the sly or by accidental learning, which means there’s no anxiety or resistance.

The book “Family Treasures: Creating Strong Families” by John DeFrain, covers six qualities that strong, successful families around the world exhibit: enjoyable time together; appreciation and affection for each other; positive communication; spiritual well-being (values, beliefs, life skills); successful management of stress and crisis; and commitment to each other.

If we don’t carve out time as a family, none of those traits will be achieved. Those traits are built in a scaffolding manner – one brings the other. Board games foster that face-to-face time interaction needed to connect deeply with each other and to develop the other traits of strong families.

Social and emotional health – Research shows the link between social and emotional skills and school success is so strong that it is a greater predictor of children’s academic performance than their family background and cognitive abilities. Learning is a social process. Children cannot learn if they struggle with following directions, getting along with their peers and controlling their emotions in any setting.

Every face-to-face game provides a ‘social experiment’ where players learn self-regulation and social skills to play successfully with others, a lot goes on under the surface, even when playing the simplest of games. Children identify and regulate their emotions and behavior, learn to calm down when upset without hurting others, and learn how to win – or lose – with grace and good manners. 

Playing games fosters persistence, a willingness to try new things, conversation, cooperative play and thinking of appropriate solutions to conflict. Games also help children learn to interpret others’ behavior and emotions, and can reinforce children’s feeling good about themselves and others.

Basic math concepts – Even some of the simplest board games give children a sense of numbers. For example, the numeral 4 represents four objects, which is greater than 3 and less than 5. Some games introduce geometry concepts with shapes and patterns, how to classify items

Bourbon County, K-State Extension, Submitted

Sericea Lespedeza Weed Control in Rangeland and Pasture

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Christopher Petty, M.S. Extension Agent Livestock Production and Forage Management K-State Research and Extension Southwind Extension District 210 S. National Fort Scott, KS 66701 (620) 223-3720 Work (620)224-6031 Cell [email protected]

According to Walt Fick, a K-State Research and Extension Range Specialist, Sericea lespedeza has been a statewide noxious weed in Kansas since July 1, 2000. Despite control efforts, this introduced, invasive species continues to persist on rangeland, pasture, and CRP acres in the state. Sericea lespedeza has a tremendous seed bank that helps reestablish stands following control efforts. Sericea lespedeza currently infests nearly 500,000 acres in Kansas.

There are no known biological controls that can be effectively used on sericea lespedeza. However, grazing with sheep and goats can suppress sericea lespedeza stands and produce a saleable product. Cattle supplemented with corn steep liquor (CSL) have been shown to consume more sericea lespedeza than animals not supplemented with CSL. Frequent mowing will reduce sericea lespedeza, but is also damaging to plants that might be growing/competing with sericea. A single mowing in mid- to late-July will eventually reduce stands of sericea lespedeza to some extent but has not eliminated sericea, even after several years of mowing. A late-summer mowing will eliminate most seed production. Application of appropriate herbicides about 4-6 weeks after mowing will help reduce sericea lespedeza stands, but will also damage other forbs. Prescribed burning in April seems to stimulate seed germination. Burning in August and early September nearly eliminates seed production.

Herbicides applied at the correct time and under favorable environmental conditions can significantly reduce sericea lespedeza, but retreatment has proven to be required. Early summer is a good time to consider spraying sericea lespedeza. Plants are in a vegetative growth stage and previous research has indicated good to excellent control at this time.

Remedy Ultra (triclopyr) and PastureGard HL (triclopyr + fluroxypyr) can provide effective control when applied during June and into early July when the sericea plants are in a vegetative growth stage.

Products containing metsulfuron, such as Escort XP, Cimarron Plus, and Chaparral, are generally more effective in the late summer when sericea lespedeza is actively blooming.. Use a non-ionic surfactant with all of these products. These products containing metsulfuron may stunt tall fescue.

For spot applications, mix 0.5 fl oz PastureGard HL per gallon of water, use a 1 percent solution of Remedy Ultra in water or 1 gram Escort XP per gallon of water.

Herbicide treatments will need to be repeated at least every 2 to 4 years to keep this invasive species in check. Initial treatments should reduce dense stands to the point where spot treatment can be used in future years. Left untreated, sericea lespedeza will quickly dominate a site, greatly reducing forage production and species diversity.

If you are unfamiliar with sericea lespedeza, learn how to identify the species and get started with a control program. Be persistent with control efforts to keep this invasive species at manageable populations. Contact Southwind Extension District Agent Christopher Petty at 620-223-3720 or by e-mail at [email protected] for more information.

Obituary

Obituary for Fredrick F. Hutchison

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Fredrick F. Hutchison

Fredrick F. Hutchison, age 82, a resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Thursday, June 14, 2018, at Mercy Hospital.

He was born June 13, 1936, in Sheldon, MO, the son of Fred and Leota Withrow Hutchison. He graduated from Ft. Scott High School with the class of 1954. He then attended Ft. Scott Junior College before entering the Navy in 1955. Fred served our country proudly for 30 years in the Navy before retiring. He then worked for the Navy as a civilian for another 10 years. He returned to Ft. Scott for the last 20 years, to the hometown he loved. He was an outdoorsmen and professional bass fisherman.

Survivors include two daughters, Marilyn Machelle Greene, Austin, TX, and Mindi Yvonne Elam and husband Dale, Tuscaloosa, AL; two brothers, Donald “Butch” Hutchison and wife Karen, Ft. Scott, and Denny Hutchison, Cody, WY; a sister, Kay Arnold, Ft. Scott; 9 grandchildren, Alexandria Floyd, Colleen Redding, Katlin Greene, Charlotte J. Hutchison, Travis Hines, Ashley Arner, Raschelle Boeve, Madison Johnson, and Dalton Estes; 8 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Frances Hutchison; son Fredrick Andrew Hutchison; and daughter Tracy C. Craig.

Hospice Chaplain Jeff Owen will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Monday, June 18th, 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. Memorials are suggested to the V.F.W. Post #1165, and may be left in the care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Bourbon County

Fort Scott Manor Closed By The State

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Fort Scott Manor on Heylman Street was recently closed down by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities.

A local nursing home was closed by the State of Kansas in May 2018 for deficient practices and conditions that placed its residents in immediate danger, according to court documents found in the Bourbon County Courthouse,  District Court.

In April 2018 the Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities Services (KDADS) surveyed Fort Scott Manor at 736 Heylman and found that “multiple instances of verbal, mental and physical abuse at the hands of direct care staff” had been inflicted on residents, according to court documents.

“The one nurse that was physically abusive was immediately fired,” Connie Willis, a Fort Scott Manor employee at the time, said.

The facility received a  “K” rating which indicated that a situation “where the providers have caused or are likely to cause serious injury, harm or impairment or death to more than a limited number of residents.”

A plan to end the practices and conditions was started by the administrator, Jan Kierl, but not completed, according to the court documents.

Employees of Fort Scott Manor contacted the state that payroll checks had not cleared to pay them, according to the documents.

KDADS was also notified by food service, durable medical equipment and rehab vendors that they had not received payment for services rendered as well.

According to court documents, KDADS  stated that conditions at Fort Scott Manor were life-threatening to the residents and that Jan Kierl was unable to pay debts that were owed.

By May, all the residents were found homes in other facilities or homes.

A status conference with Judge Mark Ward and other parties in the case is scheduled for July 23 at 9 a.m. in the Bourbon County Courthouse.

Messages left with Kierl and her attorney were not answered.

An employee account of Fort Scott Manor closing

Connie Willis worked at Fort Scott Manor from January 2014 until May 2018 when they closed, she said.

Willis was a housekeeper and kitchen helper at the facility during that time.

Soon after she started in 2014, the owners, Jan and Dan Kierl, had a contentious divorce.

“It was a big public blow-up,” Willis said.

Soon after, the facility administrator and the director of nursing were fired, Willis said.

“We changed DON’s (Director of Nursing) and administrators so much you never knew who was in charge,” Willis said.

In this time period, Jan Kierl cut back hours of employees and purchases for the nursing home, Willis said.

“I was purchasing some of my own cleaning supplies,” Willis said. “I had to buy a vacuum cleaner to do my work. I got it back last month.”

When Willis left Fort Scott Manor on May 13, there were 18 residents left, she said. The facility was home, at one time, to 45 residents.

On May 14, the state started taking over administrator duties, Willis said.

“They were there to do their job, to make the residents safe,” she said. “I applaud them for that.”

“On my last paycheck, the state had taken over and THEIR checks bounced,” Willis said.

“We were there for the residents trying to keep things normal for the residents,” Willis said. “The residents were great, the people I worked with did their best for the residents. It was so sad to see it closed.”

“They were taking people out of their home, one for 20 years,” Willis said. “That was hard seeing them move out. They didn’t want to move.”

 

Bourbon County Local News