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Bo Co Commission Minutes of May 15
May 15, 2023 Monday, 5:30 p.m.
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners and the County Clerk present at the Fulton Community Center.
Clint Walker, Rachel Walker, Misty Adams, Kathy Talbot, and Karen Paddock were present for some or all of the meeting.
Jim Harris opened the meeting with the flag salute followed by a prayer led by Nelson Blythe.
Nelson made a motion to approve the consent agenda which includes the approval of minutes from last week’s meeting. Clifton seconded the motion and all approved.
Eric Bailey, Public Works Director, gave an update on the laydown machine stating the ECM did not fix the problem and the machine has been taken back to Chanute. Jim asked if the machine will not start or won’t run, and Eric said it will start sometimes and then die and sometimes it won’t start. Eric said the codes come back as a timing issue. Jim said in his opinion if the machine is not fixed within a week or so then perhaps the County Counselor should get involved as this machine has had issues for a long time. The Public Works crew has started a project on 205th Street south of Wagon Road replacing tubes, cleaning ditches, and building the road back up in places. Eric said they have a list of projects, and they are steadily working down the list. Eric told the Commissioners about an issue that was put on Facebook, and wanted to explain the situation and the process of notifying Kansas One Call. Eric said a vehicle went off the road and sheared a culvert marker sign off at the ground. Eric stated that Kansas One Call must be notified before we dig or drive a post into the ground, and then they have three business days to come out and mark the area. To temporarily notify drivers of the location of the culvert a culvert marker sign was placed in the top of an orange cone, and then the cone was placed at the culvert until Kansas One Call marked the site and the county had clearance to dig. Eric stated the post of Facebook had a picture and a comment referring to how the county fixes problems and reiterated this was only a temporary fix and was done so that other drivers could be made aware of the culvert. Eric said he called the individual who posted the picture to explain to her that the county could not dig without the go ahead from Kansas One Call and left a voicemail, but never heard back from her. Jim said Eric is doing a great job and going by the book, and stated we definitely don’t want to tear up any fiber out there. Eric said that the crew went to Yale Road and did some spot repairs patching some holes due to safety issues. Eric said they are waiting on the contractor who will mill the road and have no timeline yet as to when that will happen. Nelson voiced his concerns that the goal of having some of Yale Road paved next year will not be met if the road has to be milled for a year. Eric said he received a call from Redfield last week requesting the county donate three loads of gravel. Eric stated he is unsure of how things have worked in the past and said that right now due to the interlocal agreement the county is trading rock at cost with the City of Fort Scott. Jim said the county has previously donated it. Clifton stated in his opinion fair is fair and we donate to all or sell it. Jim agreed that if we give to one, we should give to all. Clifton voiced his concerns about donating rock to all municipalities that we would get to a point where we give away more rock that we can produce. Jim asked if there was an interlocal agreement with Redfield, and Justin Meeks replied no. Justin suggested making a donation to each municipality of a set number of loads per year. There was discussion on how many loads of gravel the county should donate to each municipality. Jim made a motion to donate and deliver five loads of gravel to each municipality in Bourbon County. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
Jennifer Hawkins, County Clerk, presented a budget timeline and a tentative schedule of budget presentation to the Commissioners. The audit agreement from Jarred, Gilmore and Phillips, PA was presented to the Commissioners to be signed. Clifton made a motion to allow Chairman Harris to sign the audit agreement for the fiscal year 2022 audit to be conducted by Jarred, Gilmore and Phillips PA. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
There is a vacancy on the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department Board for Bourbon County and a recommendation to appoint Michele Dunkeson was submitted. Clifton made a motion to appoint Michele Dunkeson to the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department Board as a representative of Bourbon County. Nelson seconded the motion.
A fence view request was submitted by Gary Hall and the County Counselor outlined the Commissioners’ role in viewing the fence. Justin stated he would provide a packet of information detailing the steps required to complete the fence viewing to the Clerk and Commissioners by the end of the week.
Clifton made a motion to go into a 20-minute executive session under KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy and under KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship for possible litigation to include all three Commissioners and Justin Meeks. The executive session will be held in a section of the old school building next door and they will return at 6:15. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Clifton made a motion to resume normal session at 6:15 with no action. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
Clint Walker discussed grant opportunities to update cell service that he read in the newspaper. Jim said we would share the information with our IT department and REDI.
Misty Adams spoke about an area of 215th Street, behind the city burn pile, that is holding water resulting in a mosquito problem. Misty said she has called Topeka and the EPA to try to get help with the issue and questioned if it was possible to go under the road to put in a whistle. Eric said he would have to look at the location, and it was agreed upon to do so after tonight’s meeting.
Rachel Walker questioned the Commissioners on if a municipality does not use their given five loads of rock in year if it would roll over to the next year allowing them to get ten loads of rock. The Commissioners stated that was a good question, and agreed to clarify the motion from earlier. Clifton made a motion to strike the motion made earlier giving five loads of gravel to each municipality in Bourbon County. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved. Clifton made a motion to deliver five loads of gravel, at approximately 15 tons per load, to each municipality per year and it will not roll over, it is five loads of rock per year per municipality. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
Clifton commended Clint Walker for still reading paper newspapers during Commission comments.
Clifton made a motion to go into a 5-minute executive session KSA 4319 (b)(2) for the consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship for possible litigation to include all three Commissioners and Justin Meeks. The executive session will be held in a section of the old school building next door and they will return at 6:29. Clifton made a motion to resume normal session at 6:29 with action. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to allow County Counselor Justin Meeks to hire outside counsel for an EOC issue. Justin asked that a cap of $5,000 be placed for the hiring of the outside counsel. Clifton added to his motion to place a cap of $5,000 for the hiring of the outside counsel. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:30. Nelson seconded the motion and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
___________________, Chairman
___________________, Commissioner
___________________, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Jennifer Hawkins, Bourbon County Clerk
_______________, Approved Date
The Rockballet Dancers Show is June 9,10
Tickets went on sale to the public last night for Rockballet recital.
Kristin Gorman teaches dance to over 100 students ages 4-18 years old and loves it.
“The best thing for me about recital is standing in the wings watching my dancers look look so beautiful and confident on stage, and seeing them truly loving the art form,” she said. “As a professional performer my whole life, knowing what it feels like, I love being able provide this opportunity for them to experience performing in a show like this.”
The performance is June 9 and 10 at the Bicknell Center, Pittsburg.
| Kristin Gorman |
| Owner / Director ROCKBALLET |
| Email: [email protected] Website |
Electric Transmission Line Approved For Route Through Bourbon County
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The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports May 24
Taco Azul Food Truck: A Mom and Pop Business
Erin and Sebastian Macik, Fort Scott, are owners of Taco Azul, a food truck that they hope will turn into a restaurant business.
They make Mexican street tacos, using pork, beef, or chicken, in flour tortillas or handmade corn tortillas; homemade salsas, and also street corn on the side, Erin said.
“We’ve been prepping and planning for over a year now,” Erin said. “Sebastian picked up the food truck in April, and we plan to fire it up at the Good Ol’ Days festival here in Fort Scott at the beginning of June.”
“We hope to open up a restaurant in the future, but for the short term, our plan is to stay local and get a good customer base before expanding,” she said.
“You will see us at Fort Scott’s Good Ol’ Days Festival to kick off the summer, and then we’ll be set up by the Washateria on National Avenue for the most part,” Erin said. “We’ll be posting consistently on Facebook so people know where to find us. We are really looking forward to the summer!”
Sebastian Macik taught third grade in Mexico City, and discovered true Mexican street tacos while he was there.
“Coming back state-side in 2014, he started searching for the real deal in the U.S. without much luck,” she said. “All that time he was working on his own tacos: making his own salsas and corn tortillas, trying out various marinades and cooking techniques, until they became exactly what he was looking for. When the opportunity arose to get a food truck, it was a no-brainer. We’re excited to offer this in Fort Scott! Mexico City-style tacos are unlike anything you can find at any chain restaurant in the United States.”
Contact info:
Obituary of Alice Tripp
Alice May Tripp, age 89, a former resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, and more recently of Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, passed away Sunday, May 21, 2023, at the Chase County Care & Rehabilitation Center in Cottonwood Falls.
She was born October 29, 1933, in Deerfield, Missouri, the daughter of George L. Crosby, Sr. and Beulah Parker Crosby. Alice attended Ft. Scott schools and graduated from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1951.
She worked for the Western Insurance Company for four years. She then went on to become a licensed cosmetologist in 1956. Alice was an entrepreneur, and in 1958, she opened her own shop in Ft. Scott, which she operated for forty-three years. Alice had many regular clients who were also close friends
She was a member of the Olive Chapter #13 Order of the Eastern Star.
In 1980, Alice married Ray Tripp. He preceded her in death on May 21, 2014. Alice was also preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by a brother, George L. Crosby, Jr. (Alice Fay) and her sister, Rosa Marie Bolinger (Jim); five nephews, two nieces. Also surviving are four step-daughters, Rhonda McAlister (Ted) of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, Sandra Buntain (Mike) of Springfield, Missouri, Marsha Heiser (Jerry) of Prescott, Kansas and Laura McDysan (Lee) of Berryton, Kansas and a host of other friends and family members.
Pastor Mike Bright will conduct funeral services at 11:00 A.M. Friday, May 26th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Pittsburg Garden of Memories Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Cherry Grove Baptist Church 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.
The Artificers June Happenings
The Artificers In JuneHappy June! Check out the calendar below for all the classes and events happening this Month! |
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Artist Opening ReceptionMaster ArtistPhillip Ortiz, Mixed Media Artist |
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Obituary of Mary Lou Young
Mary Lou Young was born in Wichita, KS on May 27th, 1955, to Gilberta Mae Burger. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family Friday May 19th, 2023.
Mary was united in marriage to Wade Douglas Young after rekindling their young love on August 26th, 1982, in Fort Scott, Kansas on the steps of the United Missionary Baptist Church. They cherished each other for 40 years and from their union came a beloved daughter, Kimberly Young. Who joined her two sons Shawn and Larry Judson from a previous union.
Mary had a green thumb and loved to working outside in her flower garden and decorated for every holiday. She was a woman of routine and habit which included the Days of Our Lives right before an afternoon nap. Usually, the right hand of her beloved husband, they could be found cruising through town together.
Mary was a loving mother who treated every child as her own. She loved being a Nana and a great grandmother. Those left to treasure her memory are her children, Kimberly Young (Brett), Larry Judson (Tasha), Shawn Judson (Becky), Step-Children Cyress Alexander (Todd) and Wade W. Young (Rusty); bonus daughters, Chelsea Zandler and Danielle Wisely (Shawn); twelve grandchildren, Keegan, Nicholas, Wade, Bekah, Elisha, Mary, Benjamin, Jonathan, Donathan, Darian, Gabrielle and Alessandra; great-grandchildren, Savannah, Whitney, Melissa, Moses, Rhysland Wade, Rhys and Riser. Siblings Patricia Malone. In laws; Nellie Satterfield (Terry), Wayman Young (Linda), Floyd Young, Frank Davis, Rodney Young, Rhonda Warren (Ike).
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Wade D. Young who passed just this year. Also preceding are her Mother Gilberta Burger and siblings Bonnie Busby, Walter Sanders, and John Heidrick. In laws Teresa Davis, Junior and Elouise Young, Goldie Young and Janice Ray.
Cremation has taken place and there will be a memorial gathering held at 12:00 PM June 2nd, 2023, at Gunn Park shelter house #7.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Mary Young Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Uniontown Jr/Sr High School Second Semester Honor for 2022-2023
Farmers Market Opportunity For Fundraising
Fort Scott Farmers Market is looking for groups or organizations that would like a fundraising opportunity.
“We’ve just had two incredibly successful weekends of Breakfast on the Bricks for two local groups,” said Teresa Hamilton, president of the Fort Scott Farmers Market. “This is a free location at our Saturday Farmers’ Market, open to anyone hoping to raise a little cash. Spread the word, and contact us via Facebook Messenger. We’ll give you all the details and get you on the calendar!
We can’t wait to hear from you!”
Jayci Cosens: Teacher of the Year at Fort Scott Middle School
Jayci Cosens, who teaches 7th grade science, is the recipient of this years Dale Hammons Award, Teacher of the Year, for the Fort Scott Middle School.
“The criteria we used was someone that builds strong relationships with students and staff, sets high expectations for their students and themselves, listens well to their peers, works well with others, and sets a positive example for students,” said FSMS Principal Zach Johnson.
“I feel very blessed to teach at USD 234,” Cosens said. “It is a district filled with great educators, administrators, support staff and students. The middle school is full of other teachers who are just as deserving of this honor as I am. I have spent the past decade learning from them about what great teaching looks like.”
Cosens began her teaching career at Fort Scott High School in 2001, after graduation from Pittsburg State University.
“I taught for three years and quit teaching in 2004 to be a stay-at-home mom following the birth of our first son….and returned to the classroom in 2011, when our youngest started kindergarten and I taught for one year at Heritage Christian in Olathe.
“I started teaching 7th grade science at the (Fort Scott) middle school in 2013,” Cosens said. “Along the way, I have coached interscholastic and intramural volleyball, basketball, and track both at the high school and middle school level.”
Have you always taught science there?
“I have always taught science, but my minor is in history, so I could also teach history in the future. Over the years, I have taught grades 6-12 in: General Science, Physical Science, Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Health. During my ‘stay at home’ years, I also went to nursing school (graduated with an ADN in 2010 from Fort Scott Community College and I still keep my nursing license current. I worked as a nurse for five years (2010-2015) in the intensive care unit and emergency room.”
Why did you choose teaching as a career?
“I actually started college planning to go into Physical Therapy. All through my undergraduate classes, I would find myself thinking, “When I have my own classroom, I will teach this concept this way’ and would then quickly have to remind myself that I was not going to be a teacher! In my senior year, I finally changed my major to education. I guess the short answer is that I chose teaching as a career because I felt like God was calling me to this profession, I just ignored that call for the first few years of college!”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“For me, it’s probably building relationships with my students. Teaching in a small town, I get the opportunity to see them go on from 7th grade and graduate high school and beyond. I love seeing them excel in the paths they choose and know that I was a small part of their journey. Teaching is never boring! Each day (and each class) is different and that means that I am always having to adapt and change. What worked in one class might not work in another, and I have to quickly figure out how to change what I’m doing to stay effective. Science is never boring either! Students have a natural curiosity about the world around them. Helping them better understand it is rewarding every day.”
What is the biggest challenge?
“Trying to find new ways to keep kids engaged is a challenge. Our whole society, not just kids, has become more and more distracted. The things that worked to engage students twenty years ago when I started my career may not necessarily work with this generation of students. At the same time, I think educators are trying to overcome the idea that every single thing that happens in school has to be fun and entertaining. That’s just not the reality of the real world. Some things are boring, it doesn’t lessen their value.”
Care to name family?
“I grew up just outside of Redfield (my dad told me to say that) and graduated from Uniontown High School in 1996. My parents are Steve and Marci Williams (he told me to say this too). I have been married to Chad since 2002, he’s a 1995 Fort Scott High School graduate and owns 1842 Wealth Management, a retirement planning group. We have two sons. Dryden is 19 and just finished his freshman year at Fort Scott Community College where he’s also a part of the baseball team. Cal is 17 and will start his senior year at FSHS in the fall-he plays football, basketball, and baseball. We have a very large extended family in Fort Scott and chose to raise our family here where our sons would be surrounded by grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins.”
About Dale Hammons, in whose memory the award is given.
Hammons was a 1946 graduate of Fort Scott High School, Johnson said. He graduated Pittsburg State University, then became a full time assistant principal at Fort Scott Junior High in 1977.
“Mr. Hammons was instrumental in helping the 1983 transition from the Fort Scott Junior High School to what is now Fort Scott Middle School,” Johnson said. “Mr. Hammons will long be remembered as an effective middle school principal who was loved and respected by students, and staff.”
Editors note
This last paragraph incorrectly had Phil Hammons as the title.
The following is from Betsy Hammons Reichard, his daughter:
“While overseas in the Army, dad took many correspondence courses through the University of Maryland and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Military Science. After he retired from the Army in 1970, he went to PSU and earned his Master’s degree in Counselor Education and then his Education Specialist. Dad truly was loved and respected by students, staff and throughout Fort Scott and beyond. The day of his funeral, stores closed and flags were flown at half mask in honor of him. This award is special to our family and I am always thrilled to know who receives it.
Congratulations Jayci!
Betsy Hammons Reichard