Bourbon County, Government

Uniontown City Council Special Meeting Minutes of March 19

Leave a comment

The Special Council Meeting on March 19, 2024 at Uniontown City Hall, was called to order at 5:15PM by Mayor Jurgensen.  Council members present were Jess Ervin, Danea Esslinger, Amber Kelly, Mary Pemberton, and Bradley Stewart.  Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting was Ashley Endicott, Brooke Gilfert, and City Clerk Sally Johnson.

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to enter in to executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel matters exception, KSA 4319(b)(1), in order to interview applicants for non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at 6:45PM

 

Mary Pemberton out at 5:30.  Ashley Endicott in at 5:30, out at 5:57.  Mary Pemberton in at 5:57.  Brooke Gilfert in at 6:00, out at 6:19.  Open meeting resumed at 6:45.

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to extend executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel exception, KSA 4319(b)(1) in order to discuss job duties, benefits and employee handbook of non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at 7:15PM

 

Sally Johnson in at 7:10, out at 7:15. Open meeting resumed at 7:15.

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to extend executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel exception, KSA 4319(b)(1) in order to discuss job duties, benefits and employee handbook of non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at 8:05PM

 

Johnson in at 7:45, out at 7:56.  Open meeting resumed at 8:05.

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to schedule a special meeting on March 25, 2024, 5:30PM for the purpose of entering into executive session to discuss offer for position of non-elected personnel

 

 

Moved by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0, to adjourn at 8:06PM

Bourbon County, Government

Uniontown City Council Minutes of March 12

Leave a comment

 

The Regular Council Meeting on March 12, 2024 at Uniontown City Hall, was called to order at 7:00PM by Mayor Jurgensen.  Council members present were Jess Ervin, Danea Esslinger, Amber Kelly, Mary Pemberton, and Bradley Stewart.  Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting were Doug Coyan, City Treasurer Charlene Bolinger, City Superintendent Bobby Rich and City Clerk Sally Johnson.

 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS

Pond Project, Don George, KDWPT – Mr George was unable to attend.  Since the project is complete, he will get with Clerk Johnson soon to finish up paperwork and take for submission.  He will present a “big check” when paperwork is approved.

 

CITIZENS REQUEST

Dave Wehry sent an email, due to being unable to attend, regarding under-age, unlicensed drivers of golf carts on city streets.  After discussion, Clerk Johnson will send a reply as directed.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Treasurer Bolinger presented the February 2023 Treasurer’s Report.  Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds was $293,383.58, Receipts $44,634.56, Transfers Out $12,776.00, Expenditures $56,818.78, Checking Account Closing Balance $268,423.36. Bank Statement Balance $278,443.08, including Checking Account Interest of $57.98, Outstanding Deposits $0, Outstanding Checks $10,019.72, Reconciled Balance $268,423.36.  Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit $37,222.22, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $21,264.85, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $39,006.17, Total All Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $365,916.60. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $112.54, and Utility CDs $394.40 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $506.94.  Also included the status of the Projects Checking Account for the month of February 2023, Beginning Balance $0, Receipts $0, Expenditures $0, Ending Balance $0.  February Transfers from Sewer Utility Fund to Sewer Revolving Loan $1,402.00, to Capital Improvement-Street $250.00; from Water Utility Fund to GO Water Bond & Interest $1,624.00, to Capital Improvement-Streets $750.00; from Gas Utility Fund to Capital Improvement-Streets $6,250.00, and from General Fund to Capital Improvement-Streets $2,500.00 for Total Transfers of $12,776.00.  Net Loss for the month of February $24,960.22, Year-to-Date Net Income $32,944.16.  Budget vs Actual Water Fund YTD Revenue $15,896.7 (12.9%), Expenditures $18,850.79 (11.6%); Sewer Fund YTD Revenue $5,621.56 (15.2%), Expenditures $4,883.71 (11.6%); Gas Fund YTD Revenue $37,211.40 (25.4%), Expenditures $26,734.81 (15.1%); General Fund YTD Revenue $53,528.28 (32.6%), Expenditures $19,242.89 (9.5%); and Special Highway YTD Revenue $1,987.58 (27.4%), Expenditures $0 (0%).  The March 2024 payables to date in the amount of $39,826.45 were presented.  The invoices from C2, KMGA, Homestead Tech, Phillips 66, and Ag Engineering have not been received at meeting time.

 

Clerk Johnson gave Council copies of comparable reports from the new software.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by Ervin, Second by Esslinger, Approved 5-0, to approve Consent Agenda as amended:

  • Minutes of February 13, 2024 Regular Council Meeting and February 27, 2024 Special Council Meeting
  • Treasurer’s Report, Monthly Transaction Report & Accounts Payables

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to enter in to executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel matters exception, KSA 4319(b)(1), in order to discuss job duties and review applications of non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at 8:00PM

 

Doug Coyan called in at 7:16, out at 7:35.  Open meeting resumed at 8:00PM.

 

Motion by Kelly, Second by Esslinger, Approved 5-0 to call a Special Meeting to enter into executive session to interview City Clerk applicants on March 29, 2024 at 5:15PM.

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

City Superintendent Rich reported that the water valve has been replaced and is working.  He also reported that KCC inspected the gas system on February 27 and no deficiencies were noted.

Codes Enforcement Officer Doug Coyan will is back.  He will work spring through fall.

 

Clerk Johnson presented the Contract for Auditing Services from Diehl, Banwart, Bolton at a cost not to exceed $5,990.

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Esslinger, Approved 5-0 to accept Contract for Auditing Services from Diehl, Banwat, Bolton

 

COUNCIL REPORT

Councilman Ervin – nothing

Councilwoman Esslinger – nothing

Councilwoman Kelly – nothing

Councilwoman Pemberton – has been asked when the public restrooms will be reopened.  April 1 was decided on.

Councilman Stewart – asked for a follow-up on the sewer issue at 100 Second St.  Owners have not contacted City about their plan to remedy.

Mayor Jurgensen – need to schedule spring clean-up and citywide yard sale.  Citywide yard sales will be April 20 and spring clean-up will be April 29-May 2 with three dumpsters that will be removed as filled.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Pickleball Court Placemaking Project – concrete work completed.  Someone did initial the wet concrete.  Someone has volunteered to seed when ground leveled.  It was suggested to also paint hopscotch and/or four square games also.  A portable net, paddles and balls have been donated.  Once court is painted it was suggested to host a Grand Opening.

 

Warehouse project – Mayor Jurgensen received a verbal quote to break up concrete scale and fill with concrete and millings, then top with 6” of packed rock.  A written quote was received by Clerk Johnson.  Mayor Jurgensen will ask for a written quote instead of verbal quote and we will request at least one more quote from recommended vendors.

It was suggested that we look into the process to sell the weed barn and use the proceeds to offset the cost of refurbishing the warehouse.  Clerk Johnson will contact attorney about the process to sell the property.

 

NEW BUSINESS

None

 

Moved by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0, to adjourn at 9:19PM

K-State Extension

Reducing Food Waste on Earth Day (And Every Day!)

Leave a comment
Clara Misenhelter (Wicoff) Submitted photo 2023

 

 

By Clara Misenhelter

Southwind Extension District

 

With Earth Day coming up on April 22nd, it is timely to be thinking about what you can do to make a difference. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that wasted food is responsible for more than half of landfill methane emissions. Clearly, reducing food waste can make a difference for the environment. However, did you know that reducing food waste can also save you money? According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the average U.S. household can save about $370 per person each year by reducing food waste.

 

So, how can you reduce your food waste to help both the environment and your wallet? Check out these tips from K-State Research and Extension:

  • Shop your refrigerator first. Check to see what you already have before you create your weekly meal plan.
  • Don’t forget about leftovers! Label your leftovers with the date to ensure you will eat them or freeze them within 3-4 days. All leftovers should be reheated to 165°F as measured by a food thermometer for food safety.
  • Make a shopping list and stick to it. This will help curb that pesky impulse shopping that can cause you to purchase items you won’t be able to use in time.
  • Store your food properly. Food stored improperly will spoil more quickly and need to be thrown away. One key tip is to place an appliance thermometer in both your refrigerator and in your freezer. Keep your refrigerator at 40°F or below and your freezer at 0°F or below.

 

However, it is also important to keep in mind the following rule: When in doubt, throw it out! If you are not sure whether a food item is spoiled or still safe to eat, it is best to discard it.

 

For more information on the tips listed above as well as others, visit bit.ly/ksrefoodwaste. In addition, consider attending one of the free educational programs I will be offering on Earth Day (April 22nd) to learn about food waste, meal planning, reducing a recipe, strategic grocery shopping, proper food storage, extending the life of food, and checking food product dates. Join me at the Woodson County Ambulance Building in Yates Center (114 N. Main St.) from 12:05 PM to 12:50 PM or at the Southwind Extension District Office in Iola (1006 N. State St.) from 5:15 PM to 6 PM. Contact me with questions at [email protected] or 620-365-2242.

 

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

Bourbon County, Government, Health Care

Citizens For The ER Will Hold Town Hall Meetings in Fort Scott and Uniontown This Month

Leave a comment

 

The Vote Here sign sits in front of the north wing of the Bourbon County Courthouse, 210 S. National in an earlier election.  A sales tax question will be on the ballot on May 14, 2024. for voters to decide the issue.

A citizen group working independently of the county commission plans a few community town hall meetings to inform people of the upcoming sales tax question on the May 14 ballot.

The group, Citizens For The ER, is presenting two town hall meetings regarding the one-quarter cent Bourbon County sales tax dedicated to re-opening the local emergency room.

The meeting aims to address questions and concerns about the sales tax.
 
 
Meetings are scheduled for:
 
Fort Scott on Thursday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m. at the Fort Scott Community College Ellis Center.
 
Uniontown on Wednesday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Meeting Room.
“This is an opportunity to learn how your vote will impact the well-being of our county,” said Charles Gentry, a member of the group.

 

“Our purpose is to support obtaining an emergency room (in the county) by getting the ¼ cent retail sales tax passed,” said Randy Nichols, another member.  “The members are myself, Jamie Armstrong, Craig Campbell, Lynda Foster, Charles Gentry, Mark McCoy, and Doug Ropp.”

McCoy will be the moderator of the meetings.

“We are taking on the issue because we all feel strongly the need to have an ER for both community health and economic well-being,” Nichols said.

 

 

 

Advertisements

AD: Junior Sales Professional Is Needed At Key Apparel

Leave a comment
Key Industries Inc. is located at 400 Marble Road, in Fort Scott’s Industrial Park, parallel to Hwy. 69.

KEY Apparel is searching for an entry-level Business to Business Junior Sales Professional to join our KEY For Business team.

The focus will be developing KEY’s direct sales customer base, including sales to businesses and government entities.

Visit https://www.keyapparel.com/careers-at-key/ for more information.

Opinion

Hospitality by Patty LaRoche

Leave a comment
Patty LaRoche. 2023.
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)

Several years ago, my stepdaughter Nikki and her husband, Dave, redid their backyard.  They added a pool, an outdoor kitchen, a sit-down counter for eight, an outdoor television, and an area for cornhole and games.  It became the hangout for their friends and the friends of their three, teenage children.

From that point on, rarely were they invited to someone else’s house.  They were expected to host every get-together.  People couldn’t wait for the next event.  Oh, the guests might bring an appetizer or drink, but most of that costly responsibility, prep, and cleanup, fell on Dave’s and Nikki’s shoulders.

My husband, Dave, and I had a similar experience in Mexico where we owned a bottom-floor condominium for 15 years.  Ours became the gathering spot, and several times, we were asked, “We had so much fun the other night. When are you having another get-together?”  A few reciprocated, but some never did.  After years of this, I began mortifying Dave by responding, “Or maybe we could come to your place sometime.” If I didn’t hear “Yea, maybe,” I heard, “My wife doesn’t like to have people over.  But we sure enjoy coming to your place.”

Recently, Dave and I were at Nikki’s, and she and I began discussing how some people use all kinds of excuses not to open their homes to guests.  Typically, it’s because their house isn’t as nice or as big and doesn’t have all the conveniences, but that’s not the point.  When Dave played baseball and we lived in a small apartment, we hosted almost every team event.  Players owned large, beautiful homes, but they never shared their houses for get-togethers.  They just asked when we were having another party.

On Sunday, we went to my grandson-in-law’s church and heard a sermon on hospitality, on how important it is to invite people over instead of shutting them out. The pastor used the example of Zaccheus, the tax collector who climbed a tree in order to get a look at Jesus as he passed by.  Jesus called him by name and said that he wanted to go to Zaccheus’s house, a request that was met with a quick “yes.” How many of us would be panicked instead of welcoming an unexpected guest?

Let’s face it.  We now live in a world that is cold and impersonal, yet Romans 12:13 instructs us to “Practice hospitality” which has nothing to do with impressing others with our fine linens, fresh flowers, spotless home and perfect children.  Some of us need to stop with the lies that tell us we have to be perfect, that our homes belong to us, not God, and that our possessiveness about our personal time many times isn’t linked to laziness or selfishness.

Jesus seemed to know that true fellowship, true intimacy, happens around a dinner table. Why else would he choose his final evening on earth to be centered around a table with his disciples? A table owned not by a friend but by a nameless person whose servant, according to Mark 14:12-17, led two disciples to an upstairs room prepared for a dinner for 12.

When Dave and I first attended a church near our home in Tomball, Texas, Mollie and Cal introduced themselves and invited us to their house after the service.  I explained that we had three children, but Mollie answered, “Perfect. So do we!”  That friendship (as well as other couples we met through them) has lasted for the past 30 years.

Billie Graham said it best.  “The happiest Christian homes I know are those given to hospitality, where neighbors feel at home, where young people are welcome, where the elderly are respected, where children are loved.”  Maybe that’s what this cold, impersonal world is missing.

 

Obituary

The Obituary of Larry Amer Sr.

Leave a comment

Larry Lee Amer Sr., 65, beloved son, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away on April 2, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of love and cherished memories. He was born on August 2, 1958, in Fort Scott, Kansas, to Dorothy Irene Burch and James Lawrence Amer.

 

From a young age, Larry embraced his faith and accepted the Lord as his savior at the tender age of six. This foundation of faith guided him throughout his life, shaping his character and influencing his relationships.

 

Larry was a devoted son, bringing joy and comfort to his mother, Dorothy, with his love and affection. His dedication to his family extended to his role as a loving father to Larry Lee Amer Jr. of Fort Scott, Kansas, and Amanda Lynn Herrington and her husband Paul of Fort Scott, Kansas. He took immense pride in his role as a grandfather to Christian Herrington, Kaydence Herrington, and Kholsn Herrington, finding joy in every moment spent with them.

 

He was a devoted brother to Kenneth Meek of Fort Scott, Kansas, and Fred Meek of Great Bend, Kansas, as well as a caring brother to his sister Darlene Norvell of Great Bend, Kansas. Larry cherished his family deeply and also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews, whom he held dear to his heart.

 

Larry dedicated many years of his life to Extrusions Inc, where he formed lasting friendships with his colleagues. He had a passion for fishing, camping, and watching old western reruns, but his true love was found in everything related to hot rods and cars. Whether tinkering in the garage or attending car shows, Larry’s enthusiasm for automobiles was infectious.

 

In his later years, Larry found solace in the simple pleasures of life, cherishing the company of his neighbors and closest friends. He lived each day with a profound appreciation for the moments shared with those he held dear.

 

Larry Lee Amer Sr. will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His kindness, warmth, and unwavering love will forever remain in the hearts of those he leaves behind. May his soul rest in peace, and may his memory be a blessing to us all.

 

Funeral services will take place at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Burial will take place later in the Prescott Cemetery, following cremation.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Care to Share, and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

 

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Significant Grants Are Available for Solar Energy For Bourbon County Businesses

Leave a comment
Daniel Zywietz and son, Noah on a recent solar installation in Chanute. submitted photo.

If you own a business in Bourbon County and selected other counties in rural Kansas, you can apply for a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant and get up to 50% off the cost of solar panels.

Add the 50% federal tax credits available for renewable energy installations in Bourbon County, and a business owner could get a solar system for nearly free, according to Daniel Zywietz, founder of SEK Solar, Chanute.

SEK Solar designs and installs solar systems and also helps with the grant application, allowing business owners to drastically reduce their utility bills, he said.

Before starting SEK Solar, Zywietz founded and ran Enerwhere, the Middle East’s largest rooftop installation company and one of the world’s largest microgrid operators. The company started as a provider of temporary power services to the construction industry in 2012 and quickly expanded into the commercial rooftop solar market in Dubai, building over 45 MW of solar over 10 years, including the world’s second-largest solar rooftop system at the time, covering an area of more than 23 football fields, he said

He ended up in the Middle East as a management consultant working for Booz & Company, a spin-off of Booz Allen Hamilton, and one of the best-known management consulting companies worldwide.

With his wife (who is originally from Humboldt, KS) looking to move home after the COVID-pandemic, Zywietz started to look into the solar market in Kansas and was astonished to find that there were hardly any solar panels installed, despite the clear and sunny skies and large open spaces. With over $1 billion in grant funds for solar and energy efficiency available to agricultural and rural small business owners under the USDA’s Rural Energy for America (REAP) program, Zywietz and his wife decided to set up a solar company to service local business owners.

What made the opportunity even more exciting was that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in 2022, not only refilled the REAP program, which had been running for 10 years with much lower funding levels, but also significantly improved the Federal tax credits available to rural Kansans, according to Zywietz.

According to the EPA website, the credits are structured in three separate buckets, according to information from Zywietz. The 30% base tax credit is available to anyone wanting to install a solar system at the business or home, anywhere in the US. A further 10% “Low-Income Community” bonus is available to projects in disadvantaged areas. (Bourbon County, together with most of South-East Kansas, qualifies). Finally, there is another 10% “Energy Community Bonus” available to areas that previously hosted coal mines or coal-fired power plants, and again, Bourbon County qualifies, according to a map provided by the Department of Energy. Added together, the tax credits can add up to 50% for a renewable energy project in Fort Scott and the surrounding area.

While the tax credits don’t require any special application process, the REAP grants do. It all starts with checking whether a business’s location is eligible based on the USDA’s Property Eligibility site, says Zywietz.

The USDA defines a rural area as an area with a population of less than 50,000 people. The second criterion is the business size. The small business size standard is based on either annual revenue or the number of employees, depending on a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, which is used by federal agencies to classify businesses by industry type, according to http://kansasenergyprogram.org/assessments/REAP-OverviewFAQ

This generally means that if a business has less than $10 million in revenue or less than 100 employees and is a for-profit business, such as a restaurant, hair salon, retail business, or farm business, the owner is eligible to apply, Zywietz said.

“It’s a tedious grant application process,” he said. “The smallest grants of up to $20,000 have a nearly 100% approval rate because $200 million were set aside for these small projects and there aren’t enough applications, as most small business owners find it too time-consuming to fill in all of the forms. Larger grants, which can go up to $1 million, compete with other projects based on a scoring system, so getting the grant application right can make a big difference to the chance of approval. The next application deadline is June 30th.”

“It’s a big opportunity for rural business owners to lower their utility bills and go green. And while filling in government paperwork can be frustrating, I think it’s only fair for them to check if your business is legitimate before they hand you what is essentially free money. I’m happy to answer any questions on solar or the USDA REAP grants and the IRA tax credits as well,” Zywietz said.

To learn more about SEK Solar visit the website at http://seksolar.com

Zywietz can be reached at (620) 431-1122 or email: [email protected].

Zywietz will be in  Dubai for two weeks at the end of April.
“I’m mostly done with the handover to the new Enerwhere CEO and summers in Dubai are pretty miserable anyways,” he said.
To view a feature he wrote:

 

Zywietz plans to attend the Fort Scott Chamber Coffee meetings on Thursday mornings at 8 a.m. to answer questions from business owners., he said.

 

The Kansas Energy Program is also available to assist you through the entire REAP grant application process, according to its website.

 

A small project Zywietz has completed in Chanute, photo from SEK Solar Facebook page.

 

Advertisements

AD: The City of Uniontown Is Searching For a City Clerk

Leave a comment

 

Uniontown is located 17 miles west of Fort Scott.

The City of Uniontown is Searching for City Clerk

 

Would you like to make an impact in your community while broadening your skill set, connecting with people, working close to home, and receiving good pay & great benefits?

As Uniontown City Clerk/Municipal Court Clerk you can do all this and more!  This is a 40 hours per week position with above average wage and benefits, including:                        

  • Paid Time Off: 10 Holidays, 1-4 weeks Vacation, 12 days Sick Leave, & More
  • Retirement Plan: participate in KPERS (Kansas Public Employees Retirement System)
  • Health & Life Insurance available
  • Wage Scale: minimum $15.00, may be more depending upon experience

 

Personal Requirements:

  • You must be a Motivated, Self-Starter
  • High Attention to Detail
  • Basic Computer, Accounting, and Secretarial Skills
  • Ability to Maintain Confidentiality and Discretion
  • Live Within 10 Miles of Uniontown
  • Valid Driver’s License & Pass Pre-Employment Drug Screen

The Clerk position entails performing all duties as defined by Kansas State Statute and City Ordinances:  receive and disperse monetary funds and maintain financial records; complete various administrative reports; grant applications & administration; prepare, mail and apply payments of monthly customer utility billing; assist residents via phone or walk-in; attend and record minutes of all city council meetings, write monthly community newsletter; other duties as required (a more detailed job description and list of duties available upon application).

Apply in person at Uniontown City Hall, call 620-756-4742, or submit your resume via email to [email protected] .  Applications accepted until position filled.

 

Government, Kansas, Schools

Applications for KDOT’s Safe Routes to School Program now being accepted

Leave a comment
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Transportation is accepting applications for the Safe Routes to School Program for its second round of Planning and Programming (P&P) grants.

Applications are due by 5 p.m. on May 3. KDOT will award up to five grants for the 2024-2025 school year.

The P&P grants fund the development of SRTS plans that will include an overview of existing conditions and public outreach. The plans should also identify potential infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions to help more children safely walk, bike and roll to school.

All communities, school districts and organizations are encouraged to apply. More information on the P&P grant program, including the application, recordings of prior informational webinars and a question/answer sheet can be found at https://saferoutes.ksdot.gov/grants-and-funding.

About KDOT Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes to School is a comprehensive approach to getting more kids walking, biking and rolling safely to school. It provides kids and parents with a variety of activities, events and lessons, while also addressing local pedestrian, bicycle and personal safety concerns. Visit KDOT’s Safe Routes to School website at SafeRoutes.ksdot.gov to learn more and sign up for the quarterly e-newsletter.

###
Government, Health Care

Kaiser Family Foundation Health News Investigation on Social Security Over Payments

Leave a comment

KFF Health News and Cox Media Group’s Series on Social Security Overpayments Wins the Goldsmith Awards’ Inaugural Government Reporting Prize

KFF Health News and Cox Media Group Television Stations announced today that they received the 2024 Goldsmith Awards’ inaugural Government Reporting Prize for their joint reporting in the series “Overpayment Outrage,” which exposed how the Social Security Administration routinely reduced or suspended monthly checks to take back funds to pay off large debts that were often created by its own miscalculation of people’s benefits.

 

The investigation revealed that more than two million people each year are hit with overpayments, including those least able to repay the debt, such as individuals who are poor, old, disabled, blind, or who suffer from a chronic illness.

 

The reporting triggered congressional hearings, a “top-to-bottom” review by Social Security officials, and increased Senate oversight. Commissioner Martin O’Malley also recently announced sweeping policy changes to stop what he called “clawback cruelty” and “grave injustices.”

 

The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School honored KFF Health News and Cox Media Group at the Goldsmith Awards ceremony yesterday with the new prize, which recognizes reporting on how government and public policy implementation works, including how and why it can fail and how it can most effectively and efficiently solve problems.

 

“This series exposed the significant impact of these mistakes on millions of people, including those who had little to no ability to pay back the government, forcing some people to lose their homes, cars and savings,” said KFF President and CEO Drew Altman, who is the founding Publisher of KFF Health News. “This is why KFF reports on systemic issues like this through our news service—to reveal how people are affected by policy. ”

 

“We’re honored to receive this prestigious award because it reflects CMG’s commitment to local news and investigative journalism,” said Marian Pittman, CMG’s President of Content. “The team’s relentless efforts to uncover the truth behind complex government policies and their implementation has resulted in tangible changes within the SSA and will directly benefit millions of people impacted by overpayments.”

 

The series was reported by David Hilzenrath and Fred Clasen-Kelly of KFF Health News and Jodie Fleischer of Cox Media Group. A list of additional contributors is available here.

More on “Overpayment Outrage”
Each year the Social Security Administration (SSA) issues billions of dollars in overpayments to recipients whose incomes or other qualifying criteria have changed. Under federal law, the SSA is required to demand repayment of this money, treating it as a debt to the federal government. These clawbacks can happen even decades after the initial overpayments.

 

In “Overpayment Outrage,” Cox Media Group and KFF Health News examined the overpayment issue and the impacts clawbacks have on vulnerable people. They found that overpayments happen due to rules that are complex and hard to follow, inadequate SSA staffing, outdated limits on assets and lagged or otherwise inaccurate data on income and other beneficiary information. The reporting also laid out potential solutions to address the legislative, funding, and process failures that cause this systemic problem.

 

About the Reporting Partnership
KFF Health News and Cox Media Group television stations used FOIA requests, reports by the inspector general and SSA, and interviews with agency employees, advocates for the disabled, and dozens of beneficiaries to piece together the story. What emerged was evidence of a systemic problem in which the SSA routinely reduces or halts monthly benefit checks to reclaim billions of dollars in payments it sent to beneficiaries then later said they should not have received.

 

After they published the series, hundreds of disability beneficiaries came forward with troubling accounts, including that the government sent them overpayment notices without explanation and threatened to cut off their main source of income with little warning. The agency has since restored benefits to several of the beneficiaries featured in the reporting.

 

About KFF and KFF Health News
KFF is a nonprofit health policy research, polling, and news organization. Our mission is to serve as a nonpartisan source of information for policymakers, the media, the health policy community, and the public. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth and award-winning journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF. KFF Health News has been recognized repeatedly for its journalism, with awards honoring its investigative reports on the American health care system.

 

Other major KFF programs include Policy Analysis; KFF Polling and Survey Research; and KFF Social Impact Media, which conducts specialized public health information campaigns. A new program on Health Misinformation and Trust will be launched soon.

CONTACT:

Tammie Smith | 202.654.1410 | [email protected]

The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.

Bourbon County Local News