On behalf of the USD 234 School District, we would like to invite you to the 2025 Early Childhood Trunk-or-Treat. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, October 30 from 4:30-6:00 PM at the Fort Scott Preschool Center Gym. All children ages birth through six years old and their families are invited to attend. Last year, school staff and community partners were able to connect with 225 children and their families at our Trunk-or-Treat.
If you are a family resource provider or a community partner, we invite you to attend and set up a table from which children can trick-or-treat. Agencies typically pass out snacks, candy, trinkets, small prizes, etc. During this time, you may also provide brochures, resources, and/or helpful information related to your program. Our goal is to inform families about the resources available in our community. If you are a preschool or childcare provider, please share the attached flyer with your families. We also welcome you to set up a table for your program.
If you plan to attend our event, please complete the form below by Friday, October 17th so we can have a table reserved for your organization.
Johnathon Stark started as head football coach of the Fort Scott High School Tigers this year, and found there was good community support of the program.
“When I became the head football coach of FSHS, I had a lot of people reach out to me who wanted to support the program,” he said. “A number of these people brought up the idea of starting a quarterback club. Previously, I was an assistant coach at Pittsburg and they have one, so it was something I was familiar with, and I think it is a great thing for the community and the players on the team. I recruited Matt Harris and Jordan Witt to help me establish the QB Club, and they are the officers of the organization along with myself.”
“They are both alumni of the football program and the program means a lot to them. They want to see all players on the team have a great experience.”
“I just want to add clarification that the FS QB Club is not associated with USD 234,” Jordan Witt said. “Expenditure approval is done by the FS QB Club board members consisting of Matt Harris, Jordan Witt, and Johnathan Stark, not the school board. We are a separate organization, complementing the support the school district provides.”
“We applied a few months ago and were approved by the Internal Revenue Service on September 12, 2025 as a 501C3 (non-profit) organization. We are very excited about this because donors to the Fort Scott Quarterback Club can deduct the contribution as a charitable contribution.”
“ We want all Tiger football players to have the best experience playing football possible,” he said. “Quarterback clubs are common in other local communities and help provide financial support and resources to the team. School district budgets are already stretched thin and the Kansas State High School Activities Association does not allow school funds to be spent on certain things. The big advantage for Quarterback Clubs is we have the freedom to do and spend where necessary in order to support our Tiger football players both now and in the future. This is an organization that we want to see support the program for years to come.”
Coach Stark. Submitted photo.
Currently there are 65 football players from freshman through senior years.
“I send out an email update throughout the season and we are in the process of organizing some meetings and events for all members. We also share information and photos on our Facebook page. If anyone would like more information, they can email us at [email protected].”
Memberships help purchase equipment, camp fees, team meals, and other team related expenses approved by the school board that are not covered by the school district.
It will also provide insight into the football program and season updates from Coach Stark.
An individual membership is $25 for the year, and a Corporate Membership is $100. Corporate Memberships are recognized on the organization’s Facebook Page.
To become a member send name, address, and email address, and send the payment in two ways:
Venmo to: @fsqbclub
Mail a check to: FS QB Club, 809 Meadow Lane, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Corporate Memberships please email your logo.
FS Quarterback Club Logo taken from the Chamber of Commerce website.
For more information: email at [email protected] and follow on Facebook at Fort Scott Tiger QB Club.
The Beacon Food Pantry, Fort Scott, receives $5,000 grant.
The Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative Board of Directors has selected six projects throughout the co-op’s service area for funding through the Concern for Community grant program. A total of $30,000 will be awarded.
“We look forward to working with some outstanding partners to put these funds to work for the good of Heartland members and their communities,” said Mark Scheibe, Heartland CEO.
This year, six applications out of 68 received were approved for funding by the Heartland board. Projects selected are as follows:
Kansas State Historical Society – $5,000 for restoration work at the Marais des Cygnes Massacre State Historic Site, including electricity and water infrastructure upgrades and interactive interpretive signage.
Linn County Fair Association – $5,000 to install an intercom system across the fairgrounds to improve communication and safety for visitors during the county fair and other events.
Moran Youth Recreation – $5,000 to help build a 9-hole disc golf course and install permanent cornhole boards at the Moran City Park.
Beacon Food Pantry (Fort Scott) – $5,000 for critical lighting system upgrades to improve safety and visibility for volunteers and families served.
Cherokee County 4-H Council – $5,000 to replace original 1991 windows in the 4-H Building, improving energy efficiency for this important community hub.
Walnut Community Service Organization – $5,000 for upgrades to Walnut Softball Fields, including infield improvements, dugout repairs, batting cage enclosure, and restroom accessibility upgrades.
As a non-profit, member-owned cooperative, Heartland issues capital credits to members each year, but sometimes those credits go unclaimed. Because those monies were intended to be returned to the communities from which they came, Heartland’s Board of Directors decided to use unclaimed funds for community grants and started the Concern for Community program in 2019.
The Concern for Community program provides grants of up to $5,000 for capital improvement projects throughout the Heartland service area, which covers parts of 12 counties in eastern Kansas. Capital improvement projects are those that involve investment in structures or equipment that will last for many years.
Applications were accepted from June 1–July 31 and selected by the Heartland Board of Directors at their September 22 meeting. Heartland plans to reopen applications in summer 2026 for the next round of funding.
About Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. powers rural lifestyles throughout more than 11,000 locations in eastern Kansas. Heartland’s service area includes members in 12 counties: Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Miami, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.
September Total Tax Collections at $1.00 Billion; 0.3% Below Estimate
TOPEKA – The State of Kansas ends September 2025 with total tax collections at $1.00 billion. That is $3.4 million, or 0.3%, below the estimate. Total tax collections were down 1.9% from September 2024.
“I have been consistent in expressing concern that the reckless budgets passed by the state legislature risk veering us off the course of fiscal responsibility,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “While one month of revenues missing the estimate is not cause for panic, it is a reminder that fiscal restraint is sound policy.”
Even though individual income tax collections were above estimates, they are offset by a significant 15% loss in corporate income. Individual income tax collections were $481.4 million. That is $26.4 million, or 5.8% above the estimate. Individual income tax collections were up 2.8% from September 2024. Corporate income tax collections were $199.6 million. That is $35.4 million, or 15.0% below the estimate, and down 12.5% from September 2024.
Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $293.3 million, which is $5.3 million, or 1.8% above the estimate, and down 1.1% from September 2024.
Click here to view the September 2025 revenue numbers.
Commerce Announces $23M in Funding Available for Broadband Investments
TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced $23 million is available to improve broadband infrastructure through the Broadband Acceleration Grant (BAG) program. Grants up to $1 million will be awarded to offset the capital expenses providers need to deploy service in unserved areas of Kansas.
In its fifth year through the bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE), the Broadband Acceleration Grant program aims to provide high-quality, reliable broadband access throughout the state, prioritizing unserved areas, economically distressed communities and areas of compelling need.
“Ensuring that every Kansan has access to high-speed internet is not just about connectivity — it’s about economic mobility and community growth,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “These grants provide long-term, sustainable benefits by fostering innovation, attracting businesses, and supporting and retaining the workforce across the state.”
During the first four years of this program, high-speed internet has been delivered to more than 11,000 homes and businesses in 35 counties. The cumulative $25 million generated another $31 million in matching funds.
“The Broadband Acceleration Grant program is an important part of KDOT’s commitment to modernizing Kansas’ infrastructure,” Transportation Secretary Calvin Reedsaid. “Just as transportation infrastructure connects communities to opportunity, reliable broadband access is essential to building a stronger, more connected Kansas.”
Broadband enables small businesses to grow, agriculture to be more efficient, families to connect and communities to prosper.
“By continuing to invest in broadband we are not just investing in critical infrastructure, we are investing in the future of every Kansan,” Director of Broadband Development Bill Abston said. “The Broadband Acceleration Grant program is a critical tool to ensuring that all Kansans, no matter where they live, can access their high-speed digital future.”
The grant application period will run from 3 p.m. Friday, October 3, to 3 p.m. Friday, October 31. The Office of Broadband Development has scheduled a kickoff webinar at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 3. To register for the webinar, click here. For more information about the program or to apply for the Broadband Acceleration Grant Program, click here.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce:
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
About the Kansas Office of Broadband Development:
Established in 2020 by Governor Laura Kelly through Executive Order, the Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) is committed to ensuring all Kansans have the opportunity to live, work, learn and compete in a digital economy. KOBD accomplishes this by administering state and federal funding to support critical broadband infrastructure and expand access to high-speed internet. These efforts help enhance workforce readiness, education, digital opportunities and economic development across the state.
Brenda Louise Lawrence, age 67, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at her home. She was born May 14, 1958, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of John Edward Chastain and Betty Louise Rupert Chastain. Brenda married Jack William Lawrence on December 23, 1974. She had worked for Peerless Products in Ft. Scott for many years. Brenda enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles and listening to music as well as spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Brenda was a member of the Bethel Community Church.
Survivors include two sons, Gary Lawrence (Kerri) and Keith Lawrence, all of Ft. Scott; five grandchildren, Sabree, Tydas, Zyler, Dylan, and Zachery and four great-grandchildren, Kamdyn, Kylee, Kruze and Khenzo. Also surviving are three brothers, Jim Chastain, Randie Glover and Ronnie Glover. Brenda was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Lawrence, on October 29, 2011. She was also preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Robbie Glover.
Pastor Ben Heffernan will conduct funeral services at 12:30 P.M. Friday, October 3rd at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Bethel Community 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.
Looking for a college that gives you options? At Fort Scott Community College, students can choose from associate degrees in Arts, Science, Applied Science, and General Studies, along with a variety of certificates that lead straight to rewarding careers. Whether you’re interested in healthcare fields like Certified Medication Aide, Nurse Aide, EMT, Home Health Aide, Manicuring, or Phlebotomy, or want to take on a technical challenge with certificates in Ag Technology (John Deere), Construction, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Environmental Water Tech, Farm & Ranch Management, Harley-Davidson Technology, Heavy Equipment Operation, HVAC, Masonry, or Welding we’ve got you covered!
But college isn’t just about the classroom. FSCC offers plenty of ways to get involved through music and performance opportunities (band, choir, theater), student clubs and organizations (like Collegiate Farm Bureau, Phi Theta Kappa, SkillsUSA, STEAM Club, FSCC Media Team, and more), and even competitive judging teams in livestock and meat.
If athletics is more your thing, FSCC is home to intercollegiate sports for both men and women. Compete in basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, rodeo, track & field, or cross country, all while building friendships and representing the Greyhounds.
And the best part? We’re still growing. New programs, degrees, certifications, and athletic opportunities are on the horizon! There’s never been a better time to join FSCC!
JOPLIN, Mo. – Freeman Health System’s Dr. Derek Miller was named one of America’s most talented knee surgeons working in the field today by New York-based news magazine Newsweek and global data intelligence firm Statista.
The accolade, the board-certified surgeon admitted, caught him off guard.
“I first found out when my office notified me that I was ranked the number 19th knee surgeon in the United States,” Dr. Miller said. “For sure it’s quite an honor, given that there are more than 25,000 orthopedic surgeons practicing in the U.S.”
Dr. Miller said it’s always good to receive affirmation for the quality care he and his team provide daily to their patients at Freeman Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Joplin.
“Especially when you consider the metrics that they use; complication rates, ER visits, unplanned re-admissions and doctor performance data from Medicare claims,” the board-certified surgeon said. “I think these are the things that people really care about – optimizing patient outcomes.
“To be honest, it takes a team to get results like we have,” he said. “I’m blessed with an incredible office staff that is both thorough and detail-oriented, and OR (operating room) personnel who are really good at their jobs and just truly care about people.”
Dr. Miller specializes in primary and revision knee and hip replacements, performing 500-plus surgeries each year.
“Joint replacement is a rewarding surgery,” he said. “And often, it’s truly life-changing for so many of my patients. Their quality of life has suffered as they become so debilitated and disabled from arthritis, or maybe they’ve had a terrible injury in the past. I have the privilege of helping relieve their pain and ultimately improve quality of life.”
Dr. Miller, who has been at Freeman for 18 years, is a primary user of the CORI robotic-assisted total knee system, a technological wonder that allows greater precision than traditional knee instrumentation of the past, increasing both patient satisfaction and long-term outcomes. He also utilizes lovera injections, which freezes the nerves to a patient’s knees, providing immediate, non-opioid pain relief for up to 90 days.
“It’s technology like these combined with a competent, compassionate team that makes Freeman the leader in knee surgery and gets us this kind of national recognition,” he added.
Dr. Miller is currently accepting new patients at Freeman Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, 3105 McClelland Blvd. in Joplin. Call 417.347.5400 to make an appointment.
###
About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center, the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services, as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
In postwar Ohio, a stolen moment between Cal Jenkins and Margaret Salt reverberates through generations, as a small town’s buried secrets and a wife’s spiritual gift expose the longing for love and goodness.
Former Air Force Special Investigator Annie Gore is getting by as a private investigator and her latest case takes her to an Appalachian holler not unlike the one where she grew up.
“From the instant New York Times bestselling author of The Last Flight and The Lies I Tell comes a dazzling new thriller. June, 1975. The Taylor family shatters in a single night when two teenage siblings are found dead in their own home. The only surviving sibling, Vincent, never shakes the whispers and accusations that he was the one who killed them. Decades later, the legend only grows as his career as a horror writer skyrockets. Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of Vincent Taylor. Now on the brink of financial ruin, she’s offered a job to ghostwrite her father’s last book. What she doesn’t know, though, is that this project is another one of his lies. Because it’s not another horror novel he wants her to write. After fifty years of silence, Vincent Taylor is finally ready to talk about what really happened that night in 1975”
Clemi, a broke 26-year-old book lover, lands her dream job at a literary nonprofit only to face absent leadership, legal scrutiny, and a collapsing gala, leading her to question whether the literary life is worth the chaos it brings. Original.
Prickly textile artist Sadie comes home to Pea Blossom, Indiana, to care for her father’s beloved pumpkin patch until the Indiana State Fair pumpkin contest, but wild hogs destroy the patch; tech-millionaire-turned-farmer Josh offers his help, and a storm-fueled kiss proves there’s something between them. Original.
Clio’s mother Alex lost custody of Clio and her sisters when Alex wrote a book saying their house was possessed; after Alex’s sudden death, the house passes to the sisters, and as the home makeover begins and Clio finally reads the book, the presence in the house becomes real and sinister.
“Nesi is desperate to earn the patronage of one of the Ninety-Nine Pillars of Heaven. As a child with godly blood in her, if she cannot earn a divine chaperone, she will never be allowed to leave her temple home. But with ninety-six failed auditions and few options left, Nesi makes a risky prayer to T’sidaan, the Fox of Tricks”
In 1938, 11-year-old Lisavet Levy becomes trapped in a mysterious library of memory called the time space, where her path intertwines with American timekeeper Ernest Duquesne, whose 1965 death compels his niece Amelia to uncover buried truths amid shifting histories and shadowy CIA intrigue.
Cruising Carbon’s lonely backroads one night, the quiet Hal witnesses both beauty and horror in his troubled hometown, where a catastrophic chain of events threatens his fragile bond with his compassionate friend Cody John and shatters their world.
U.S. Army Captain Billy Boyle investigates a murder tied to World War II radio espionage at an English airbase, uncovering secrets from the White Cliffs of Dover to war-torn Yugoslavia, in the latest addition to the long-running series following The Phantom Patrol.
Two more tales from Johnstone Country: in “Brutal Night of the Mountain Man,” Smoke Jensen helps a saloon owner defend her family and business against the ruthless Silas Atwood and his army of killers, while “Venom of the Mountain Man” sees Smoke boarding a train east to rescue his wife from Gabe Briggs and his bloodthirsty gang
On a clear October day, the American skies empty after hundreds of pilots refuse to fly, triggering a complete ground stop as authorities seek to explain an act of baffling coordination that the pilots insist was anything but planned. The pilots received disturbing, middle-of-the-night calls from their mothers, and each mother had a simple and urgent request: do not fly today. There are a few concerning elements to the calls. None of the mothers remember making them—and some of the mothers are dead. While the nation’s military chiefs and artificial intelligence experts mobilize in search of answers, a sixteen-year-old girl named Charlie on the coast of Maine watches a strange, silvery balloon drift across the water and toward her home—a place she loathes. Her father’s dream of opening a craft brewery on an old airfield has been a disaster, and all she wants is an escape back to Brooklyn. She’s about to get much more than that. Her new home is ground zero for a story that begins at a remote naval base in Indiana during the winter of 1962, when a physicist named Martin Hazelton discovered something extraordinary—and deadly. All Hazelton wanted was time to seek an explanation, but pressure from both American and Russian actors forced him into a perilous race.
For the first time, Stephen King has fully authorized a return to the harrowing world of The Stand through this original short story anthology as presented by award-winning authors and editors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. Bringing together some of today’s greatest and most visionary writers, The End of the World As We Know It features unforgettable, all-new stories set during and after (and some perhaps long after) the events of The Stand–brilliant, terrifying, and painfully human tales that will resonate with readers everywhere as an essential companion to the classic, bestselling novel.
When the greatest magician in the world, Professor Jacob Grimes, dies, two of his graduate students put aside their rivalry and journey to Hell to save his soul. Alice and Peter have only the tales of Orpheus and Dante to guide them across Hell, but Hell is nothing like what the storybooks say.
These are the origin tales of all of the Reacher novels written solely by Lee Child, chock full of colorful anecdotes and intriguing inspirations; one by one, they expand upon each novel and place it in the context not only of the author’s life, but of the world outside the books.
Filled with smart, empathetic guidance, this volume is a road map for discovering what drives you and a playbook for translating those drives into opportunities — a book to help us satisfy our ambitions and our souls.
Exploring the hidden force of social status, this analysis reveals how invisible hierarchies shape our decisions, behaviors and opportunities and amplify inequality through small advantages while influencing everything from health and careers to innovation, culture and technology.
Daughter. Duhitár-. Dustr. Dukte. Listen to these English, Sanskrit, Armenian and Lithuanian words, all meaning the same thing, and you hear echoes of one of history’s most unlikely journeys. All four languages-along with hundreds of others, from French and Gaelic, to Persian and Polish-trace their origins to an ancient tongue spoken as the last ice age receded. This language, which we call Proto-Indo-European, was born between Europe and Asia and exploded out of its cradle, fragmenting as it spread east and west. Its last speaker died thousands of years ago, yet Proto-Indo-European lives on in its myriad linguistic offspring and in some of our best loved works of literature, including Dante’s Inferno and the Rig Veda, The Lord of the Rings and the love poetry of Rumi. How did this happen? Acclaimed journalist Laura Spinney set out to answer that question, retracing the Indo-European odyssey across continents and millennia.
Recounts the perilous expedition into the Himalayas to find the elusive panda undertaken by the two eldest sons of Theodore Roosevelt in 1928, chronicling their scientific achievements, physical hardships, and the broader impact of their journey on Western conservation efforts. Illustrations.
Features practical gardening advice and seasonal cooking techniques to help readers grow and prepare their own produce—regardless of space—while providing tips on preservation and reflections on the deeper value of cultivating and cooking food at home. Illustrations.
Rooted in the dietary habits of the world’s longest-lived communities, this collection of 100 plant-based recipes emphasizes one-pot, one-pan, and sheet pan meals made with accessible ingredients, offering fast, longevity-focused options for breakfasts, mains, snacks, and sides suited to busy home cooks. Illustrations.
Features 15 amigurumi patterns inspired by well-known male celebrities, offering step-by-step instructions for creating collectible figures, along with bonus content like fun facts and a personality quiz, appealing to crafters and pop culture fans alike. Original. Illustrations. Index.
Determined to navigate the treacherous Northwest Passage solo, an internationally certified mountain guide and Air Force Pararescuemen trainer embarks on a pulse-pounding journey to both complete this rare feat and investigate the 250-year-old mystery of Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition. Illustrations.
This posthumous collection of essays from the legendary historian looks at subjects such as the character of American leaders, the influence of art and mentors and the importance of understanding the past to better navigate the present and future.
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The north wing, east side of the Bourbon County Courthouse.
Approval August Financials
Commissioner Samuel Tran asked for a detailed explanation of parts of the quarterly financial statement. County Clerk Susan Walker answered several of his questions.
Executive Session pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body of agency, which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
County Counselor Bob Johnson stepped in to update the commission on pending litigation in place of the insurance attorney, Forest Road. The commission returned to session, no action.
Old Business
Budget Discussion
“We approved a budget last Friday,” said Commissioner David Beerbower.
Tran asked Ben Hart for an audit report on the budget. Hart said that it looked good and nothing stood out to him as problematic.
County Clerk Susan Walker asked to speak. She said she went back through and refigured the wages and the employee benefit fund. She has concerns about having sufficient funds for employee health insurance. Open enrollment is upcoming in October.
Walker asked for a $100,137 increase in the employee benefit fund, which will take the mill to almost revenue neutral at 57.45.
“We’ve actually done something that no other commission has done in…seven years,” said Tran about the county’s 2026 budget. He expressed concern about the “budget creep” that last-minute changes represent.
“We’re trying to reset the paradigm,” by only taxing for what the county needs and making a plan for the future said Tran. “We can what-if this to death.”
Beerbower said he sees them handling the employee insurance decision in the way they did the county’s budget, with detailed analysis to stay within the spending limits set by the budget.
Tran and Commissioner Mika Milburn both wanted to keep the budget as is. Beerbower agreed and no action was taken.
Roads Discussion Lynne Oharah – 95th & Unique
Oharah has found the mylar maps from 1987-89 that were used to inform the county maps until 2011.
He reiterated his request for all documentation for closing the 1056 feet of Unique Road on his property using statute 68.
“All I’m asking for is that that road be declared still open,” said Oharah. He also said they want minimal maintenance on the road.
County attorney Bob Johnson said he watched the video of meetings held during Covid masking (possibly 2020 or 2021) where a Mr. Meeks made a long explanation of the situation and the need to find the 1986 resolution from when they had the public hearings about the roads.
Johnson plans to talk to Mr. Meeks to see what the follow-up was.
Oharah said the county has maintained the road in perpetuity, including the installation of a culvert this year.
Tran took issue with the culvert. He also pointed out that Oharah was a commissioner at the time of the meeting referred to by Johnson, and he did nothing to help his neighbors who came and spoke at that meeting. Tran then pointed out that Oharah stands to gain financially from the sale of the property.
“We’re trying to do something that’s legal,” said Tran. He said they cannot speed things up, and that the current commission has to repair damage from the past commissions and ensure these same types of things don’t happen in the future.
He said he has empathy for Oharah’s plight, but he will not rush his decision.
Beerbower ended the discussion at that point.
North National,
There are new speed limit signs on North National. Citizens are requesting that the four-way stop where 218th meets N. National be made a two-way stop, with traffic open from east to west, but still stopping north and south at that intersection.
Tran asked if changing the stop signs would cause traffic problems. Sheriff Bill Martin said as long as the vegetation is cleared and visibility is good, there shouldn’t be a problem.
Beerbower made a motion to remove the stop signs going east and west on North National at the 218th street intersection. The commission approved.
Eagle Road
Eagle Road, going to Garland, east of 69, was repaved in the last 2 years after 4 or 5 years as gravel. The speed limit was lowered while it was gravel, and folks are requesting that it be raised back up to 55 now that it’s paved.
Tran recommended talking to an engineer from KDOT to determine what the speed limit should be. No official action was taken.
190th Street Benefit District
County Counselor Bob Johnson said benefit districts are typically done through an HOA, but it is still feasible for the county to set one up without that. The agreement would include an increase in ad valorem taxes for those in the district to cover the cost of the road maintenance. He offered to visit with the owners and send proposal documents to the commissioners.
Beerbower asked if the Public Works Department could give an assessment, and the county would proceed from there.
Kenny Allen from public works said the road needs a good deal of work done before it can be paved.
CIC Access
Milburn said they are working to get view-only access for the commissioners and the sheriff.
Walker said that her office enters all the bills, as it is her responsibility by statute, and no other departments should be entering bills.
Tran said they need a standard operating procedure from either the clerk’s office or the sheriff’s office on how things are entered into the system.
Johnson will review the statute and advise next week.
Courthouse Elevator
Milburn said the current elevator company will not give a certificate of compliance because the elevator doesn’t meet requirements. They are looking for bids on repairing the elevator.
Tran offered to help by reviewing the contract for repair if needed.
108 W 2nd
Milburn had no updates for that. The county paid $162,700 in 2013 for the building. The plan was to build a parking lot out of the lot behind it as well. They are waiting to decide what to do with the building until it is emptied by moving the sixth judicial and driver’s license department.
Crawkan
Tran asked about adding a “termination with convenience” clause for the county to the contract, and Johnson said he’d look into it.
Planning CommissionTerms – Beerbower
Beerbower announced that Planning Commission members with one-year terms are Pete Owenby and Jeremy Milburn; two-year term members are Brent Smith and Bo Casper; three-year term members are Kyle Parks, Brian Ashworth II, and Seth Tucker.
Bob Johnson said he would work to get the first planning commission meeting up and going.
Resolution 1125 Review
Beerbower wants to “scratch the whole thing and start over.”
He handed out notes on changes, and they will bring it up again at the Oct. 6 meeting.
New Business Credit App for Enterprise – Bill Martin and Ben Hart
Sheriff Martin took a moment to recognize Sergeant Scott Hillman of Hays, Kansas, who was killed in the line of duty over the weekend.
Martin said he is awaiting information from the clerk’s office to fill out the Master Equity Lease Agreement with Enterprise. He is also awaiting word back from legal counsel regarding agreement.
He plans to come back to the commission with the completed documents at the next meeting.
Resolution – Law Enforcement
Johnson, Hart, and Martin addressed the commission regarding a resolution that would fix the unidentified fund discussed in a previous meeting.
Milburn expressed displeasure with the resolution, and a discussion about the use of funding from the housing of out-of-county prisoners followed.
Beerbower and representatives of the sheriff’s department were in favor of using those funds to help with the purchase of bigger-ticket items the department needs, such as replacing vehicles and upgrading radios.
Tran said those funds fluctuate a great deal and cannot be used to build the sheriff department’s budget. He also pointed out that Sheriff Bill Martin is the CEO of his department and is fully responsible for his department’s budget.
Tran asked Martin what he expects in the future regarding payment for housing at the county jail. Martin said he hopes it will stay the same. They only fill the jail to 85% capacity with out-of-county inmates to make sure they always have the necessary space.
Martin went on to say he would not spend from the fund without bringing it before the commissioners first.
“We’re just trying to capture the revenue that’s already there in a resolution form, not create a different fund,” said Hart.
“You guys have been doing this” since 2019, said Johnson.
Beerbower said they would bring it back in two weeks.
Motion to move normal meeting from the 13th of October to the 14th. Passed.
Department Updates Public Works – Kenny Allen and Dustin Hall
Tran thanked the department for patching North Union in Mapleton.
KDOT Grant – Bridge 19.2-Q.0. The grant is for 2027. The plan is to set aside some of the expected FEMA money to help with the county’s 10% of the $82,000 cost to rebuild the bridge.
Tran asked how their meeting went with Enterprise. Hall said the meeting went well, but they want to test it out before committing. If it works out, they would work to replace a third of their fleet each year until they were fully enrolled in the program.
“For us, I think it would work out in the long run,” said Hall. The two trucks they are replacing are mowing trucks. The department has two broken-down trucks now, which they will trade in.
Milburn said she would love to have them figure it up both ways, leasing, and continuing to purchase vehicles on their own.
Hall said it is a lot easier for Enterprise to sell used vehicles than it is for Public Works as a department.
They discussed leasing equipment like graders and dump trucks as well.
Transfer of Thomas Quarry
The commission approved the signing of reclamation paperwork for the quarry, transferring it to the new company that took over from the county.
Commission Comments
Milburn: “I want to acknowledge that the recent changes, while not easy, were both necessary and effective,” she said of the budget process. She believes the changes made will position the county for a better future.
Tran: “I’m happy that we got the budget through.” He learned a lot, and the vast majority of the county officials and department heads are willing to tighten their belts and do what’s needed. He’s cautiously optimistic about 2026. He anticipates the work on the insurance to be a challenge, but that the commission will rise to the occasion.
Beerbower thanked the commission for their work on the budget and looked forward to the strategic planning and insurance work coming up.
