Bourbon County, Government

Unapproved Minutes of the Uniontown City Council on May 9

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The Regular Council Meeting on May 9, 2023 at Uniontown City Hall, was called to order at 7:00PM by Mayor Jurgensen.  Council members present were Jess Ervin, Danea Esslinger, Josh Hartman, and Amber Kelly.  Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting were City Superintendent Bobby Rich, City Treasurer Charlene Bolinger, and City Clerk Sally Johnson.

 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS

Loren Korte, Personal Service Insurance planned to be here to present the City with a dividend check from EMC, but was unable to make it due to the weather.

 

Don George, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism planned to be here to pick up grant application but wasn’t able to come.  Clerk Johnson asked council what percentage of match for this application, 56% was used for phase I.

 

Motion by Hartman, Second by Kelly, Approved 4-0 to submit CFAP Grant Application with a 56% match.

 

Clerk Johnson will email application to Don George tomorrow.

 

CITIZENS REQUEST

None

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Treasurer Bolinger present the April 2023 Treasurer’s Report.  Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds was $345,407.78, Receipts $33,990.09, Transfers Out $3,026.00, Expenditures $20,937.77, Checking Account Closing Balance $355,428.10. Bank Statement Balance $357,610.00, including Checking Account Interest of $74.34, Outstanding Deposits $0, Outstanding Checks $2,181.90, Reconciled Balance $355,428.10.  Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit $33,223.90, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $19,841.76, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $33,499.83, Total All Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $441,993.59. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $302.32, and Utility CDs $164.51 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $466.83.  Also included the status of the Projects Checking Account for the month of April 2023, Beginning Balance $0, Receipts $0, Expenditures $0, Ending Balance $0.  April Transfers from Sewer Utility Fund to Sewer Revolving Loan $1,402.00; from Water Utility Fund to GO Water Bond & Interest $1,624.00; for Total Transfers of $3,026.00.  Net Income for the month of April $10,026.32, Year-to-Date Net Income $11,876.13.  Budget vs Actual Water Fund YTD Revenue $38,134.93 (31.2%), Expenditures $38,690.75 (24.2%); Sewer Fund YTD Revenue $11,987.81 (32.5%), Expenditures $10,443.41 (25.4%); Gas Fund YTD Revenue $74,395.57 (47.5%), Expenditures $42,133.87 (18.7%); General Fund YTD Revenue $58,008.36 (38.7%), Expenditures $60,617.60 (32.7%); and Special Highway YTD Revenue $3,937.49 (52.8%), Expenditures $0 (0%).  The May 2023 estimated payables in the amount of $37,906.04 were presented.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by Ervin, Second by Hartman, Approved 4-0, to approve Consent Agenda:

  • Minutes of April 11, 2023 Regular Council Meeting
  • Treasurer’s Report, Monthly Transaction Report & Accounts Payables

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

City Superintendent Rich had nothing to report.

 

Codes Enforcement Officer Coyan reported that nuisance/debris letters were sent.  Mayor Jurgensen requested that he be notified when and to whom letters are sent.  There was an apparent breakdown in communications which caused an issue with a letter recipient.  Clerk Johnson will send a letter to that recipient apologizing for the communication breakdown.  Coyan will next target unmowed properties.

404 Washington St was discussed.  Coyan and Johnson will review the dangerous structure ordinance(s) and discuss with the council again next month.

Codes Enforcement Officer Binford has issued 14 citations for failure to register dogs/cats.  As of today, five have been taken resolved.  Court is scheduled for May 15, 2023 for the remainder.

 

Clerk Johnson informed the council a letter of financial commitment was received from Bandera Stone for the Mural Grant as part of the grant application.  Grant application was submitted 4/17/2023.

 

She asked City’s insurance agent if Old Settlers Committee was required to have event insurance or would the City’s policy cover the event.  He said the Old Settlers Committee needs to have their own event policy.  This was passed on to the committee.  Johnson will inquire about cost of a policy for the committee.

 

 

COUNCIL REPORT

Councilman Ervin – wanted to know if the ball association is allowed to use the lights for practices.  After discussion Johnson will send message to President and Vice-President of association the lights can be used for organization practices, only when needed and last coach of the day is responsible for making sure they are shut off.

Councilwoman Esslinger – nothing

Councilman Hartman – nothing

Councilwoman Kelly – wanted to make sure we have enough chemical for mosquitos.  Yes, we do.

Councilman Stewart – absent

Mayor Jurgensen – hired Cindy Mumbower as the new custodian/water sampler.  She started last week.

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Esslinger, Approved 5-0 to provide rock for the culvert extension at Chaffin and the alley west of Franklin

 

He also found someone to haul off the big rock at the railroad right-of-way and north of the pond.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Placemaking Project – Committee met on May 3 and doesn’t recommend outdoor exercise equipment.  Doesn’t feel it is cost effective.  They said yes to the pickleball court, possibly a community garden was discussed.  Healthy Bourbon County Action Team will be here for the June meeting to discuss the key findings from the community perception survey and have a “Community Conversation” for the project.

 

Motion by Danea, Second by Hartman , Approved 4-0, to solicit quotes for a 30’X60’X6” concrete slab with fiberglass rebar and light broom finish for the pickleball court

 

American Rescue Plan Act update –Annual Project and Expenditure report was submitted on 4/17/2023.  Mayor Jurgensen suggested capping the scales instead of removing and building ramp over cap on south side of warehouse before skinning and installing new rollup doors.

 

KMGA/MMGA Prepay project – have not received anything yet from KMGA.

 

Street repairs/resurfacing – Three bids were received for the project and opened (bid tabulation attached).

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Esslinger, Approved 4-0 to award base bid plus alternate bid to Bettis Asphalt for the total amount of $175,597.19

 

NEW BUSINESS

None

 

Moved by Ervin, Second by Hartman, Approved 4-0, to adjourn at 9:15PM

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Rural Workforce Summit: June 22

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Sending on behalf of Chamber Member
Bourbon County Redi…
Rural Workforce Summit
The Rural Workforce Summit will feature seven nationally recognized industry leaders in workforce development, who will share their insights and expertise. This diverse group of speakers will offer valuable knowledge and practical strategies that can benefit individuals and businesses alike.
We have arranged a block of discounted hotel rooms at the Sleep Inn exclusively for summit attendees. If you have any out of town employees or executives who may choose to stay overnight before the event, they will gain unprecedented access to a networking event with all of the speakers. This exclusive opportunity allows for one-on-one conversations with each of the speakers, fostering valuable connections and insights.
To ensure your participation, please RSVP by June 19th by using the QR code on the attached flyer or the Eventbrite link in this email. We kindly request a nominal admission fee of $20, which includes lunch and a continental breakfast provided during the event.
Date: June 22, 2023 Time: 7:15 AM – 1:00 PM
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701
Opinion

The Paralysis of Fear by Patty LaRoche

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Patty LaRoche. 2023

Melanie and her husband, Beau, picked me up at the Philadelphia airport and drove us to our hotel in Wilmington, Delaware, where I would deliver a TEDx talk the following afternoon.  A “Meet and Greet” was scheduled that evening which was where Melanie introduced me to some of the other speakers. I then realized what a nerve-wracking ordeal this really was.

I met entrepreneurs, Google masters, scientists, life coaches, geniuses.  Several were there with their agents and support staff who would be in the audience, assuring a standing ovation for their friend.  I was there with…well, me.  Close friends had asked to come, but I had chosen to go it alone.  Now I wasn’t so sure that was a grand plan.

One lady, a psychoanalyst, shared that she had submitted four videos to the TED organizers.  All were rejected.  She hired an audio coach.  A speech coach.  A videographer.  A make-up person.  Only then was she accepted.  I had done none of that.  Melanie Burris, a recruiter for this platform, had orchestrated this opportunity for me. Until then, I had no idea how much people needed this talk to advance their positions in the workplace.

I was to speak at 3:30. By noon, they were an hour behind, so they shortened lunch and omitted the afternoon break (which came one speaker before me).  From backstage, I sensed the audience was lethargic for the two speakers preceding me.  Not good.  My opening line, intended to get a laugh, got none.  This was an uphill battle I had not intended.  Within the first two minutes, I messed up a sentence.  My recovery was not stellar.  The next “humorous” section caused a few chuckles but not what I had hoped for.

Maybe I needed a stun gun.  Or a trap door that would swallow me whole.

Suggestions made by friends (Suck on a lemon drop; drink tons of water with electrolytes; have no caffeine) had helped, so at least I hadn’t passed out or had my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, but I was not capturing my audience.   I reminded myself that God had allowed this opportunity and visualized Jesus standing beside me. My biggest fan was on that stage with me.   Friends were praying for me.  The audience needed to hear this message about the rewards of rejection.

When I came to the next funny part, I was shocked to hear people laughing…hard.  From that point on, they continued to do so. At the end, several stood to applaud, and at the after-party, many introduced themselves and made kind comments. A thousand-pound weight was lifted from my shoulders, most which came from me having no idea what to expect when I first said “yes” to memorizing this speech.

The unknown is so ridiculously…unknown, isn’t it?  Several times before this talk, I considered backing out, but when I thought of the people praying for me, trusting that God had a purpose (perhaps to teach me humility?), I knew that I could not let Fear win.  Fear can paralyze.

One of my close friends recently shared that she avoids large crowds because of an experience with a cruel teacher who called her to the front of her fifth-grade class and demanded an answer. When the student froze, she had to hold her hands out for the teacher to strike each palm with a ruler.  All while her classmates watched. To date, she is fifty-five years old and is terrified of crowds. God wants differently.

“Fear not” is written 365 times in the Bible.  Obviously fear is a problem God wants us to overcome. One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 41:13: For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.  The coolest thing is—He does.  We just have to be willing to give Him a chance.

Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Randy Nichols

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Fort Scott Emergency Room

Attending a recent meeting I was reminded how critical Emergency Room (ER) services are to our community.  As you recall, recently a man with a gun was reported near the middle school.

In response to that report our ER staff immediately took the initiative to begin preparing for the nightmare of a mass shooting.  Local staff checked vital supplies like blood, IV fluids and medical equipment.  They also coordinated with the Ascension Via Christi Pittsburg emergency response team.

This resulted in additional staff being notified, the referring ER being prepared and even notification of emergency air transport that sent a helicopter to Ft. Scott for emergency standby.

Fortunately, there was no shooting.  My point however, is two-fold.

First, to say thank you to our local staff and to the team at AVC-P for being here and prepared.

Second though is to remind us, as a community, of the critical importance of having an Emergency Room in Ft. Scott.

While there was no mass shooting, our community is not immune to acts of violence, natural disasters, accidents from sports, to farm, to industrial, to motor vehicle, medical emergencies like stroke and heart attack and all the other emergencies that require a fully operational ER and cannot be handled at an urgent care facility.

Having an emergency room is a critically important foundational piece of our community’s health care.

 

Please take this letter for what it is meant to be.  A reminder to ourselves and our elected officials of how important an ER is to safeguard our medical security.

Realize also it is critical to our future economic well-being.  Not having Emergency Room services would impact the ability to both maintain and attract people, business and industry.

We as a community have helped finance other health care.  At some point we may need to do the same to secure our ER.  Let’s appreciate having this service and not forget it’s importance.  We’ve lost a hospital, let’s not lose an ER.  We must be ready to step up to the plate.

 

Randy Nichols MD

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

U234 Special Meeting at 8 a.m. on May 19

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Unified School District 234

424 South Main

Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697

www.usd234.org

620-223-0800   Fax 620-223-2760

 

 

DESTRY BROWN                                                                                                                                                        

Superintendent                                                                                                                                            

 

 

 

 

BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING

MAY 19, 2023 – 8:00 A.M.

AGENDA SUMMARY

1.0       Call Meeting to Order                                  Danny Brown, President

 

2.0       Flag Salute

 

3..0      Other Business – Personnel Matters

3.1       Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)

3.2       Exit Executive Session

3.3       Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)

 

           

4.0       Adjourn Meeting

                        President Brown

Fort Scott, Housing

House To Be Auctioned To Benefit Fort Scott Parks

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Chris Yoder, Devon, and three of his sons, Melvin, Willard and Joseph, work on stabilizing the roof of the  house at 1311 S. National in January 2018.
1311 S. National Avenue, May 2023.

 

The vacant house at 1311 S. National Avenue has the beginning work of rehabilitation done by several volunteers and others.

 

“We were notified by the Fort Scott Codes Department in 2017 of a house on National that they thought could be rehabbed,” said Carolyn Sinn, a member of the Youth Activity Team, which took on the project to repair then sell the house to benefit Fort Scott’s Ellis Park.

A veteran living in the home at the time was relocated.

“He was relocated with help from a lot of people in the community,” Sinn said. “To a quality place.”

The city thought the house was salvageable and YAT paid $4, 101 for it, which included the prior years taxes, she said.

The Youth Activities Team, the Good Neighbor Action Team and the Fort Scott Fire Department helped with the demolition, Sinn said.

A new roof and windows (paid for by Peerless Products, Fort Scott) were put on the house.

“We hired Amish carpenters to repair the porch and stabilize the garage,” she said. “Jeff Allen did some electrical work for us a donation.”

Then the COVID-19 Pandemic happened.

“The work got stopped,” she said. “During COVID, materials got out of control.”

All together they have invested approximately $26,000 in the house.

“When it was over, we looked at it again and decided to sell the house and hopefully get it back on the tax rolls,” Sinn said.

The YAT asked the City of Fort Scott to auction it off and any money made will be transferred to the parks committee, to be used for sensory park equipment, she said. Sensory equipment allows more easily accessed playgrounds for children of all abilities.

The City of Fort Scott voted to allow the YAT to sell the house at the commission meeting on May 16, 2023.

The original YAT was comprised of Sinn, Eric Bailey, Laura George, Tom Roberts, Paul Martin, Larry Fink and Diana Mitchell.

Following the sale of the house, the YAT will be dissolved, Sinn said.

“We have a lot of enthusiastic people in the community now,” she said.

Through the years YAT has raised money for upgrades and improvement to Ellis Park, on 12th Street, near the Fort Scott Middle School.

They installed lighting, put in a sand volleyball court, a basketball court, a walking trail, and UMB Bank helped with building a pavilion at the park.

“With the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team we raised $37,600 for the sensory equipment in the park,” Sinn said. “That money we gave to the city parks committee for sensory equipment in the park on Dec. 14, 2022.”

 

 

Obituary

Obituary of Harriet Ross

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Harriet Ann Ross, age 93, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Ft. Scott.  She was born November 27, 1929, in Topeka, Kansas, the daughter of Lancelot Jameison and Ivalu Thompson Jamieson.  Harriet graduated high school in Prairie Village, Kansas and went on to graduate from Park College in Kansas City.

Harriet loved dancing.  In earlier years she danced professionally and also taught ballet and tap dancing.  She married William L. Ross on May 14, 1955.  As Bill was an air traffic controller, Harriet followed him around the world where he was employed at various airports.  Harriet and Bill made their home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Puerto Rico; Panama; Nashville, Tennessee and Wichita, Kansas.

Harriet had been employed for TWA, and as a district manager for Sarah Coventry costume jewelry, and as an office manager for various psychologists.  Following retirement, they moved to Florida.  While living in Florida, Harriet’s love of dance was rekindled, and she organized and taught a dancing group that performed at various community events.  Later in life, Bill and Harriet relocated to Ft. Scott, Kansas to be near family.

Survivors include her husband of sixty-eight years, William, of the home; a son, Mike Ross (Mimi) of Ft. Scott, Kansas and two grandchildren, Krista Park (Matt) and Luke Ross and four great-grandchildren, Jovie, Kenley, Noble and Kansas Park.  Also surviving is a daughter-in-law, Willow Ross of Wichita, Kansas.

Harriet was preceded in death by a son, Steven Ross, her parents, and an infant sister, Janet.

Following cremation, burial will take place at a later date at the Liberty Cemetery in Warrensburg, Missouri.

Local arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com

Business, Fort Scott

Recent Industrial Park Business: Jurassic Fireworks

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Cindy Delise straightens up a shelf in the Jurassic Park Retail Store in the Fort Scott Industrial Park on May 12.

Summer is almost here and the 4th of July is the keystone event of the season for many people

Fireworks are a big component in celebrating the independence from Britain in 1776, that the day commemorates.

Fort Scott has its own distributor of fireworks, since October 2021, in the industrial park just off of Hwy. 69, south of the city.

The Jurassic Park Fireworks retail store at 4500 Campbell Drive.

Jurassic Fireworks, 4500 Campbell Drive, sells both wholesale and retail fireworks. This building is the former site of Firstsource Solutions.

The business is owned by a father-daughter partnership of Frank and Bree Elliot, Colorado.

“This is a family run business, started by his father in 1965,” said Cindy Delise, Fort Scott, who mans the business here, and whose title is distributor.

“I’m the only employee here currently, but we are taking applications for the season,” she said.

The fireworks season is June 26 to July 6 in Fort Scott. During that time the hours are 8 a.m. to midnight.

Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. the rest of the year, Delise said.

Jurassic Fireworks, Fort Scott, can be reached at (919) 369-8710.

They have retail stores in Wyoming, Colorado, Missouri, Texas and Indiana, as well.

Bourbon County Local News