Fort Scott, Government

Water Levels Lowered Next Week at Lake Fort Scott During Drought

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Lake Fort Scott is located southwest of Fort Scott on Indian Road.

Drought conditions continue in parts of the nation, including Bourbon County, with no helpful rainfall here since June.

In response to the drought condition, the City of Fort Scott Water Production anticipates releasing water from Lake Fort Scott beginning next week, according to a press release from the City of Fort Scott.  This will help to supplement the water already being released from both Cedar Creek and Rock Creek lakes to the Marmaton River.

“The water from Lake Fort Scott goes to Rock Creek, then to the Marmaton River, then to the water treatment plant,” Brad Matkin, assistant city manager said. “The river needs to maintain 10 foot of depth. We have taken water out of Cedar Creek. We are trying to spread it so we don’t put the three reservoirs at levels to damage something.”

The Fort Scott Water Treatment Plant treats an average of 2.6 million gallons of drinking water a day, for not only  city residents,  but also most of Bourbon County, according  to https://www.fscity.org/199/Water-Treatment-Plant.

Brad Matkin. Submitted photo.

There is precipitation forecast on Oct. 24 and 25, but just a chance showers, according to the National Weather Service.

It is impossible to know when precipitation will relieve current drought conditions, or how much water will be required from the three available reservoirs, “but several days of rain are needed,” Matkin said.

“There is not an exact date when we are going to start lowering the water in Lake Fort Scott, possibly Oct. 25, we just wanted to give notice,” Matkin said.

Lake Fort Scott  residents are encouraged to secure docks as needed in anticipation of possible lowering of lake levels.

“The water release will lower lake levels,” Matkin said. “If lake residents have a floating dock, they need to tie them up.”

It’s important that the City of Fort Scott  keeps the Marmaton River at adequate levels so treatment systems can  continue to deliver drinking water, according to the press release.

The city is fortunate to have theses water sources and infrastructure available, according to the press release.

The city staff ask for patience and understanding of this process, according to the press release.

“At this time, the water lowering of Lake Fort Scott will not affect city residents,” Matkin said.

Fort Scott supplies water for the majority of Bourbon County, as well as parts of Crawford, Allen, and Vernon Counties, according to the press release.

Government, Schools

U235 Special Board Meeting on Oct. 24

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Uniontown Unified School District No. 235

 SPECIAL MEETING Monday, October 24, 2022, 7:30 p.m. in the UHS Board of Education Room Uniontown, Kansas

UNIONTOWN USD 235 601 Fifth Uniontown, Kansas 66779

TELEPHONE: 620-756-4302 FAX: 620-756-4492

Associate Superintendent Vance Eden

Board of Education Clerk Sherri Hartman Deputy Clerk Charlene Bolinger

Attendance Centers West Bourbon Elementary Uniontown Junior and Senior High School

October 20, 2022

TO: USO 235 Board of Education Members FROM: Sherri Hartman, Clerk of the Board

This letter is to serve as your official notice·of the SPECIAL board meeting to be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 24, 2022, in the Board of Education room.

Board of Education Jason Sutterby, President * Mike Mason, Vice-President * Sally Johnson * Troy Goodridge* Josh Hartman * Brian Stewart * Tyler Martin

UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 235 UNIONTOWN, KANSAS BOARD OF EDUCATION AGENDA

  1. Call to Order
    1. Flag Salute
    2. Approve the Agenda C Mission Statement.
  2. Facility Survey Presentation by Shelly Kiblinger

Next regular board meeting date is Monday, November 14, 2022 at 7:30.

Government, Kansas

KDOT Asks For Comments on Transportation Improvement Plan

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KDOT requesting comments on STIP amendment
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) requests comments on an amendment to the FFY 2023-2026 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) document.

The STIP is a project specific publication that lists all KDOT administered projects, regardless of funding source, and includes projects for counties and cities as well as projects on the State Highway System. The list of projects being amended to the STIP can be viewed at http://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burProgProjMgmt/stip/stip.asp.

Along with the project listing is Administrative Modification #1 for updates to the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Programs narrative section and for the creation of Appendix D for the inclusion of RAISE grant awards that are not administered by KDOT with no involvement, oversight or stewardship of funds provided by KDOT.

The approval of the STIP amendment requires a public comment period, which concludes Nov 2. To make comments on the amendment, contact KDOT’s Division of Program and Project Management at (785) 296-3254.

This information is available in alternative accessible formats. To obtain an alternative format, contact the KDOT Division of Communications, (785) 296-3585 (Voice/Hearing Impaired-711).
Obituary

Obituary of Dale Johnson

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Dale Gene Johnson, age 85, a resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at Via Christi Medical Center in Pittsburg, KS. He was born August 20, 1937, in Ft. Scott, the son of Buford and Evelyn Goodrick Johnson.

He graduated from Mound City high school with the class of 1955. Dale joined the Army following high school and served 4 years in Germany.

He married Charlotte Sears in April of 1978 in Mound City, KS. He worked for Rural Electric in Iola, KS, and City Maintenance and the public school system in New Mexico. Dale and his wife Charlotte ministered to the Navajo and Apache people in New Mexico and Arizona for 15 years.

Dale enjoyed his guns, woodworking, construction, attending auctions, and his dogs and cats. He was a member of the Gideons and the Bethel Community Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife Charlotte of the home; 2 children, Rebecca Johnson and husband Mark Thorndike, Anchorage, AK, and Dan Johnson and wife Jill, Lubbock, TX; 4 step-children, Robert Barkdoll and wife Pat, Galesburg, IL, Rick Barkdoll and wife Tammy, Chanute, KS, Michelle Hoyt and husband James, Austin, TX, and Donna Tippie Taylor, Blue Springs, MO; a step son-in-law Vern Crawshaw, Altoona, KS; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a daughter Sally Ann Johnson; a stepdaughter, Teresa Crawshaw; and three brothers, Eddie, Richard, and Russell Johnson.

Pastor Ben Heffernan will conduct funeral services at 2:00 PM Friday, October 21st, at the Bethel Community Baptist Church.

Burial will follow in the Woodland Cemetery Mound City.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to either Gideons or Bethel Community Baptist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Doug Niemeir

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THE TIME HAS COME

November 8 marks the next general election – 2022 edition. This is our chance as U.S. citizens to influence our government, to perhaps change the direction of some of the unreasonable (devoid of any commonsense or moral standing) measures that have been pushed upon us in the last few years.

If anyone ever tells you that your vote does not count, ignore them.  This is exactly the time for every citizen to go vote and have some impact on what is happening to our nation through our governmental entities.

I do have some observations of the current political/election activity:

  • There are a lot of lies out there about issues as well as candidates that are being publicized widely, while real facts about both are hard to find – sometimes even suppressed. Unfortunately, we can no longer simply look to sources that in the past we may have trusted to be truthful and objective.

 

  • Therefore, voters need to put in the time it takes to research and truly understand the relevant issues and candidates; then evaluate which candidate best fits your and your family’s values and morals and vote accordingly. Don’t be distracted by a party label or the bombardment of loud voices telling you what you should think and how you should vote.

So, voters, interpret this letter as an encouragement to vote.  I think many of us are seeing things happening in our country that we never thought we would see – and don’t want to see – in the United States of America.  Now is our chance to do something about it, but we must vote!

Where our country is as a world power, an economic power, and a free country is at stake.  This is not the time be let down your family, community, state, country, and, not to be overlooked, your God!  We cannot be silent!

Cast your vote on November 8!  Don’t sit this one out!

PS: for a look at the complete ballot for a registered voter:

**do a Google search for the “Kansas Secretary of State”,

**click on Elections,

** scroll down to Voter View and click,

** enter applicable information and click Look Up,

** scroll down to Sample Ballot and click.  This should be the ballot you will see on the 8th.

Be sure to look over the two state constitution amendments on page 2 of the ballot.  It looks like these could be positive additions to this document.

 

A Fellow American,

Doug Niemeir

Fort Scott

Third Street Park: Getting New Life

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Third Street Park on Fort Scott’s east side is seeing some improvements thanks to a few local organizations.

Kiwanian Ralph Reed prepares to put another sheet of siding in place on the bathrooms. Submitted photo.

The project was taken on by Fort Scott Kiwanis and started a few weeks ago, President John Crain said.

“We divided up into groups of 3-4 people to work on a project,” Crain said. “They could get together whenever they could.”

Bathrooms were painted inside and out, and siding replaced.

“We  have all the lights fixed in the bathrooms, the city will do work after that,” he said. Sinks are to be put in the bathrooms, which have just had toilets in the past.

Kiwanians John Crain and Josh Jones paint the bathroom at Third Street Park. Submitted photo.
The Third Street Park bathroom before improvements. Submitted photo.
The bathroom after. Submitted photo.

On the basketball court the backboard was repainted, the goal and net replaced and the lane repainted.

The basketball court before the improvements. Submitted photo.
The basketball court after the improvements. Submitted photo.

The park’s swing set was repainted, the jungle gym was power washed and sealed.

Kiwanian Dave Bruner paints the swing set. Submitted photo.
The swing set before the repainting. Submitted photo.
The swing set after the improvements. Submitted photo.
Kiwanian Brad Blubaugh paints the swing set. Submitted photo.
The jungle gym before improvements. Submitted photo.
The jungle gym after improvements. Submitted photo.

The park benches and picnic tables were power washed and the pavilion repainted.

Picnic tables before. Submitted photo.
Picnic tables after. Submitted photo.
Kiwanian Bob Eckles prepares to paint a pavilion column. Submitted photo.
The pavilion before. Submitted photo.
The park pavilion after. Submitted photo.
Kiwanian Mark McCoy painting a pavilion column. Submitted photo.

Fort Scott Kiwanis Club furnished the man-power, and a few  philanthropy groups funded the materials.

“Funding for the 3rd Street Park improvements and Placemaking Project is being provided by The Patterson Family Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas as a part of The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant,” according to a HBCAT press release.

The Kiwanis men are not finished yet.

“We still have to get the electric meter pulled away from the bathrooms south wall to install it’s siding, and paint it,” John Crain, president of Kiwanis said.  “We need to do some touch up painting on the bathrooms, finish painting the pavilion and cut down and remove a dead tree and low hanging branches over some of the buildings.”

 

Bourbon County, Government

Uniontown City Council Meeting Minutes of Oct. 11

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The Regular Council Meeting on October 11, 2022 at Uniontown City Hall, was called to order at 7:00PM by Mayor Jurgensen.  Council members present were Jess Ervin, Danea Esslinger (7:02), Amber Kelly, and Bradley Stewart.  Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting were Raymond George (Uniontown Ruritan), Kyle Knight (Knight’s Tree Service), City Superintendent Bobby Rich, City Codes Enforcement Officer Doug Coyan, City Treasurer Charlene Bolinger, and City Clerk Sally Johnson.

 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS

Ruritan Bathroom Project, Raymond “Skeet” George – Painting is supposed to be finished, electrician should be in next week.  He is trying to get LACO to donate the guttering.  Hopeful to have it finished by next month.  Clerk Johnson asked what times they wanted to have the locks set to unlock/lock – during central standard time, 7am-5pm, during central daylight time, 7am-10pm.  Signage for the doors needs to be ordered.  Council directed clerk to order blue background with braille.

 

Kyle Knight, Knight’s Tree Service, suggested trimming tree canopy over Washington Street from First Street to Seventh Street, Sherman Street from Fifth Street to Sixth Street, and the one tree on Sixth Street west of Methodist Church.

 

Motion by Kelly, Second by Ervin, Approved 4-0 to get quotes for trimming canopy over Washington Street from First Street to Seventh Street, Sherman Street from Fifth Street to Sixth Street, and the one tree on Sixth Street west of Methodist Church to a height of 18’ and back from street to main trunk and to be able to start within 10 days, not to exceed $3,500.

 

CITIZENS REQUEST

East Coast Trip Fundraiser – a group of junior high students are raising funds to take a trip to Washington DC, Mount Vernon, and Gettysburg in July 2023.  They are asking for donations to defray the cost.  The City of Uniontown historically does not donate tax revenue to fundraisers except the Send Off Seniors after graduation party.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Treasurer Bolinger presented the September 2022 Treasurer’s Report.  Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds was $363,858.59, Receipts $42,963.45, Transfers Out $3,026.00, Expenditures $35,368.83, Checking Account Closing Balance $368,427.21. Bank Statement Balance $369,935.26, including Checking Account Interest of $30.37, Outstanding Deposits $0, Outstanding Checks $1,508.05, Reconciled Balance $368,427.21.  Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit $30,127.37, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $18,621.26, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $28,406.10, Total All Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $445,581.94. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $269.90, and Utility CDs $253.30 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $523.20.  Also included the status of the Projects Checking Account for the month of September 2022, Beginning Balance $0, Receipts $0, Expenditures $0, Ending Balance $0.  September Transfers from Sewer Utility Fund to Sewer Revolving Loan $1,402.00; from Water Utility Fund to GO Water Bond & Interest $1,624.00, Total Transfers of $3,026.00.  Net Income for the month of September $4,568.62, Year-to-Date Net Income $44,683.71.  Budget vs Actual Water Fund YTD Revenue $86,225.64 (81.8%), Expenditures $82,163.60 (62.9%); Sewer Fund YTD Revenue $26,324.90 (73.7%), Expenditures $28,239.03 (68.9%); Gas Fund YTD Revenue $105,077.39 (75.3%), Expenditures $111,413.74 (45.4%); General Fund YTD Revenue $127,710.65 (99.4%), Expenditures $109,019.30 (66.0%); and Special Highway YTD Revenue $5625.70 (82.1%), Expenditures $7,768.61 (73.1%).  The October 2022 estimated payables in the amount of $33,126.10 were presented.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

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

  • Minutes of September 13, 2022, Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing, Budget Hearing and Regular Council Meeting
  • Treasurer’s Report, Monthly Transaction Report & Accounts Payables

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Lead and Copper additional sample results have been received.  KDHE has invalidated the first sample results from 601 Fifth St and replaced it with the new sample results.  They will not accept the two additional samples as they are not on our approved site sampling plan.  KDHE is hosting a Public Meeting for Public Water Supply Lead and Copper Rule Implementation.  Clerk Johnson asked if Superintendent Rich and she could attend on October 12, 2022 in Chanute from 1-3PM.  Council gave permission for both to attend.

The east rollup door at the barn will not raise – one of the overhead springs is broken and both springs need replaced.  Codes Enforcement Officer Coyan will forward some recommendations for making repairs.

Rich thanked the Council for the vacation time.

 

Codes Enforcement Officer Coyan reported Smith Estate demolition is progressing and he feels they should have completed by the end of the month.

 

Clerk Johnson reminded Council that the November regular meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday, November 15, 7PM.  Councilmember Ervin and Kelly will be unable to attend.

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 4-0 to reschedule November regular meeting on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, 7PM due to possible lack of quorum.

 

Clerk Johnson will post the rescheduled date and put in the newsletter and on the billing cards.

Bourbon County REDI Visioning Session II was rescheduled to October 12, 2022, 5:30PM, at Uniontown High School Commons Area.  RSVP by 10/10/22.  Jurgensen, Ervin, Stewart, and maybe Esslinger will attend.  Johnson will post the possible quorum attending and that no city business will be discussed.  She will also RSVP even though date has passed.

 

COUNCIL REPORT

Councilman Ervin – his Midwest Fertilizer email is no longer valid as he has changed jobs.

Councilwoman Esslinger – nothing

Councilman Hartman – absent

Councilwoman Kelly – has anyone claimed the stray black/white collie mix?  Animal Control Officer has been trying to catch, but unable to get close enough.

Councilman Stewart – has some recommendations for outdoor exercise equipment.

Mayor Jurgensen –USD 235 has some surplus chairs that they are giving away.  He had Rich get all he could for the Community Center, 54.  We will check to see if there is going to be any more available, then decide what to do with the metal folding chairs we currently have.

 

OLD BUSINESS

School Pond Project – Per Don George, KDWPT, we do not have to send out for bids again.  Two quotes were received for the placement of riprap – Eden Landscaping, $20,540, and Mix Contracting, $9,360.

 

Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 4-0 to award contract to Mix Contracting, $9,360

 

Timing of starting will have to be coordinated with Bourbon County Public Works (supplying 4”-6” rock) and Mix Contracting.

 

Placemaking Survey – Mayor Jurgensen has formed a committee for selecting outdoor exercise equipment and will be meeting soon.

 

American Rescue Plan Act update – no other quotes were received for the ADA restroom upgrade at City Hall.  Clerk Johnson will reach out to French Plumbing to see if he is still interested in submitting a quote.

 

Trunk or Treat is scheduled for October 31.  Clerk Johnson purchased three bags of mini tootsie pops.  Amber Kelly will distribute on behalf of the City.  Flu Shot Clinic, Monday, October 17 at Community Center.  November 1, KMU will conduct a water training on Lead and Copper Revised Rule and Surface Water Treatment.

 

NEW BUSINESS

None

 

Moved by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 4-0, to adjourn at 8:43PM

Government

USDA Assists Distressed Farm Loan Borrowers

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USDA Provides Payments of nearly $800 Million in Assistance to Help Keep Farmers Farming

 

Immediate Help for Over 13,000 Distressed USDA Farm Loan Borrowers;

Begins Process to Provide up to $500 Million More for Up to 23,000 Additional Borrowers

 

WASHINGTON, October 18, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that distressed borrowers with qualifying USDA farm loans have already received nearly $800 million in assistance, as part of the $3.1 billion in assistance for distressed farm loan borrowers provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA directed USDA to expedite assistance to distressed borrowers of direct or guaranteed loans administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) whose operations face financial risk.

 

Today’s announcement kicks off a process to provide assistance to distressed farm loan borrowers using several complementary approaches, with the goal of keeping them farming, removing obstacles that currently prevent many of these borrowers from returning to farming, and improving the way that USDA approaches borrowing and servicing. Through this assistance, USDA is focused on generating long-term stability and success for distressed borrowers.

 

“Through no fault of their own, our nation’s farmers and ranchers have faced incredibly tough circumstances over the last few years,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The funding included in today’s announcement helps keep our farmers farming and provides a fresh start for producers in challenging positions.”

 

Work has already started to bring some relief to distressed farmers. As of today, over 13,000 borrowers have already benefited from the resources provided under the Inflation Reduction Act as follows:

 

  • Approximately 11,000 delinquent direct and guaranteed borrowers had their accounts brought current. USDA also paid the next scheduled annual installment for these direct loan borrowers giving them peace of mind in the near term.
  • Approximately 2,100 borrowers who had their farms foreclosed on and still had remaining debt have had this debt resolved in order to cease debt collections and garnishment relieving that burden that has made getting a fresh start more difficult.

In addition to the automatic assistance already provided, USDA has also outlined steps to administer up to an additional $500 million in payments to benefit the following distressed borrowers:

 

  • USDA will administer $66 million in separate automatic payments, using COVID-19 pandemic relief funds, to support up to 7,000 direct loan borrowers who used FSA’s disaster-set-aside option during the pandemic to move their scheduled payments to the end of their loans.
  • USDA is also initiating two case-by-case processes to provide additional assistance to farm loan borrowers. Under the first new process, FSA will review and assist with delinquencies from 1,600 complex cases, including cases in which borrowers are facing bankruptcy or foreclosure. The second new process will add a new option using existing direct loan servicing criteria to intervene more quickly and help an estimated 14,000 financially distressed borrowers who request assistance to avoid even becoming delinquent.

More details on each of the categories of assistance, including a downloadable fact sheet, are available on the Inflation Reduction Act webpage on farmers.gov.

 

Similar to other USDA assistance, all of these payments will be reported as income and borrowers are encouraged to consult their tax advisors. USDA also has resources and partnerships with cooperators who can provide additional assistance and help borrowers navigate the process.

 

The announcement today is only the first step in USDA’s efforts to provide assistance to distressed farm loan borrowers and respond to farmers and to improve the loan servicing efforts at USDA by adding more tools and relaxing unnecessary restrictions. Additional announcements and investments in assistance will be made as USDA institutes these additional changes and improvements.

 

This effort will ultimately also include adding more tools and relaxing unnecessary restrictions through assistance made possible by Congress through the IRA. Further assistance and changes to the approach will be made in subsequent phases.

 

Background

 

USDA provides access to credit to approximately 115,000 producers who cannot obtain sufficient commercial credit through direct and guaranteed farm loans, which do not include farm storage facility loans or marketing assistance loans.  With the funds and direction Congress provided in Section 22006 of IRA, USDA is taking action to immediately provide relief to qualifying distressed borrowers whose operations are at financial risk while working on making transformational changes to how USDA goes about loan servicing in the long run so that borrowers are provided the flexibility and opportunities needed to address the inherent risks and unpredictability associated with agricultural operations and remain in good financial standing.

 

In January 2021, USDA suspended foreclosures and other adverse actions on direct farm loans due to the pandemic and encouraged guaranteed lenders to follow suit. Last week, USDA reiterated this request to guaranteed lenders to provide time for the full set of IRA distressed borrower assistance to be made available before lenders take irreparable actions.

 

Producers can explore available loan options using the Farm Loan Discovery Tool on farmers.gov (also available in Spanish) or by contacting their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also call the FSA call center at 877-508-8364 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern. USDA has tax-related resources available at farmers.gov/taxes.

 

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

 

 

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

 

Bourbon County Local News