Fort Scott Community College, Government

FSCC Board of Trustees Minutes of Dec. 14, 2020

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FORT SCOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting, December 14, 2020
PRESENT: John Bartelsmeyer, Jim Fewins (via Zoom), Dave Elliott (via Zoom), Kirk Hart (via Zoom), Bill Meyer (via Zoom), and Robert Nelson (via Zoom for executive session and closing of meeting)

ALSO PRESENT: Alysia Johnston, President, Juley McDaniel, Board Clerk (via Zoom), and staff

Chairman Bartelsmeyer called the meeting to order at 5:40 pm. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR: None.
CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was made by Fewins, seconded by Meyer, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the consent agenda.

ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:
A. A motion was made by Meyer, seconded by Hart, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the sale of the she-shed constructed by Construction Trades program students at CTEC.
B. A motion was made by Elliott, seconded by Fewins, and carried by unanimous vote to approve the disposal of all broken, damaged, or non-functional technology equipment.
C. A motion was made by Meyer, seconded by Elliott, and carried by unanimous vote to accept the cloud based phone system proposal from Allegiant.

REPORTS:
A. ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES: The Board reviewed and heard reports from Miami County Campus, Student Services, Student Affairs and Athletics, Instruction, Finance and Operations, Development, and the President.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: A motion was made by Elliott, seconded by Hart, and carried by unanimous vote to adjourn to executive session for thirty minutes beginning at 6:25 pm for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property. At 6:55 pm a motion was made by Hart, seconded by Nelson, and carried by unanimous vote to return to open session.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Trustees, a motion to adjourn was made at 6:57 p.m. by Meyer, seconded by Elliott, and carried by unanimous vote.

 

To view the entire board of trustees packet, click here.

1.25.21 Consent Agenda(1)

Bourbon County, Schools, Sports

UHS BASKETBALL GAME 8 RESULTS vs. ALTOONA-MIDWAY

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Adelay Martin. Submitted photo.

In the second game of the First Annual Kenny Holt Memorial Tournament, the Uniontown Eagles once again faced the Altoona-Midway Jets. Both teams fought hard and won against the Jets.

The Lady Eagles beat Altoona 59-27 on Thursday night. Karleigh Schoenberger scored 18 points, had 8 boards and 2 steals, and shot 5/5 from the free throw line. Danielle Howard followed closely with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Sammie Hampton had 5 rebounds and 5 steals, and Aiden Holt had 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. Kaydra Woods also had 2 assists, as well as 3 steals.

“Our team has been looking forward to this tournament since the season began,” said Coach Miller. “Tonight we earned the right to compete in the championship game. We’ve got what it takes, but it will take all we’ve got.”

The boys’ Varsity team also defeated the Jets 59-42. Jake Harvey scored 20 points and had 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. Clay Sutterby had 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 steals. Drew Perry had 5 assists and 6 steals, and Luke Perry had 3 assists.

“I thought we had stretches where we played pretty well tonight against Altoona. They are a good, young team that is improving every week,” Coach Hays said. “We were able to get out in transition early and that kind of got us going. Prairie View has some really good athletes, so we are excited about the chance to play those guys.”

-Adelay Martin, UHS Sports Media Reporter

Bourbon County, Government

Jim Harris Sworn In As County Commissioner

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Jim Harris, Bourbon County Commissioner, District 2.

Bourbon County Commissioner District 2 Jim Harris was sworn in on January 11, 2021.

” I plan on following through with my campaign promises,” Harris said. ” I believe it’s time for the Bourbon County citizens to be heard and for the government to represent the people with respect and provide transparency to our government.”

 

“I believe we have to visit with folks to fully understand what services they want and don’t want,” he said. “We are hoping to have a town hall meeting in March, if we can get warmer weather.”

 

“I would like to continue holding town hall meetings this year to give me the opportunity to visit with folks and to understand their concerns,” he said.

 

He said he enjoyed having a town hall meeting in Gunn Park, but if not perhaps the Empress Event Center, in downtown Fort Scott.

 

“I hope with our town hall meetings, folks will get involved in a positive way,” he said.

 

The commission is collaborating with other entities to provide services.

“We are working with the City of Fort Scott and our health care providers to continue providing long-term health care,” he said.

 

“I am excited that we have a new BEDCO (Bourbon County Ecomonic Development Council) committee with high expectations of moving forward with economic growth. If we can grow and expand our tax base and ensure efficient, responsible spending we can lower our mill levy.”

” We have begun working with the City of Fort Scott with shared services to reduce the cost of operations and to discontinue duplicated services,” Harris said.

 

“Another area of concern is our infrastructure, mainly bridges, that we must continue to fund and make necessary repairs to keep our roads open.  We currently have a ten-year road program and I plan on requesting we put together and ten-year ditching and bridge replacement program with adequate funding.”

 

Since being sworn in, he has one appointment added.

 

“To date I have been appointed as a member of the Lake Advisory Committee,” Harris said.

 

” In closing, I want to express my thanks for the folks that elected me,” he said.  “I will always be accessible and be a humbled servant of the folks that are my boss which is the citizens of Bourbon County.”

 

 

To view his candidate profile from July 2020:

Jim Harris: Candidate For Bourbon County Commission

 

 

Contact info is [email protected] and 620-224-0230.

Opinion

Pickleball by Patty LaRoche

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Patty LaRoche

 

“Steve” is an odd duck, and the first time Dave and I handed in our paperwork to join the Mazatlán Pickleball Club, his bossy, no-nonsense quack got on my nerves. As the group organizer, however, Steve deserves credit. He brings the six portable nets, keeps track of the paper work and dictates the times of each game. Lots of busy work that I would not enjoy doing.

This week Dave and I were ten minutes late arriving to the courts, at which time Steve used his 50-yard voice to boom to all 30 players, “Please arrive before 10:00 so the teams can be organized. Keep your masks on if you aren’t playing. And only if you are married can you stand closer than six-feet with each other. We socially distance here.”

Dave and I were sent to the beginner side of the courts but soon were told that we needed to go to the “other side” where the more advanced players competed. Pickle ball players recognized our skills. I was pumped.

Which didn’t last. We arrived just in time for new teams to be assigned, and guess who I got! Yep, bossy Steve. Fine, I thought. Now you’ll see that I know what I’m doing and I’m not a five-year old who needs to be scolded.

And for the next 12 minutes, I learned that, no matter what I did, it was wrong. WRONG– announced with that same, overbearing 50-yard voice. Even the team opposing us grimaced with every “teaching suggestion” Steve used to let me know how much I had to learn.

“Hit and advance.

You’re lagging. Hit and advance.

Toes two inches from the kitchen line.

You didn’t hit and advance.

Let me tell you again—toes two inches from the kitchen line and no more. You’re about three.

I will tell you this again…hit and advance.

There are seven reasons you must be two inches from the kitchen line. I will explain those to you later.” (Which he did).

Even when I made a good shot, according to my know-it-all partner, I made a bad choice. “Well, you got the point, but that wasn’t the wisest approach.” About six minutes into the set, I was shaking like the tail of an agitated rattlesnake. How dare he humiliate me in front of all these people! It was all I could do to not pinch Steve’s lips into a knot and share my expertise in how to communicate effectively. Even Dave later said that he felt sorry for me as he listened from the sidelines.

Following that game, one of the players apologized for Steve and then added, “You know he’s autistic, right? That’s why he has no social skills.”

And suddenly, I saw bossy Steve in a different light. He was functioning with a serious handicap. Granted, he could use some behavior modification techniques, but this wasn’t his fault. It was, however, my fault I was acting with such pride. Philippians 2:3 tells us to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility we are to value others above ourselves. I was not valuing Steve above myself.

That was about to change when, two sets later, he was on the other side of the net. I was able to praise him for his good shots, knowing that he surely enjoyed the compliments. I didn’t need Pickleball to be validated. What I did need was to learn that judging others based on how they make me feel is selfish, pointless, and prideful.

Steve had an excuse. What was mine?

Bourbon County, Fort Scott, Government

Susan Bancroft Assumes Duties as Bourbon County Business Manager

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The Bourbon County Courthouse.

In an effort to consolidate some business services in government, a business manager has signed on for the county, in addition to her duties at the City of Fort Scott.

 

Susan Bancroft started January 19, 2021, as the part-time Bourbon County Business Manager.

Susan Bancroft. Submitted photo.

 

She is currently the City of Fort Scott Finance Director.

Fort Scott City Hall.

 

“For many years, the city and county have had interlocal agreements in the area of public safety,” Bancroft said. “This has been a long positive relationship meeting the needs of both city and county residents.”

 

“A couple of years ago a task force was formed and has been researching ways to save taxpayer dollars through shared services between the city and county,” she said.  “Recently, the county commission determined there was a need for a part-time business director and approached the city to see if this could be a shared service opportunity.”

 

 

To view a prior story on the movement to consolidate government services:  https://fortscott.biz/news/bedco

 

 

In order for the relationship to work, Bancroft agreed to work her regular hours with the City of Fort Scott and an additional 20 hours for Bourbon County.

 

 

“My current position is based on a 40-hour workweek so this would be an additional 20 hours per week,” Bancroft said.

 

 

The Bourbon County Business Director will initially be responsible for assisting the commission in the development and analysis of budgets and reporting, human-resource-related issues and policy,  and also accounts payable and receivable for public works, she said. Additionally, she will be the interdepartmental liaison to build relationships and oversight. Additional duties are expected to be added over time.

 

 

Bancroft will be paid $115,000 per year by the city. The county will pay $60,000 to the city for Bancroft’s services, according to the agreement between the two.

 

The memorandum of understanding between the city and county ends Dec. 31, 2021, with possible renewal.

 

To view the agreement between the city and county:

DOC011421-01142021165840

 

 

 

“Some may look at this as additional dollars being spent at the county level,” she said. “However, some of the assigned duties will replace expenses already being incurred by the county through contractual services.”

 

 

 

“In addition, the City of Fort Scott will realize approximately $34,000 in savings due to the partnership,” Bancroft said.

 

 

Bancroft worked for the City of Fort Scott from 2005-2012 as the finance director and spent two of those years as the assistant city manager/finance director.

 

 

From 2012-2015 she worked for USD 234 as the business manager/clerk. In 2015, she took a position with NPC International as their human capital management director until 2019 when she returned to the City of Fort Scott once again, as the finance director.

“HCM  encompasses human resources, benefits, payroll, and compliance,” she said. “NPC employed 40,000 employees at the time of my employment.”

 

 

“The four years I was in the private sector I missed actively serving the community in which I lived,” she said.  “I am excited to use the knowledge I have gained over the past 20 years to evaluate processes, budgets, improve transparency and build relationships between the City and County and its constituents.”

 

 

“I strive to see the glass half full rather than half empty, always looking for opportunities to improve,” she said.  “One of my favorite quotes by Henry Ford is ‘Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.’  I believe the city and county leaders are working towards this collaboration and look forward to many more opportunities to share services to reduce the burden on taxpayers.”

 

 

Bancroft will have offices at both entities.

 

“The (county) commission is currently working on finding a small space for me,” she said.  “I am fortunate to also have the ability to work remotely.”

Obituary

Obituary of Erma J. Patterson

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Erma Josephine Patterson, 97, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 19, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin.  She had moved back to Fort Scott in October, after living in Atlanta, GA for the past fifty years.

Erma was born August 23, 1923 in Fort Scott to Everett and Opal Vanatta Esicks.  She attended schools in Ft. Scott and graduated high school during WWII.

She married William Byron Patterson “Pat” on May 22, 1949 in Fort Scott.  They later moved to Kansas City for a few years.  Pat was transferred to Des Moines, Chicago, and onto Atlanta with his job.

Erma retired from Alcoa Aluminum in Atlanta.  The couple were valued members of St. James United Methodist Church in Atlanta.

Preceding her in death were her husband Pat, her sister Marjorie Burch and husband Cliff, and her parents Opal and Everett Esicks.

Survivors include sister-in-law Janice Patterson, Fort Scott, nieces Susan Karleskint of Uniontown, KS and Mary and Brad Gregory of Springfield, MO.  Also surviving are six great nieces and nephews and seven great, great nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for the family will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 25, 2021, at the Cheney Witt Chapel in Ft. Scott, with burial following at Fort Scott National Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to St. James United Methodist Church in Atlanta and may be mailed directly to the church at 4400 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd., Ne, Atlanta, GA 30342 or 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.

Government, Kansas

Learn More About Broadband Development In Kansas

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Governor Laura Kelly, Department of Commerce Seek Public Input for Broadband Office Grant Program

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that the Kansas Department of Commerce has established an opportunity for the public to learn more about the Office of Broadband Development’s Broadband Acceleration Grant program and provide input on grant requests proposed for communities across Kansas.

The goal is to gather public input regarding the grant applications and associated service areas in an effort to ensure transparency in the broadband development process. The project proposals and proposed service area maps for each grant application are posted online, along with a public comment form for those wishing to express support or share concerns regarding a project.  These resources will be posted online through Feb. 1.

“Since I took office, my administration has been committed to promoting transparency and accountability in state government – and we want to ensure that Kansans are engaged when it comes to best practices regarding broadband development in our state,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Connectivity is one of our top priorities, and effectively funding projects across Kansas will be a critical part of this mission. I would encourage any Kansan who wants to participate in this process to send us a comment.”

Service providers are also encouraged to submit comments and corresponding documentation should an area proposed to be served already has service available, construction is underway or planned in areas proposed to be served and will be completed within 12 months. The comments and evidence provided will be considered in the evaluation of the Acceleration Grant applications and determining final investment awards.

“As we go through the process of funding broadband projects across Kansas, we need to hear from you,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “We are committed to transparency in everything we do. These funds are for establishing critical broadband infrastructure across Kansas, and we want input directly from people in our Kansas communities. If you have something to tell us about a proposed project near you, we’re listening.”

Commenters may be asked to provide additional information and/or work with the Kansas Office of Broadband Development (KOBD) to validate service availability. If a commenter is found to have submitted inaccurate information, comment submissions will be disregarded.

A link to the Public Comment page containing the proposed projects and associated proposed service area maps is available here.

Grant applicants that receive comments for their proposed project during the public comment period will have an opportunity to respond between Feb. 2-9.

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.

About the Kansas Office of Broadband Development

The Kansas Office of Broadband Development was established in 2020 to help ensure that all Kansans have the opportunity to live, work, learn and compete in a global economy by improving universal access to quality, affordable and reliable broadband. The Office is housed within the Community Development Division of the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Bourbon County, Schools, Sports

UHS BASKETBALL GAME 7 RESULTS vs. KCC

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Adelay Martin. Submitted photo.

Tonight was our First Annual Kenny Holt Memorial Tournament. Coach Holt led the Lady Eagles for 12 years (2000-01 to 2011-12) where he set the tone for Lady Eagles Basketball. He returned to coaching in the 2018-19 season where he served as an assistant coach. Kenny went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, November 6, 2019. It is an honor to pay tribute to a man that challenged his players to be champions in the classroom as well as on the basketball court. He was truly preparing them for life beyond both.

The first game of tournament saw the Eagles face the Kansas City Christian Panthers. The Varsity girls won, but the boys were defeated by the Panthers.

The Lady Eagles beat the Panthers 54-28. Karleigh Schoenberger led the team with 19 points and 5 rebounds. Danielle Howard followed with 17 points, 3 assists, and 7 steals. Gwenyth Fry had 10 rebounds and Sammie Hampton had 2 assists.

“The girls played well tonight and earned a good win. We are looking forward to getting back to competing on Thursday when we take on the Altoona-Midway Jets,” said Coach Miller.

The Varsity boys lost to the Panthers 61-62 after a tough and exciting game. Jake Harvey scored 27 points and had 6 boards. Luke Perry had 18 points and Clay Sutterby had 13 rebounds. Dawson Dreisbach had 2 steals. As a whole, the team made 10 of 14 shots from the free throw line.

Coach Hays said, “We knew coming into our game against KCC that they were a very good team. We dug ourselves a hole, but I was extremely proud of the fight we showed to climb back into the game. We were down 15 heading into the 4th quarter and had a chance to send it into overtime. Games like tonight make us better and help prepare us for big games down the road.”

-Adelay Martin, UHS Sports Media Reporter

Fort Scott, Government

Jeremy Frazier To Begin As Fort Scott City Manager on Feb. 1

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Jeremy Frazier. Submitted photo.

CITY OF FORT SCOTT PRESS RELEASE

On February 1, 2021, Jeremy Frazier will begin his service as City Manager for the City of Fort Scott.

After Interviewing multiple candidates, it was clear that Jeremy was unanimously the top choice for every commissioner.

Jeremy will bring a new vision and new ideas at a much needed time in Fort Scott. Every commissioner is excited to have Jeremy come on board and all of us have committed to give Jeremy the tools and resources he needs to be successful in moving Fort Scott forward.

Jeremy brings to this position over a decade of public sector experience. Mr. Frazier has managed cities of various sizes and demographics. From his first position as Assistant City Manager in a charming tight-knit community with a population of 1,800, to his most recent position as the City Manager of El Reno with a population of nearly 20,000, he has developed a strong passion for public service and economic development. He has led full service organizations of up to 170 employees and has managed budgets up to $58 million.

Mr. Frazier takes pride in his work with City staff and the community such as launching various programs between public safety and its residents; conducting organizational assessments and financial audits to insure financial stability and operational efficiencies; and initiating leadership development strategies for City staff with a focus on customer service excellence.

He is described as a goal-oriented, motivated, and energetic leader with demonstrated experience in building strong relationships in diverse communities. Mr. Frazier’s primary focus in Fort Scott will be to execute the vision and mission of the City Commission and to build upon the City’s strong forward momentum while capitalizing on its rich history and culture.  He plans to concentrate on economic development, job opportunity expansion, business relations, and infrastructure improvement.

In his spare time, Mr. Frazier serves on various committees such as the University of Central Oklahoma’s Master of Public Administration Advisory Committee, whereby he assists the University in shaping its current and future MPA program and students. He is an active volunteer and active participant in various civic organizations such as Lion’s Club. In addition to serving as a member of the City Management Association of Oklahoma for nearly 15 years, in 2020 he was awarded the designation of Accredited City Manager and has served two past terms as a board member of that organization. He is also a past gubernatorial appointee to the Board of Trustees for a local university. Finally, Mr. Frazier served as a past Board of Trustees member for the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group, a municipal insurance provider for over 500 cities and towns throughout the state.

Mr. Frazier possesses a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma. He has served on numerous boards and committees as he is committed to the improvement of his community and his profession. Mr. Frazier looks forward to making Fort Scott his home while serving the community and residents.

 

To view the contract with Frazier:

FedEx Scan 2021-01-20_14-12-31

 

 

Bourbon County Local News