Mary L. Beveridge, age 98, a former resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, more recently of Olathe, Kansas, passed away Friday, March 1, 2024, at her home in Olathe. Funeral services for Mary Beveridge will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Bridges Out of Poverty Workshop March 2 at Nazarene Church
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Bridges Out of Poverty Workshop Bridges Out of Poverty workshop is a unique and powerful tool designed specifically for social, health, and legal services professionals. Based in part on Dr. Ruby K. Payne’s myth shattering A Framework for Understanding Poverty, Bridges reaches out to the millions of service providers and businesses whose daily work connects them with the lives of people in poverty.
As a workshop attendee, you will learn specific strategies and brainstorm potential solutions which you and your organization can implement right now to: Design programs to better serve people you work with; Build skill sets for management to help guide employees; Upgrade training for front-line staff like receptionists, case workers, and managers; Improve treatment outcomes in health care and behavioral health care; Increase the likelihood of moving from welfare to work.
If your business, agency, or organization works with people from poverty, only a deeper understanding of their challenges-and strengths-will help you partner with them to create opportunities for success.
Continuing Education credits available with a certificate issued at the end of the workshop.
The Workshop will be lead by Deborah Factor, CEO of Youth Core Ministries (YCM). Core Community Bourbon County is a chapter affiliate of YCM.
Deborah Factor serves as CEO/Executive Director of Youth Core Ministries, Inc. YCM, formerly Youth for Christ-South Central Kansas, was founded in 1995 as a ministry to reach kids outside of the church. After becoming Executive Director in 1998, Deborah watched as many of her students moved into adulthood repeating the cycle of poverty. To address this need, YCM launched a community and school-based mentoring program, Core Mentoring, in 2012 and in 2015 an initiative to resolve poverty called Core Community. Deborah and her team are having a profound impact on rural Communities. They are passionate about ending poverty and seeing kids and families truly thrive. Deborah, her husband, Tony, and their son, Caleb, live in Greensburg.
Participants will review a mental model of poverty, examine a theory of change, and analyze poverty through the prism of housing, the hidden rules of class and resources. Cost is $35 (payable at event) including training materials and book. If cost is prohibitive, there are a limited number of scholarships available.
DATE: Saturday, March 2, 2024 TIME: 8:30 AM TO 12:30 PM LOCATION: Fort Scott Nazarene Church 1728 Horton, Fort Scott, KS To Register email: Cherri Walrod – [email protected] Hosted by Core Community Bourbon County |
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Almost There! Fort Scott Downtown Welcome Sign Becomes a Reality
A crew from T.L. Steel, Burrton, KS, has been installing the new welcome sign on Wall Street for the last several days.
The welders finished yesterday and the painters will finish today, then the electrical work to light the sign will start, T. L. Steel’s Project Manager Levi Robillard said.
Following that work, Jess Milburn of JCM Restore, LLC, Fort Scott will complete the stonework, using Bandera Stone from Bourbon County.
The new sidewalk and curb will then be poured, by Marbery Construction, Fort Scott, who did the demolition of the site and will replace the sidewalk and guttering after the sign is complete.
The total cost of the arch is $120,000, which was paid for by grants from the Patterson Foundation and also Blue Cross and Blue Shield Pathways to a Healthy Kansas, through the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, said Rachel Carpenter, HBCAT Executive Director. The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Fort Scott also aided the project.
“We went through surveys and meetings, public input, which was very important for this project,” Carpenter said.
“An arch of this type has been a vision of the Chamber for several years to welcome locals and visitors to our community and establish the Downtown Historic District as a destination,” said Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindsey Madison in a prior interview.
“We were ecstatic that the opportunity came about for the arch to be a placemaking project through the Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways grant spearheaded by the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team,” Madison said.
“Several public meetings were held to gather community input on the design, culminating with approval from the Design Review Board of the City. The aesthetics of the arch will complement nearby historic structures including the beautiful Bandera limestone from right here in Bourbon County. This has truly been a group effort by all of the entities involved and we are excited to see it come to fruition,” Madison said.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports March 1
Minutes of the January 23 Special Fort Scott City Commission Meeting
CITY OF FORT SCOTT
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of January 23, 2024 Regular Meeting
A regular meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held January 23, 2024, at 6:00PM in the City Commission Meeting Room at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners T. Van Hoecke, M. Wells, M. Guns, and D. Olson were present with Mayor T. Dancer.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION T. Dancer led the Pledge of Allegiance and B. Matkin provided the invocation.
AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE Brad Matkin/City Manager, Jason Dickman/Earles Engineering, Jason Pickert/Chief of Police, Ben Hart/BakerTilly-Finance, Dave Bruner/Fire Chief, Mark McCoy/REDI, Robert Harrington/REDI, Marvin A. Lewis, Josh Jones, Travis Sawyer, Michael J. Hoyt, Jody Lore, Darnell Pullian, Barry Queen, Dean Striler and Cory Bryars.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
- VanHoecke moved to approve the agenda as submitted. M. Wells seconded. All voted aye.
AGENDA APPROVED AS SUBMITTED.
CONSENT AGENDA
- Approval of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 19, 2023, and January 9, 2024
- Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1352-A – $1,136,092.65
- Request to Pay – Bennett, Inc. –Project No. 23-005B – Infantry Substation Sanitary Sewer Relocation – Payment Application No. 3 — $104,165.51.
- Request to Pay – Bennett, Inc. – Project No. 23-005B – Infantry Substation Sanitary Sewer Relocation – Payment Application No. 4 (Final) – $40,964.70 – with Substantial Completion
- Request to Pay – Sprouls Construction, Inc. – Project No. 22-031B – Fort Scott Pavilion – Application for Payment No. 4 – $29,468.65.
- Request to Pay – Environmental Process Equipment Company (EPEC) – Invoice #01162401 – UV Upgrade at WWTP – Final Payment – (remaining 10% of $318,378.00) – $31,837.80.
- December Financials
- Wells moved to approve the Consent Agenda. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Josh Jones: J. Jones addressed the Commission requesting that they delay approving the Bourbon County REDI Contract for 2024 that is on the night’s agenda until the next meeting to hear a proposal from the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) to complement REDI.
Dean Striler: D. Striler addressed the Commission regarding his disapproval of the decision to disband the Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board and requested an explanation.
Barry Queen: B. Queen addressed the Commission regarding his disapproval and concerns of the decision to disband the Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board. He would like clear communication.
Michael J. Hoyt: M. Hoyt addressed the Commission regarding who will be the City contact for the STAR Bond. B. Matkin stated that he is the City contact and Garth Hermann/GillmoreBell who B. Matkin would contact for responses to STAR Bond questions.
OLD BUSINESS
Combine Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals – tabled from January 9, 2024, for legal counsel
- Farmer stated that the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals must remain (2) separate boards. They each serve separate purposes whose duties cannot be completed by a single board, and each has distinct functions.
NO ACTION TAKEN. THE BOARDS REMAIN SEPARATE.
Resolution No. 3-2024 – EXEMPTION FROM GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES UNDER K.S.A. 1120A – tabled from January 9, 2024
- Hart explained the differences between General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and accounting by Cash Basis which is designed for smaller cities in the state of Kansas which is done by waiver under this resolution.
- VanHoecke moved to approve Resolution No. 3-2024 – EXEMPTION FROM GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES UNDER K.S.A. 1120A. M. Wells seconded.
- Hoyt was recognized by the Chair to comment on waiving GAAP.
All voted aye.
APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 3-2024 – EXEMPTION FROM GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES UNDER K.S.A. 1120A.
City Commission Representative to the Fort Scott Public Library M. Wells explained that there was concern from the Fort Scott Public Library that the newly elected Mayor was not to sit on the Library Board. M. Wells was chosen by Commission vote to remain the representative. This is against the board’s standard practice. B. Farmer/City Attorney researched the topic and found no Kansas statutes that prohibited M. Wells from remaining on the Library Board without the title of Mayor for 2024. The direction come from the Southeastern Kansas Library Association’s accepted standards. B. Farmer will write a letter to the Fort Scott Public Library explaining the Commission’s decision to retain M. Wells as the City Commission Representative for the Fort Scott Public Library for 2024. If there continues to be an issue, the remedy would be to write a Charter Ordinance.
NO NEW ACTION TAKEN. THE VOTE TO RETAIN M. WELLS AS THE CITY COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE TO THE FORT SCOTT PUBLIC LIBRARY, JANUARY 9, 2024, STANDS AS RECORDED.
APPREARANCES
Michael J. Hoyt regarding Charter Ordinance No. 31: M. Hoyt addressed the Commission by request of an Appearance and provided supplemental materials. In summary, on August 18, 2020, a Charter Ordinance exempting the City of Fort Scott from the provisions of K.S.A. 12631P relating to the disposition of sewer and storm water reserve funds was passed by the City Commission. After the ordinance passed, a protest petition was found to be sufficient by the County Attorney. The petition was circulated, enough signatures were obtained to put this issue on a ballot. A special election was held on January 5, 2021, and the decision was that Charter Ordinance No. 31 would NOT be invoked. M. Hoyt stated that he has an issue with this because Charter Ordinance No. 31 is not recorded in the City’s ordinances; like it never existed. M. Hoyt stated that it should be in the City’s records as passed by the City Commission and revoked by protest petition. He is asking that it be put on the record. B. Farmer stated that it is called a “distinction without a difference”. M. Hoyt would like to make sure that there are no further mistakes. He stated that there have been similar issues in the past.
- VanHoecke requested that (1) last look be made for the documents. If they cannot be located, the City Clerk is to request the election results and documentation from the County Clerk to have for this City Commission who will then validate the file the records at the City.
- Hoyt stated it would be beneficial to have the letter that was sent to the City from the County Elections Officer that said that the election did, in fact, take place.
The Commission directed the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk to follow up with the stated actions.
NEW BUSINESS
Public Hearings:
- Wells moved to open the Public Hearing for Case No. 1042 at 6:45PM. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO OPEN PUBLIC HEARING FOR CASE NO. 1042 – VACATION OF E. 21ST STREET – MARVIN A. LEWIS AT 6:45PM.
Case No. 1042 – Vacation of E. 21st Street – Marvin A. Lewis – Not recommended by Planning Commission January 10, 2024.
- Lewis was present as well as Josh Jones who has property that would be affected by the vacation of the street. The Planning Commission did not recommend the vacation due to accessibility concerns for potential development in the immediate area. J. Jones proposed an alternative solution at the end of the Planning Commission meeting on January 10, 2024. J. Jones suggested swapping the parcels on each side of E. 21st Street so that M. Lewis’ property would remain together instead of being split by the road and easement. The Planning Commission did not recommend vacating E. 21st Street as requested. They heard the alternative proposal after voting and suggested taking the idea to the City Commission for consideration as a compromise to the access concerns.
Discussion was had about options. B. Farmer stated that the Commission can only vote on whether to vacate E. 21st Street as presented in the case. J. Jones stated that the alternative would be to vote on the vacation and then make a second motion regarding the proposal.
- Guns moved to close the Public Hearing at 6:55PM. M. Wells seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING OF CASE NO. 1042 AT 6:55PM.
- Wells motioned to follow the recommendation of the Planning Commission and not approve the action request to vacate E. 21st Street as presented in Case No. 1042. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND NOT APPROVE THE ACTION REQUEST TO VACATE E. 21ST STREET AS PRESENTED IN CASE NO. 1042.
- Wells moved to have the City Attorney write a proposal to swap Lot 11, owned by Marvin A. Lewis, with the City-owned property on the other side of E. 21st Street. The City of Fort Scott would maintain the ability access to utilities on all land in the transaction. This proposal is to be presented to Marvin A. Lewis for consideration. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO HAVE THE CITY ATTORNEY WRITE A PROPOSAL TO SWAP LOT 11, OWNED BY MARVIN A. LEWIS, WITH THE CITY-OWNED PROPERTY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF E. 21ST STREET. THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT WOULD MAINTAIN THE ABILITY ACCESS TO UTILITIES ON ALL LAND IN THE TRANSACTION. THIS PROPOSAL IS TO BE PRESENTED TO MARVIN A. LEWIS FOR CONSIDERATION.
- Wells moved to open the Public Hearing for Case No. 1044 at 6:57PM. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO OPEN PUBLIC HEARING FOR CASE NO. 1044 – ZONING CHANGE AND SPECIAL USE PERMIT – 1601 E. WALL – TRAVIS SAWYER AT 6:57PM.
Case No. 1044 – Zoning Change and Special Use Permit – 1601 E. Wall – Travis Sawyer – Recommended by Planning Commission January 10, 2024 – Travis Sawyer requested that the City Commission consider a change in his original proposal to the Planning Commission which is to move the proposed building (7) feet closer to Franklin Street than what was represented on the map. He stated he spoke to the Planning Commission about it because he would be building into the easement. The intention is to keep it further from the waterway. The previous building was into the easement as well.
Pete Allen asked that the Commission keep in consideration the proposed Wall Street Historic District that is in process.
The City Engineer stated that he looked at the site and if the paperwork includes a variance to the setback, everything should be fine.
- VanHoecke moved to close the Public Hearing at 7:07PM. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING OF CASE NO. 1044 AT 7:07PM.
- VanHoecke moved to follow the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approve the action request of Case No. 1044 to change the zoning and special use permit of 1601 E. Wall Street. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND APPROVE THE ACTION REQUEST OF CASE NO. 1044 TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF 1601 E. WALL STREET FROM MULTI-USE TO C-3 AND APPROVE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
ACTION ITEMS
Replacement of staff vehicle allocated in 2023 Capital Improvement Plan Fire Chief Dave Bruner addressed the Commission for permission to search for a replacement for the 2009 Trailblazer (purchased in 2010) that is currently assigned to the Deputy Fire Chief as a response vehicle.
Repair of the vehicle has become an issue. D. Bruner stated that he would like the Commission’s approval to search for a used replacement vehicle and waive the approval requirement of the City’s Purchasing
Policy. That would allow him to work with the City Manager and act quicker on the purchase due to the demand for used vehicles. It was determined that the Commission had previously waived the requirements if funds were available. B. Hart confirmed funds are available in the Public Safety Capital Equipment Fund with $30,000.00 allocated in the budget and the amount is amendable if necessary.
- Wells moved to approve the purchase of an unequipped vehicle under $30,000.00 (without required emergency items) and up to $35,000.00 (with required emergency items). D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF AN UNEQUIPPED VEHICLE UNDER $30,000.00 (WITHOUT REQUIRED EMERGENCY ITEMS) AND UP TO $35,000.00 (WITH REQUIRED EMERGENCY ITEMS) WITH THE APPROVAL TO BE MADE BY THE CITY MANAGER.
- Matkin left the room (7:20PM)
Streets Advisory Board Ordinance Changes
- VanHoecke moved to table the discussion of ordinance changes until February 6, 2024. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION OF STREET ADVISORY BOARD ORDINANCE CHANGES UNTIL THE FEBRUARY 6, 2024, CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
Letter of Interest for the vacancy on the Streets Advisory Board submitted by Robert Hassig
- Wells moved to approve Robert Hassig as a member of the Streets Advisory Board. D. Olson seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED ROBERT HASSIG AS A MEMBER OF THE FORT SCOTT STREETS ADVISORY BOARD.
- Matkin returned to the meeting (7:22PM)
Consideration of 2024 REDI Contract
Mark McCoy/President of Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) addressed the Commission as the City and County’s economic development entity with a proposed contract beginning in 2024.
Discussion was had on the status of the contract and payments related to that contract.
- Harrington/Executive Director of REDI addressed the Commission regarding the future of the proposed contract with REDI and the status of the contract as he understood.
- Jones (former City Commissioner) was recognized by the Chair and made statements regarding the history of the contract with the City and REDI during his seating on the Commission.
Further discussion was had regarding the economic development for the City regarding first point of contact, following procedure, honoring the existing contract and possible changes in language of the proposed contract.
- Guns asked B. Hart for the amount available in the Economic Development Fund. B. Hart confirmed $196,000.00 is in the fund.
- Jones requested that the City hear a proposal from HBCAT to possibly complement the proposed REDI contract and have the (2) possibly work together.
- Guns moved to postpone consideration of the proposed 2024 Contract between REDI and the City of Fort Scott until the regular City Commission meeting of February 20, 2024. D. Olson seconded.
- Guns and D. Olson voted aye. T. VanHoecke, M. Wells and T. Dancer voted nay.
MOTION DEFEATED BY 2-3 VOTE.
- VanHoecke moved to approve the revised 2024 REDI contract which includes the 30-day cancellation notice and allows other entities to present their services to the Commission for consideration. T. Dancer seconded.
- VanHoecke and T. Dancer voted aye. D. Olson, M. Guns and M. Wells voted nay.
MOTION DEFEATED BY 2-3 VOTE.
- Farmer left the meeting (8:21PM)
Cost Plus Net Fee Agreement for (Preliminary) Engineering Services – Project No. 06-KA-6898-01 – KDOT CCLIP-US 54 Project Phase I
The City Engineer presented the official state contract which is a three-party agreement between the engineer, the City and the State. This agreement combines the fees of Phase I design and allows the 90/10 reimbursement to be put into effect. Once completed and returned to the State, a supplement to this agreement with cover Phase II design.
- Farmer returned to the meeting (8:23PM)
- Wells left the meeting (8:24PM)
- Olson moved to approve the Cost Plus Net Fee Agreement for (Preliminary) Engineering Services as presented. M. Guns seconded. D. Olson, M. Guns, T. VanHoecke, T. Dancer voted aye. M. Wells was absent for the vote.
APPROVED THE COST PLUS NET FEE AGREEMENT FOR (PRELIMINARY) ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR PROJECT NO. 06-KA-6898-01 KDOT CCLIP US54 PROJECT PHASE I.
- Wells returned to the meeting (8:25PM)
Work Session – Contractors’ Advisory Board
- Wells moved for continuation of discussions by Work Session regarding a Contractors’ Advisory Board to be held on February 20, 2024, 5:00PM at City Hall. M. Guns seconded.
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Comments were made by the City Manager, City Engineer, Commissioner VanHoecke, Commissioner Wells, Commissioner Guns, Commissioner Olson, and Commissioner Dancer. Available on the City of Fort Scott YouTube Channel.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
- VanHoecke moved for the City Commission to recess into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing matter pursuant to the attorney/client privilege exception in K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(2). In the meeting will be the (5) City Commissioners, the City Manager, and the City Attorney. The open meeting will resume in the Commission Room at 9:06PM. M. Wells seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
- Wells moved to come out of Executive Session with no action. T. VanHoecke seconded. All voted aye.
APPROVED TO MOVE OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH NO ACTION.
- VanHoecke moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:08PM. M. Guns seconded. All voted aye.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:08PM.
Submitted by:
Lisa A. Lewis, City Clerk
Agenda for FS City Commission Meeting on March 5
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR REGULAR
MEETING OF FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION
CITY HALL COMMISSION ROOM – 123 SOUTH MAIN ST.
March 5, 2024 – 6:00 P.M.
- Call to Order
- Roll Call – M. Guns, M. Wells, T. VanHoecke, D. Olson, T. Dancer
III. Pledge of Allegiance
- Invocation
- Approval of Agenda
- Proclamation
- Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger – National School Breakfast Week – March 4th through 8th, 2024
VII. Consent Agenda:
- Approval of Appropriation Ordinance 1355-A – $975,852.99
- Request to Pay – Invoice #1756 – Marberry Concrete, Inc. – Lake Fort Scott Boat Ramp repair – $69,990.00
VII. Public Comment: Sign up required. Comments on any topic not on agenda
and limited to five (5) minutes per person, at the Commission’s discretion.
VIII. Appearances:
- Shanda Stewart – Request for donation to Fort Scott High School Prom After Party
- Diane Striler – Downtown Ice Rink
- Old Business:
- Consideration of Charter Ordinance No. 32 – A CHARTER ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FORT SCOTT, KANSAS, EXEMPTING SUCH CITY FROM THE PROVISIONS OF K.S.A. 12-1222 RELATING TO LIBRARIES, AND PROVIDING SUBSTITUTE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS RELATING THERETO – Tabled from February 20, 2024 – Wells
- New Business:
- Action Items:
- Consideration to purchase Allen Trench Safety Badger Pro Series Set of (4) Modular Trench Shoring Boxes – Sole Source by Allen Trench Safety Corp. – $28,048.00 – B. Lemke
- Consideration to approve recommendation of the Planning Commission for Case No. 1043 – Zoning Change and Conditional Use Permit – Gary Cullor
- Consideration to reappoint expired terms of Planning Commission Board Members for another term: Cheryl Adamson and Carol MacArthur – Recommended by Planning Commission, February 21, 2024
- Consideration to amend Ordinance No. 3497 Planning Commission Membership Terms to (7) members instead of (10) members – Recommended by Planning Commission, February 21, 2024
- Consideration of Letter of Interest for Library Board Vacancy from Constance S. Banwart – M. Wells
- Consideration to reappoint expired terms of Street Advisory Board members for another (3) year term: Clete Hall, Charles Gentry, Nick Barrows, and Gary Cullor – D. Olson
- Consideration to approve Ordinance No. 3761 – Amending section 10.04.90 regarding inspection requirements for annual U.T.V. license
- Consideration to repeal Ordinance No. 3060 Public Dance License – M. Guns
9. Consideration to extend deadline for Letters of Interest for Design Review Board – Decision to renew expired terms tabled February 20, 2024
- Final approval of Mulligan Ridge Donation Agreement – B. Farmer
- Discussion of 190th Street Maintenance – B. Matkin
- Consideration of Street Program 2024 – B. Matkin
- Discussion of RHID District
- Reports and Comments:
- City Manager Comments
- Engineering Comments
- Commissioners Comments
- City Attorney Comments
XII. Executive Session:
XIII. Adjourn:
Mental Health For Veterans
We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to Fort Scott Community Green Zone Advocacy Training, April 12th 8:30-2:30, at The Ellis Family Fine Arts Center in Fort Scott.
Green Zone, is a program designed by Loran Osborn with Four County Mental Health Center, Inc. (CCBHC) Service Members and Veteran Families Navigator Office and Dr. Alan Parsons former Director of ICC’s Veteran Student Success.
Our speakers for the day will be Loran Osborne, Mike Feiveson – Kansas Department of Commerce, SSG Farra McChesney – 1011th Quartermaster Co. Operations NCO (USAR), Jeremy and Dana Tompson – Team Rubicon Southeast Kansas Field & Ops, Jason Owens – Veteran and Insurance Representative and Dan Miller – Wounded Warrior.
Some of the topics covered will be basic communication & interaction, questions not to ask, military culture familiarization & public-friendly terminology, best practices for forming community partnerships, Veterans returning to school, volunteering with Vets, how an employer can best utilize Veteran skill sets, Veteran healthcare & insurance types, getting a Veteran to seek help & where to send them, and a few others.
This is a free event open to anyone in the community, with free lunch. We will have snacks, drinks, and door prizes throughout the day!
I am including the link to register for the event https://hybridcourse10-21-19.eventzilla.net/e/hybridcourse10-21-19.eventzilla.net/e/bourbon-countyfort-scott-community-green-zone-2138608108#organizer
Submitted by:
Shelly Kelley (She/Her/Hers)
MHFA Project Director
Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center
How Little is Enough? By Patty LaRoche
Do you remember when “one” was enough? When razors had only one blade, a single bathroom met a family’s needs, and one, shared car got us where we needed to go? If we misplaced our eye- glasses or hair clips or pens and pencils, too bad.
Televisions entertained us with three stations. A handful of singing groups dominated radio stations, and we could name the dozen, famous movie stars by sight. Closets held very few items of clothing, and we had two pair of shoes: one for school and one for church. There were slim pickings for restaurants, and French was the only salad dressing available. Simple was the only thing we knew.
No more.
Now, it’s all about amassing. Bigger and better. Onward and upward. More and more and more and more and more.
A while back, Dave and I were invited to a couples’ home for the evening. They are fun, caring, adventurous and love the Lord. I was given a tour of their magnificent house and was astounded at the number of massive rooms devoted to “stuff.” The wife said that she never could downsize because she wouldn’t know where to start to get rid of things that mean so much to her. When her husband spoke of the dozen Christmas trees they put up each year, his wife claimed there weren’t “quite” that many.
On our way home, Dave, freshly inspired to declutter our lake cottage, commented on how we should start with our kitchen. So, while he played pickleball this morning, I tackled the cabinet that holds our water bottles. Check it out to the left. This is the stash I removed from one cabinet…just in case, I guess, the water bottle fairy comes knocking and we, having the most in the universe, win a million dollars.
Removing the unnecessary ones was easy. They were Dave’s. I placed them in the “giveaway” pile. Dave put them back and removed my “Grandma” one and my “Thanks for coming to my wedding” one and my “Apparently we’re trouble when we’re together…who knew?” one. This was not going well.
In the end, we compromised. Dave gave in, and so did I (somewhat).
Luke 12:15 tells us that Jesus spoke to his listeners, addressing how we hold on to our possessions: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
“More is better” seems to be the mantra for our country. One more drink. One more donut. One more snort. One more lost pound. One more dollar. One more eyelift. One more trophy. One more hour on our phone. One more accolade.
Readers, take Jesus’ words to heart. It’s not about how much. In the end, maybe it’s about how little.
Youth Volunteerism Grants Available
Get Busy Livin’ Foundation Announces 2024 Youth Volunteer Grant Cycle
The Dylan Meier Get Busy Livin’ (GBL) Foundation has been awarding funds for projects aimed at youth volunteerism as part of the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) Grant Program since 2016. Since then, 50 grants totaling $26,000 have been awarded to Southeast Kansas nonprofits for youth volunteerism projects.
These projects keep Dylan’s spirit of adventure, fitness, curiosity, generosity, and a daily zest for life experiences alive and thriving. The GBL Foundation is determined to “break down the boundaries that keep people from living life to the fullest, whether those boundaries be social, economic or imaginary.”
Last year, the GBL Foundation awarded $4,000 in grant funds to eight nonprofit organizations across Southeast Kansas.
“We are thrilled to announce the kickoff of the 2024 GBL Youth Volunteer Grant Cycle,” said Devin Gorman, CFSEK Executive Director. “These grants are not just about funding projects; they’re about fostering Dylan’s legacy and empowering youth volunteerism in our communities. Through volunteering, we hope young hearts are ignited to embrace adventure, curiosity, and the joy of giving back.”
Don’t forget the 2024 GBL 5K, Friendship Walk & Kid Fest on April 27th at Hutchinson Field.
CFSEK is pleased to be the host agency for the Get Busy Livin’ Foundation Fund and is proud to assist them in the granting of these awards.
For more information on the GBL Foundation, visit SoutheastKansas.org/GBL.
If you have an interest in establishing a grantmaking fund, please contact CFSEK at 620-231-8897.
Uniontown City Council Special Meeting Minutes of Feb. 27
The Special Council Meeting on February 27, 2024 at Uniontown City Hall, was called to order at 6:30PM by Mayor Jurgensen. Council members present were Jess Ervin, Danea Esslinger, Amber Kelly, Mary Pemberton, and Bradley Stewart. Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting was City Clerk Sally Johnson.
Motion by Ervin, Second by Stewart, Approved 5-0 to enter in to executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel matters exception, KSA 4319(b)(1), in order to discuss job duties, benefits, and employee handbook of non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at 7:00PM
Clerk Johnson included in session, open meeting resumed at 7:00.
Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to extend executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel exception, KSA 4319(b)(1) in order to discuss job duties, benefits and employee handbook of non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at 7:35PM.
Johnson still included in session. Open meeting resumed at 7:35PM.
Motion by Pemberton, Second by Esslinger, Approved 5-0 to have Clerk Johnson post City Clerk position with appropriate publications and organizations
Motion by Ervin, Second by Esslinger, Approved 5-0 to amend Section 2.9.0 with the statement that full-time employees hires on or after March 1, 2024 will not be eligible for this benefit and add Section 2.11.0 Health Insurance Benefit effective for all new full-time hires on or after March 1, 2024
Moved by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0, to adjourn at 7:36PM
Restoration of Historic Building at 6th and Main Is In The Works
The historic building at 6th and Main Streets in Fort Scott is in the process of being restored.
The building is owned by Al and Luanna Niece and was purchased in June 2023, according to a prior interview.
Nieces Are Working to Renovate the Payne Building At 6th and Main
“It’s a total restoration of the building,” said Chase Halsey, Co-Vice President of Mid-Continental Restoration, Fort Scott.
Koehn Construction, Fredonia, is the general contractor of the project and Mid-Continental is a sub-contractor doing the masonry restoration, which includes the brick replacement, stone replacement, tuckpointing, and stripping of the building, and in addition, will be doing the new window installations, Halsey said.
Koehn Construction did the demolition of the interior and are “pouring concrete in the basement. Getting more of the fittings in. We are pouring the slab this week,” said Brandon Koehn, a manager at Koehn Construction.
Luanna Neice said she thought they were right on schedule “probably next week steele will go up on the inside.”
The building is two stories with a walk-out basement, Koehn said, and the inside had been destroyed by a fire.
Koehn said the building should be mostly complete by mid-summer.
The building will house two apartments on the second floor, an ice cream shop on the first floor, which is street level and the basement is slated to be a gentleman’s bar, according to Niece.
Letter to the Editor: Rick Mayhew
I recently purchased a financial education package to donate to a school. It contains all the materials the school and instructor will need.
I offered it to both the Fort Scott college and high school but had no response. My take is that the students of Fort Scott are receiving this kind of financial education and the program I offered is not needed.
Having financially literate students will be a big plus for the future of the community.
Rick Mayhew