Jody Hoener
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team, Inc.
President and CEO
620-215-5725
104 North National
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Postai: CHC Expansion Impacts Fort Scott Positively
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas is proceeding with what will ultimately be a $10 million investment in their newly renovated building in Fort Scott that they are fully funding, according to Krista Postai, CEO and President.
The renovation project is located at the former Price Chopper building at 2322 S. Main.
“We are on schedule to be in the new building in December as planned,” she said. “We did discover tunnels underneath the former grocery store that we weren’t expecting which came as quite the surprise, but are addressing the situation especially in those areas which will be supporting heavy equipment such as the CT Scanner and Mammography Unit.”
CHC currently is housed in a portion of the former Fort Scot Mercy Hospital on Woodland Hill Blvd. but their lease is up in December 2022.
Postai Provides Impact Studies
CHC/SEK and Fort Scott were featured in a national case study focusing on the transition of the Mercy Clinics to CHC/SEK, Postai said.
Postai attached the case findings plus the information compiled on the economic impact on the community, which were completed by Capital Link. Capital Link is a national, non-profit organization that has worked with community health centers and
primary care associations for over 25 years to plan for sustainability and growth, access capital, articulate value and improve and optimize operations and financial management, according to info in the study.
The current CHC project value to the community is shown to have both temporary impacts during construction and ongoing impacts from expanded operations including economic, employment and tax impacts.
To view the detailed study:
Capital Project Value Impact of Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas Fort Scott-1
The introduction to the case study:
“When Mercy Hospital Fort Scott (Mercy) closed its doors in Fort Scott, Kansas, after 132 years in operation, the rural community of 7,800 was left without a hospital. In the tumultuous aftermath of this closure, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK or CHC), a Federally
Qualified Health Center based 30 miles away in Pittsburg, Kansas, stepped forward to take over two of the closed
hospital’s primary care clinics, providing a range of primary and preventive care services in Fort Scott, partially
filling the gap left by the hospital’s closure.
The circumstances leading up to the hospital’s closure and its impact on the community have been well-
documented by Sarah Jane Tribble in NPR’s nine-episode podcast, “Where it Hurts, Season 1: No Mercy.” This
case study focuses on CHC’s response to the closure and its efforts to restore access to primary care in Fort Scott,
while the community grieved the loss of its hospital.
Through interviews with CHC/SEK’s leadership, Capital Link explored CHC/SEK’s response to Mercy’s closure,
the subsequent impact on the community and the current state of the situation, in order to highlight lessons
learned for rural centers in similar situations.”
To view the entire case findings in detail:
Question on Property Taxes
Recently on social media there was a comment that CHC had neglected paying property tax on their building at 902 Horton Street that currently houses some of their staff and a Veteran’s Administration local office.
Postai responded with the following:
“CHC/SEK is a non-profit 501(c)3 and, like the Mercy Health System, Ascension and most other healthcare organizations is exempt from property taxes,” Postai said. “Fort Scott Community College is also exempt, as is the Veterans Administration who currently occupies the Horton Street Building along with CHC/SEK staff.”
“Appropriate paperwork has been filed and is working its way through the system and we were advised by the county to hold payments pending final determination, which is what we’ve done.”
“We had actually mailed a check to the county for the taxes, who returned it to us because they anticipate our tax-exempt status will also apply to this building and they’d just have to refund our payment,” she said.
“In the meantime, we’re proceeding with what will ultimately be a $10 million investment in our newly renovated building (on Main Street) in Ft. Scott that CHC/SEK is fully funding itself.
“Any money from the sale of the Horton Street Building will be utilized toward the redo of the former Price Chopper building (on Main Street) which will also include classrooms for use by Fort Scott Community College at no cost to them.
“A portion of the funds will also be used for scholarships at FSCC.
“We will be in the new facility by the end of December and are looking forward to expanding services, recruiting additional professionals and serving all regardless of ability to pay.
“I am always available to answer any questions and can be reached at 620-235-1867 or on my cell at 620-249-9936. My email is [email protected]. Krista Postai, CEO, CHC/SEK.
Input Needed For Workforce Survey
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The Fort Scott Parks Advisory Board Meets May 16
The Parks Advisory Board will meet on Monday, May 16 th , 2022
at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.
This meeting is open to the public. This meeting will be made
available via the City’s you tube channel at City of Fort Scott.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Report May 12
Meet and Greet For Second U234 Super Candidate Today
The Board encourages the community to come meet the candidate at the Meet & Greet opportunity on Thursday, May 12th. This will be held at the Fort Scott Middle School Flex space from 4-5 pm and from 5:30-6:15 pm. Please enter through the south doors.
Those who attend the Meet & Greet receptions will be given a paper survey to provide feedback. Be sure to turn this in before you leave to provide your feedback. The responses will be tallied and provided to the board in summary.
The Board will then meet in executive session at the board office at 6:30 pm on Thursday evening for purposes of interviewing the candidate.
Submitted by
Gina Shelton, U234 Board Clerk
Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board Meets May 14
The Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board will meet on Saturday, May 14th, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. at the City Hall Commission meeting room at 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas. This meeting is open to the public.
The meeting will be available on the City’s YouTube channel.
Uniontown City Council Worksession May 25
PUBLIC NOTICE
COUNCIL WORKSESSION
TO BE HELD BY
THE CITY OF UNIONTOWN
GOVERNING BODY
ON
May 25, 2022
6:00 PM
AT THE UNIONTOWN CITY HALL
FOR THE PURPOSE OF:
To work on ordinances for storage containers, storage/accessory buildings, fences, governing body protocols/operating procedures, and solid waste (trash) collection. They will also be working on strategies to utilize the American Rescue Plan Act funds.
No action will be taken at this worksession.
U234 Press Release of May 10 Meeting
NEWS RELEASE
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, for a special board meeting.
President James Wood opened the meeting.
The board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel. The board returned to open meeting and adjourned.
Insurance Education Dinner May 24
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Guide To Boost Eco Devo in Rural Areas Available
USDA and EDA Launch Resource Guide to Boost Economic Development in Rural Communities
WASHINGTON, May 11, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small and U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Deputy Assistant Secretary Dennis Alvord today unveiled a joint resource guide to help community organizations access USDA and EDA resources to build strategies to boost economic development in rural America.
“America’s rural communities are critical to the success of our nation’s economy,” Torres Small said. “When we invest in rural communities, we build opportunity and prosperity for the people who live in them. The guide we are unveiling today will better equip people with the tools they need to make their communities more attractive, economically viable and safe places to live and work.”
Alvord added, “We are committed to working together to explore new ways to support and strengthen rural America. It’s important that we’re equipping our communities with tools that are easily accessible and easily utilized to maximize the work of providing greater, inclusive economic prosperity across our country. This guide is a great tool to deliver on that commitment.”
The resource guide outlines programs and services that can be used to advance community and economic development in rural communities through four key focus areas:
- Planning and technical assistance
- Infrastructure and broadband expansion
- Entrepreneurship and business assistance
- Workforce development and livability
The guide also features information and links to USDA Rural Development and U.S. Economic Development Administration key priorities and resources.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under 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.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
New Church Plant Starting in Fort Scott In September
A new church will soon be starting in Fort Scott which is being started from Family Life Assembly of God (FLAG) of Pittsburg.
At 3 p.m. on May 22, FLAG will be hosting a first interest meeting at the Fort Cinema Movie Theater, 224 W. 18th.
“We want to start being in the community and give the opportunity for people in Fort Scott to come learn what were all about,” said Grady Proffitt, Fort Scott Campus Pastor for FLAG.
“We will be in the exact location where we will host our Sunday morning worship services starting September 11,” he said. “Everyone and anyone are welcome as we get to share and our plan and meet new people!”
History of the Church Plant
FLAG Church began the church planting process in 2019, he said, but they had a transition with lead pastor’s at the church as well as the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic in early 2020.
“FLAG decided to pause and wait for the dust to settle during the pandemic before continuing the process to church plant,” he said.
In the pandemic, the Fort Scott Assembly of God Church closed late last year, he said.
“The pastor lost his wife to COVID,” Profitt said.
“We believe God is sending us to be another light in a great community”, he said. “FLAG’s decision to plant a video venue campus was heavily influenced by the closing of (the) other affiliated Assemblies of God church in Fort Scott just this past year. Our heart is to be another avenue for people of Fort Scott to be a part of a healthy church community and become disciples of Jesus!”
“Everything is live (in a video venue), except a message that will come from the church in Pittsburg,” Proffitt said. Tom Jacobs is the pastor of that church, with an attendance at about 480 people. “In person attendance has been going up (since the waning of the pandemic),” he said.
“We think God is sending us there for a reason,” he said. “We are not replacing a church, we are starting a new church.”
“Through God’s perfect timing, we as a church have said yes to God’s call and we are planting FLAG Fort Scott Sunday, September 11th, 2022.”
Proffitt, 27, and his wife, Jacque, have a one-year-old son, Tyson.
Proffitt attended the James River Leadership College, Springfield, MO. then earned a bachelor of science in business administration from Evangel University, Springfield. He has been in ministry seven years and helped plant James River Church in Joplin and has been at FLAG for two years.
“I love pastoring,” he said. “I will still be under the administration of FLAG Church, with the official title of campus pastor.”
There will be several “interest” meetings, he said. This one in May, then one in June, one in July and one in August.
“At the meetings we will tell about who we are and listen and hear what people are excited about,” Proffitt said.
Family Life Assembly of God can be contacted in the following ways for more information:
(620) 232-FLAG