Opinion

Can’t Change The Beginning? Then Change The Ending by Patty LaRoche

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Patty LaRoche

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” C.S. Lewis

“You must picture me alone in that room at Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term (“summer”) of 1929 I gave in and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England” (Surprised By Joy).

Those words speak to how hard C.S. Lewis, Professor of English Literature at Oxford University until 1954, fought to convince himself there was no God. Perhaps you know him as the author of Mere Christianity or The Chronicles of Narnia, two of his most famous writings. Disillusioned that God did not heal his mother from cancer, Lewis, age 10, left his childhood faith to throw himself into the defense of rationalism/atheism. That belief was reinforced when years later, as a student at Oxford, he found himself deeply troubled by suffering in the world, questioning how a loving God could allow such evil. Ironically, his firm belief in the nonexistence of God made him rethink some of his position’s inconsistencies. After years of intellectual struggle, Lewis found faith to be rational. Not only did he find factors such as the beauty of nature and art, joy, and even people undermined the foundation of his atheism, he also was able to see evil and suffering as an argument for God and Christianity, not for atheism.

In Mere Christianity, Lewis wrote: “My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. Just how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust? … Thus in the very act of trying to prove that God did not exist—in other words, that the whole of reality was senseless—I found I was forced to assume that one part of reality—namely my idea of justice—was full of sense. Consequently, atheism turns out to be too simple.  If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning.” It’s little wonder that many consider C.S. Lewis to be the greatest Christian apologist of the 20th century. Sorrow entered Lewis’s life again when Joy, his wife of only three years, died from cancer at the age of 45. Lewis was left to face the problem of grief and unanswered prayer. He wrote that “even after all hope was gone, even on the last night before her death, there were patins of bright gold. Two of the last things she said were ‘You have made ne happy’ and ‘I am at peace with God.’”

I am encouraged by Lewis who boldly admitted the struggle of his faith but later found blessings amongst troubles. The author wrote that he was grateful for the miraculous cure for his wife’s first bout with cancer and that God granted him two more years with her before she died. Still, in Mere Christianity he wrote this: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” Can anyone say it better?

Government, Kansas

Electric Charging Stations Coming To Kansas

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KDOT awards $2 million for

electric vehicle charging station projects

The Kansas Department of Transportation has awarded $2 million to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along the state’s most traveled highways.

KDOT received 32 project proposals seeking to use $2 million of the state’s allocation of Volkswagen Mitigation Trust funds dedicated to the installation of Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) stations. KDOT had identified 12 priority locations for these funds to improve public access to charging stations along primary corridors, to which applicants made their case for providing EV services.

“The quality of proposals made the selection process very competitive, and it was clear there is much support across Kansas for electric vehicles and infrastructure,” said Matt Messina, KDOT’s Transportation Planning Manager. “Many applicants proved dedication to EV services beyond the required five-year commitment as they are eager to promote transportation options.”

Staff from KDOT, the Kansas Department of Health & Environment and a team of consultants evaluated each project proposal and made selections based on criteria provided in a Request for Proposals (RFP) announced in October 2021. Responses were due mid-December 2021.

Each award recipient is responsible for providing 20% of the project cost, bringing the total estimated investment for the seven selected proposals to nearly $2.5 million. Proposals selected to receive an award are identified below.

Project Sponsor Station Location Award
Mitten, Inc. I-70: Oakley – Mitten’s Travel Center $190,000
Triplett, Inc. I-70: WaKeeney – 24/7 Travel Store $222,204
Francis Energy LLC I-70: Russell – Fossil Station Convenience Store $335,104
Triplett, Inc. I-70: Abilene – 24/7 Travel Store $271,815
Triplett, Inc. I-70: Maple Hill – 24/7 Travel Store $295,071
Francis Energy LLC I-35: Matfield Green service area – EZ Go #73 $335,104
Francis Energy LLC I-35: Belle Plaine service area – EZ Go #75 $335,104

For more information, visit https://www.ksdot.org/descons.asp to view available program documents under EV DCFC Station Installation Program (bottom right column of page) or email [email protected].
Government, Kansas

Governor Vetoes Redistricting Map

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Governor Laura Kelly Vetoes Congressional Redistricting Map, Senate Bill 355

~Calls for a redistricting map that empowers all people of Kansas~

TOPEKA – The following is attributable to Governor Kelly regarding Senate Bill 355:

“The process of drawing districts each decade is the core to ensuring that all Kansans have the opportunity to participate in their government and have their voices heard. The courts and the Legislature have established case law and criteria on how to draw Kansas districts fairly and constitutionally.

“Those guidelines call for ensuring that districts are nearly equal to 734,470 in population as practicable while ensuring that plans have neither the purpose nor effect of diluting minority communities’ voting strength. The guidelines call for protecting communities of interest, preserving the core of existing congressional districts, and ensuring that whole counties are in the same congressional district if possible. The Legislature’s guidelines further state that ‘to a considerable degree most counties in Kansas are economic, social, and cultural units, or parts of a larger socioeconomic unit. These communities of interest should be considered during the creation of congressional districts.’

“Senate Bill 355, known as Ad Astra 2, does not follow these guidelines and provides no justification for deviation from those guidelines. Wyandotte County is carved into two separate congressional districts. Without explanation, this map shifts 46% of the Black population and 33% of the Hispanic population out of the third congressional district by dividing the Hispanic neighborhoods of Quindaro Bluffs, Bethel-Welborn, Strawberry Hill, Armourdale and others from Argentine, Turner and the rest of Kansas City, Kansas south of I-70. To replace lost population in the third district, this map adds in counties that are more rural to the south and west of the core of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

“Ad Astra 2 also separates the city of Lawrence from Douglas County and inserts urban precincts of Lawrence into the largely rural Big First Congressional District, reducing the strength of communities of interest in Western Kansas and unnecessarily dividing communities of interest in Eastern Kansas.

“Several alternatives would allow for the same deviation as Ad Astra 2 while protecting the core of the existing congressional districts and without diluting minority communities’ voting strength. I am ready to work with the Legislature in a bipartisan fashion to pass a new congressional map that addresses the constitutional issues in Senate Bill 355. Together, we can come to a consensus and pass a compromise that empowers all people of Kansas.

“For those reasons, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Bill 355.”

Church news

Testimony of God’s Faithfulness and Personal Transformation

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Fort Scott Aglow Lighthouse welcomes Kathy Ewing of Pittsburg,KS. Kathy will humbly share how the Lord worked transformation, healing, and miracles in her life and marriage.
Her husband was paralyzed and healed twice. Kathy and her husband Doug celebrate being married nearly 37 years. They have two daughters and six grandchildren. Kathy loves and appreciates God Almighty and His word! She is a caregiver at heart: she is a hairdresser and takes care of the elderly.
Guests are welcome Thursday, February 10th at 6:30 p.m. This is an interdenominational ministry opportunity for women, men and youth. The goal of Aglow International is: Every nation touched, every heart changed.
Fort Scott Aglow Lighthouse meets the second Thursday of each month at the conference room of Fort Scott Inn, 101 State Street. For more information contact Amanda Gilmore at (620) 215-0418.
Bourbon County, Government

Uniontown City Council Meeting of Jan. 10

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The Regular Council Meeting on January 10, 2022 at Uniontown City Hall, was called to order at 5:30 PM by Mayor Jurgensen. Council members present were Jess Ervin, Danea Esslinger, Josh Hartman, Amber Kelly, and Bradley Stewart. Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting were Tyler Travis, Codes Enforcement Officer Doug Coyan, City Treasurer Charlene Bolinger, City Superintendent Bobby Rich, and City Clerk Sally Johnson.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS

Oath of Office was administered to newly elected officials. President of Council was elected.

Motion by Hartman, Second by Esslinger, Approved 4-0-1 (Ervin abstained) to elect Jess Ervin as President of Council

CITIZENS REQUEST

FINANCIAL REPORT

Treasurer Bolinger presented the December Treasurer’s Report. Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds was $348,223.56, Receipts $68,673.96, Transfers Out $35,022.42, Expenditures $58,131.60, Checking Account Closing Balance $323,743.50. Bank Statement Balance $335,330.57, including Checking Account Interest of $28.96, Outstanding Deposits $0, Outstanding Checks $11,587.07, Reconciled Balance $323,743.50. Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit $30,038.92, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $18,538.88, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $28,323.63, Total All Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $400,644.93. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $369.71, and Utility CDs $323.27 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $692.98. Also included the status of the Projects Checking Account for the month of December 2021, Beginning Balance $0, Receipts $0, Expenditures $0, Ending Balance $0. December Transfers from Sewer Utility Fund to Sewer Revolving Loan $1,400.00, Capital Improvements $1,000, Capital Improvement-Streets $250, and General Fund $2,000, from Water Utility Fund to GO Water Bond & Interest $1,622.00, Capital Improvements $1,000, Capital Improvement-Streets $750, Security Meter Deposit $0.14, and General Fund $3,000, from Gas Fund to Capital Improvements $3,000, Capital Improvement-Streets $12,500, Security Meter Deposit $0.28, and General Fund $3,000, from General Fund to Capital Improvements $3,000 and Capital Improvement-Street $2,500, Total Transfers of $35,022.42. Net Loss for the month of December $24,480.06, Year-to-Date Net Loss $77,354.97. Budget vs Actual Water Fund YTD Revenue $117,090.65 (117.3%), Expenditures $113,960.87 (92.1%); Sewer Fund YTD Revenue $37,924.19 (109.1%), Expenditures $39,925.02 (91.5%); Gas Fund YTD Revenue $149,077.20 (115.4%), Expenditures $292,421.16 (88.5%); General Fund YTD Revenue $148,684.70 (129.9%), Expenditures $157,586.80 (96.0%); and Special Highway YTD Revenue $9,287.36 (155.3%), Expenditures $13,736.60 (91.9%). The January 2022 estimated payables in the amount of $21,547.42 were presented.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion by Ervin, Second by Hartman, Approved 5-0, to approve Consent Agenda:

  • Minutes of December 14, 2021 Regular Council Meeting
  • Treasurer’s Report, Monthly Transaction Report & Accounts Payables
  • Resolution 2022-0110-1 – 2022 GAAP Waiver
  • Destruction of records for 2011 and prior

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

The sewer main servicing Tyler Travis’ at 204 Second St sewer line is blocked by roots. Superintendent Rich received some quotes to cut out the roots, from Meyer Specialty, Wichita, at $450/hr and Ace Pipe Cleaning, Kansas City, at $300/hr. Also roots in main near 304 Washington St. Replacing the main with pvc at 204 Second St is out of the question due to the proximity of electric pole in the dig area and property owners garage (excavator will not attempt). It was suggested to look into using ARPA funds to pay for this.

Motion by Ervin, Second by Hartman, Approved 5-0 to contract Ace Pipe Cleaning to clean roots out of sewer mains near 204 Second St and also near 304 Washington.

Rich reported that the tractor has been repaired. Councilman Stewart volunteered to haul to/from the mechanic in Colony. Mechanic cost was substantially less than PrairieLand Partners.

Trees have been planted at park and pond.

Codes Enforcement Officer Coyan started discussion on ordinances for storage containers, storage/accessory buildings. Mayor Jurgensen spoke to owner of 112B Second St and 103 Fifth St. They will sell 112B Second Street to the City for $1,000. Mayor and owner discussed that 103 Fifth St needs cleaned up. A letter needs to be sent to initiate cleanup. Cleanup completion date was discussed. Discussion concerning the purchase of 112B ensued. This property adjoins the Kite property the City recently acquired.

Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to purchase Lot 58 less west 8’, Block 11, Original town, Uniontown, Bourbon County, KS commonly known as 112B Second St

Clerk Johnson reminded Council that Local Government Day at the Capitol is January 26, 2022, and to let her know if she needed to register anyone or get lodging for them.

Communities in Schools is hosting “Mental Illness-The Silent Epidemic with Coach Potter” on January 17, 6:30PM at West Bourbon Elementary

Reminded Council of the Health in All Policies Learning Session on January 19, 2022, 5:00-8:00PM at Healthy Bourbon County Action Team office.

KRWA Delegate –

Motion by Ervin, Second by Kelly, Approved 4-0 to designate Bobby Rich as Delegate and Josh Hartman as Alternate Delegate for KRWA

She has registered for an ARPA Overview zoom on January 25 through CCMFOA.

COUNCIL REPORT

Councilman Ervin – nothing

Councilwoman Esslinger – nothing

Councilman Hartman – nothing

Councilwoman Kelly – She has been asked by someone on Bronson City County to have someone from Uniontown City Council to attend county commission meeting to have Maple Road resurfaced from Bronson to Uniontown.

Motion by Ervin, Second by Esslinger, Approved 5-0 to have Amber Kelly attend county commission meetings to get Maple Road resurfaced from Bronson to Uniontown

Councilman Stewart – nothing

Mayor Jurgensen – nothing

OLD BUSINESS

Traffic control on several streets – streets and locations were discussed.

Motion by Kelly, Second by Ervin, Approved 4-1 (Stewart) to purchase and install five sets of speed bumps and four signs with two sets on Hill St and three sets on Fulton St

Dog/Cat Ordinance and amendments review – after discussion, it was recommended to amend ordinance to include $100 fee per animal for non-compliance of number of animals allowed and animal(s) must be removed from city limits within 30 days or fee assessed again. Clerk Johnson will check with attorney and bring amended ordinance to next meeting.

Wholesale water supply – Councilman Hartman has been in communication with Bourbon County RWD #4 but the length of pipe to connect has not been determined. Councilman Ervin has been in communication with Rob Harrington, Bourbon County REDI, to facilitate a meeting between him, as a representative of City of Uniontown, and City of Fort Scott regarding rates.

Motion by Hartman, Second by Esslinger, Approved 5-0 to have Jess Ervin represent the City of Uniontown at meeting(s) with the City of Fort Scott and Bourbon County Consolidated Rural Water District #2 negotiating water rates

Pond Improvement Project – no update. The walkway east rail is welded on the east side and tacked on the west side.

City Utility Low-Interest Loan update – Interest rate for 2022 did not change, still 0.25%. Clerk Johnson plans to send yearly statements by the end of January.

American Rescue Plan Act update – Clerk Johnson will attend another zoom on ARPA on January 19. Final Rule has been released.

NEW BUSINESS

Street Repair – Mayor Jurgensen has spoken with County Commissioner Oharah about hiring the county to asphalt some of the streets in town this summer. As of December 31, there is $106,517.50 in the Capital Improvement-Streets fund. We might be able to asphalt about a mile of streets. Communication will continue with County on their willingness to work with us. The damage to the streets by the three different trash companies was discussed. It was suggested to have Clerk Johnson to check into citywide trash hauling to limit the number trash trucks on our streets.

Moved by Ervin, Second by Stewart, Approved 4-0, to adjourn at 7:39PM

Bourbon County, Government

City of Uniontown Agenda for  Feb. 8

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City of Uniontown Agenda for  Feb. 8

CALL TO ORDER AT ________ by

ROLL CALL:

___ Jess Ervin ___ Danea Esslinger ___ Josh Hartman ___ Amber Kelly ___ Bradley Stewart

Motion by ________________, Second by _____________________, Approved ________ to recess into executive session pursuant to the nonelected personnel matters exception, KSA 75-4319(b)(1) in order to discuss performance of nonelected personnel, the open meeting to resume at____________.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS

CITIZENS REQUESTS

Nancy Holt

FINANCIAL REPORT

Charlene Bolinger – Financial reports

APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA

A. Minutes of January 10, 2022 Regular Council Meeting

B. Treasurers Report, Monthly Transaction Report & Accounts Payables

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Superintendent: Bobby Rich

KRWA Conference-March 29-31, Wichita

Codes Enforcement: Doug Coyan

Shipping/Storage Containers, Accessory/Storage Buildings, Fences regulations

Clerk Report: Sally Johnson

HBCAT Placemaking Pledge –

Court Clerk’s Spring Conference – March 4, Wichita

CCMFOA Spring Conference – March 16-18, Manhattan

KSGFOA membership

COUNCIL & COMMITTEE REPORTS

Councilman Ervin –

Councilwoman Esslinger –

Councilman Hartman –

Councilwoman Kelly –

Councilman Stewart–

Mayor Jurgensen –

OLD BUSINESS

Dog/Cat Ordinance and amendments review –

Wholesale water supply –

Pond Improvement Project –

City Utility Low-Interest Loan update –

American Rescue Plan Act update–

Street Repair –

NEW BUSINESS

ADJOURN Time ____________ Moved by ______________, 2nd ___________________, Approved ___________

Ordinance under consideration:

CITY OF UNIONTOWN

PO BOX 51

UNONTOWN, KS 66779

ORDINANCE NO. 196

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 174 RELATING TO THE KEEPING OF DOGS AND CATS WITHIN THE CITY OF UNIONTOWN AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY BY REQUIRING ALL DOGS AND CATS KEPT WITHIN THE CITY OF UNIONTOWN TO BE REGISTERED AND VACCINATED FOR RABIES.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF UNIONTOWN, KANSAS:

SECTION 1. Add Section 2 as follows:

PERMITTED DOGS AND CATS; FEE

  1. Any household knowingly own or harbor more than three adult dogs and/or three adult cats will be assessed a fee of $100 and the animal(s) will have to be removed from the city limits within thirty (30) days of notification of assessed fee. If animal(s) is not removed fee will be re-assessed every 30 days until number of animals in household comply.

 

  1. Notification can be delivered in person or sent by certified mail, return receipt.

SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force after its passage and publication in the official city newspaper.

Passed and approved this 15th day of February, 2022.

___________________________

Larry Jurgensen, Mayor

ATTEST:

________________________________

Sally Johnson, City Clerk

Attachments are below:

0222 Inforamtional Items

2022 Financials-January

Fort Scott, Government

Vacancy on Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board

1 Comment

There is an opening on the Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board Committee:

  • One opening (Full-time resident on the East side of Lake Fort Scott)

The function of the Lake Fort Scott Advisory Board Committee is to provide suggestions to the Fort Scott City Manager and Governing Body regarding lake operations, lake safety, fishing, boating, and camping at Lake Fort Scott.

If you have a desire to serve on this board and meet the above requirements, please submit a letter of interest to the City Clerk, Diane Clay, 123 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. The names will be submitted for consideration to the City Commission. All of the boards and commissions serve on a volunteer basis and are not compensated. If you would like more information on this board, please contact Diane Clay, City Clerk at 620-223-0550 or [email protected]. Please submit your letter of interest by February 25th, 2022.

Fort Scott, Government

City Crews Work to Repair Water Main Break in Northeast Fort Scott

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The Fort Scott Public Water Distribution crew works on a broken water main in northeast Fort Scott on Wednesday in freezing weather. Taken from its Facebook page.

With temperatures hovering in the single digits, the Fort Scott Water Distribution Department had an uncomfortable day yesterday, to say the least.

The department crew of Bill Lemke, supervisor, along with Brady Coffman, Stanley McKeen, Jason McReynolds, and Joseph Reid spent the day repairing a water main break in the middle of the street on North Broadway in the northeast part of town.

Water was spewing upward from the street.

“It was shooting pretty good,” Brad Matkin, spokesman for the City of Fort Scott said. “They had to dig up the road to find the root cause.”

The crew found the 10-inch water main with the hole in it and put a sleeve over the hole, tightened the bolts on the sleeve, then put the gravel back in the hole, Matkin said.

Matkin wasn’t sure of the number of households without water during the repair.

“North Little (Street) and North Broadway (Street) residents were affected,” Matkin said. “All the water is turned back on.”

Matkin said the cause of the water main break was probably the change in temperature or the age of the pipe.

The crew started at the site about 8 a.m. on Feb. 2, following a call to report the water spewing from the street. Matkin wasn’t sure who called in the incident.

They will finish the clean-up today and smooth out the street, he said.

“In the spring, we’ll do a job of patching the site,” Matkin said.

Public Works

Fort Scott Public Works employs about 15 employees, Matkin said.

“The other guys were removing snow and treating ice,” he said. “We did have a tree fall and they had to remove that.”

Fort Scott city crews are working to clear the streets. Taken from the City of Fort Scott’s Facebook page.

From a post on the City of Fort Scott’s Facebook page last evening:

“Please remember to stay back when coming up on snowplows; with blowing snow and at night it is hard for them to see you if you are too close.
“Also, we understand frustrations because of driveways being covered when our plows are cleaning the roadways and will do our best to limit this but with several inches of snow, this is very hard to control. We want our roadways as safe as possible for our public safety personnel and for our citizens. This is our number one priority. Thank you in advance for understanding and your patience.”

 

Bourbon County Local News