ROLL CALL: ___ Jess Ervin ___ Amber Kelly ___ Mary Pemberton ___ Savannah Pritchett ___ Bradley Stewart
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS/PROJECTS
CITIZENS REQUESTS
FINANCIAL REPORT
Sally Johnson – Financial reports
APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes of June 10, 2025 Regular Council Meeting
June Treasurers Report, Monthly Transaction Report & June Accounts Payables
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Codes Enforcement: Doug Coyan
202 4th St- Mowing and Overgrown Weeds
306 Washington St- Mowing and Overgrown Weeds
406 Fulton Street- Mowing and Overgrown Weeds (nuisance vehicle?)
405 Hill Street-letter sent to owner with requested repairs needed & mowing
Smith Estate-falling down shed & tin roof
Superintendent: Bobby Rich
Clerk Report: Danea Esslinger
Junk Vehicle Citation-Citation given on 6/13/25
Keys made for all Council Members
Dakota Harrison/Lilly Wright Final Bill not paid-CBK to collect?
Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPA-new audit agreement
KMGA Choose Director & Alternate-
COUNCIL & COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilman Ervin –
Councilman Kelly –
Councilwoman Pemberton –
Councilwoman Pritchett –
Councilman Stewart–
Mayor Jurgensen –
OLD BUSINESS
SEED Grant – have received all supplies ordered, and some work is complete, but still an ongoing project for
the City Library and City Office
FEMA Flooding–Ag Engineering did stop the Hydrology Study. Conference call with Carlise Jones, new FEMA Project
Manager, he stated will send the mitigation project on to be approved or disapproved without the Engineer Hydrology Study.
Sidewalk-Letter sent to Rainbow Organic Farms, but not picked up, another letter sent to owner’s home address.
Park electric –Kelly Electric will work on this project soon.
NEW BUSINESS
Motion by _____________, Second by __________, Approved ______, to enter into executive session pursuant to non-elected personnel exception, KSA 75-4319(b)(1), in order to discuss performance of non-elected personnel, the open meeting to resume at ____________.
Dr. Ryan Longnecker with cath lab equipment. Submitted photo.
Investing in Heart Care
Joplin, MO. – There was a time, decades ago, when Freeman Health System Cardiologist Dr. Ryan Longnecker heavily relied on rolls of chest X-ray film to help diagnose a patient’s heart problem.
On Monday morning, Freeman’s Director of Cardiovascular Service Line was proud to exhibit Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute’s newly renovated Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Room 1, which will enable the Institute to provide more advanced care for Freeman’s cardiac patients.
The Institute, Dr. Longnecker said, is home to four cath labs; the renovated Room 1 opened just 11 days ago.
“This is an exciting time for us,” he said. “We’ve continued to upgrade and enhance our equipment over the years with cutting-edge technology for the benefit of our patients, and also for the benefit of our staff.”
To that end, the ceiling-mounted, Phillips-manufactured cath lab equipment reduces the radiation dosage a cardiac patient – and the cardiac team working on that patient – receives by nearly 50 percent.
“The reason we’re so excited about this lab is not only is the picture quality amazing, but it actually uses less radiation to take pictures,” Dr. Longnecker said.
X-ray dosage has always been a concern for cardiac physicians and their teams working inside cath labs; it’s the reason why they wear lead-lined suits or aprons to protect themselves from radiation exposure. In the past, a reduction in radiation meant less reliable imaging. Thanks to the new technology, radiation from x-rays is reduced without negatively impacting image quality.
“The pictures this machine generates – they are just amazing,” Dr. Longnecker said.
The system’s technology, he continued, can produce extremely high-quality images for angiograms.
“This is an advancement that we feel is very important for our patients and staff,” Dr. Longnecker continued. “The less radiation that we can be exposed to, the less amount of side effects there will be when working inside the lab.”
Additional benefits the system provides include:
* Creating three-dimensional representations of a patient’s heart and blood vessels.
* Overlaying those 3D images onto a real-time, two-dimensional fluoroscopic view of a patient’s heart helps create a detailed “roadmap” for Dr. Longnecker to follow.
* Due to quality and sharpness of images, less contrast (dye) injections are needed. The dye enhances the visibility of certain tissues or structures in x-rays or CT scans, but the dye can sometimes cause allergic reactions.
* Stent visualization technology so physicians can see old stents inside arteries and help them more easily land new stents
* Can estimate the size of a blockage, helping the physician determine a optimal-sized stent.
The renovated cath lab will only enhance Freeman’s Level 1 STEMI designation, in which Freeman’s door-to-balloon time is less than 55 minutes, lower than the 90-minute recommendation.
“We’re so excited to have this technology and to bring it to the Joplin area,” Dr. Longnecker said, “It’s really second to none.”
###
About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2024, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers and their experiences. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System one of the Best Hospitals for 2022. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 90 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services, women’s services, and many others for all of the Four State Area. Freeman is also involved in numerous community-based activities and sponsored events and celebrations. Additionally, in the Joplin/Pittsburg areas, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
All American schools, including local schools, will be impacted by the funding freeze that President Trump has directed the U.S. Department of Education to delay, pending a review.
Vance Eden, superintendent for USD 235. Photo from the school districts website.
USD235 Superintendent Vance Eden remains hopeful that the Trump administration will unfreeze funds, enabling schools to continue operations as authorized by Congress, he said.
Here is his statement
“The Uniontown USD 235 School District receives federal “Title” funds to support students. Currently, the Trump administration has directed the US Department of Education to delay reimbursement of some of these funds until a review can be completed. These Title funds aren’t a single lump of money, but instead are received by the district with individual designations for individual purposes. While we don’t qualify in all categories, the following three specifically apply to Uniontown.
Title IIA- These funds can be used to reduce class sizes and were initially used to add a teacher, and that position has continued to be paid with Title II funds. Our allocation for the coming year is $25,222. While not all funds the district receives can be used for teacher salaries, this can and has been a meaningful part of our budget and the goal of maintaining a quality salary schedule. The removal of this funding stream will make it more difficult to continue this practice.
Title IVA- These funds can’t be used on people and but instead are used primarily on safety and security items and also things that “extend the curriculum.” Our next year allocation was set at $17,492. While most are likely unaware if anything in their classroom has been purchased with these funds, the reality is that probably all of them have had some benefit. I manage these funds and purchase qualifying items throughout the school year as teachers submit requisitions that can qualify. As an example, field trips, science experiment supplies, digital cameras for the yearbook team, a pottery wheel, the window display at WBE, and a good chunk of the smartboards in the district are all things that have been purchased with these funds over the past few years. These funds invite creativity and foster a robust and quality learning experience. Losing these funds directly impacts our ability to maintain this commitment in the future without cutting from other areas or increasing the mill levy (which no one wants).
Title IVB- These funds pay for the WBE after-school program and summer program. Without this allocation, the district will not be able to afford to continue to offer this to students and parents.
We also receive Title I funds, which are used to support math and reading support at WBE. These funds are stated to still be usable for the coming year. This is good news as it represents our largest area of allocation and would be extremely difficult to adjust for in its absence.
I’d encourage you to visit with our federal legislators during this period of review to help them consider this change in direction and priority, as ultimately, they SHOULD control the disbursement of funds. Most likely, none of us enjoys making these contacts, but I want you to be informed and involved, as these decisions will affect us all.”
To contact your elected representatives, according to the Bourbon County, KS website:
US Senator
Roger Marshall – (R)
PO Box 1588
Great Bend, KS 67530
(202) 224-4774
Jerry Moran – (R)
PO Box 1372
Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620-232-2286
Derek Schmidt
1223 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6601
This graphic is taken from a Newsweek online story dated July 7, 2025.
KCC approves settlement agreements allowing Evergy to
recover costs to build two gas plants and a solar facility
TOPEKA – This afternoon, the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) approved two settlement agreements which allow Evergy Kansas Central (EKC) to recover the cost of three new generation facilities intended to meet increasing electric demand and improve reliability. Last fall, the utility announced plans to build two gas plants and a solar facility. Evergy filed an application with the Commission in November, requesting a determination of how costs incurred will be recovered from customers.
The application generated a great deal of interest. In addition to Evergy and Commission Staff, 31 parties sought and were granted the right to intervene and formally participate in the proceedings. As a result of their work, the Commission was presented with two settlement agreements for consideration: a unanimous settlement agreement regarding the solar facility, and a non-unanimous settlement agreement on the gas plants.
Evergy is proposing the new solar facility (Kansas Sky) to be located in Douglas County and owned 100% by Evergy Kansas Central. The estimated cost of construction is $228.1 million. After careful review, the Commission found the unanimous settlement agreement related to Kansas Sky was supported by substantial, competent evidence, will result in just and reasonable rates, and is in the public interest. In making this finding, the Commission found the arguments regarding resource diversification compelling. To date, very little utility-scale solar generation has been successfully developed in Kansas, and the profile and attributes of solar energy, if developed, will be complimentary to existing generation in the region, including wind generation.
Evergy’s gas plant proposal calls for two 710 MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants. The Viola plant will be located near Evergy’s Viola Substation in Sumner County and is expected to operate by January 1, 2029. The McNew plant will be built in Reno County and is expected to operate by January 1, 2030. Evergy Kansas Central and Evergy Missouri West will each have 50% ownership in the gas plants. The cost of construction to Evergy Kansas Central is estimated at $788.75 million for the Viola plant and $800.52 million for the McNew plant.
The Commission finds approving the CCGT Settlement is in the public interest. The Commission believes the CCGT Settlement is an efficient and reliable plan to add generation capacity to Evergy’s fleet. Furthermore, the Commission believes the CCGT Settlement contains sufficient safeguards and guardrails to protect customers in the event of cost overruns.
The CCGT settlement will not immediately impact rates. Other than the Construction Work in Progress (CWIP) rider recently authorized by the Legislature, which Evergy can begin utilizing 365 days after construction begins on each plant, no other costs will be added to rates until Evergy files a subsequent rate case.
The frequency of rate cases is also addressed by the Commission in today’s order.
“The Commission is troubled by the frequency and magnitude of rate cases and strongly encourages Evergy to focus on pacing investment to better align with load growth and mitigate large rate increases. The Commission understands new investment is needed to support reliability and economic development in Kansas. However, affordability must be a major priority and proactively pursued as Evergy addresses a seemingly endless list of “justifiable” projects and initiatives. To meet future capacity needs, for example, the Commission will expect Evergy to demonstrate its serious consideration of less capital-intensive options like demand response, utilization of surplus interconnection sites and grid-enhancing technologies.”
BOURBON COUNTY,
KANSAS
Bourbon County, Kansas
Bourbon County Commission Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Chambers, 210 S National Ave.
July 07, 2025, 5:30 PM (Revised)
I. Call Meeting to Order
Roll Call
Pledge of Allegiance
Prayer
II. Approval of Agenda
III. Approval of Minutes from 06.30.25 & 07.01.25
IV. Consent Agenda
Approval of 06.24.25 Accounts Payable Totaling $110,518.99
V. Public Hearing 5:35 Plaster Road Closing
VI. Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to
protect their privacy.
VII. Old Business
Zoning Advisory Board – Milburn
Fence Viewing Resolution – Beerbower
Juvenile Detention– Beerbower
Stronghold Update – Milburn
Housing agreement with Johnson County – Beerbower
Ealyn Taylor – Animal Control – Beerbower
Public Works Safety Audit – Dr. Cohen
Cameras – Beerbower
VIII. Public Comments for Items Not on The Agenda
IX. New Business
Resolution for the Cancellation of Outstanding Checks – Susan Walker
KAC Convention – Beerbower
Audit Agreement for Fiscal Year Ending 2025
Policy & Procedures – Beerbower
X. Commission Comments
XI. Adjournment
Future business that has been tabled in past meetings or planned for future meetings:
Economic Development Direction
911 Agreement
Precinct Legal Resolution
Doherty Health Benefits review – Executive Session August 2025
NRP Update July 14th
Courthouse Repairs August 4th
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS – FORM OF MOTION
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their
privacy
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body of agency which would be
deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in
consultation with the representatives of the body or agency
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations,
partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of acquisition of real estate
____ Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters
at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures
The subject to be discussed during executive session: ________________________________________
State persons to attend
Open session will resume at _____ A.M./P.M. in the commission chambers.
Joycelyn Elaine Malone, age 92, resident of Fort Scott, KS passed away July 3, 2025, at Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott. She was born June 22, 1933, to William (Bill) and Nina Norris in Nevada, MO. She graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1951, then attended the Mercy School of Nursing. She married Keith Farley Malone on November 2, 1952.
Joycelyn babysat for several families while her three children were young, then worked at the Newman-Young Clinic for several years. Later, she worked full time keeping books for their family business –
Malone Plumbing.
Joycelyn was an active member of the Church of Christ for her entire life and attended the Church of Christ on Margrave Street. She was devoted to her Lord and to the brethren of her congregation.
Joycelyn is survived by her husband Keith; her three children, Brent Malone (Connie), Brandon Malone (Kathy), and Gaynor Crane (Stephen); 9 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild. She was an active influence in the lives of her family members and contributed much to their character, success, and well-being throughout her entire life.
Joycelyn was preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law Carl and Billye Malone, sister-in-law Karen Heppler (Malone), step-granddaughter Leesa Meree Haehn (Hite), brother Claude Norris and sister-in-law Phyllis Norris, and brother Bill Norris and sister-in-law Lois Norris.
Joycelyn enjoyed raising flowers and working in her yard. She was an avid supporter of family events opening her home to large groups of relatives from both sides of the family every year. She spent a great deal of her time supporting her children’s and grandchildren’s school and sporting activities. She was a cheerful, devoted, and practical example of love to us all.
Joycelyn chose cremation and has requested no funeral service but visitation and interment at a future date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet scheduled for July 8th!
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Downtown Meet & Greet will be held Tuesday, July 8th at Landmark National Bank, 200 S. Main St., from 8-9am.
These informal, quarterly meetings are hosted by the Chamber for downtown business owners, representatives, and community members to network and share ideas on events, promotions and anything related to downtown. Coffee, juice, and light refreshments will be served.
Contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566
with any questions.
Thank you to our Chamber Champion members below!
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
Local author Levi Qualls, 29, grew up in Baxter Springs and graduated from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in illustration. While at P.S.U., he met his future wife, Taylor Schilling, and then earned his Master of Fine Arts in comics and storytelling from the Academy of Art, California, through its online program.
He became an author through the encouragement of an acquaintance.
“My first semester of college, my mom’s coworker saw some of my art and said I should be an artist. I wasn’t enjoying my first degree plan (biology), so I made the switch and never looked back.”
“After I earned my master’s degree and was working on the graphic novel of Calder, I realized that I was more interested in the actual story than I was in illustrating it. I have always loved to read, and it just made sense. I love it and it’s fun.”
“I still love drawing, and it was fun to illustrate a cover and chapter illustrations for this book!”
They moved to Fort Scott shortly before their first son was born, and it is here that he wrote most of this, his first book.
The Book
The front cover of Quall’s new book. Submitted photo.
Qualls sent this synopsis of his book: The Sea and The Sword is
an escape into the world of Aegindus, where the gods of Olympus reign and destiny hangs in the balance. It is packed with fantasy, action, suspense, mythology, and magic. The Sea and The Sword is an adventure for anyone who loves getting lost in a great story.
There is a Parental Advisory with the book because it contains descriptions of battle scenes, but nothing more graphic than video games or even the Bible, he said.
A bookmark depicts the different gods of Olympus, but they are also used for chapter headings. (There are a lot more than 12 chapters.) Submitted photo.
Aside from being a full-time stay-at-home father of two and author, he also runs Hercules Hobby, a local trading card store in downtown Fort Scott.
About 30 years ago, my husband built a tree house for our kids that was fit for Robin Hood himself. He chose a big sturdy hedge tree and began to build the fortress, complete with trap door, fireman‘s pole, and a basket on a rope to pull up and let down through an opening in the floor. A few years ago, my daughter and her girls were in the pasture and Lydia Mae and Felicity wanted to go up into the tree house. Mariam agreed, so she got hammer, nails, and boards to add some steps to make the climb doable. Mariam went up first, and then from the top she instructed each little girl where to put their feet and hands as they made their climb. The girls had never done this before, and it was a little scary for them, but they trusted their Mommy to get them through it. And she did.
Without the help of their mother, who knew all the ins and outs of climbing that tree, Lydia Mae and Felicity could not have accomplished their desire. Their high level of trust was very obvious. I love this scripture, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths“ (Proverbs 3:5,6 MEV). This verse is not just something appropriate to write in a graduation card, it’s an everyday-all-your-life command to put into practice.
It’s a downward crash to the bottom of the tree if you think you don’t need God. Proverbs 3:7 NLT reads, “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.“ Trusting in yourself is pretty worthless and leads to a miserable life; and unless you change your ways and begin to honor God, your afterlife will be way worse than your earthly life.
“In God We Trust” is the official motto of the United States of America. It was adopted by the U.S. Congress in 1956. The motto was first printed on paper money in 1957. Back then, money was handled by most adults every day. I believe that printing this motto on our money was divinely inspired. In fact, the plastic cards should have “In God We Trust“ printed on them too! Sixty-nine years ago, our Country’s leaders thought it was important for Americans to put their trust in God — and it still is.
God is absolutely trustworthy. You won’t find a better track record anywhere. Moses and the children of Israel came up to the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army breathing down their necks. God rolled up His sleeves and basically said, “Just watch Me work.” God is not looking at our beloved U.S.A. while wringing His hands and saying, “I don’t know how this is going to turn out.“ No, God’s Word is firm: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I make known the end from the beginning…I say, ’My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please’” (Isaiah 46:9,10 NIV). God knows the future before it even happens. Everything He plans will come to pass. He simply needs His children to trust Him with childlike faith.
I encourage you to stand firm and beef up your trust in God as the apostle Paul instructed Timothy: “…We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:10 NKJV).
The Key: Quit trying to climb the tree by yourself, and ask for God’s help.
