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The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports June 2
Bourbon County Commission Agenda for June 2
Agenda
Bourbon County Commission Room
1st Floor, County Courthouse
210 S. National Avenue
Fort Scott, KS 66701
Tuesdays starting at 9:00
Date: June 2, 2020
1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: _______________
2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________
3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________
County Clerk-Kendell Mason
WEATHER PERMITTING MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THE EAST FRONT STEPS OF THE COURTHOUSE. THERE WILL BE A LINK ON FACEBOOK TO YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE MEETING IF MEETING HAS TO BE HELD INSIDE.
9:00 – 9:45 Jim Harris
9:45 – 10:00 Rebecca Johnson, SEK Multi County Health Dept 2021 Budget
10:00 – 10:30 Terry Sercer, 2019 Audit
10:30 – 10:45 Jody Hoener, Executive Session, Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships
10:45 – 11:00 Commissioners to review 2019 Annual Summaries
11:00 – 11:05 Kendell Mason, Real Property Relief Application
11:15 – 11:20 Justin Meeks, Interlocal Agreement
11:30 – 11:35 Mary Pemberton, Commission Meeting Procedures
Section of K-31 Section Closes May 8 in Linn County
Section of K-31 to close for pipe replacement project
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will close a section of K-31 in Linn County to replace two crossroad pipes on Monday, June 8, weather permitting.
K-31 will be closed approximately three miles east of Blue Mound, between Flint and Gorman roads. The closure will start after 8 a.m. and remain in effect until late Monday. Traffic should use alternate routes.
Persons with questions may contact KDOT Area Engineer Donna Schmit, (785) 433-6107, or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen, (620) 902-6433.
Closure shown in red
Final Bills of Kansas Legislature 2020
Governor Laura Kelly takes action on final bills of regular 2020 session
TOPEKA – Today Governor Laura Kelly took action on the remaining eight bills passed by the Kansas Legislature during the 2020 regular session. She signed five pieces of legislation and vetoed three bills.
The bills Governor Kelly signed are as follows:
House Bill 2018
Amends the Video Competition Act (Act) to prohibit municipalities from imposing additional requirements for the deployment of micro wireless facilities in the public right-of-way and to allow a municipality to require compliance with certain standards.
House Bill 2034
Amends law related to court orders for restitution by criminal defendants. This legislation will become effective upon its publication in the Kansas Register.
House Bill 2137
Amends the Scrap Metal Theft Reduction Act to remove the requirement that scrap metal dealers photograph the vehicle in which a junk vehicle or other regulated scrap metal property is delivered. The bill also continues in existence certain exceptions to the Kansas Open Records Act.
House Bill 2246
Amends and enacts new law pertaining to the oversight, regulation, programming, and authority of various state agencies.
House Bill 2585
Creates and amends law relating to a tax exemption for the tracking and collection of state and federal income tax by certain public utilities and creates law related to the authority of the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) to regulate electric public utility rates to allow contract and discounted rates for certain facilities. The KCC is authorized to approve such rates notwithstanding provisions governing its power to require utilities to establish just and reasonable rates to maintain efficient and sufficient electric service and to prohibit variations from established rate schedules.
Vetoes
Additionally, as part of her administration’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and to leading Kansas forward during the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Kelly vetoed House Bills 2510, 2619 and 2702. Her veto messages are as follows:
House Bill 2510
“House Bill 2510 includes valuable provisions—such as free ACT exams for high school students and a foster care report card—that I would sign into law if they were presented in a standalone bill. The Kansas Promise Scholarship is also a laudable effort to make higher education more accessible to vulnerable Kansans who come of age in the foster care system, and to incentivize Kansas graduates to establish their careers here.
“Although well-intentioned, House Bill 2510 as a whole would annually deplete millions from state funds at a time when Kansas faces a $1.3 billion budget shortfall. I cannot in good conscience sign a bill establishing a new discretionary spending program that is unrelated to Kansas COVID-19 response efforts when such severe financial strain looms in the months ahead. I have made Kansas children in foster care one of the top priorities of my administration. At this time of fiscal crisis we must focus on preserving the foster care programs and services already in place.
“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2510.”
House Bill 2619
House Bill 2619 establishes a new Economic Recovery Linked Deposit Loan Program for businesses in response to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This 10-year program would make up to $60 million available for low-interest loans to businesses and agricultural producers through the Pooled Money Investment Board.
“I support efforts to provide economic relief to Kansas small businesses and agricultural producers who have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, federal funding made available to Kansas through the CARES Act is a more appropriate funding source for this effort. With a $1.3 billion budget shortfall looming, we must protect every state resource at our disposal to make ends meet in the months ahead, including earnings from the state’s investment portfolio.
“House Bill 2619 also grants authority to the Kansas State Treasurer to administer the loan program. These programs have historically been administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, and that should continue in our COVID-19 response effort.
“Finally, this bill includes a problematic income tax exemption for for-profit banks. While the efforts of Kansas banks and credit unions to reach a compromise on this legislation are laudable, I cannot in good conscience agree to providing tax breaks for banks in light of the looming budget shortfall. Additionally, the CARES Act already provides relief for banks that will far exceed the benefits of this legislation.
“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2619.”
House Bill 2702
“During the COVID-19 pandemic our local governments have risen to the challenge of providing services to citizens when COVID-19 threatens the normal operations of businesses and government agencies alike. I am keenly aware of the challenges facing Kansas taxpayers, especially those facing unemployment or decreased income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“However, the COVID-19 pandemic has also required our local governments to do more with less. Local governments rely heavily on property taxes to fund essential programs and services, but by allowing property tax payments to be made as late as August 10, 2020, with no penalties or interest, House Bill 2702 would potentially deprive local governments of essential funding at a time it is needed the most. Local governments cannot meet increased demand for police, fire, emergency medical, and other services if a primary funding source for local governments is withdrawn. Additionally, HB 2702 places significant administrative burdens on local governments when local officials should be focused on addressing the threats and challenges of COVID-19 in their communities.
“I have long supported responsible property tax relief, but the provisions of HB 2702 cause more problems than they solve. Now is not the time to create more problems and burdens for local governments.
“Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2702.”
FSHS Offers Driver Education
Students interested in attending Driver Education at Fort Scott High School should call 620-223-0600 for dates and information on registering. Students who are 14 years old by April 1, 2020, are eligible to register. Cost of the course is $114.00, payable when signing up. Students may sign up the week of June 1-5 at high school.
Kansas Tax Collection Sees Growth For April
State sees total tax collection growth over April Consensus Revenue Estimates; attributes to online sales and withholding taxes
TOPEKA –The State of Kansas saw total tax collections for May Fiscal Year 2020 at $448.7 million; 6.6% or $27.8 million above the estimate. That is down 20.3% or $114.4 million compared to the same month last fiscal year.
Individual income tax collections were up $5.9 million or 2.8% compared to the estimate with $215.9 million collected. That is 22.3% or $62.0 million less than last May. The increase from the estimate can be attributed to reduced bond payments from withholding and an extra payroll period for the semi-monthly withholding tax filings. Corporate income tax collection receipts were down 167.9% or $8.4 million from the estimate at negative $3.4 million. This is due to the state processing more refunds than it received in corporate income tax collections. When compared to the same month last fiscal year, those collections are down $14.4 million.
Retail sales tax collections were $18.9 million or 12.2% more than estimated with $173.9 million collected.
Compared to May of last fiscal year, collections are down $27.3 million or 13.6%.
Compensating use tax collections are 25.5% or $7.7 million more than expected at $37.7 million.
When looking at last year’s numbers, these collections are $1.2 million or 3.2% more than May of last fiscal year.
This can be attributed to the increased registration of online retailers to collect and remit Kansas taxes.
On average, the state is seeing 300 new registrations per month.
For detailed info:
11_May_Revenue_FY2020_06-01-2020_Final
Obituary of Vicky Hawkins
Vicky Sue Hawkins, age 56, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Saturday, May 30, 2020, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. She was born July 3, 1963, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Albert Richard Hawkins and Clara May Love Hawkins. Vicki graduated from the Ft. Scott High School and received training as a CNA. She had worked for over thirty years at Mercy Hospital in Ft. Scott. She loved taking care of people and her family. She often babysat for family and friends. She also cared for all kinds of animals. Vicky enjoyed watching the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs and the KU Jayhawks.
Survivors include her son, Dustin Hawkins, of Ft. Scott and a brother, Tim Hawkins, Sr. and wife, Cheryl also of Ft. Scott. Also surviving are three nieces, Kayla Hill, Darcy Hawkins, and Shelby Hawkins and two nephews, Tim Hawkins, Jr. and Donathan Hawkins; and great-nieces and great-nephews, Landon, Donavan, Maylynn, Morgyn, Laney, Lane, Sadie Sebastian, Izzy and Annistyn. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Rick Hawkins.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, June 4th at the Maple Grove Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.
Fort Scott Sidewalk Sale: Parking Spots Were Difficult to Find
It was difficult to find a parking spot on Main Street in downtown Fort Scott on Saturday.
The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce hosted the Merchant Madness Sidewalk Sale and invited shoppers to come shopping.
The mild weather and recent reopening of businesses during the COVID 19 pandemic made for a perfect day to go shopping.
Another Merchant Sale And Town-Wide Garage Sale
Another town-wide sale is coming soon and this time includes all those who want to clean out closets and garages.
On June 12-13 retailers will be celebrating National Flag Week, according to a press release from the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce.
With any purchase, shoppers will receive a souvenir American Flag and also they can fill out a Trivia Card to enter them into a drawing for $50 Chamber Of Commerce Bucks.
Also on that weekend of June 12-13, there will be a Spring Town-Wide Garage Sale.
To register one’s sale which will be printed on a garage sale map, call the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce at 620. 223.3566. Sellers may also sign up at Bids & Dibs, 108 Scott Ave.
The cost is $10 to be added to the map.
All customers are to use hand sanitizer at every yard sale before touching merchandise and homeowner should have this available, also practice social distancing of being 6-feet apart, according to the press release.
Photos of some the participating retailers in the Merchant Madness Sidewalk Sale:
Fort Scott Public Library Newsletter June 2020
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Obituary of Linda Chambers
Linda Maxine Chambers, a resident of Fort Scott, died Monday, May 25 at the hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Linda was born June 18, 1947 in Corvallis, Oregon, the oldest child of Earl and Maxine Wagner Priest. Linda attended most of her school years at Pleasanton, Kansas and graduated in 1965 at Arvada West High School in Arvada, Colorado.
She married Gerald “Jerry” Chambers in 1971 in Denver, Colorado. They have one son, Eric, who lives in Oswego, New York.
The family moved to Fort Scott from Denver in 1980 and have remained in Bourbon County most of the time since, except for a couple of years in Ely, Nevada.
Linda worked hard all her life, obtaining her first job when only 13 years old at the drugstore in Pleasanton, making 35 cents an hour. Linda loved crocheting and reading. Her family was very important to her. Linda cared for her mother in her later years. She helped raise her nephews, Levi and Daniel Priest. She also babysat for great-nieces and a great-nephew.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Earl Dean Priest and Maxine Wagner Engle, her step-father, James McKinney, and a brother, Anthony “Tony” Priest.
She is survived by her husband, Jerry, her son, Eric Chambers and his wife, Jennifer and two grandchildren, Kaitlynn and Trevor Chambers of Oswego/Mexico, New York, a step-son, Mike Chambers and wife Amy of Denver, Colorado, a step-daughter, Susan Harris of Boise, Idaho, two step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren, her sister Judy Hall of Mineola, Iowa, brothers, Earl Dee Priest of Iola, Kansas and Mark McKinney and his wife, Jane, of Fort Shaw, Montana, an uncle, J V Wagner and wife Ila, of Moran, and aunts, Eva Wagner of LaHarpe, Audrey Wagner of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Delana Wagner of Hepler, Kansas, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 from 3:00 – 5:00 P.M.at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Private burial will take place in the U. S. National Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Hospital and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.