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The 06.09.25 Agenda for Bourbon County Commission for the meeting on at 5:30 p.m. in the Commission Chambers.
submitted by
Susan E. Walker
Bourbon County Clerk
Submitted by–

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Fort Scott’s new baseball franchise will reveal the teams name and the inning submitter of that game on July 11.
The wait is almost over.
Fort Scott’s new Mid-America League baseball franchise is ready to take the next big step — and the fans are about to find out what it will be called.
Following a month’s-long “Name the Team” contest that brought in hundreds of creative and passionate submissions from the Fort Scott community, the franchise will officially unveil its
name, logo, and identity at the opening night of the “Summer Series” on Friday, July 11th.
One lucky fan — whose submission was selected as the winning entry — will be publicly honored during a pre-game ceremony and awarded two (2) season tickets for life.
“This team is built for and by the Fort Scott community, and it was only fitting that our fans had a hand in shaping its identity,” said Mike Marek, Vice President of the Fort Scott franchise.
“The name we’ve chosen tells a powerful story about the city and the spirit we aim to bring to the ballpark.”
The “Summer Series” a three-game series from July 11-13 between the Texarkana Rhinos and the Joplin Outlaws will feature a family-friendly experience and a sneak peek into the franchise’s future.
Official team merchandise will be available following the announcement
Friday evening game times will be 7:05 pm on Friday and 6:05 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
www.usd234.org
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
June 09, 2025 – 5:30 P.M.
AGENDA SUMMARY WITH COMMENTARY
1.0 Call Meeting to Order David Stewart, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
4.1 Board Minutes
05-12-25
4.2 Financials – Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – May 15, 2025 – $1,707,170.52
4.5 Activity Funds Accounts
4.6 USD 234 Gifts
5.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
6.0 New Business
6.1 Student Chromebook Purchase (Action)
6.2 Staff Laptop Purchase (Action)
6.3 10 Passenger Van Purchase (Action)
6.4 71 Passenger Buses Purchase (Action)
6.5 Passenger Car Purchase (Action)
6.6 Participation in the National School Lunch Program (Action)
6.7 Revision to Policy EE – Food Services Management (Action)
6.8 E-Rate Category 2 Funding – Wireless Access Point (Action)
6.9 Kansas Insurance Cooperative for Schools Property and Casualty Insurance Renewal
7.0 Public Forum
8.0 Other Business –Negotiations _____(Time)
9.0 Other Business – Personnel Matters – Time __________
10.0 Adjourn Meeting _____ (Time) David Stewart, President
The Regular Council Meeting on May 13, 2025 at Uniontown Community Center was called to order at 7:00PM by Mayor Jurgensen. Council members present were Jess Ervin, Amber Kelly, Mary Pemberton, Savannah Pritchett, and Bradley Stewart. Also in attendance for all or part of the meeting were Codes Officer Doug Coyan, City Treasurer Sally Johnson, City Superintendent Bobby Rich, and City Clerk Danea Esslinger.
None
CITIZENS REQUESTS
None
FINANCIAL REPORT
Treasurer Johnson presented the April 2025 financial reports. Beginning Checking Account Balance for all funds for April was $323,763.55, Receipts $30,247.46, Transfers Out $3,024.00, Expenditures $54,009.88, Checking Account Closing Balance $296,977.13. Bank Statement Balance $298,347.71, including Checking Account Interest of $64.45, Outstanding Deposits $0.00, Outstanding Checks $1,370.58, Reconciled Balance $296,977.13. Water Utilities Certificates of Deposit $38,072.00, Sewer Utilities Certificate of Deposit $22,822.26, Gas Utilities Certificates of Deposit $44,900.89, Total All Funds, including Certificates of Deposit $402,772.28. Year-to-Date Interest in Checking Acct is $251.23, and Utility CDs $640.47 for a Total Year-to-Date Interest of $891.70. Transfers from Sewer Utility Fund to Sewer Revolving Loan $1,402.00; from Water Utility Fund to GO Water Bond & Interest $1,622.00 for Total Transfers of $3,024.00. Net Loss for the month of April $26,786.42 Year-to-Date Net Income $33,113.39. Appropriations to date for April 2025 are $31,355.12.
APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Ervin, Second by Brad, Approved 3-0, to approve Consent Agenda:
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Codes Enforcement: Doug Coyan
405 Hill Street-letter sent to owner with requested repairs needed, some repairs have been completed, he will contact owners about the other repairs needed
406 Fulton Street-letter sent to regarding nuisance vehicles, no reply at this time
Superintendent: Bobby Rich
Fire truck in park-he will apply an adhesive to the bolts
Mosquito spraying-will start soon
City Wide Dumpster-dumpster’s not as full as in the past and no complaints
Clerk Report: Danea Esslinger
Quickbook Online Course-attended May 8th, city office was closed.
Evergy is giving a presentation regarding the energy assistance program on 6/3/25 at 10 AM.
Fish Food has arrived.
Thank you card for the donation to the SOS.
Summer Food Program in June at the West Bourbon Elementary School.
Councilman Ervin – None
Councilman Kelly – stop signs needed at 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of Fulton St, ask school if another pond signage regarding no parking at the East side of Pond
Councilwoman Pemberton – Zoning Public Forum meeting 5/14/25 at 6 PM
Councilwoman Pritchett – no ordinance about chicken and ducks
Councilman Stewart– Bolts needed for the Pond Dock
Mayor Jurgensen – Ruritan may help with the Public Restroom replacement and repairs
City fixed the sewer main, and this issue caused a citizen to have major flooding issues
Motion by Kelly, Second by Pritchett, Approved 5-0 to accept paying for the citizen’s insurance deductible of $1,000.
SEED Grant – work has started on the City Library and City Office, have new lighting in the City Office, and they have started the electrical work for the ceiling in the Library, and the Council stated to close office to the public during the 1st week of June to complete the City Office flooring, shelves, and new window.
FEMA Flooding– Hydrology study not complete yet by Ag Engineering, and we have another new FEMA project manager.
Warehouse Insulation – is planned to start on May 13, and work has started today
Sidewalk-Ag Engineering preliminary study is completed. He stated that we will receive completed documentation when finalized.
Motion by Ervin, Second by Stewart, Approved 5-0 in regard to the East Sidewalk of the Square, send pictures and a letter to ask lawyer if we can proceed with replacing said sidewalk as we own it per survey
Park electric – CrawKan will do the boring for the electrical line needed for the park electric. We will wait to complete this when CrawKan has an opening in their schedule.
New Ordinance No. 206-presented to Council for changes or approval.
Motion by Pemberton, Second by Kelly, Approved 5-0 to approve the New Ordinance No. 206
Motion by Ervin, Second by Stewart, Approved 5-0, 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 8:39.
Motion by Ervin, Second by Stewart, Approved 5-0, 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 9:20.
Danea Esslinger called in at 8:40, out at 9:15.
ADJOURN Time 9:25 Moved by Ervin, 2nd Stewart, Approved 5-0
ROLL CALL: ___ Jess Ervin ___ Amber Kelly ___ Mary Pemberton ___ Savannah Pritchett ___ Bradley Stewart
CITIZENS REQUESTS
FINANCIAL REPORT
Sally Johnson – Financial reports
APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Codes Enforcement: Doug Coyan
405 Hill Street-letter sent to owner with requested repairs needed
406 Fulton Street-letter sent to regarding nuisance vehicles & mowing sign on door
Superintendent: Bobby Rich
Clerk Report: Danea Esslinger
City Wide Garage Sales?
Modern Copy Systems–new maintenance agreement
Jayhawk Software Back Up vs Microsoft Office backup
Junk Vehicle Citation-2 certified letters sent/no pickup
Thank You Card-Kelly Droel
Councilman Ervin –
Councilman Kelly –
Councilwoman Pemberton –
Councilwoman Pritchett –
Councilman Stewart–
Mayor Jurgensen –
SEED Grant – work has started on the City Library and City Office
FEMA Flooding– Hydrology study not complete yet by Ag Engineering
Warehouse Insulation – is completed at this time.
Sidewalk-Ag Engineering sent the completed documentation and bill.
-Lawyer Chase Vaughn response to replacing this sidewalk.
Park electric – CrawKan will do the boring for the electrical line needed for the park electric. We will wait to complete this when CrawKan has an opening in their schedule.
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 ____________.
Attachments:
Lawyer reply to 206-208 Sherman Sidewalk

While talking with my recently widowed friend, I listened as she shared some of her emotional journey. She said something I never had considered: her desire is that, at the moment she dies, she will be in the middle of praying blessings for other people.
Get that? Not blessings for herself. For others. The thought never crossed my mind. Well, the thought of dying has crossed my mind. Every time I get on a plane, I question how I will react if we nosedive. Will I scream to my fellow passengers “Choose Jesus” or just pray I lose consciousness before we hit the ground? When my husband drives too close to the vehicle in front of us, I am not praying blessings on other people. I just grab the passenger door handle and slam on my pretend brake, a PTSD reminder of my crash over a year ago.
My preferred method of dying would be in my sleep, but if not that, then while hanging with my grandkids. Of course, they might be traumatized if I keel over while rolling Playdough worms with them, so I should try to consider less shocking (and more spiritual) ends…like my friend.
Compared to her, my thoughts have been selfish. Where do I start to destroy these desires? Mark 8:34 makes it sound so simple. He tells us to forget about ourselves. We are to “deny” ourselves, take up Jesus’ cross and follow him. That cross simply means not to be concerned about our circumstances but live a life that blesses other people.
Still, selfishness comes so effortlessly, doesn’t it? Never has a baby been born who wasn’t egocentric. We don’t have to teach children how to be selfish. It is part of human nature. If ever there was a little tyke who daily asked, “What else can I do to help this family? I don’t need to go outside and play. I just want to unselfishly give of myself,” I’ve never met that little saint. The only time I heard my kids offer to sacrificially serve in our home was when they wanted money or permission to hang with their friends.
Selfishness doesn’t end with little ones. Professor Jay Hoffman of The College of New Jersey writes, “If you don’t think most of humanity is selfish, try going shopping early on Black Friday…Or try yelling ‘Fire’ in a crowded theater. And driving anywhere these days one sees a horrific display of selfishness. Drivers are aggressively competing to get ahead of each other…”
The truth is, you and I are selfish. We need to remind ourselves to put others first, to look for ways to bless them before we bless ourselves. It is not a challenge the Holy Spirit cannot handle, but we must be willing to seek his will when confronted with choices of “who comes first.” I daily battle this sin. I want the thermostat set so as not to replicate a walk-in cooler. I struggle when multiple vehicles take advantage of me and merge in front of my car. I want the shortest line in the grocery store, and I have no problem taking the last bag of Fritos off the shelf. Galatians 5:20 calls selfishness one of the “works of the flesh.” James 3:16 says it leads to “disorder and every evil practice.” Selfishness ruins friendships (Proverbs 18:1) and hinders prayer (James 4:3).
Sin (selfishness) and love cannot coexist. We need our minds transformed. That happens when we allow God’s love to move through us so that we can love others the way He wants us to love. I’m pretty sure that includes praying blessings on others instead of myself.
Since 2001, the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) has hosted the annual CFSEK General Funds grant cycle supporting a wide variety of projects. Since inception, the General Funds grant cycle has awarded over $1.9 million to projects across Southeast Kansas!
This grant cycle has 3 focus areas: Arts & Culture, Basic Human Needs, and Youth Activities.
“Year after year, we are deeply impressed by the dedication and impact of our nonprofit partners throughout Southeast Kansas,” said Devin Gorman, CFSEK Executive Director. “It’s a privilege to once again announce the opening of our General Funds grant opportunity. These grants offer support for the crucial programs and services that enhance the quality of life in our region.”
Applications are available at SoutheastKansas.org/Grant-App, and more information about the fund and lists of previous recipient projects are available at SoutheastKansas.org/GF.
Applications for the 2025 General Funds grant cycle are available online via CFSEK’s portal until midnight on June 30th. Questions regarding the grant applications should be directed to CFSEK Program Coordinator Kara Mishmash at SoutheastKansas.org/Contact/Kara.
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