These are the minutes for June 2002, as approved by the Bourbon County Commission.
| June 3, 2002 | June 7, 2002 |
| June 10, 2002 | June 14, 2002 |
| June 17, 2002 | June 21, 2002 |
| June 24, 2002 | June 28, 2002 |
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The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all commissioners and the county clerk present. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Clyde Killion met with the commissioners to discuss road projects. The commissioners informed Mr. Killion of problem road areas of which they have been made aware. Mr. Killion and Gary Houston left the meeting at 9:43 am to view a road. Pat Bishop met with the commissioners to request funding for Airport Days. The commissioners approved the expenditure of $300 from the Special Parks and Recreation Fund. Gary Houston returned to the meeting at 11:00 am. Sheriff Harold Coleman also spoke to the commissioners about Airport Days, September 7, 2002. Kenny Howard has asked that a county road be closed to traffic during the festivities so that the aerobatics may take place safely. The commissioners approved the request to shut down Indian Road, on the south side of the airport, for two hours on the morning of September 7, 2002. Mr. Coleman will notify Mr. Howard. Robert Query left the meeting at 11:30 am. After routine business, the meeting adjourned at noon.
ATTEST: (ss) Joanne Long, County Clerk |
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The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all commissioners present. Joanne Long was also present. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Kenny Felt, a reporter with the Fort Scott Tribune sat in for most of the session. Jim Abrams and Jim Hiers were also present to view the meeting. Clyde Killion spoke to the commissioners about road assignments. The commissioners discussed a leak in the air conditioner at the Correctional Center. Robert Query mentioned that Heckert Construction is reportedly running ahead of schedule and could begin work for Bourbon County earlier than planned if the county was also ready. The commissioners signed some paperwork for the Tri-Valley Grant. Ann Ludlum, County Agent-Family and Consumer Sciences, presented the commissioners with the monthly progress report for the Extension Office. Ms. Ludlum also spoke to the commissioners about a poverty simulation, scheduled for June 28, 2002. She encouraged the commissioners to come to Buck Run Community Center on the 28th and observe. Robert Query stated that Mid-Continental Restoration is the only business to respond with a waterproofing quote for the soldier statue on the Courthouse lawn. Mr. Query contacted the other businesses and gave them until 11:00 am Monday to respond. James Johnson met with the commissioners to discuss problems at 1215 Elm St, Fort Scott. Sheriff Harold Coleman was present for the discussion. Mr. Johnson has been fined an assessment from the City of Fort Scott, for weeds mowed after a mobile home was repossessed. Mr. Johnson was told by Sheriff Coleman that, while the mobile home was on the property, Mr. Johnson was not allowed on the property. After the mobile home was removed, the earth around where the mobile home stood was heaped in a large pile, too large to mow the weeds. After much discussion, the commissioners, sheriff and county clerk advised Mr. Johnson to speak to a lawyer. Lee Davis spoke to the commissioners about weed spraying. He is in the process of spraying railroad crossings. Robert Query reminded Mr. Davis to spray the fairgrounds before the Bourbon County Fair. The commissioners discussed the proposed purchase of a jackhammer. Mr. Houston only received quotes from two business, Store Implements of Iola, Kansas, and R & R Equipment, Fort Scott. The prices were:
No action was taken on the jackhammer. After routine business, the meeting adjourned at 11:45 am.
ATTEST: (ss) Joanne Long, County Clerk |
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The Bourbon County Commission met with Terry Graham and Robert Query present. County Clerk Joanne Long was also present. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and corrected. Gary Houston arrived at 9:30 am. David Phelps, Chief Medical Officer and Patrick Callanan, Director of Emergency Medical Services at Mercy Hospital, met with the commissioners regarding the ambulance contract with Bourbon County. The current contract expires at the end of September 2002. The renewal price for the ambulance has been calculated at $16,833 per month. As the current contract is $7,167 per month, this is a large increase. Dr. Phelps and Mr. Callanan explained the reason for the increase as cost of services on the rise and what Medicare pays is on the decrease. They feel that this amount is a fair share of the burden considering the service they provide and the well-trained staff. Terry Graham commented that the increase is substantial and would raise the mill levy about two mills and asked if the increase could be phased in over time to lessen the tax burden. Mercy feels that is possible but they have not put together any figures. They will put something together and fax it to the commissioners later today. Clyde Killion spoke to the commissioners about road assignments. Lee Davis spoke to the commissioners about weeds. Gerald Beerbower presented a bill for repair work to the courthouse roof and asked for payment to be made immediately. The commissioners approved the request. The commissioners received two additional quotes for waterproofing the soldier statue on the courthouse lawn. The three quotes are:
Gary Houston made a motion to accept the quote from MCM Restoration for $700.00. Terry Graham seconded the motion and all voted in favor. Jerry Williams, Executive Director of Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging, presented the 2003 budget request for that agency. He is asking for the same amount as last year: $960.00. Mr. Williams also asked that the 2002 funds be disbursed at this time. Sharon Elder, Register of Deeds, spoke to the commissioners about a new fund that will be required by law, beginning July 1, 2002. It is the Register of Deeds Technology Fund. Beginning July 1, 2002, recording fees will go up $2.00 per page. This additional $2.00 per page is to be deposited into this Technology Fund and used for anything other than salaries and furniture in the Register of Deeds Office. After consulting with Terry Sercer, County Auditor, it was made clear that Ms. Elder will deposit and withdraw funds through the Treasurer’s Office, as Ms. Elder has discretionary control. Lynn Smith spoke to the commissioners about recovering some overtime for Monique Umphenour from 2001. Ms. Umphenour was not aware that there was overtime available in the Computer Fund and therefore never asked for it. No action at this time. After routine business, the meeting adjourned at noon.
ATTEST: (ss) Joanne Long, County Clerk |
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The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with commissioners Robert Query and Terry Graham present. Joanne Long was also present. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Gary Houston arrived at 9:40 am. Roger Lee spoke to the commissioners about septic tank inspections and a possible change to the sanitation code for Cedar Creek. No action. Bills and payroll for the period were approved. The commissioners reviewed the request for payment of overtime from 2001 to Monique Umphenour from the Computer Fund. The commissioners feel that if the overtime had been turned in last year and was approved, it should be paid. Therefore Ms. Umphenour will receive compensation for that time. However, the commissioners stressed that this will not happen again, from any department. All overtime must me turned in and paid for when it is worked, not months after the fact. Terry Graham and Robert Query left the meeting at 9:40 am, with an arriving Gary Houston, to view a road project as it begins. All commissioners returned to the meeting at 10:30 am. David Neville, Custodial Supervisor, informed the commissioners of a bug problem in the courthouse, especially in the County Attorney’s Office. The commissioners advised Mr. Neville to call the local exterminators for a price for a spraying and check back on Monday. Lee Davis presented quotes for chemicals at 11:00 am. They were:
Gary Houston made a motion to accept the price from UAP/Timberland for Plateau at $2,507.50. Robert Query seconded the motion and all voted in favor. Robert Query made a motion to accept the price from UAP/Timberland for Remedy at $4,716.00. Terry Graham seconded the motion and all voted in favor. Lee Davis mentioned the high demand for Remedy. He stated that all 60 gallons that the commissioners just approved purchase for are spoken for and asked to purchase an additional 20 gallons if UAP/Timberland would honor the same price. The commissioners approved the request, stipulating the need for the same price. The commissioners spent part of the morning discussing the ambulance contract. Glenn Newcomer, Ann Ludlum, Marge Stringer, Benny Robbins, Mike Bean and John Ericson presented the 2003 budget request for the Bourbon County Extension Council. The 2003 request is for $100,248, up from $95,233 in 2002. They stated the reason for the increase is health insurance, due to state funding cutbacks. After routine business, the meeting adjourned at 11:50 am. The commissioners accepted an invitation to lunch by the Extension Council.
ATTEST: (ss) Joanne Long, County Clerk |
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The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all commissioners and the county clerk present. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The commissioners discussed road projects with Clyde Killion, Public Works Supervisor. The topic of the ambulance contract was also discussed. Terry Graham made a motion at 10:53 am to go into executive session for a period of five minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. Gary Houston seconded the motion and all voted in favor. Those present for the session were the commissioners, Joanne Long and Whendi Embry. At 10:58 am the regular meeting resumed with no action. Richard Johnson of Martin Tractor presented the commissioners with some paperwork on the recently purchased Caterpillar Road Grader. Resolution 15-02, agreement to enter a lease-purchase agreement, was among the paperwork. The resolution was approved and placed in the Resolution book. Keith Clark, new Director of Community Corrections, met the commissioners and discussed the program. After routine business, the meeting adjourned at 1:30 pm.
ATTEST: (ss) Joanne Long, County Clerk |
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The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with Robert Query and Terry Graham present. Joanne Long was also present. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. John Endicott, Wayne Thorpe, Robert Miller, Cheryl Bennett, Bill Schoenberger and Ronnie Brown met with the commissioners to present the 2003 budget request for Soil Conservation. The request is for $35,000, the same as last year. Robert Query signed a letter, as vice-chairman, concerning the 2001 audit, for Terry Sercer. David Neville spoke to the commissioners about pest control. The prices he has been quoted are as follows:
The commissioners told Mr. Neville to call Affordable and try them out for a couple of months to see how it goes. David Neville also discussed courthouse air conditioner status. The 3rd floor air conditioner has yet to be fixed and jurors are very cold. The air conditioner in the Treasurer’s and County Clerk’s offices has been down all week. The repairman is here. The coil needs drained and if it can’t be drained, it will need to be replaced. The commissioners received notice from the Department of Revenue, that due to budget shortfalls, the Department of Motor Vehicles Driver’s License Station will be closing down effective July 31, 2002. Maury Thompson, Bill Fiscus and Alene Jolly met with the commissioners to present the Tri-Valley 2003 budget request. Tri-Valley is requesting the same amount as in 2002--$54,000. Mr. Thompson stated that developmental services were not cut at the state level. Terry Graham left the meeting at 11:20 pm. He returned at 1:00 pm, along with Robert Query. Robert Chase and Alan Hauser presented the Southeast Kansas Mental Health budget request. They are asking for $67,000, the same as was budgeted in 2002. After routine business, the meeting adjourned at 1:15 pm.
ATTEST: (ss) Joanne Long, County Clerk |
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The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with Robert Query and Gary Houston present. Joanne Long was also present. Terry Graham arrived at 9:33 am. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Ed French and Delwin Mumbower spoke to the commissioners about “Prairie Plague 2002”, a statewide disaster seminar to be held this Wednesday and Thursday in Topeka. Gary Houston signed 6 permits to sell fireworks in Bourbon County. Delwin Mumbower discussed a problem Fire District 3 is having with the dispatch center at Fort Scott Police Department. There was a bad automobile/tractor accident Saturday, three miles north of Bronson at the intersection of Hwy 3 and Tomahawk Rd. A passenger van hit a tractor and the driver and four children were ejected from the vehicle. Delwin was first on the scene and assisting the wounded when he heard that Mapleton Rural Fire was on its way. He said that Fort Scott Dispatch was telling Mapleton to go home, as they weren’t paged. When Delwin radioed back to dispatch the number of injured, Fort Scott would not answer his radio call. He said he tried five times and no one would answer him. Finally, he called Mercy Dispatch himself and soon four helicopters landed on the scene for air ambulance. Mr. Mumbower finds this unacceptable and would like the commissioners to speak to the city of Fort Scott to work out the problem. He stated that every time he brings it up to the Dispatchers, the situation only worsens. Terry Graham agreed to speak to the City. Harold Coleman asked the commissioners if the county still fills in wells. The commissioners weren’t sure and advised Mr. Coleman to speak to the Soil Conservation Office. Debra Morgan, Southeast Kansas Senior Services, and Joan Crane, President of the Bourbon County Senior Citizens, met with the commissioners to discuss food service for the elderly. Currently, SEK Senior Services provides Congregate Meals at Buck Run Community Center Monday through Friday. The Bourbon County Senior Citizens building, at the north end of Main Street, provides meals and transportation to senior citizens with mill levy money. Ms. Morgan and Ms. Crane would like to combine resources and have one distribution center for senior meals, at the Senior Citizens Building, as Buck Run often moves their location from room to room, depending on the schedule of the day. If the services were to be combined, all recipients of meals must meet the criteria set forth to receive USDA funds, meaning some people will not qualify for the discounted meals or home delivery. SEK Senior Services prepares all the food in Pittsburg, Kansas, and delivers it in a van, which means three jobs will be lost at Bourbon County Senior Citizens—a full time cook, a part-time cook and a dishwasher. Ruth Cullen will remain employed as Director. The transportation van will also continue to run. If a merger is not made, Bourbon County Senior Citizens will need to raise the price of its meals. If the merger takes place, the price of the meal will be lower than it currently is. The commissioners feel that keeping the service is important, but also don’t want to see anyone lose perhaps the only meal they receive each day due to new guidelines. The commissioners stated also that it was unfortunate that jobs would have to be lost, but understood the financial crunch. Ms. Crane feels that the current mill levy allocation can be split between the transportation side and meals and that part of the money saved by salaries will be used to make repairs and updates to the Senior Center. Elaine Shroyer, Bourbon County Health Nurse, spoke to the commissioners about Bio-terrorism. She stated that she is nearly finished writing the plan and that the commissioners are required to approve it. She stated that the County Attorney should look it over prior to approval, as it will become law when signed. She stated that we have until the end of September to have the plan approved. She also gave the commissioners a copy of an inter-local agreement to house other county citizens in the event of a disaster. Clyde Killion gave a road update. Terry Graham left the meeting to meet with city officials about the dispatching problem discussed earlier. At 11:37 am, Robert Query made a motion to go into executive session for a period of five minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. Gary Houston seconded the motion and both voted in favor. Those present for the session were Robert Query, Gary Houston, Joanne Long and Doylene Kennedy. The regular meeting resumed at 11:42 am with no action. Terry Graham returned to the meeting at 12:07 pm and updated the commissioners on his meeting with city officials. Mr. Graham stated that he would be meeting with several city officials Friday at 8:30 am to discuss the problem. After routine business, the meeting adjourned at 12:10 pm with no further action.
ATTEST: (ss) Joanne Long, County Clerk |
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The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with Robert Query and Gary Houston present. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Terry Graham arrived at 10:12 am. County Clerk Joanne Long reminded all that the state sales tax would increase .4% on July 1, 2002. This would make the combined sales tax rate 7.3% in Fort Scott and Bronson, and 6.3% throughout the remainder of Bourbon County. The majority of the morning session was spent discussing the recent notice that the State of Kansas was going to close the Fort Scott Driver’s License Station, housed in the Courthouse, in an effort to cut $1 million from the budget. There has been much community support to attempt to save the station. A recent newspaper article stated that no jobs were to be lost with the closings which led the commissioners to realize that the only cost they would be saving in Fort Scott would be the $140 per month rent and telephone service. As the State offered the $140 per month rent to use space in the courthouse in the first place, the commissioners agreed to waive the rent charges, in an effort to allow the station to stay. Gary Houston attempted to call Sheila Walker at the State with the arrangement and left a message. David Neville spoke to the commissioners about air conditioners. The new unit in the Correctional Center did not have phase protectors and a power surge has blown two of the three compressors. French’s, from whom the unit was purchased and installed, says that there is no warranty for the parts and gave an estimate of $3,240.18 to repair the damage and replace lost refrigerant. An additional charge of $2,588.88 was said to add phase protectors for all 7 units installed. David spoke to DC Refrigeration, also a certified York dealer, who said that the compressors were covered under a warranty and estimated cost of the repairs at $1,961.50, which included phase protection. The commissioners approved the estimate from DC Refrigeration. David also spoke of the air conditioner problem in District Court. The main unit pumps most of the cool air into the courtroom which is often too cold and the judge’s chambers, court reporter’s office and district court clerk’s office are not cooled properly. The main unit does not cool the jury deliberation room at all. There is a window unit in the jury room to help with cooling it, but it is loud and cannot keep the room cool in the afternoons when the sun is on the west side of the courthouse, streaming directly into the jury room. David has obtained one estimate to redirect the flow of the main air conditioner but the commissioners would like at least one other before they make a decision. Robert Query asked Sheriff Coleman how to stop people in construction zones from jumping line and driving over and possibly ruining freshly laid asphalt. The sheriff stated that the only way would be to get the license plate number of the vehicle and turn them into the insurance to make them pay for any damages. The commissioners approved drawdown #4 for the Tri-Valley Grant. Payroll and accounts payable were approved. Clyde Killion discussed the road plan with the commissioners. He asked them if, at the end of the blacktopping season, he could do Osage Road between old Hwy 69 and new Hwy 69. The commissioners agreed it was a good idea, as that stretch of road is in great need of repair. Joyce and Clarence Stumfoll came before the commissioners with a request for a Cereal Malt Beverage license for a bait shop they are opening. They presented the commissioners with the signed approval from the Marmaton Township Board. As the township has given its approval, the commissioners approved the request and directed the Stumfoll’s to the county clerk’s office for the license. Terry Graham arrived at 10:12 am. He had been meeting with City of Fort Scott officials about the apparent problem with dispatching rural emergencies. Delwin Mumbower was also present and stated that they think they have worked the dispatching problem out. Delwin Mumbower presented the 2003 budget request for Fire District 3. Richard Nienstedt, Ken Lunt, Don Russell, Mary Lynn Stevenson and Ron Graves met with the commissioners to discuss the closing of the Driver’s License Station. The commissioners informed the group of the county’s intention to waive rent fees in an effort to keep the office open. Richard Nienstedt stated that the City was willing to assume the cost of the telephone expenses for up to three years, or until the Kansas Legislature resumes funding. A letter was drafted with these offers and signed by Gary Houston and Ken Lunt and faxed and mailed to Sheila Walker, Director, Division of Vehicles for the State of Kansas. Reggie and Janet Fancher spoke to the commissioners about utility easements. The commissioners directed them to the Register of Deeds Office. Lynn Smith spoke to the commissioners about computers. IBM is changing its warranty schedule from monthly or quarterly to annually. As we have already set the budget for 2002, we are unable to pay an annual payment on July 1, 2002, as they would like. The commissioners encouraged Ms. Smith to see if they will let us finish 2002 as we are, and begin annual payments in 2003. Sheila Walker called the commissioners and informed them that the request would be considered and we would know in a week if it is accepted. Terry Sercer met with the commissioners and presented the audit for the county for the year ending December 31, 2001. Doylene Kennedy spoke to the commissioners about Bill Wiggans. He has been released to light duty. The commissioners stated there is a job, driving a truck, available, which pays $9.13 per hour, which meets the restrictions he has. A letter was drafted to give to Mr. Wiggans to offer the position to him. After routine business, the meeting adjourned at 12:13 pm.
ATTEST: (ss) Joanne Long, County Clerk |
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