Bourbon County Commission Minutes of August 16 | Fort Scott Biz

2022-09-02 18:39:11 By : Admin

August 16, 2022 Tuesday 9:00 am The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners (including newly appointed Commissioner Dist #1 Nelson Blythe) and the County Clerk present. Robert Harrington, Anne Dare, Jason Silvers, Susan Bancroft, Bill Martin and Clint Walker were present for some or all of the meeting. Jim started the meeting by welcoming Nelson Blythe, the newly appointed Commissioner for District #1. Clifton made a motion to approve the minutes from August 9 th . Jim seconded. All approved. Eric Bailey stated that the information he read states the commissioners shall sign for new culverts. It was determined that the culvert permits would be brought in once a month for signature from the commissioners. Eric stated they had a surprise inspection in the Noxious Weed Department and passed with flying colors. Andy has done an outstanding job. Eric continued discussion with asphalting. We are west of Uniontown. We did not asphalt yesterday due to three dump trucks being down. We got one back up and going so we are asphalting today. It probably will be the middle of next week before we are finished in that area. Eric thanked Commissioner Blythe for coming out last week and helped lay some asphalt and rode the screed. Eric continued stating we are experiencing several breakdowns. It is diesel, exhaust, & fluid (DEF) related. We are not able to repair those DEF issues so we have to send them off. We’ve got two dump trucks and a side -arm mower down with it. Our other side-arm mower has the gear drive bearings out on it but are in the process of getting that put back together. Grader #14 dropped a valve. It’s at Foley getting repaired. The lay-down machine was delivered to Van Keppel. Regarding the belly dump, I will hold off till late fall to see where we are with the budget. Eric gave a copy of the fuel cost spreadsheet to each commissioner. Jennifer has done an outstanding job putting this together for us. Bulk fuel saves us. We are doing a field check meeting Friday on the bridge project at 160 th & Fern. KDOT, Schwab Eaton will be there. Eric stated the sign requested for the “s” curve on 207 th off of Jayhawk is in the process. Eric said they would use a side-arm mower to get it trimmed up and ready for the sign. Nelson stated he received a call regarding Hackberry Road between 80 th & 95 th the low water bridge is bad on the south side. Eric said they would take care of it. Jim asked about the bus route regarding mowing. Eric said they are on it. Lynne Oharah talked about one of the agreements we do every year. Another discussion regarding the chillers at the hospital. Design Mechanical services our chillers every year. Last year our total package for servicing the chillers was $10,806.00. It’ s down this year because we are not servicing as much equipment. The price for this year will be $$6,940.00. Nelson asked if this was the same people who have taken care of it in the past. Lynne said yes. Clifton made a motion to

approve the service agreement paying a quarterly payment. Jim seconded. All approved. Lynne continued discussion regarding the chillers and stated that every 5 or 6 years they crack them open and actually clean the coils. If you don’t, there is build up and it starts deteriorating. The last time it was done was well over 6 years ago. Lynne said he would come back at a later date and have a serious discussion on whether we are going to do this or not. Anne Dare spoke about EDF Energy stating they are coming to NW Crawford County. Anne was contacted by someone from Crawford County and wanted to know what could be done to fight this. I was given a few paragraphs of the contract and it was shocking to read that if the leased land is ever sold, EDF has first rights at buying it among other things. Anne asked the commissioners to seriously consider implementing a special use permit for new industry coming to the county. Clifton stated that previously the commission was asked to sign something that we would not infringe on peo ple’s property rights at all. “ I agree with that. Are you asking me to infringe on people’s property rights?” Anne stated that she did not believe asking industry, whatever it might be, in this case wind energy, the land owner that is approached would still have the right to put this in place, but it also establishes something for the protection of commissioners and something stronger to establish a negotiating process. Jim stated that he has been a supporter of special use permits and still are somewhat because I understand, being a codes guy and zoning administrator for the City of Fort Scott for many years, but by doing this special use permit we have the option of saying yes or no. If we say no, we are going back on what we voted on just a few month s ago. Nelson stated he doesn’t even like the sound of special use permit just from it doesn’t sound very conservative. I unders tand your concerns, I will look at it, but I don’t know how you can only target it toward the wind industry and if put in place any other industry would have to go through that as well. I don’t want any more barriers to bring industry into Bourbon County. Clifton stated that we have setbacks already. Justin Meeks stated that there were already setbacks. Justin stated that you can’t restrict one industry and not another or you would run into lawsuits. Anne asked that the commissioners take a look at and consider a permit. Transient Guest Tax (TGT) – Nelson stated that he contacted one of the businesses in the county and the y weren’t even aware that people were talking about the TGT. Nelson stated that he wou ld want to meet with the people that own the Airbnb’s to ask their opinion. Jim stated that he would like Susan to look into it to see how it can be structured to help the County. Jim stated I would be in favor of it if the property owner supported it and if the money stayed in the County to be used to promote tourism. Mark McCoy stated the Tourism Director should market and merchandise and advertise not just the city of Fort Scott, but the entire County. As a former business owner, we survive together, not alone. The subject was off set for 60 days. Sheriff Bill Martin – a couple of weeks ago a citizen put through a KORA for an ammunition report. Nick Trim will present this information. Nick gave information regarding his previous experience and training certificates. Nick stated that he is a

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