MEETING MINUTES

SUMMARY OF MEETING

FORT SCOTT CITY COMMISSION

Regular Meeting, Sept. 1, 2026

Present: Mayor Kathryn Salsbury and Commissioners Matthew Wells, Tracy Dancer, Tim Van Hoecke and Julie Buchta.

Agenda

Approved as amended to add an IT update, 5-0.

Consent Agenda

Approved 5-0, including Appropriation Ordinance 1415-A ($496,968.67); Aug. 18 minutes; $20,000 to Earles Engineering & Inspection for the Wall Street Phase 3 survey; and $27,122.56 to Mid-Continental Restoration for Wall Street retaining wall repairs.

Appearances

Heard a request to accept a $1,451,000 Transportation Alternatives Grant for a Buck Run Creek trail with a $362,712 city match, and an IT update on a recent ransomware incident. No action taken.

Unfinished Business

A. Mill Levy. Eliminated the $38,976 general fund demolition budget for one year, lowering the proposed levy by about one-half mill for publication ahead of the Sept. 15 budget hearing, 3-2. Commissioners Van Hoecke and Buchta voted no.

B. Ordinance No. 3801. Tabled first reading of alcohol and cereal malt beverage code amendments to the second September meeting, 5-0.

C. 118 E. Wall St. Authorized legal and grant-related steps to obtain possession of the building, 5-0.

New Business

A. Unsafe Structures. Approved Resolution Nos. 33-2026 through 37-2026, setting hearings on unsafe and dangerous structures at 507 W. 18th St., 611 W. 5th St., 735 S. Little St., 416 S. Barbee St. and 418 S. Barbee St., each 5-0.

B. Resolution No. 38-2026. Approved a hearing on an unsafe structure at 108 N. Judson St., 4-1. Commissioner Wells voted no.

C. Land Bank. Appointed Cindy Bartelsmeyer to the Fort Scott Land Bank, 5-0.

D. Memorial Hall. Awarded the $538,000 window and exterior restoration bid to Mid-Continental Restoration, pending Kansas Department of Commerce approval, 5-0.

E. Historic Preservation. Scheduled a 5 p.m. Sept. 15 work session to revise the historic preservation ordinance, 5-0.