Tatro named VP of Hwy. 69 Association

Tatro

The Fort Scott area will now have some representation in the leadership of the U.S. Highway 69 Association with the selection of Clayton Tatro as vice president of the organization.

The selection was made at the association's annual meeting on Jan. 18. Tatro, president of Fort Scott Community College, replaces Pittsburg attorney Kevin Mitchelson, who decided not to seek another term. Having Mitchelson and Ken Brock of Names and Numbers as members would have put a pair of Pittsburg residents at in the top two spots.

"I think what Kevin saw was ... if they had a strong presence in the association from Pittsburg, it would be nice to have representation from Fort Scott as well," Tatro said.

Although Tatro said he has not yet been "highly involved" in the association directly, he has taken part in a couple of projects involving the expansion and development of U.S. 69 since arriving in Fort Scott in 2007. Tatro was chosen to be part of the U.S. Highway 69 Steering Committee and the U.S. Highway 69 Corridor Study Committee.

"I was fortunate enough to be part of that steering committee fairly soon after I got to Fort Scott in 2007 and was part of the group that was able to work on the expanded four-lane from Kansas City to Fort Scott," Tatro said.

Tatro is also involved in the Fort Scott community through organizations such as the Youth Activities Team and Good Neighbor Action Team. He said taking on this new role with the association will not impact his involvement at home.

"The association is fairly active, but we have representation with Jim AuBuchon in Topeka and legislative efforts. Much of the leg work will be done by Jim AuBuchon and his work in Topeka," he said. "I wouldn't do anything that would take away from my community involvement."

The U.S. Highway 69 Association is a group that works on the development and expansion of the highway. Tatro said development of the highway into a four-lane road is an "obvious economic boom" to the region and a much needed project for the region.

"If there is any way that I can lend a hand and represent the association ... to benefit the project in any way, I definitely want to be a part of that," he said.

While serving as vice president of the association, Tatro said he is looking forward to learning more about the various components that go into the expansion of the highway and the legislative process as it relates to the expansion.

"This is just a great opportunity for me to have some regional impact, as well as a local impact," he said.