Grant received for downtown building

The Fort Scott City Commission and those in attendance for Tuesday evening's meeting heard some good news concerning rehabilitation of a blighted downtown building.

The city recently received a Commerical Rehabilitation grant through the U.S. Small Cities Community Development Block Program. The $150,000 grant will provide funding for the repair of a retail structure located at 7 N. Main St.

"This is very exciting for Fort Scott," Director of Economic Development Heather Griffith said. "This is a very competitive grant. We weren't sure we would get it."

In July, the commission approved submitting an application to the Kansas Department of Commerce for the grant following a presentation by Susan Galemore of the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission and a public hearing. The SEKRPC serves as the grant administrator for the project and helped prepare the grant application.

Grant funds will be used to restore the downtown building, which most recently housed an antique store. Bill Michaud, the owner of the building, plans to turn the lower portion of the building into a multi-purpose event center that will serve as a meeting and gathering base downtown for groups of 25 to 100 people. The upstairs would be residential living space.

Griffith said Gov. Sam Brownback recently sent a letter to Mayor Cindy Bartelsmeyer informing her the city had been awarded the grant.

"This is wonderful news," Bartelsmeyer said Tuesday.

Officials have said the city's only involvement has been to help put the grant proposal together. No city funds will be contributed to the project. Matching funds for the grant must be provided by the property owner. The total estimated cost of the project is $200,000. The property owner would chip in the remaining $50,000.

The letter from Brownback said, "Neither private nor public funds may be expended on any activity that could have an adverse environmental impact or limit the choice of reasonable alternatives, until the Department of Commerce approves the request for release of funds and the environmental certification."

"Once again, you are to be congratulated for developing a fine project that will not only benefit your community, but also produce a positive economic benefit for the entire state," Brownback said in the letter.

Griffith said the grant award shows that "Fort Scott is making an effort to revitalize our downtown."

In other business Tuesday, the commission:

* Approved the consent agenda, which included appropriation ordinances totaling $560,722; a modification order to remove one 175-watt mercury vapor street light and install one 70-watt high-pressure sodium street light on a wooden pole at 1530 Beech St.; and an application for a license to sell cereal malt beverages at Papa Don's restaurant.

* Approved a donation of $1,000 to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bourbon County organization.

* Heard an update from Airport Manager Kenny Howard on a long-range capital plan for the airport and a Kansas Department of Transportation grant the city has applied for to help pay for reconstruction of various aprons at the airport. The commission approved a change to the airport capital improvement plan.

* Heard from Dave Bruner with the Fort Scott Fire Department about a $200 mini-grant the FSFD recently received in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week, which is Oct. 6-12. The Fire Prevention and Education grant, awarded by the Fire Education Association of Kansas, is used for materials such as stickers, magnets and books to promote Fire Prevention Week and fire safety. In addition, an open house is scheduled for Oct. 9 at the FSFD Station One. This event is set to include fire trucks and equipment on display, an obstacle course, car seat checks done by the Fort Scott Police Department, and refreshments, Bruner said. The FEAK assists communities in promotion of fire safety.

* Heard an update on the city's budget from Director of Finance Jon Garrison who said city staff "have worked hard to hold down expenditures." He added that the city is receiving more money than anticipated in certain funds.

"The bottom line is all funds are looking well financially," he said.

* Heard a report from City Manager Dave Martin, who said he has had several questions from citizens recently about whether the citywide clean-up event will take place this year. Martin said the plan is to not conduct the event this year due to the fact that the project is intensive in both time and labor. He said the project costs the city about $35,000 to do each year and the city is currently committed to other projects. Martin said a possible option is to work with Bourbon County on an effort to help people "with things they want to haul out," he said.