City Commission elects Bukowski Fort Scott mayor

Fort Scott has a new mayor. Commissioner Gary Bukowski took over the position after a unanimous vote by the commission at Tuesday's meeting.

Commissioner Barbara Wood nominated Bukowksi, who has served over a year on the commission.

Bukowski was the acting commission president and filled in for former Mayor Dick Hedges when he was absent. Hedges said at the meeting it is "healthy" to rotate the mayoral seat, giving other people a chance at the position.

Also, commissioners voted to make Commissioner Jim Adams the commission president. He also will keep his position as a representative of the Bourbon County Economic Development Council, Inc. Wood will continue serving as a delegate on the Fort Scott Housing Authority.

In other business at the meeting, commissioners took the following action:

* Authorized staff to get an appraisal of a strip of land the city owns between National Avenue and 2 E. 18th St. (the Mary Floyd building). The Kansas Teachers Community Credit Union is considering opening a branch in Fort Scott. Remodeling of the building would be done, which would include construction of a drive-through lane and window on the west side of the building. The city owns a 22-by-65-foot strip of land between the property line and National Avenue. The credit union would like to purchase an 11-by-65-foot strip of the land from the city. The land would ensure adequate space to build the drive-through and future building expansion.

* Approved a low bid by Fort Scott Sanitation to haul off trash at its facilities. It will cost $975 per month for the service. It's for one year. Also, commissioners approved a low bid by Wood Construction, LLC. for $1,270 to repair the damaged rock wall at Second and Heylman streets.

* Authorized a downtown facade improvement grant application submitted by John and Cindy Bowman for work on their restaurant at 24 N. National Ave. The grant will provide $500 toward the $60,000 total for the upgrade.

* Allowed the Public Works Department to close the 100 block of south Main Street, from First to Second streets, from 4 to 11:15 p.m. May 10 for the Fort Scott High School prom.

* Approved two city-coordinated programs that aim to beautify Fort Scott. The annual spring clean-up program and the annual Clean Sweep program will be conducted next month.

* Commissioner Nick Graham asked city staff about the residency issue commissioners discussed in December. He talked to a city employee who said he'd like to have more freedom of where he could live. Graham would like to have the commission make a decision on the issue. Commissioners decided to hold a work session May 2 to discuss the issue in depth.

* Held off on making a decision as to whether to help fund a matching grant the Marmaton Watershed Joint District No. 102 recently received. It asked the city for $30,000. Part of the grant funds would be used to put automated samplers on inflows to Cedar Creek Reservoir and strategic points on the Marmaton and its tributaries to help identify any pollution sources. In all, the WRAPS program aims to improve water clarity, and the city has a stake in achieving that goal. The city didn't budget for the costs, so it will have to be revisited as the city works on next year's budget.