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What it takes to fill these seats: Officials past and present explain commissioners' roles
Past and present elected officials recently discussed the important role the Fort Scott City Commission plays in the community.
According to local resident Bill Brittain, who has served as both a Bourbon County and Fort Scott city commissioner in the past, the Fort Scott City Commission can have a big impact on the local community. For this reason, Brittain said it is important for residents to cast their votes for candidates who are going to be willing to move the community forward.
"The city commission can guide the direction the community is going to go," Brittain said. "Some people don't realize that. We need to look at someone without a specific agenda. The only agenda (that person should have) is the betterment of the community. We need some people who are interested in moving our community forward."
Fort Scott City Manager Joe Turner said the city commission plays a large role in the development of the local economy.
"We annually budget money for economic development," Turner said. "If you get a commission that doesn't want to support economic development, it would have a potential negative impact on the economic development and retail sales in the city. The city commission sets the vision for the community. They take input from their constituents and create a vision. I have been here a short year and the city commission has unanimously supported economic development."
One example of this, Turner explained, is the comprehensive plan that was created from the results of a lengthy survey filled out by Fort Scott residents. Through the plan, the city has begun revamping many of the city's streets and sidewalks, Turner said.
The comprehensive plan provides a rational basis for zoning decisions, patterns of land use, and public and private actions that affect the physical and economic development of Fort Scott, according to a previous article in the Tribune.
According to Mayor Gary Bukowski, the city commission can have both a direct and indirect effect on business development in the local area.
"It (city commission) has an influence in the way we can make it easier for business to expand or for a new business to come into town," Bukowski said. "If nothing else, it gives the economic development director and the city manager direction on what types of businesses we would like to bring (to town)."
According to Brittain, developing a good quality of life -- improving street conditions, offering more recreational opportunities, etcetera -- in Fort Scott will help attract new businesses and result in better local economic conditions.
"We need to go after jobs that pay high enough that will attract people to the community," Brittain said. "Also, we need to offer the quality of life that will attract people to the community."
According to City Commissioner Dick Hedges, many people in the local area want to see some improvements made in the city.
"In the town-wide survey sent out, there was a strong response from a lot of people," Hedges said. "Streets, curbs and codes are all important to the public."
Brittain said creating a better quality of life will help restore the reputation of Fort Scott, which was tarnished by a grand jury investigation that took place in 2006.
"We need a commission that will promote the community and better quality of life because we are still suffering from the negative affects of the grand jury investigation that yielded no convictions from city officials," Brittain said.
Making Fort Scott a better place to live and work will take a city commission that is able to function well as a team, according to Hedges.
"You are one commissioner," Hedges said. "This body is five. Sometimes you don't get your way. (Teamwork) is crucial. It's the art of the compromise. You would hope they (candidates) are not coming in with an ax to grind. You hope they are coming in with an open mind."
Bukowski said although it is helpful to have a group of individuals on the city commission who are diverse, those individuals must be willing to work together as a team to work through and build on conflict that occur.
"It's extremely important," Bukowski said. "Your best commissions are the most diverse. You need a mix for taking different things into consideration. It's detrimental to any team to have conflicting personalities."
Brittain added, "You need a commission that will work together. No one can get it done by themselves. You want to elect a team that will work for you."
Not only do the commissioners need to work together as a team for the betterment of the city, they also must work closely with city staff in order to make progress in the local area, according to Turner.
Although he admits it is impossible to please everyone all of the time, Hedges said it is important for the city commission to be accessible to citizens. Ultimately, the commissioners have to do whatever is best for the city, Hedges said.
Hedges added that instead of everyone constantly pointing out the negative characteristics of Fort Scott, he would like to see a greater focus on the positive aspects of the city.
"I would like for us to be thinking about what is right with Fort Scott and build on those strengths," Hedges said.
Whatever the focus of the new city commission, Hedges said it is important for the group to have a plan that is created out of a consensus, and that plan needs to be transparent so the people of Fort Scott understand what actions are taking place in the commission.
Brittain said he would like to see the election of candidates who are willing to work diligently with the commission to make a difference in the city.
"We need someone with compassion that is a leader," Brittain said. "If you see something that needs done, you need to be able to convince the other four that it needs done. Teamwork is crucial."
Fort Scott residents can cast their vote in the general election on Tuesday, April 7.