City commissioners want county included in state economic development program

The city of Fort Scott is trying to take advantage of a state program that could help boost what city officials say is a declining population and workforce.

During the Fort Scott City Commission meeting Tuesday evening, Director of Economic Development Macy Cullison updated the commission on future economic development projects, one of which includes possible inclusion of Fort Scott in the Rural Opportunity Zones Program.

"Our primary focus for economic development this year is the recruitment of new families and professionals," Cullison said. "One part of that is looking into this program," which Cullison said is currently offered to 50 counties in Kansas, but Bourbon County is not included in the program.

"But we want to be," she said.

Cullison said she is currently tracking Senate Bill 231, which if passed, would expand the number of counties eligible to participate in the program. If Bourbon County is designated as a Rural Opportunity Zone, new residents who move here from out of state would be exempt from paying income tax for five years and students would be allowed to apply for partial forgiveness of student loans.

Cullison said the idea is to offer incentives to people who move here and thus, increase the population and labor force. She said the city recently sent testimony to the Kansas Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation expressing the city's support for SB 231.

In a letter to that committee, City Manager Dave Martin said the Rural Opportunity Zones Program "would be a great enhancement to the city of Fort Scott."

"The program would allow us to more effectively recruit families to our town," he said. "This issue is especially important to Fort Scott as our population has slowly and steadily declined since 1990. Perhaps more importantly, our civilian labor force has been in decline since 2006."

Martin went on to say in the letter that workforce "has become the number one issue for the economic development of Fort Scott over the last several years."

Last year, local employers added more than 150 jobs to the local economy, "pushing the limits of our declining population and labor force numbers," he said. "Our city has reached the point where finding qualified employees for the high skill jobs that are currently available has become extremely difficult."

He added that is has become necessary to the "economic health" of Fort Scott that new families and workers are recruited to town and that this program is one "piece of the recruitment puzzle."

In other business Tuesday, the commission:

* Approved the consent agenda, which included approval of appropriation ordinances totaling $485,092, and February financials.

* Rescinded a resolution for a "water watch" the commission passed last year due to a continued drought. Director of Public Utilities Richard Cook said there is currently a "good enough water supply" in the city to rescind the resolution, which was a voluntary water conservation measure.

* Approved a bid of $30,157 from Douglas Pump Service, Inc., for the construction of raw water intake rehabilitation.

* Approved the low bid of $59,864 from Weis Fire and Safety Equipment of Salina for the replacement of a rescue truck chassis. Director of Finance Jon Garrison said money for the purchase would come from the public safety equipment fund.

* Heard a report from Codes Manager Brent Crays, who said that after recent meetings, the city codes department plans to become stricter in its enforcement of the city's codes, to the point of possibly issuing arrest warrants for residents who refuse to comply with trash codes.

* Following a public hearing, the commission approved a resolution directing the repair or removal of an unsafe and dangerous structure located at 405 Pyle. The commission voted to give the property owner 30 days to have it brought up to code before it will go out to bid for demolition.

* Commissioner Jeanie Parker thanked the Witt family for bringing the Rankin Brothers Classic Music Revue from Branson, Mo., to town this Saturday, and thanked all city staff who worked the event.

* Martin said he will be giving the welcome at the Southeast Kansas District Meeting on Thursday at Fort Scott Community College.

* There was some discussion at the meeting among commissioners, Martin, Cullison and some audience members about the possibility of creating a Community Improvement District within which a new hotel would be located, and the creation of railroad quiet zones in various areas in town. Travelers who stay in local motels would pay an extra sales tax to finance those improvements.

Martin said the issue has been talked about since he became city manager in 2010. Railroad quiet zones in various areas would cost about $300,000 and one possible option to fund them would be increasing the Transient Guest Tax from 5 to 6 percent. A quiet zone "is not in our immediate plans" as it does not fit into the city's budget with other projects on the table, Martin said, "but needs to be dialogued."

He said discussion on this issue needs to begin in the near future and commissioners should talk to constituents about their feelings on the matter. Meetings should also be held with hotel owners to get their thoughts on possibly increasing the TGT and the establishment of quiet zones. He reiterated that no vote by the commission is necessary at this time, but he wants to be transparent and let the public know what is being considered.