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Recognition for service to city
James Leeper's hard work over the last 15 years earned him some recognition during Tuesday night's meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission.
Leeper, a client at Tri-Valley Developmental Services, received a plaque and certificate honoring him for his years of service with the Fort Scott police and fire departments during a brief presentation at the start of the meeting.
Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou and Fort Scott Police Department Chief Travis Shelton presented the plaque to Leeper and spoke to the commission.
"We wanted to honor a 15-year employee," Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou said.
"James doesn't know a stranger, either," Shelton told the commission.
Shelton said Leeper cleans the police and fire departments at the Hawkins Public Safety Facility three day a week. Leeper's duties include taking out the trash, cleaning windows, vacuuming and other general cleaning.
"He knows everybody and talks to everyone," Shelton said.
Leeper was congratulated by commissioners and City Manager Dave Martin as well.
"Thank you for all the work you've done," Mayor Cindy Bartelsmeyer told Leeper.
"Oh, you're welcome," Leeper said in response.
After the meeting, Shelton said Leeper is a sports fan and talks to Shelton and other public safety personnel about professional football games.
In 2012, Leeper received some encouragement from local emergency personnel before he participated in a Special Olympics event in Pittsburg. FSPD and FSFD employees honored Leeper at the Hawkins Public Safety Facility. At that event, staff celebrated with Leeper and presented him with a basketball signed by police and fire personnel.
Leeper played basketball at the Southeast Basketball and Cheerleading event in February 2012 at Pittsburg State University.
Other than light janitorial duties he has performed at the Hawkins Public Safety Facility the last 15 years, he has also helped out at times during special events in the city, such as parades.
In other business Tuesday, the commission:
* Approved the city's participation in a project to update the 911 mapping system for the entire county. A story on this topic will appear in a future edition of the Tribune.
* Heard a report from Director of Finance Jon Garrison who said it was recently announced that the city had hired someone to fill the new Information Technology position that was approved during the budget session this past summer. Slayden Davis, of the Dallas, Texas area, is scheduled to start in the position next week, Garrison said.
* Approved the consent agenda, which included appropriation ordinances totaling $388,480; approval a street closing for a Trunk and Treat event Oct. 30 at Community Christian Church; a final pay request of $18,399 from Rogers & Son Concrete for the sidewalk project on National Avenue between 13th and 15th streets, as well as a change order for that project increasing the contract $7,817 for a final contract amount of $122,197; a resolution and notice of hearing with reference to an alleged unsafe and dangerous structure at 701 S. Judson St., and set the time and date for the public hearing as 6:15 p.m. Nov. 19; and a modification order to install one 70-watt high-pressure sodium street light on a wood pole at 901 Isador St.
* Approved changing the meeting time for the Dec. 3 commission meeting to 5 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. for the Christmas parade that evening.
* Took no action following two brief executive sessions.