Clerk submits ballot with bond issue question to state

Bourbon County Clerk Kendell Mason sent the April 7 ballots to the Secretary of State's Office Friday. Among the names of city and school board candidates, the ballot also contains a $6.7 million bond issue question for a new county jail facility.

But Mason and the county commissioners had a little scare Friday morning when Commission Chair Barbara Albright reported on an email she received regarding the official ballot question.

In order to raise the local retail sales tax to repay the general obligation bond for the project, the county had to request a state statute amendment from the legislators. The county is requesting an amendment in the statute allowing it to impose a .40 percent retail sales tax increase. Later, the language on Bourbon County's request was being changed to include using the revenue for operational costs of the new jail and costs involved in renovating the existing facility for other purposes.

On Friday, Albright said prior to Bourbon County submitting its request, the legislators received a request from another county asking for a .50 percent increase. She said she wasn't sure the amendment will allow Bourbon County to use the revenue for operational costs or renovating the existing facility for other purposes after the new jail is completed, or if the county could ask for only a .40 percent sales tax increase, instead of increases in .25 percent increments.

Without the proper language, the issue would have to be pulled from the ballot, according to Mason.

As the clock ticked closer to noon Friday, Albright started making phone calls to Greg Vahrenberg, financial adviser with Piper Jaffray of Leawood, who has been taking care of the ballot language for the bond issue. She was trying to determine if the KSA 12-187 was in committee for revisions.

"This is concerning," Albright said.

Interim County Attorney Justin Meeks agreed, but said there is nothing locally that could be done.

"It's a matter of the language not matching up," Meeks said. "This is an easy fix. It just takes minutes. But we need to let the powers that be take care of the powers that be."

Finally, Albright made contact with Vahrenberg, who was on his way out of town, and was told the ballot language is good to go.

Commissioners voted to readopt the resolution to call for an election asking voters to approve a .40 percent county-wide retail sales tax increase for the construction and operation of a new jail facility.

Public meetings scheduled

In other matters related to the bond issue, Sheriff Bill Martin provided commissioners with a list of public meetings regarding the bond issue. Larry Goldberg or associates with his firm, Goldberg Group Architects PC of St. Joseph, Mo., will be attending several meetings to help answer questions about the project. Vahrenberg also will be in attendance to answer questions regarding the financial aspect. All meetings will begin at 7 p.m.

The first will be a contractors meeting on March 23 at the Fort Scott Community College. This meeting will be open to all area contractors who are interested in any portion of the construction phase of the project.

Two public meetings are scheduled, on Tuesday, March 24 at Uniontown High School, and Tuesday, March 31 at FSCC.

In addition to these meetings, Martin said a second open house will be held at the jail in the afternoon Thursday, March 26.

Martin also had dates for the Bronson, Fulton, Uniontown and Garland city councils. He is hoping to be able to speak to each city council, including Mapleton and Redfield.

Martin also wants to reach out to as many community organizations as possible, such as the two Kiwanis clubs, Rotary, Ruritans and any other organization that would allow him, the commissioners and/or Vahrenberg and Goldberg to speak before the election.

Other jail project discussion

Martin is obtaining quotes for reprinting the brochure promoting the project.

Albright shared an updated draft of the construction costs and sales tax use and collection chart. The information shows an estimated $313,432 net revenue after the debt service, operations and contingency expenses.

"If I remember right, Greg (Vahrenberg) said we could use that for renovation (repurposing) for the existing jail at the courthouse or for jail operations," Martin said. "Which I think is pretty reasonable pretty good. And I will say this, I am more focused on getting the jail paid off sooner. Out of that $313,000, it we could use that to pay the jail off sooner, that would be awesome."