City commission agrees to help fund new event

Fort Scott Director of Economic Development Heather Smith updated city commissioners Tuesday on efforts tied to the arts and economic development, as well as an April arts festival in Fort Scott.

Smith discussed planning for the "2nd Story Festival of Arts & Ideas," a two-day weekend April 8-9 that is scheduled to include a gathering of artists and business entrepreneurs. Commissioners also approved contributing to a grant recently awarded to help with the event.

"Planning for that is underway," Smith said. "We want to help local entrepreneurs grow their businesses and with networking."

Smith informed commissioners of an effort in conjunction with the art festival and a $7,000 grant organizers received from the Kansas Creative Arts and Industries Commission to help with the event.

Smith said she applied for and received the grant and other local entities have contributed funds toward the matching grant. The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation granted $3,000 and the Bourbon County Arts Council contributed $2,000.

Commissioners on Tuesday approved a request by Smith to contribute $2,000 from the city's economic development fund "to help finish" the grant match.

Smith called the effort "partnering with the arts for economic development." She said grant funds will be used to pay for artist fees and other aspects of the festival. There are several activities and events scheduled for the weekend event.

"We hope for it to be an annual event," Smith said.

The two-day weekend of events will also piggyback on a concert the previous day, April 7, by Branford Marsalis. Organizers said they hope the event will serve as a catalyst for what is hoped to be an annual event that could add another destination point for Fort Scott, according to a Tuesday story in the Tribune.

Organizers said a goal is to make Fort Scott a regional hub for arts and innovation. The event is being organized by a number of groups and individuals working together to draw not only interest from local citizens but prove to be a draw from surrounding towns and states.

The event is tentatively slated to feature an entrepreneur innovator panel with topics focusing on challenges facing start-up businesses and effective marketing, a small business workshop, lunch and speaker presentations, networking opportunities, art workshops and an art sale.

Various artists from Fort Scott and other cities and states are expected to attend.

Other business

* Steve Buerge, with the Bourbon County Economic Development Council, Inc., (BEDCO) appeared before commissioners to give an update on BEDCO. Buerge also thanked commissioners for approving allocation of $33,750 to BEDCO in December, as he was not able to attend that commission meeting.

Buerge said he is "proud" to represent BEDCO and proud of the organization's accomplishments throughout the year. He thanked city officials for working together with BEDCO "as a team."

"It's an honor to represent BEDCO," he said. "We all work together as a team to get things moving forward. And there's more to do, and we're working on that."

In 2015, BEDCO spent $40,373 for 40-plus acres near the industrial park. Buerge said the land will be paid for in a couple of years. Martin said the land is for future expansion.

"We appreciate BEDCO working with us," City Manager Dave Martin said. "We need BEDCO's help."

The city's annual allocation to BEDCO is budgeted, officials said. The organization helps the city with many projects and start-up businesses. Most of BEDCO's funding is used for grants in the community.

* Commissioners approved the low bid of $149,092 from R II Concrete of Fort Scott for work on the Wall Street sidewalk project.

Martin said the city received six bids and recommended approval of the low bid.

Other bidders were RFB Construction Co., Inc., with a $164,554 bid; Marbery Concrete, Inc., of Fort Scott with a $173,233 bid; Bryant and Bryant Construction, Inc., with a $221,535 bid; Sprouls Construction, Inc., with a $236,801 bid; and Amino Brothers Co., Inc., with a $265,668 bid. The engineer's estimate of probable cost for the project is $184,365, according to city documents.

In mid-2015, the city was awarded a grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce to install new sidewalks along a portion of Wall Street on the east side of the city. The project involves construction of 4,110-feet of 4-inch concrete ADA-compliant sidewalks with ramps and detectable warning pavers in an area bounded by the south side of Wall Street from Margrave to Steen streets.

In May 2015, commissioners approved submitting an application to KDOC for Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Special Round funds. The total estimated cost for the project is $248,390 with the grant paying for $221,400 of the project cost. The city's portion of the matching grant is $26,990.

Director of Finance Jon Garrison said any unused grant funding for the project goes back to the state for distribution "as they see fit."

* Following a brief discussion, commissioners approved a new bid for demolition of the old clubhouse at Woodland Hills Golf Course. The city submitted bid requests to local contractors in January for demolition of the structure.

Commissioners had previously approved allowing Martin to accept bids for demolition. During their Feb. 2 commission meeting, Martin said the low bid was $4,000 and he could approve the bid. Martin said Tuesday that since that time, the contractor, Johnnie Walker of Fort Scott, has notified the city of his intent to walk away from the bid.

According to city documents included in the request for bids, demolition work cannot start before March 15 and must be completed by May 1. Martin said the county has agreed to not charge landfill fees for debris from the demolition. Martin asked commissioners to approve the next lowest bid, $13,244, which was submitted by Kevin "Skitch" Allen of Fort Scott.

Commissioners Jim Adams and JoLynne Mitchell asked about the discrepancy in the bid amounts. Martin said he felt there was a misunderstanding regarding the bids.