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Bourbon County commissioners weigh cityoffer and interlocal terms as 911 costs rise
Summary
Commissioners at a county work session grappled with how to fund increased 911 dispatch costs and whether to renegotiate an interlocal asphalt agreement with the city of Fort Scott after staff tallied insurance and tonnage costs that change the countybudget impact.
Bourbon County commissioners spent much of a special work session discussing how to cover a projected rise in 911 dispatch costs and whether to preserve existing interlocal terms that let the city buy asphalt from the county at below-market prices.
The discussion focused on numbers county staff circulated: the county had planned $50,000 toward 911, then considered adding another $150,000 to $200,000; the city has offered $350,000 to help fill a gap but the county said the cityhas not finalized a formal commitment. County staff also reported a $73,161 increase in employer health insurance costs tied to moving city dispatch employees to county plans.
Why it matters: commissioners said the choice affects the mill levy and who ultimately pays. If the county absorbs full 911 costs, staff projected a higher levy impact; if the city follows through on its $350,000 pledge, that would reduce the countyshare for now but leave open how to handle insurance and long-term operating costs.
County leaders also debated whether to keep or renegotiate an interlocal agreement that lets the city purchase asphalt and rock from the county at set rates. The agreement cited in the meeting was initiated in 2020 and included prices of about $65 to $80 per ton depending on whether the county laid the asphalt or the city picked it up; older versions from the 1960s and 1990s were mentioned during the discussion. Staff noted those historical contracts do not account for inflation, fuel and labor increases, or current crushing capacity, and several commissioners said they want county counsel to review the interlocal language and signature status before committing to legacy prices.
Tonnage and timing were central to the exchange. City representatives told the county they need roughly 2,000 tons for the current season; city staff later said the amount had increased to about 2,300 tons. County public-works staff said crushing capacity and quarry material can limit what the county can supply this year and that the county typically plans rock and aggregate production a year in advance.
Commissioners asked staff to compile precise figures for Monday: final insurance cost differences if the county absorbs city employees onto county plans, the countycost per ton under various scenarios, and the exact tonnage the city needs for 2025. One county official said the county will ask counsel ("Bob" in the meeting) to locate signed copies of older interlocal contracts and to draft proposed language to allow price adjustments tied to inflation or to permit annual renegotiation.
Next steps: staff will return with clarified numbers and counselinput at the next meeting so commissioners can decide whether to accept the cityoffer, fund a larger 911 appropriation in the 2026 budget, or renegotiate the asphalt interlocal. City representatives indicated they would attempt to provide a firm answer by Monday.
