Heather Etheridge, who identified herself as president of West Plains and Centerville Cemeteries, told the Bourbon County Commission the cemeteries’ deed records have not been properly scanned into county files and asked the county to waive scanning or registration fees so deeds can be digitized and made available for families.

"They have not been filed with the county," Etheridge said, asking whether the county could scan deeds at no charge or provide a reduced rate because the cemeteries lack the budget to pay roughly $23 per document. Commissioners said they would research whether state statute requires registration and whether a local resolution could address the cost; the item was put on the agenda for follow-up in two weeks.

Deb McCoy, a resident who addressed commissioners during public comment, questioned the county’s handling of a tax-exemption application filed by California Legacy Healthcare for the property formerly known as Mercy Hospital. McCoy said Legacy filed a notarized application March 11, 2024, citing KSA 79-201b as the statutory authority for exemptions for hospitals and similar entities, and said Legacy had not paid property taxes for 2023–24 on the building and the subdivided land.

"Why would we approve a tax exemption on a building that was donated and never turned into an acute care hospital… and then hand over forgiveness for the ’23–’24 taxes of $400,000 to Legacy Healthcare Foundation?" McCoy asked, calling for more due diligence and for public notice of the county’s procedures.

Commissioners acknowledged Legacy’s prior role in attracting providers to the county but also said they were not sure the county followed the full public-notice and resolution process described in Department of Revenue guidance; one commissioner said the state may have forgiven the building’s taxes but that the county did not necessarily follow each step of the exemption process and that staff will investigate.

Multiple speakers questioned county spending tied to the local economic-development group variously referred to in the record as "Ready," "Reddy," and "REDI." One public commenter summarized payments to the organization from May 2021 through 2023 as totaling about $630,000 and asked whether the county had contracts, written oversight, and evidence that the nonprofit’s charitable purposes allowed billing the county for economic-development services. The commenter urged the commission to require written contracts, better public notice of grants and services outside city limits, and oversight to protect tax dollars.

Commissioners said they would follow up on whether the county’s payments to the nonprofit were authorized, whether proper contracts exist, and whether the county needs to adopt formal policies and procedures for tax-exemption applications and for contracting with nonprofits. The county clerk or county counselor will be asked to clarify which fees are mandated by statute and which can be adjusted locally.

Next steps: commissioners directed staff to research statutory requirements for deed registration and tax-exemption procedures, to report back at the next meeting, and to place the cemetery-records item on the agenda for further action.