Commission reviews comprehensive plan

A Topeka lawyer updated city commissioners on his efforts in overhauling the city's comprehensive plan.

James M. Kaup, a public law attorney, on Tuesday told commissioners the plan has not been completed but could be done by this fall.

Since January, when the commission authorized Kaup to begin updating the survey, Kaup and his assistant, Wyndee Lee, have been working with members of the Fort Scott Planning Commission. They have been interviewing residents and learning as much about the community as possible, Kaup said.

A comprehensive plan is a written document that identifies goals, objectives, principles, guidelines, policies, standards, and strategies for the growth and development of a community.

Last updated in 1988, the plan needs an overhaul because it doesn't represent the community or its potential for growth, according to city documents.

The plan will figure out growth potentials, looking at the land use regulations, comparing Fort Scott today versus 20 years ago.

At Tuesday's meeting, Kaup revealed some of the feedback from surveys the city distributed to the community prior to Kaup's involvement. He said the surveys will help him develop components of the plan.

He has received 500 surveys so far, and he continues to receive surveys. The city sent out 1,600-1,700 surveys. Kaup said it was a very high-rate of return.

According to the surveys, the general consensus is that citizens have a strong sense of loyalty to the community. Kaup said surveys in other towns not always have that aspect.

However, he pointed to a few concerns residents listed in the survey. A few of the concerns were conditions of streets and sidewalks, more and better paying jobs, more economic development, and improved appearance of property in neighborhoods. Kaup also said people identified high taxes as a concern. But he said that' s common in nearly every community.

In other business on Tuesday,commissioners:

* Approved removal of diving boards from the Fort Scott municipal swimming pool. It's a liability issue because the current diving well configuration doesn't provide adequate water depth.

* Heard from Kale Nelson, co-convenor of the Aqua Vision group, who updated them on the aquatic center initiative on which voters will cast their ballots June 5. He said there will be an informational booth at Good Ol' Days weekend. Nelson said the group tried to do the best possible job informing the public on the issue by holding a series of public meetings. Commissioners commended the group for that effort.

* Approved a low bid of $44,500 from Rogers and Sons construction company to build a retaining wall at the location of the planned new fire station on the east side of town.