McPherson County Commission Meeting 6/16/25 Highlights
McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — Issues involving an intersection just west of Moundridge where two people were killed and a third injured in a crash last Thursday night were discussed by Public Works Director David Bohnenblust at Monday’s McPherson County Commission meeting.
Arrowhead Road, Cole Street coming out of Moundridge, has stop signs going both directions at Old Highway 81, with larger signs and flashing red lights mounted on them installed in the past couple of years. Bohnenblust said site distance is good, but Old 81 comes in at a sharp angle at that location, as it does at several other locations to the southeast of McPherson.
In terms of what might be done there, he said it would involve either a realignment of the intersection or installation of a roundabout. This will likely be discussed in a future study session with the Commission.
In the crash an eastbound car on Arrowhead had stopped at Old 81 and was pulling away from the stop sign when it went into the path of a pickup Both people in the car died and the driver of the pickup had reported minor injuries. The accident does remain under investigation, and he has what the McPherson County Sheriff’s Office has determined so far.
A change.org petition has been started seeking to have changes made to the intersection, which as of Monday evening has over 1,100 signatures. It can be found at Change.org/HWY81
The Commission approved the $12,700 purchase of a cargo trailer from K&K Sales of Hutchinson to be used by the Public Works bridge crew to haul equipment to work sites. Commissioners held an executive session dealing with “threatened litigation” that along with County Counselor Brian Bina also included Bohnenblust and County Administrator Rick Witte.
Commissioners approved revised fees for various zoning, subdivision and sanitation permits. Planning, Zoning and Environmental Administrator Jon Kinsey said it would include a higher fee if construction start prior to permit issuance, which would be double.
In case three years go by after construction begins with no permit, a fee of $1,000 plus one percent of the appraised value would be imposed. The resolution also contains provisions waiving fees for other governmental entities and allowing the Commission to reduce or waive fees for non-profit organizations such as for fireworks stands on which the regular change is going up from $150 to $500.
A just over $16,000 three year contract was approved to install a Qless cueing and calendar software system that would be used by the County Clerk and Treasurer when those two departments move from the Courthouse to the County Building next year.
IT Director Jeff Butler told commissioners this is the same system Reno County is now using, where through a smart phone app a customer can “get in line” before coming, and be notified of progress in getting through. There would also be a kiosk option for people not having smart phones. The plan is to have this set up ahead of the move to get people used to using it.
Commissioners also approved an agreement with Eagle Technologies to add new backup end disaster recovery security software to their IT networks, which would add more protection to their backup programs as it relates to such things as software ransom schemes. The just under $1,400 cost will be added onto an existing contract with Eagle.
Commissioners signed two new documents being required this year for Community Developmental Disability Organizations by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services as part of a federal accountability mandate including a pre-award assessment form.
