McPHERSON, Kan. — McPherson City Commissioners approved the publication of the city’s 2026 budget at Tuesday’s meeting. That budget will leave the city’s property tax levy at the 53.238 mills as for 2025 but will exceed the revenue neutral rate by a little over a mill, through which the city’s property tax revenue will increase by about $280,000. The hearing on the budget and exceeding RNR was set for August 26 at 9 AM.
The Commission approved a change order on the Myers Street reconstruction. This change involves the 800 block where concrete millings were put down rather than asphalt millings due to material availability. This was done in order to get this block paved and opened up prior to the start of school, with an added cost of just over $66,000, the work being done by Kansas Paving which is also doing the Maxwell mill and overlay project.
Commissioners also approved what should be the last change order on the Euclid extension of the Elm Street drainage project for added work at Euclid and Maple covering an additional storm sewer connection at a cost of about $17,000.
A bid of $350 was accepted from Rockworks LLC by McPherson City Commissioners Tuesday to abate a nuisance at 105 Arcadian Court. Code enforcement officer Ryan Rank said this involves tall grass, weeds, and some inoperable vehicles including an RV which has been an issue in the past. Although there have been several violations on this property in the past, Mayor Tom Brown said enhanced penalty provisions may not apply here. Those provisions would come into play if there have been three or more violations on the property since December 2023, and while this requirement may have been met it’s not certain. This property has long been the subject of complaints from neighbors in that block.
The Commission approved payment to Dennis Friesen for harvesting hay on the land the city uses for biosolid application from the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The hay so baled is sold and generates revenue for the city. It also hired JP Construction to construct two ADA sidewalk ramps at the northeast corner of Euclid and Chestnut where the homeowner is replacing part of the sidewalks.
Commissioners Tuesday approved a just over $5,000 bid from Sturgeon Glass and Mirror of Hutchinson to replace a set of windows at the Public Lands and Facilities Office, replacing a display box of memorabilia from the National Guard units that served at the one-time Armory, those items being relocated to the American Legion.
It also approved a quote from Ace Tree Service of Galva to remove three pin oak trees and stumps in Lakeside Park in place of an original bid the first chosen company was unable to proceed with this work. Commissioners also approved the annual purchase of grass seed and fertilizer for Turkey Creek Golf Course, and a special alcohol permit for the United Way’s Party in the Park campaign kickoff August 23rd at Lakeside Park.
Two recently promoted McPherson Police officers were officially recognized during Tuesday’s City Commission meeting. Detective Patrick Carr has been promoted to sergeant and assigned as administrative sergeant for the department, and Stacy Snyder, who came back from retirement to serve as an operations lieutenant. The Commission also approved a wage adjustment for a police office and creation of a temporary assistant grounds superintendent, which is part of the planning process ahead of the retirement at the end of the year of a long-time employee at Turkey Creek.
