McPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson USD 418 Board of Education spent over an hour and a half discussing options related to the Roundhouse floor replacement at a special meeting Monday night but, for now, accomplished nothing.
After five separate motions for various options failed to get the four votes needed for passage, the board tabled action on floor repairs and flooding mitigation projects until next Monday’s regular board meeting. Board members Jeff Johnson and Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz were absent from the meeting, and each vote taken was three to two.
The discussion centered on three things, starting with two proposals from Kaw Valley Engineering, which has done studies on the topographic issues related to the heavy rain events in June that destroyed the Roundhouse floor and a July storm that caused additional flooding.
One involved work on enlarging an existing retention pond so it could hold additional water with a cost of between 25 and 50 thousand dollars, and “temporary measures” that would address a 100 year flood costing between 20 and 27 thousand dollars.
Board member Cheslea Busch said she would only back doing a final solution that would address a 200 year flood, which the June event was classified as. Also discussed was moving forward with at least part of the Roundhouse work, dealing with new concrete and electrical work. Board member Perry McCable was the primary backer of this idea saying this needs to happen as soon as possible.
Board member Sherrie Sparks said she was hesitant to support anything until the other two board members had an opportunity to give their input. At least one of the absent members is expected to be at next Monday’s meeting.
