McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — McPherson County Commissioners have taken under advisement a request to allow alcohol to be served at a battle of the bands event February 21st at the 4-H Building. It’s a fundraiser for the Friday night concert during All Schools Day, and general chair Lindsay Helms said this event is a fundraiser for the Friday evening entertainment as part of the celebration. Commissioners indicated they wanted input from the 4-H board prior to authorizing alcohol sales in the county-owned building.
Two vehicle purchases, both related to a September hailstorm, were approved at Monday’s meeting. It authorized purchase of a new Chevy Silverado pickup for the Planning and Zoning Department from Midway Motors for just over $45,100 and an additional $1,330 to purchase a decked in-bed drawer system for gear they use on a daily basis. This replaces a 2009 Jeep Compass totaled by the insurance company.
Commissioners also approved the $38,484 purchase of a Ford Ranger pickup for the IT department, this also to replace a storm damaged vehicle.
The Commission also ratified an emergency purchase of more refined plans of a turbo unit for one public work’s semi units on which an actuator failed, and replacement of an injector cup on a diesel pickup.
Public Works Director David Bohnenblust gave a report on the US 56 corridor community open house last week, at which updated concept plans were presented, including the plan to close Limestone Road, which is frequently used to access the north side of McPherson to the east. This is tied into a plan that would expand US 56 to four lanes in that area, one concept that would follow the current alignment and the other that would move this curve to the south.
The first plan would simply dead-end Limestone at 56, while the other would extend Limestone east to 18th Avenue, again with no direct connection with US 56. It also shows where proposed passing lanes would go. One between Galva and Canton, one east of Lehigh and the other between Marion Reservoir and the city of Marion.
Commissioners approved purchase of just over $357,000 worth of furniture for the McPherson County Building renovation, a price that came in less than the county has projected for this part of this project.
Three percent raises were approved for three employees in the County Attorney’s Office. County Attorney Jennifer Wyatt said these employees have taken on additional duties as the office eliminated a position. The cost of the raises is more than offset by the savings from the eliminated position.
Commissioners also approved end of introductory periods for two employees in public works and authorized a part time hiring of the person who had been doing scanning work on planning and zoning matters to work on scanning bridge documents for Public Works.
