McPHERSON, Kan. — Jim Loving was sworn in by City Clerk Leah Kawanguzi (KAW-WAN-GUZI) this morning as McPherson’s new mayor.
Loving, a retired executive with CHS, was unopposed in last November’s general election to succeed Tom Brown, who concluded his nearly 17 years as mayor, leaving the Municipal Center through an honor guard from the McPherson Police Department, during which he rang a bell from the McPherson fire Department.
With Loving on board, the Commission approved final payment on one fire apparatus and repairs to another. It approved the final payment of Weis Fire in Salina of just over $158,000 for one of two brush trucks it authorized purchase of in 2024. The city had made a partial payment covering the chassis last spring. This unit could be delivered before the week out.
It also approved payment to Auto House Truck Repair for replacement of a diesel particulate filter that was found to be defective during annual maintenance and DOT inspection. Cost came to just over $12,300.
Commissioners approved a nearly $54,000 quote from Stuppy Greenhouse for a 20 by 30-foot addition to the existing greenhouse structure at the Park Department. Stuppy’s design aligns directly with the existing greenhouse which provides for a seamless connection enabling consistent climate control, workflow efficiency and maintenance practices.
The Commission approved the $14,260 purchase of new vinyl tile for the Lakeside Park Cabin, and the $53, 618 purchase under state bid of two Grasshopper mowers plus accessories for the Park Department through Hometown Outdoor Power.
It also approved an increase in the foundational splash pad improvement scope at the Water Park covering additional work authorized in December. This brings the total project cost of just over $39,000, about $4,200 more than the original design fee quote from Waters Edge, which no construction cost included.
Finance Director Richard Miller provided McPherson City Commissioners an update on the city’s invested funds as of December 31st. All told, total CD investments as of that date were just over $15 million, held between four financial institutions.
The city also had just over $13 million in Money Market Accounts with Peoples Bank and Trust, just over two million in the Kansas Municipal Investment Pool, and cash on hand in the main checking account of the city was just under $2.2 million. The city’s combined cash and investments, including those earmarked for specific purposes at year’s end was just over $32.4 million.
Commissioners approved a request from New Legacy church to host an outdoor service and family friendly event including music, a message, and connection at the Lakeside Park Bandshell Saturday, April 25 from 4 until 6:30 p.m.
Commissioners also received a report from Convention and Visitors Bureau director Joni Reigner on the first two visitor attraction grants approved by the CVB board for 2026, one thousand dollars for each of the two basketball tournaments McPherson High School is hosting later this month.
Commissioners held a brief executive session on non-elected personnel with no action taken after the session.
