McPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson City Commission took the first step towards changing their long-standing meeting schedule Tuesday, as it adopted a charter resolution amending a 2020 charter ordinance to switch to a twice a month meeting schedule rather than meeting every week as it has done for many years. Mayor Jim Loving said the main reasoning for the change deals with more efficient use of staff time in preparing for meetings.
City Clerk Leah Kawanguzi said the 2020 ordinance gave the option for the Commission to meet every other week. The charter ordinance cleans up this language to take into account those months that have five Tuesdays, March being one of them.
Most similar sized cities in Kansas already use a twice a month schedule including Great Bend, Hutchinson, Newton and Salina. Lindsborg and Lyons also meet on a twice a month schedule, McPherson meetings will be held the first and third Tuesdays. As a charter ordinance, it takes effect 61 days following the final publication unless a protest petition is filed that would require the change to be put to a vote.
Related to this, the Commission also adopted a resolution giving limited hiring authority to the City Administrator and Human Resources Director on the Administrator’s discretion to hiring and administrative leave matters based on adopted salary schedules, with the Commission retaining authority for termination-related matters.
In another organizational matter, the commission approved an adjustment to oversight of two city buildings. The changes move control and responsibility of the Community Building from the Public Lands and Facilities Department to the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and for the Municipal Center to the Administration Department, and oversight control from the Commissioner of Public Lands to the Mayor.
The Commission approved purchase of a two-acre tract from New Hope Church for $65,000 plus closing costs. The intent of the city is to utilize this land, on the northwest corner of New Hope’s property, to incorporate it into the adjoining Grant Sports Complex. That purchase is expected to close Friday. Commissioners approved payment to CJ Spreaders for application of biosolids from the wastewater treatment plant onto the city’s farm ground. CJ had the only “qualified” bid, with an amount of up to 8,000 dollars, covering an estimated 850 tons of sludge.
Finance Director Richard Miller presented a year end revenue and expense report and said despite a number of unexpected purchases the city finished the year on a positive note, with expenses more than $600,000 under what was budgeted for the general fund. This reflected a number of unanticipated expenses and purchase of a new ambulance. The report reflects encumbrances of funds made during December but not paid until January. General fund revenues were off about 28 thousand dollars from the nearly 6.9 million dollars expected, however sales tax revenues were above budget.
The commission approved a further extension of the EMS Contract with McPherson Center for Health. City Administrator Austin Regehr said this action was taken as they continue to work on details related to funding EMS providers in McPherson County will receive after voters last fall approved a half percent sales tax.
