Three proposed policies that were on the agenda for Tuesday’s McPherson County Commission meeting were taken off. At the request of Commissioner David O’Dell, policies regarding employee dress codes, food and drink in county buildings, and use of the upper two floors of the McPherson County Building were pulled from the agenda at the start of the meeting
Public Works Engineer Elizabeth Hopp gave commissioners an update on two major bridge projects The Comanche Road bridge project west of Groveland is processing well, with the major deck pour for it expected to occur next week. After the deck is poured, they will begin work on the 10th and Comanche intersection.
A bridge replacement on Arapaho Road between 7th and 8th Avenues south of Inman has beel put out for bids, which are scheduled to be opened July 28th. Hopp said four contractors have taken out plans for the project, which is mostly funded through a Kansas Department of Transportation local bridge grant.
Public Works Director Dave Bohnenblust said completion of a box structure on Moccasin Road northwest of McPherson was delayed due to the wrong structure being shipped. It was anticipated Moccasin between 11th and 12th Avenues could reopen late Tuesday. The next bridge project on the schedule is replacement of a bridge west of Maxwell Wildlife Refuge that was washed out by last summer’s floods.
Bohnenblust said only a mile of overlay along 17th Avenue remains to be finished, after which they will begin an overlay on 21st Avenue North of Galva. Also on the schedule is milling of 5th Avenue.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Jon Kinsey said 70 letters have been sent out to property owners in three identified inundation zones downstream from level 3 dams. The Kansas Division of Water Resources has requested a copy of that letter, which may be helpful for other counties facing this situation.
Sheriff Jerry Montagne said there were 15 arrests last week. The jail census is back up to 46, with six females being held and three for municipal courts.
In personnel actions, Commissioners approved new hires in the County Clerk and County Appraiser’s Offices, and approved promotion of an employee in the Appraiser’s Office.
