McPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson City Commission Tuesday approved additional expenditures up to $10,000 on the leak issue at McPherson Water Park that shut down a number of features this past season. This additional money will be used for installation of blind flanges, identified as a cost-effective way to seal a pipe for repairs and testing. This expense is critical to ensure the integrity of the testing and to ultimately develop a comprehensive repair strategy.
Commissioners approved a just over $5,400 payment to McPherson Quality Air for an emergency point repair on a sanitary sewer main line in the 400 block between Oak and Tulip where there has been a sewer backup at one residence. The failure was found on a tap for an adjoining residence, and about eight feet of main were replaced along with the tap.
That line, one of the oldest lines in McPherson, was also cleaned and vacuumed. This is part of a line the city is currently in design and easement procurement for replacement. The existing line has no easements in place at this time.
A three year service level agreement was approved with Inspection Reports Online (IROL) for the Fire Department. Their current system for tracking submissions of inspection, testing and maintenance reports has been in use since late 2018, but in the past few years more enhanced systems have been developed that are more user friendly with more features. This agreement is based on a per-report price and has been aproved by the City Attorney.
The Commission also approved revisions to city codes related to hazardous materials release cost recovery to match wording in it with that of state administrative regulations.
A conditional job offer for a new police officer was approved Pending completion of pre-employment requirements Ian Bartlett will begin work Sept. 1. Commissioners also accepted the resignation of the department’s receptionist who is taking a new job, and were informed an officer on military leave will return to police duty Sept. 2.
In other personnel items new payroll and benefits coordinator Kristen Robinson began work for the city Monday, and commission approved the hiring of a seasonal cemetery worker.
An ordinance making changes related to Kansas Open Records Act changes was approved. Changes were made to the act by the Kansas Legislature earlier this year affecting how public records are accessed and fees associated. Among the changes are how fees to access records are set including how staff time is charged.
The Commission also approved reappointment of Michael Craig as the city’s representative on the McPherson Area Solid Waste Utility Board of Directors for a three-year term, and approved event requests for the Blake Reed Miracle Mile Sept. 27 at McPherson College and an art in the park event organized by local artists and the McPherson Public Library Sept. 13 in Memorial Park.
