McPHERSON, Kan. — McPherson City Commissioners Tuesday approved a $18,000 purchase of six Flock cameras for the Police Department. Police Chief Mikel Golden explained the purpose of the cameras is to provide the ability to record vehicles and obtain license tag data from them. This is part of a real-time crime center included in the new downtown police substation, and an additional camera purchase funded through a congressional appropriation will be coming to the Commission for action next week.
Also approved was purchase of seven new hard drives, storage systems and related items from Reach Solutions for $3,861, which will be used as a backup system for the Police Department main servers.
Public Works Director Eric Duerksen gave updates to McPherson City Commissioners Tuesday on current projects including the Northview sidewalk project, where the sidewalk crew continued working east, pouring several more sections and removing an existing sidewalk at Veranda where it’s being widened from eight to ten feet. Work on pouring a box culvert has been completed and was able to resolve a utility issue that came up on the west end of the storm sewer section.
On the West 1st project, all concrete cutting has been completed and concrete poured to replace what was removed. Work on the added concrete patching will be coming after the first of the year as the contractor is having to pull off this project to take care of other obligations. Clean-up should be done and traffic controls removed by the end of the week.
On the Myers Street project crews have started excavation and forming of sidewalks in the 800 block.
Commissioners approved a change order on a pickup recently purchased for the Street Superintendent. The additional $1,540 will be used to add a receiver hitch to the Tommy Gate that is part of that truck. Commissioners approved the promotion of an engineering aide to engineering tech in the Public Works Department, and transfer of an employee internally in the street department to meet their current needs.
An advisory committee was created to aid in recommendations on how funds from a transfer fee of the McPherson Board of Public Utilities. The Commission earlier approved an increase in that transfer fee, which was increased earlier this month. The committee will be made up of two city representatives, three from BPU, and two from McPherson Industrial Development Company, and will meet at least twice a year. The plan is to use the additional funds in support of economic development activity.
