By Lucky Kidd
McPHERSON, Kan. — On a 2-1 vote, the McPherson City Commission declined Tuesday to pay a nearly $500 bill for use of a roll-off dumpster on cleanup of a property at 1339 North Myers.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Virgil Lyon asked collection of the charges be waived since the owner of the property, who had a long running battle with the city on junk and other issues, was not present during the abatement and is unlikely to be able to return to the property for the foreseeable future, if ever. While Mayor Tom Brown agreed to the request, Commissioners Gary Mehl and Larry Wiens opposed a waiver.
Commissioners meanwhile approved an invoice for cleanup of tall grass and weeds at 701 North Chestnut and an additional payment over what was approved earlier for cleanup at 1215 Eastmoor Drive, both to be invoiced to the property owners.
Purchase of additional furnishings for the new North Main Fire Station was approved. Mattress Haven sourced the items with a total cost of just over 15 thousand dollars, which is the second purchase of furnishings for the now under-construction station. This covers things ranging from mattress frames to fitness equipment to kitchen items. On the construction side of the project Commissioners approved payment to Hutton for recently completed work on the project.
Approval was given to allow use of Linnea Park by PEM for a company picnic Saturday, July 27th from 11 AM to 2 PM, closure of a portion of Darlow Drive for a street party at The Cedars October 10th, and use of the Lakeside Park Bandshell by the Intrepid Brass Band for a free Pre-Independence Day pops concert July 3rd from 8-9 PM. The commission also approved hirings for the Public Lands and Facilities Department and for the Water Park.
The Commission approved the May reimbursement request from the McPherson Housing Coalition of just under $8,000 from the Emerging Solutions Grant awarded last October by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation for services such as emergency shelter, homeless prevention, and rapid rehousing. Commissioners also approved a $1,575 dollar invoice from Cherryroad Media for advertising space in Progress Magazine, a joint publication of the McPherson Sentinel and Newton Kansan.
