6/3/25 City of McPherson Commission Meeting Highlights
McPHERSON, Kan. — McPherson City Commissioners have accepted the resignation of current Public Works Director Jeff Woodward, effective as of Tuesday. The motion to accept the resignation, made by Mayor Tom Brown includes a settlement agreement drafted by City Attorney Ann Elliott and Assistant City Attorney David Harger along with a severance agreement including release of all claims.
The action came following an executive session and a lengthy recess that combined took up about an hour of this morning’s meeting. The motion to accept the resignation also authorized the start of the hiring process for a new Public Works Director.
Following a second executive session, Commissioners voted to, subject to a land survey and other procedural matters, purchase a two-acre tract of land from New Hope Evangelical Church for $65,000. The city plans to use this property to provide additional parking for the north fields of the Grant Complex. Mayor Tom Brown said the McPherson Recreation Commission will be paying half of the costs for the purchase. Still under development is extension of a road and creating the parking lot itself, but Mayor Brown said they will try to do some preparatory work on that this fall.
The Commissioners approved an agreement between the McPherson Fire Department and the Office of the State Fire Marshal related to Hazardous Materials Response. Currently the Sedgwick County Department is the response team for the South Central Homeland Security Region including McPherson County, and the Salina Fire Department for the North Central region.
Recent changes in standards are requiring additional hazmat technicians on each response, and under the contract OSFM will reimburse the city for costs incurred on the responses, along with having access to periodic hazmat training. The city will have the option to opt-out of a call of staff or resources are not available.
Fishing at Lakeside Park is being put off limits for a few days next week. This is in connection with the 18th annual Fishing Derby Saturday, June 14. Fish for that event will be delivered June 11, and to ensure orderly conduct during the event a temporary no-fishing rule will be in place from the time of the stocking to the event.
Commissioners approved a payment of $20,875 for a new electric motor pump for the Lazy River at the McPherson Water Park that also is used for the slide and splash pad. It also approved a number of seasonal hirings for the water park, Turkey Creek Golf Course, and the Park Department.
A request from Habitat for Humanity of McPherson County was approved for waiver of fees for a variance application it’s seeking for the site of their next housing project at Maple and Third.
The Commission also approved the just over $3,000 of geogrid, concrete compound, and expansion joint for the Elm Street reconstruction project that began this week. Approval was also given for hiring of a street department operator.
Approved was given three event requests, including a community outreach event by Miracles Ministry June 21 at the Lakeside Park Bandshell, use of Wickersham Park for a tent revival Aug. 6-8 put on by First Baptist Church, and use of the gazebo at Lakeside Park Sept. 6 for a private wedding ceremony.
