McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — The McPherson County Commission Monday approved submission of the Fiscal Year 2027 Core Grant application for the Health Department to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. This grant provides the funding for many of the services provided by the Health Department.
Director Shalei Shae told Commissioners through this grant they also work with two other counties. McPherson County has an agreement with Rice County to oversee the latter’s family planning services, and another with Reno County, which administers the Women, Infant and Children Nutrition program for McPherson County.
Shae also presented Commissioners with the department’s 2025 annual report.
Commissioners approved a net $36,000 expenditure, allowing for trade in, to replace a dump trailer for the Public Works Department, along with a $23,000 replacement of a computer on their fuel system which is original to when the system was first installed in 1991, and conveyor chains and drive components for the county’s asphalt paver, which are also original equipment from when it was purchased. That cost came to just over $20,000.
Planning, Zoning and Environmental Administrator Jon Kinsey provided Commissioners with a report on last week’s work session between the Board of Planning and Zoning Appeals and representatives of Prairie Land Realtors involving fee schedules for planning and zoning permits.
From that meeting, Prairie Land representatives said they would like to see revision of regulations related to historic farmstead splits, changes to sanitation re-inspection fees and allow for a refund of fees in the event a project does not proceed, and addressing of situations where structures were built without building permits being obtained first.
In discussion, Kinsey pointed out that while it’s his responsibility to enforce zoning regulations, the fees for that are set by the County Commission. The Planning Board took no action at the study session.
Multiple personnel items for several departments were handled by McPherson County Commissioners this week. Four of these involved raises at the end of the introductory period: two for the Sheriff’s Office and two for Public Works. For the Sheriff, this also included two promotions. It also approved cell phone allowances for four employees in the office. The Commission also approved hiring of an assistant county attorney, who comes to the office from Barton County.
Commissioners also approved a resolution declaring the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, presented by Heather Murrow from Safe Hope.
The McPherson County Jail is still for all intents and purposes full but not quite as much as a week ago. Sheriff Jerry Montagne reported that as of Monday, the jail was housing 57 persons, including seven females and eight being held for municipal courts. There are still inmates being housed at other jails due to space crunch and the need to keep a few beds open in case of major arrests. 19 arrests were made in the past week. Montagne also reported the number of juveniles being held in detention facilities is down to one.
