McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — McPherson County Commissioners Monday approved the 2026 road program. This year’s program will, in addition to the 23.6 miles of asphalt mill and overlay on segments of road east of Elyria, south of Marquette and North of Galva, will include another 33 miles of chip seal focusing on Plum Avenue from US 56 to Cheyenne Road, 4th Avenue from US 56 to the Reno County line, and Arapaho Road from K-61 to 14th Avenue, where there one of two major bridge projects planned will take place just east of K-61. The other major bridge project is on Comanche Road just west of K-61 near Groveland.
The plan also includes concrete box projects, Commissioners having approved a $175,000 purchase of four of those from McPherson Concrete Companies during the meeting with one other to replace a flood damaged bridge now in design. The plan also includes various pipe work including three being carried over from 2025.
On the bridge projects, Public Works Director David Bohnenblust noted McPherson County’s bridges are generally in good shape based on KDOT evaluation, which he credits to past Commissioners for keeping ahead on maintenance.
Commissioners approved purchase of a new diagnostic system for the Public Works maintenance shop foreman Mike Evans said this just over $8,000 piece of equipment will enable them to do more diagnostic work than the existing one that is no longer functional. This also provides a cost savings for repair work and down time.
An additional $399 cost was approved for the new pickup it approved purchase for last week, after it was learned tinting and paint sealing was done on it, which was not known by the salesman for Midway Motors at the time the purchase was originally approved.
Commissioners also approved opening of an Amazon business account for Public Works, which it uses on occasion for purchase of parts, particularly when they are not available locally. Commissioners also discussed setting up sub-accounts with Amazon for other departments, as IT and Planning and Zoning have this need from time to time, and the Maintenance Department already has one.
Commissioners approved the purchase of two flashing red lights for stop signs, at a cost of $5,430. One of these is to replace one that had been shot out at 27th and Arrowhead Road, and another will be for inventory. It also approved a purchase of rock for a road at Maxwell tied to some earlier work there, where the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks paid for two other loads.
It also approved a request to provide engineering assistance to New Gottland Township on a minimum maintenance road, connected with a landowner wanting to build a new home on his property on 13th Avenue north of Pueblo Road. Per a township resolution and state law the property owner will be responsible for the improvement cost.
Commissioners re-appointed three members of the Planning Commission. Chris Goodson and Christine Reynolds were re-appointed to their second three-year terms on the commission, with Shelby Shaw, who was appointed in 2024 to fill an unexpired term, was appointed to her first full term. Planning Commission members, per state law, have a limit on the number of full terms they can serve. It also approved a letter of support on behalf of the McPherson County Council on Aging for a Section 5311 Federal Transit Administration Grant it is applying for.
