McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — McPherson County Commissioners approved a disaster declaration Monday related to the windstorm on Aug. 5, that caused extensive damage in parts of McPherson County.
Emergency Management Director Julie McClure said the Kansas Division of Emergency Management is gathering information on damage incurred to see if disaster aid might be available. Statewide there has to be a little over $5 million in uninsured losses to qualify, and for McPherson County that threshold is $134,000.
McClure said damage reports from the city of McPherson alone will more than exceed that threshold. She told Commissioners she has also received damage estimates from the McPherson Board of Public Utilities and from the cities of Galva and Inman.
McClure also gave an update on efforts to find a communications tower site in the Windom area, advising she is waiting to hear back from someone about a possible site. Chairman Keith Becker said he has also been in contact with another party who might have a site available
Sheriff Jerry Montagne introduced two newly hired corrections officers and acknowledged two recent promotions in the Sheriff’s Office, with Commissioners approving the hiring of a new corrections officer who will start in early September.
Sheriff Montagne also gave an update on jail populations, which are not as high as they were earlier in the year. As of Monday they were housing 42 inmates, 38 men and four women. Several weeks ago the jail was nearly at its capacity of 60. All but four of the current inmates are being held in District Court cases, the remainder held for municipal courts.
