McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — McPherson County Public Works Director David Bohnenblust submitted a just over $7.9 million budget proposal for 2026 to County Commissioners Monday. Bohnenblust, who has been in the position for a little over five months, said the non-salary part of the budget is projected to be flat, and he is providing for hiring two engineers and a surveyor, positions currently vacant.
In that budget they are proposing to overlay 20 of the 355 miles of road they maintain and chip seal around 25 miles more, along with replacement of one large bridge, a reinforced concrete structure, and several drainage pipes. Salary expense is projected to go up four percent including scheduled step increases.
Commissioners approved purchase of several computers for Public Works. This is to accommodate two engineering techs recently hired and for a new shop foreman along with replacement of a staff computer. Bohnenblust said he will be including several computer replacements in his 2026 budget, much of this related to computers that can’t be upgraded to Windows 11.
Bohnenblust also reported on ongoing road projects, including Arrowhead Road which should be finished this week, and plans for additional work on 27th Road.
A number of other proposed budgets were presented. Sheriff’s Captain Arlo Blevins said they are budgeting for an 83 percent increase in prescription drug costs for inmates in the Correctional Facility, and a 178 percent hike in costs to house juvenile offenders. On that Item, Blevins noted it costs the county $165 a day to house a juvenile offender at Reno County Youth Services, a charge Reno County Commissioners recently approved, and $150 a day at another facility they use. How many days a juvenile remains in detention is totally up to the judge involved.
He also said they will be doubling the budget for printing to cover additional costs related to notices to appear and warning citations deputies are issuing, numbers that are going up.
Also, for the Sheriff’s Office, hiring of a new deputy was approved. This deputy will start next Monday with the first part of field training and will begin the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center Academy basic course in July. Sheriff Jerry Montagne said with this hiring, they will be within one deputy of being at full staff, with corrections fully staffed now.
Montagne also reported as of Monday the correctional facility was housing 46 people, three female and two for municipal courts with 13 arrests last week.
Emergency Management and Communications Director Emily Yates is proposing a 2.67 percent increase in the Emergency Management budget and a 2.28 percent hike for Communications, both reflecting increased budgets for training, and also replacement of computers in the Emergency Operations Center. Extension Director Chuck Laughlin presented a 2026 budget that will include setting aside funds for future retirements and also addition of a $100,000 non-appropriated line item related to any grants they might receive, which would offset what the budget proposes.
STEP MC requested the same $35,000 allocation in funding for 2026 as for this year.
Commissioners began the process to declare a number of roads north of McPherson as minimum maintenance including one that will have to be redone. That involves 13th Avenue between Pioneer and Pueblo Roads west of McPherson Country Club to correct an earlier resolution because of a procedural issue in how it was adopted.
Also proposed for minimum maintenance designation is Overland Road between 12th and 15th Avenues, extending two miles west and a mile east from Old Highway 81 and is the boundary between McPherson and New Gottland townships, Pueblo Road between 12th and 13th Roads, and 12th between Pawnee and Overland Roads which borders Harper and New Gottland townships.
All three township boards involved support the proposals. This will now go to the Planning Board which will hold a hearing August 11th. That hearing wasn’t done when the original resolution for 13th Avenue was done in 2024, which is why they are starting over with the process.
Commissioners accepted a quote for five external security cameras at the County Building. IT Director Jeff Butler said this would help address some issues brought up by Maintenance Director Josh Pimentel, who said people have been getting on the 3rd floor roof of the building to drink beer and do “other things” Butler declined to elaborate on publicly. The cameras will be purchased through CDW at a cost not to exceed $15,879.
