By Lucky Kidd
McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — McPherson County Commissioners Monday rejected a proposal to construct an indoor baseball facility on county owned land at the north end of the McPherson County 4-H Fairgrounds property. McPherson High School baseball coach Heath Gerstner and Brad Bengtson representing the McPherson Youth Baseball Association presented the proposal. While they are currently sharing a facility with another group, the situation is not optimal. The Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit which includes 15 teams with around 175 members between 6-14 years of age.
Phyllis Van Horn, manager of the McPherson County Extension Master Gardeners vegetable garden spoke against the project, which would be just to the north of their garden from which they give away a lot of produce.
“Filling that space with a building takes away our potential to expand our operation. Perhaps put in a greenhouse at some time or more vegetables or fruits. It takes away all our options,” Van Horn said, adding it may also impact their existing garden.
Chuck Laughlin with K-State Research and Extension added this may also impact other plans they are looking at. Commissioners suggested the group contact the city of McPherson to discuss what other options might be there.
Commissioners approved the signature of the settlement statement connected with purchase of land southeast of Windom on which a new E911 tower will be erected. The County is paying $42,500 to Kendall and Marlys Martens for the approximately five acre site, to which will be added closing costs including title insurance and recording fees, bringing the total cost of the purchase to $43,291.
Commissioners approved a just over $9,100 expenditure to replace a reach-in refrigerator for the Jail Kitchen. Jail Captain Arlo Blevins said this would replace a refrigerator that’s been there since the current Law Enforcement Center Opened some 30 years ago and that is about at the end of life. Commissioners had a number of options to look at, and opted to purchase it from Sunflower Restaurant Supply of Salina based on a longer compressor warranty.
Commissioners approved purchase of assorted sign blanks for the Public Works Department sign shop at Monday’s meeting, While sign blanks were purchased in February, more are needed to accommodate signage recommendations from a recent KDOT bridge survey. The aluminum blanks were purchased from National Sign Company at a cost of $1,763, more than a thousand dollars less than a quote from Kansas Correctional Industries.
In other actions the Commission approved a cereal malt beverage license for Red Hills Kountry Story just south of Canton, and an agreement with Central Kansas Foundation of Opioid settlement funds. CKF will receive the same $18,000 allocation approved last week for Prairie View and Valley Hope-Moundridge.
