McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — The McPherson County Jail isn’t as crowded as it has been, but it’s still near capacity. Sheriff Jerry Montagne told McPherson County Commissioners Monday that as of that time they were housing 58 people, including six females and two for municipal courts. Maximum capacity of the jail is 60, and 24 arrests were made by law enforcement in the county last week.
Due to the near capacity issues some McPherson County inmates are being housed in the Rice County Jail. So far this year, this has averaged out to 4.5 inmates per day, with a total cost so far of just over $5,800.
The county is currently housing two juveniles in out of county detention facilities, and through February Montagne said the cost of that has come to $14,626,80, the per-day cost to house a juvenile being much more expensive than an adult offender.
Montagne also reported on costs incurred by the office on two cases, with care of horses involved in a criminal case currently at nearly $3,400 with that case currently expected to go to trial in June, and it also is paying $2,700 a year to rent a secured storage space for a vehicle impounded in connection with another case.
Commissioners Monday approved a $1,743,231.80 purchase of asphalt oils for 2026 road projects. This includes asphalt and tack oils and two types of chip seal oil. Of four bids submitted, only one, from Ergon, bid on all four oil types and they were the low bidder on all four. One bidder submitted for three oils, one for two and another for one.
Public Works Ergon’s low bid has product delivered either from Salina or Halstead, Oil prices are mostly higher than for last year, as is the cost of hauling which is done by a separate company on a different bid. The 2026 bids, however, are similar to what the county paid in 2023 and 2024, and is within budget. Bohnenblust said they expect to start this year’s asphalt work in a couple of weeks.
Commissioners approved the hiring of Anthony Nixon as county surveyor. Under a memorandum of agreement Nixon will be required to obtain his Kansas licensing within 12 months of starting employment, and his end of introductory period will extend until after he completes the licensing process. He will also receive $1,600 for relocation expenses. In other Public Works personnel matters the Commission approved a promotion of a maintenance worker, hiring of a seasonal mowing person,
Approval was given for purchase of a gas-powered spin screed and related screed pipes and tools that are used for concrete finish work. These items are being purchased for a total cost of $5,500. This equipment will go into a bridge trailer recently purchased, and will primarily be utilized on culvert projects where a concrete base is placed under the pipe.
Commissioners also approved the first payment to L&M Contractors on the Comanche Road bridge project. Civil Engineer Elizabeth Hopp provided an update on the project, which as things stand now should be completed in September.
Planning, Zoning and Environmental Administrator Jon Kinsey told Commissioners they are currently tracking 14 active zoning violation cases. So far this year, Kinsey said they have had 58 cases open, down from 126 for 2025. Kinsey also reported ten building permits were issued during March, with a construction value of $2,055,647. Commissioners also signed the contract with EagleView for the Change Finder program it and the Appraiser’s Office use as part of an aerial mapping program approved earlier.
