McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — Work is moving forward on a Safe Roads for All grant awarded to McPherson County two years ago. Public Works engineer Elizabeth Hopp provided an update to County Commissioners Monday. The $750,000 grant, funded with federal and KDOT funds, will look at potential projects for communities around the county.
A Consultant will be hired and will meet with community representatives to discuss needs and desires they have for possible projects. Some preliminary information had been submitted earlier, but Hopp said priorities may have changed and some of the projects proposed earlier may already have been completed.
A $5,700 design contract with Kirkham Michael for a bridge replacement on Pueblo Road between 23rd and 24th Avenues, just west of Maxwell Game preserve was approved by the McPherson County Commission Monday.
The existing bridge was one of three washed out during summer flooding and had been scheduled for replacement next year. Along with design, the contract also includes survey, hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, and submission of required permit applications.
On other bridge projects: Public Works Director Dave Bohnenblust said work is underway on replacement of a low water crossing west of Roxbury, after which bridge crews will move to the Smoky Valley Road project west of Marquette, for which the rail car tank is expected to be delivered Thursday, with the other half of the tank delivered to the county yard for a future project. Updates were also provided on 27th Avenue where overlay is about to begin, and on plans to replace three culverts on 18th Avenue east of Elyria ahead of a planned 2026 overlay project.
Commissioners approved replacement of the McPherson County Jail’s stove and oven, which is on its last legs after 31 years of service, and with parts for it no longer available. The new stove from Sunflower Restaurant Supply carries a cost of $16,375 including installation and removal of the existing stove. Commissioners also approved a contract for cleaning services at the Courthouse. Maintenance Supervisor Josh Pimentel said three bids were received to a request for proposals after issues came up with their existing vendor. The bid accepted the low bid from JJ’s Cleaning Services of McPherson for $2,900.
A request from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment was approved to access the Law Enforcement Center property for an assessment of contamination attributed to the former Crankshaft Die and Engineering Facility at 821 West Woodside. This will involve collection of soil, air and groundwater samples from a monitoring well on the property.
IT Director Jeff Butler was authorized to sign agreements with Apple for development of an app tied to the county’s new Pay-It program allowing online payment of such things as taxes and fees. It also approved a personnel change order for a position change in the Appraiser’s Office.
A request to consider waiver of permit fees on behalf of the Swiss Mennonite Cultural Association for a planned museum project on the west edge of Moundridge was presented by Planning, Zoning and Environmental Administrator Jon Kinsey. This waiver would be for a conditional use permit for the property, located to the west of the existing Moundridge Historical Museum.
Among considerations for this site are water and sewer… It’s just outside of the city limits and the city doesn’t want to annex it or provide utilities… and potential improvements that may come to the 22nd and Arrowhead Road intersection west of the site. No action on the request is needed at this point pending other developments.
Commissioners discussed plans for the courtyard on the southeast corner of the McPherson County Building at Monday’s meeting. Matt Roots of Fuqua Manufacturing Business Development, associated with the building renovation contractor, presented information on a plan to place a turf surface where there is currently concrete and brick that is in poor condition.
A sidewalk would extend to the southeast across the courtyard to the alley under this plan. Roots reviewed the type of turf that would be used, which has a 6–10-year payback period and is rated for a 15-year life span but in this application the vendor said it could easily last longer than that.
