A project under consideration for many years, and under construction for nearly a year and a half came to conclusion Friday morning when McPherson County Commissioners held a ribbon cutting for the McPherson County Building at 200 North Maple. The building will house multiple county departments now at the Courthouse along with one being relocated from the Public Works Office Building.
Commission chair Keith Becker said for many years, it was his dream is project would become a reality. “There have been many challenges along the way. We have been successful in overcoming those challenges,” Becker said
Fuqua Construction of Inman was the general contractor, and Max Fuqua said it was an honor to be part of a project to do something of significant cost. “We had the opportunity to see how they (county officials) work under pressure, they had the opportunity to see us work under pressure too,” Fuqua told those in attendance adding they are fortunate to have leaders of integrity in McPherson County, leaders who don’t knuckle under pressure.
Fuqua’s personnel put in 15,615 hours of work on this project, and he recognized a number of employees who contributed may hours to the renovation, including construction superintendents Rick Ratzlaff and Matt Rooks, and project manager Bob Griffin.
Fuqua also recognized two of their major subcontractors, McPherson Quality Air and Funk Electric. All told there were 36 different subcontractors involved in some form or fashion.
Commissioner David O’Dell, who was the Commissioners point person of the project, said the building has been renewed with purpose, saying “what was once a long-needed project is now a place of safety, unity and modern capability, a home for the work that keeps this county moving every day.”
Commissioner Tom Kueser expressed his appreciation to those who made the project happen, including architects, contractors, county employees, and taxpayers who made the project possible. “We can respect history while embracing progress and preparing for the future” Kueser said, adding it’s his hope it will serve the County for years to come. KUESER1
In addition to a number of county employees and representatives of the contractors, representatives of the cities of Galva, Lindsborg and McPherson were on hand as well as a representative from Senator jerry Moran’s Office who presented Commissioners a flag flown over the Capitol the three Commissioners – Duane Patrick, Don Schroeder, and Harris Terry, whose purchase of the building on April 13,1990 made it possible The current Commission signed the project contract in October, 2024.
The bank was purchased from Nation’s Bank, successor to McPherson Bank and Trust which constructed the original building in the 1960’s and in 1983 added the tower and parking structure.
County offices will begin moving into the McPherson County building next week. County administrator Rick Witte told Ad Astra News The first to move will be the offices of the County Clerk and Information Technology Department along with Planning and Zoning, which is moving from the Public Works Facility. The week of June 15th the Treasurer’s Office including the Motor Vehicle Office will more from the courthouse, which will require closure of those offices that week.
The week of June 22nd the Appraiser’s Office will move, followed by the Register of Deeds, and the final departments to move, the Administration and Finance Departments will move in the week of July 6th.
The north side of the first-floor lobby of the County Building, where the Clerk, Treasurer and Register Deeds will be located, features a new logo designed by Lori Bower of BowerComm.
(Ribbon Cutting and Logo photos by Lucky Kidd, other photos by Lori Bower, BowerComm.)
