By Lucky Kidd
McPHERSON, Kan. — As of now, the intersection of Main and Euclid in downtown McPherson that closed Tuesday morning is expected to remain closed into December. Public Works Director Jeff Woodward provided updates on several ongoing projects during Tuesday’s McPherson City Commission meeting. Phasing revisions have been made that will allow for some parking on the opposite site of the construction activity.
On other Public Works projects, the 2024 chip and fog seal has been completed, pond and overflow structures for the Deerfield Estates South project is almost done, with installation of storm sewer and street grading proceeding. The Lakeside Park Bank Restoration Phase IV is nearly complete, with some work done between rains last week. At the Wastewater Treatment Plant, progress is also being made on the grit removal system project.
An update was also given on Turkey Creek Golf Course projects including installation of a new retaining wall and irrigation system replacement.The irrigation project work has been completed on holes 5 and 6 and is ongoing on hole 7. Another project is in the works at Turkey Creek to replace a trickle drain that is in poor condition, and to repair a cart path entryway that has damage from the moving of material for the retaining wall project.
The Commission approved purchase of two brush trucks for the Fire Department. As part of a vehicle replacement plan, their apparatus committee decided to replace Engine 2, a 2006 pumper with a 750 gallon tank it has been using as a brush truck, and an existing Squad 1, a pickup that was built in-house and on which there are some ground clearance and operational issues.
Bids for the trucks were received from two vendors and Commissioners accepted the $473,000 dollar bid from Weis Fire of Salina. While the higher of the bids price wise, Weis’ bid included an upgraded light package and warranties not in the Hays fire proposal. To replace Engine 2 with a comparable unit would cost around a million dollars. That unit is going to be listed for sale with a used fire truck broker, with current Squad One to be retained as a reserve unit.
Commissioners approved contracting with Pearson Construction for the mill and overlay of the 900 block of North Wheeler. This is being added to a prior contract with a cost of just under $28,000. Normally this work would be done by McPherson County, but they are shorthanded with numerous projects of their own still to be done. Another change order was approved for the Deerfield Estates South Project for additional work needed to the east manhole to be able to tie into sanitary sewer, net cost just over $1,700.
In his report Board of Public Utilities General Manager Josh Bedel said about 60 customers lost power in weekend storms, with repairs made and service restored within a couple of hours. Bedel said they are now blending water from the south well field in Harvey County with water from the city’s existing wells, and provided updates on other electrical projects.
Commissioners approved payment to BPU of $7,127 for replacement of a street light on Kansas Avenue damaged in a traffic accident, cost to be billed to the vehicle owner, and replacement of batteries and controllers for traffic signals at three intersections along Kansas from the overpass to I-135 for about $7,500. The batteries failed during a recent power outage.
In other actions, the Commission approved a conditional job offer for a new police officer and accepted a resignation from an equipment operator in training for the street department. Also approved was the waiver of rental fees for Thursday’s McPherson Housing Conference and an event request for the 2024 Life Chain organized by the McPherson Pro-Life group Sunday, Oct. 6 at Linnea Park.