By Lucky Kidd
McPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson City Commission Tuesday approved a $2.88 million bid from Pearson Golf Construction of Baldwin City to replace the irrigation system at Turkey Creek Golf Course.
Five companies submitted bids on the project, the most interest show in a Public Lands and Facilities project in some time. Pearson’s bid came in over $400,000 below the engineering estimate.
Commissioners approved payment for the first-year agreement on a new record management system for the Fire Department. The current software was transitioned to a couple of years ago when the prior vendor was purchased by another firm, and there have been multiple issues with that system including incompatibility between certain modules within the system and one that is not fully functional despite being paid for.
Fire Chief Chad Mayberry added customer service with that vendor is an ongoing issue. The new First Due package from Locality Media has a $4,600 implementation fee and an annual subscription of $14,850 which would be about two thousand dollars less than they are paying now. The new system would go online the first of the year on expiration of the current contract.
Removals have begun on the final phase of the Lakeside Park bank restoration projects following pumping down of the water level in the pond. During a study session following Tuesday’s meeting Public Works Director Jeff Woodward said there is a change order coming for next week’s meeting related to headwall around existing pipe, deletion of a small item not needed and purchase of additional panels for testing purposes.
The Commission approved a $10,000 allocation from a Childcare Accelerator Grant through the McPherson Child Care Task Force to Playhouse Kids Childcare to help keep the facility open and transition into a small center pilot, of which it will be the third in Kansas.
These funds will cover most of the remaining expenses involved with physical changes to the facility, which Fuqua Construction has been working on in collaboration with KDHE to ensure plans meet standards for the small center pilot. Playhouse Kids still needs to raise about three thousand dollars to fully fund these projects.
Commissioners accepted the retirement of Park Facility Maintenance employee Lyle Starr effective Oct. 4 and authorized the start of the hiring process for his replacement. A conditional job offer was also approved for a crossing guard, starting Aug. 13.
The Commission approved waiver of rental fees for the Community Building for McPherson County Community Foundation’s Mastermind McPherson County Summit next week, payment of legal expense related to issuance to temporary notes on the new North Fire Station, adopted the Region G Hazard Mitigation Plan, authorized a two dollar per ride increase in taxi reimbursements, and set a hearing Aug. 20 on the 2025 budget and exceeding the Revenue Neutral Rate. That budget will show a very slight reduction in the mill levy rate from the certified 2024 levy.
The Commission approved payments for repairs to wiring and a fuel line on a Fire Department vehicle damaged during a wheat field fire a few weeks ago where it got stuck, and for the installation of new doors and lids for the Animal Shelter.
Material purchase was also approved for a curb, driveway approach and street repair in the 800 block of West Marlin which will be done by city crews.
