By Lucky Kidd
McPHERSON, Kan. — McPherson City Commissioners Tuesday approved the replacement of Fire Department pagers at a cost not to exceed $18.259.50. The existing pagers are aging and require frequent repairs that can cost half as much as a new one, and McPherson County Communications has updated their paging equipment and phasing out that which supports McPherson Fire’s pagers. The new pagers being purchased from First Wireless are compatible with the new county system. This purchase covers 21 pagers, with an additional ten to be purchased next year.
Commissioners also approved the scheduled purchase of two sets of bunker gear, enrolling a firefighter in the Firefighter 1 and 2 Academy through Hutchinson Community College to obtain required certifications, and a change to the Fire Station 2 contract related to how concrete payment will be handled.
A bid for $99,777.30 was accepted from Sturdi-Bilt of Hutchinson for construction of a new 40x100x9′ golf cart storage garage at Turkey Creek Golf Course during Tuesday’s McPherson City Commission meeting. Sturdi-Bilt submitted the low of three bids received and includes the flat work and all other items.
Commissioners approved a payment for refurbishing a ballast in the ultraviolet disinfection system at the Wastewater Treatment Plant for $1,875, which carries the same warranty as a new one with half the cost, and renewal of the software system the city uses for its GPS system through Topcom Solutions at a cost of $1,800.
The Commission approved two payments for testing related to the Lakeside Park bank restoration project. One payment is to Terracon Consultants for up to $3,300 for petrographic examination of hardened concrete on the Lock and Load wall panels on Phase 4, and the other to Earles Engineering for nuclear density testing behind the wall for Phases 3 and 4 at a combined cost of nearly $13,000. Commissioners also approved a five-year service agreement with MTC for installation of a second fiber internet circuit for the city. The city and BPU currently share a single circuit, and the existing circuit will be retained by BPU.
Changes in the route for the McPherson County Toy Run Nov. 30 were approved by the Commission. The changes are related to the construction work currently in progress at Main and Euclid. Also approved waiver of fees for use of the Community Building during the McPherson Community Thanksgiving Dinner Nov. 28 and use of the Park Department Building for the Veterans Day program next Monday. They are not having a parade this year due to the Main and Euclid construction closure of Main Street.
In his report to McPherson City Commissioners on Tuesday, Board of Public Utilities General Manager Josh Bedel said electric crews have finished most of the line work along 17th Avenue connecting to the new Mohawk Substation and have moved industrial customers in that area and the city of Galva to that line. Crews are currently working on lines along Avenue A near the Cemetery, with work on electric and water services in progress in the Deerfield area.
