McPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson City Commission approved the close out Tuesday of a 2022 Community Development Housing Block Grant, which funded rehabilitation of 12 homes in the southern end of McPherson.
The $500,000 grant was augmented by an additional $640,000 in local contributions, the largest part of which went for street improvements along South Walnut and South Chestnut south of Avenue A. The approvals included a reimbursement request for the final two thousand dollars in funding for the street part of the project.
Multiple annual purchases for the Park Department were approved, including assorted plant materials and supplies, greenhouse supplies, and mulch purchases, with a combined maximum cost of just under $23,600 through three different vendors.
The Commission authorized up to $75,000 for pro shop inventory purchases at Turkey Creek Golf Course, which already has people ordering clubs and logo golf balls. The city has $110,000 set aside in the 2026 budget for this, which is not coming from tax dollars.
Commissioners also approved purchase from Hometown Outdoor Power of McPherson two Hustler mowers for the Park Department and Cemetery, purchased off state contract for a price not to exceed $60,000, authorized hiring of a temporary employee at Turkey Creek, and starting of the hiring process for season and temporary staff there, at the cemetery, and for parks.
An extension was approved of a memorandum of understanding with the Kansas State Fire Marshal to provide fire inspection services. The McPherson Fire Department for a number of years has entered into this MOU. As the department has a number of officers who have completed the necessary training to conduct these inspections within their jurisdiction, and submit them to the KSFM.
During the meeting the Commission was introduced to new Fire Department Administrative Assistant Allyson Hamilton and new Police Department Administrative assistant and crime intelligence analyst Meg Dauer. Commissioners also authorized the start of the hiring process for positions at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and a street crew chief position.
Commissioners authorized Mayor Tom Brown to sign an estoppel certificate with Allmetal Recycling confirming the accuracy of a certification related to their facility at 1060 West Woodside. This had been requested by Allmetal’s lender related to a pending acquisition and wanting to collateralize their current assets.
Commissioners agreed to an additional one week extension to the prior EMS agreement, with a new agreement still in the process of being finalized, authorized payment of just over $7,400 to BowerComm for marketing services on the EMS Sales Tax campaign, and renewal of the city’s See-Click-Fix program through Civic Plus.
Commissioners approved the city’s 2026 Strategic Plan. The plan has 17 items identified, several of which deal with personnel items ranging from normalizing leadership and supervisor training and succession planning to employee engagement.
Other areas within the plan include strengthening relationships internally and externally, communications, and infrastructure including such things as streets, housing, and the idea of a unified and strategic signage plan for the city. The plan also includes a provision for new Mayor Jim Loving to add additional priorities later this year.
