By Lucky Kidd
McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — McPherson County Commissioners have approved a $6.676 million contract with Fuqua Construction for the renovation project at the County Building at 122 West Marlin. The project will allow for relocation of most county offices now located at the Courthouse into this building, with the County Attorney and Community Corrections offices now at the County Building to move to the courthouse.
Commissioner David O’Dell noted this project has been in the works for about three years and will take the one-time bank building to the “next step.” The project is expected to take about a year to complete, and during that time the two departments now in the County Building will be relocated elsewhere. As of now construction is projected to start in January.
Commissioners accepted a $6,200 bid Monday from Keim Metal Building of Haven to replace the east wall of the brine building at the Public Works yard. Public Works Superintendent Kevin Erickson said Keim had the lowest of three bids submitted. Keim also proposed a heavier material than the other two bidders. This project is to replace a wall damaged during a recent windstorm. Erickson also provided an update on dirt work being done on 27th Avenue in preparation for an upcoming project.
A payment of just under $44,000 was approved by Commissioners to Marion County Rural Water District 4 from APRA funds for projects in the part of the district in McPherson County. The Hillsboro-based district includes much of southeast McPherson County as well as areas to the east and north of Canton.
The Commission signed a letter of support for Central Kansas Conservancy, which earlier this month was awarded an $811,000 Transportation Alternatives grant for improvements to the Sunflower Santa Fe Trail in the Canton area. Michele Cullen from CKC said the project will include a concrete trail from south First Street west to Kansas, and then their usual limestone screenings on to 25th Avenue.
This is the second phase of a trail project that ultimately will connect the cities of Canton and Galva, where a trail is already in place. This grant by the way does not require a local match as many of the other TA grants will have.
