Highlights from McPherson County Commission Meeting 8/5/24
By Lucky Kidd
McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — Following a public hearing Monday, McPherson County Commissioners approved the 2025 budgets for nine of the ten fire districts, the ones who did not exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate for their proposed levy.
Fire District 2, which includes the Marquette area and extends into parts of Ellsworth and Saline counties, will exceed RNR largely because of Emergency Medical Service expenditures, Marquette is one of two fire districts that have EMS operations, Fire District 1 at Canton is the other. The budget and RNR hearings for District 2 will be held with the County’s budget hearing.
Commissioners authorized proceeding with the bid process for two projects at the McPherson Airport. Airport Manager Cynthia Peterson said one of the projects, which is being funded through a Kansas Airport Improvement Program grant, will cover runway repairs. The other grant is from the FAA and will replacement of the runway lighting with LED lights and of the rotating beacon with one that will be much easier for their use.
The FAA grant involves entitlement funds which do have a deadline related to their use. The grants involved cover much of the project cost with the local match divided between the county and the city of McPherson with part of the match to come from airport reserves.
Commissioners Monday approved a quote from Custom Tower for a number of items connected with rehabilitation of a shelter house for the new 911 communications tower near Windom. The quote covers replacement of two existing window air conditioners with two three-ton HVAC units, along with various electrical and other work. This building is being moved from another location.
Emergency Management and Communications Director Julie McClure also provided an update on testing work for the new tower site at Canton, in which only one location, near 23rd and Rainbow Road, doesn’t have any coverage with the new system, an area which also doesn’t have cell coverage.
Commissioners met with Max Fuqua on the upcoming renovation project for the County Building at 122 West Marlin. Fuqua provided Commissioners with a list of vendors and subcontractors he intends to contact in connection with the project, asking them to review that list for any additions that should be made to the list. He also reported the presentation of final plans and costs for the project will be delayed about a month and should be in their hands by the end of September.
13 building permits and three special use or floodplain permits were issued by the McPherson County Planning, Zoning and Environmental Department during July. Administrator Jon Kinsey told Commissioners the dollar volume of permits was up from a year ago. Kinsey also reported zoning signs have been received that will be placed on most highways in the county by the Kansas Department of Transportation, one of which on K-61 at the McPherson/Reno County line has already been installed. These signs will not be placed on I-135 due to federal regulations.
The Commission approved an additional $1,700 expense on an engine replacement for a public works truck. The added expense is for a new turbo unit necessary in order to obtain full warranty coverage on the truck Public Works Director Tom Kramer also gave an update on current projects with the current project on Plum Avenue nearly finished… It was delayed due to some equipment issues. When that is done, they have a couple of other projects including this year’s chip sealing work, after which crews will move over to 27th Avenue.
Commissioners approved personnel change notices for a correctional officer at the end of his introductory period and promotion to the rank to corporal, and for hiring of a maintenance worker in the Public Works Department.
