McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — McPherson County Commissioners accepted a bid Monday from Horsch Trailer Sales of Viola, Kan., for a flatbed to be installed on a new crew truck recently purchased. The Hillsboro bed being purchased was the low of two bids received, and also comes with larger storage boxes than the other proposal submitted.
It also approved the $87,000 purchase of a used semi truck to be used to haul end dump trailers and haul the lowboy trailer as a backup. This truck is equipped with a factory installed wet kit used with hydraulics on the truck, which is very hard to find, especially one that was put on at the factory. A wet kit would cost $14,000 on its own.
This truck, which will replace one they have a lot of electrical and other issues with, is part of Public Works’s equipment replacement plan for 2025, and Shop Foreman Mike Evans reviewed purchases made to date off of that plan, most of which have already been approved.
In other Public Works matters, the Commission accepted an $8,240 quote from Eck Services for a sewer line replacement at the Public Works office building to address issues that have left one restroom unusable.
Commissioners were advised the railroad crossing on the north edge of Canton will be closed a couple of days next week for crossing repairs. Crossing repairs are also taking place at other locations in the area. Public Works Director David Bohnenblust provided updates on the Old Highway 81 paving project north of McPherson, the Maxwell Game Preserve project, and a culvert replacement on Cherokee Road east of Inman, and discussed bridge inspection requirements.
The Commission discussed a recent meeting Commissioner David O’Dell and Planning, Zoning and Environmental Administrator Jon Kinsey attended on the McPherson County Housing Study. From that, Kinsey said he will be meeting with cities in the county to see if they would be interested in expanding their extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction or having it for their community. Currently Galva, Inman and McPherson have this authority.
O’Dell noted one concern the smaller cities in the county expressed was the lack of personnel to handle such things as inspections.
The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee has met twice and will meet with the Planning Commission in July, with a community survey planned in June. Kinsey also reported the issues related to small subdivisions raised last week will be discussed by the Planning Commission at their meeting next week.
The Commission approved an expenditure of up to $5,000 from a special parks fund derived from liquor by the drink taxes for replacement of planks on a bridge that was burned along the Meadowlark Trail north of McPherson.
A write-off of just over $243 for the Health Department was approved. Billing Specialist Julia Harper said this involves debt from three vaccination programs during the first quarter of 2025, which statements can only be mailed once nor can services be refused due to the outstanding balance. These debts remain on patient ledgers until otherwise approved, and this action reduces year-end balances that cannot be collected otherwise.
Several personnel items were dealt with by Commissioners, including the hiring of a maintenance worker for Public Works which will bring them to full staff, and rehire of a seasonal worker who will work with mowing and also because he has a commercial drivers license can also drive large trucks if needed. Commissioners also approved the end of introductory raises for three employees in the Treasurer’s Office to be effective May 11.
