Lindsborg – Week of May 24 2025
Bonding Slip Hits Books; Reserves Up, Debt Down; Pipeline Dig Hwy 81; Council OKs A/V Overhaul; Auditor Lauds Staff
Second Bonding Slip in Two Years Hits City Books
Audit Shows Reserves Up, Debt Down to $4.7 M
Enterprise Pipeline Seeks to Dig Up Newly Paved Old Hwy 81; Commission Weighs Options
Council OKs A/V Overhaul at Sundstrom Center
Auditor Lauds Staff for Closing Control Gaps
Second Bonding Slip in Two Years Hits City Books
The annual financial audit, presented by Danielle Hollingshead of Adams Brown, highlighted a Kansas statute compliance violation. A public works contract for the APAC street project, valued at over $100,000, did not have the required performance bond to protect the city. This marks the second consecutive year a similar bonding issue has occurred, with a different project cited in the previous year's audit. Council members discussed the need to ensure future bid requests for projects over $100,000 stipulate the requirement for contractors to secure such bonds. Despite this violation, the audit otherwise provided an "unmodified opinion on regulatory basis of accounting," the highest level of assurance.
City of Lindsborg
Audit Shows Reserves Up, Debt Down to $4.7 M
The 2024 audit confirmed the city's solid financial position. As of December 31, 2024, Lindsborg had $11.4 million in unencumbered cash, an increase of approximately $960,000 from the prior year. Auditors noted the city was able to transfer about $1.1 million into reserve funds, largely from the electric fund, helping to replenish reserves that had been previously utilized. The city's outstanding long-term debt stood at $4.7 million, expected to be paid off by 2047.
City of Lindsborg
Enterprise Pipeline Seeks to Dig Up Newly Paved Old Hwy 81; Commission Weighs Options
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. representatives approached the commission requesting permission to dig up a section of Old Highway 81, north of McPherson, to repair an anomaly found in their eight-inch natural gas pipeline. The road was recently resurfaced at significant county expense. Enterprise stated the dig would likely be two to three feet into the roadway and could take about five days, or potentially three if work is done 24/7. They offered to cover all repair costs and use county-preferred contractors or their own, adhering to county specifications, and even suggested using flowable fill to prevent settling. However, Public Works Director David Bohnenblust and commissioners expressed concerns about traffic disruption on the county's busiest commuter road, the precedent of digging up a newly paved road, and the long-term integrity of the patch, as such repairs often lead to settling. An alternative, boring under the road, was deemed significantly more expensive (an estimated $700,000 difference) and would require the pipeline to be shut down, impacting service to a wide area. The commission will provide a decision in two weeks.
McPherson County KS
Council OKs A/V Overhaul at Sundstrom Center
The City Council approved a maximum expenditure of $7,074 to upgrade the obsolete audio-visual equipment at the J. O. Sundstrom Conference Center building. The current system, partly installed used when the center opened in 2013, features aging microphones and a projector with poor image quality. The funds will go to Hopp’s Sound for a new projector, microphones, and sound mixer. During discussion, council members raised the possibility of charging for AV equipment use in the future—a service that is currently free.
City of Lindsborg
Auditor Lauds Staff for Closing Control Gaps
Auditor Danielle Hollingshead specifically praised the city's staff for significant improvements in internal financial controls. She noted that in previous years, there had been several internal control deficiencies identified. However, staff efforts to better utilize software and implement new controls have successfully mitigated risks, resulting in no control findings reported in the current audit. The auditor recommended that the incoming City Administrator continue to oversee these areas to maintain strong segregation of duties.
City of Lindsborg
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Sources
- https://www.facebook.com/LindsborgCity/videos/558109374002750
- https://www.facebook.com/LindsborgCity/videos/558109374002750
- https://www.adastraperaspera.us/mcj/mcpherson-week-of-may-21-2025/
- https://www.facebook.com/LindsborgCity/videos/558109374002750
- https://www.facebook.com/LindsborgCity/videos/558109374002750
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