McPherson City Commission Summary
Week of July 22, 2026
BPU advances major Countryside overhead rebuild project
BPU prepares to bore under Avenue A for Ash Street water main
City awards $190,000 contract for annual street sealing project
Commission approves plat for new Casey's store
City annexes land south of Love's for future development
Mid-year financial report shows McPherson finances on target
McPherson Police Department welcomes new officer
BPU advances major Countryside overhead rebuild project
MCPHERSON, Kan. — The Board of Public Utilities continues making significant progress on the Countryside overhead electric rebuild, described as one of the largest and most complex overhead rebuilds in the city's history. BPU General Manager Josh Bedel reported that new poles are set and conductors are strung from Maxwell Street to Grimes Street. Crews will spend the next two weeks manually transferring underground services to the new poles before removing the old infrastructure, with completion estimated in six to eight weeks.
BPU prepares to bore under Avenue A for Ash Street water main
MCPHERSON, Kan. — Water main replacements on Ash Street are advancing steadily, with crews reaching Avenue A. According to the Board of Public Utilities, workers will install two new fire hydrants and remove old valves this week before boring underneath Avenue A next week. The water main replacement project will then continue south until reaching either Avenue E or Avenue F.
City awards $190,000 contract for annual street sealing project
MCPHERSON, Kan. — A contract not to exceed $190,903.40 was awarded for McPherson's annual chip seal and fog seal street project. The project will target major collector routes, including portions of Main Street, Euclid Street and Marlin Street. Although the bid slightly exceeded the $150,000 sealant budget, city officials noted the overall street maintenance program remains well under budget due to significant savings in the city's $600,000 overlay budget.
Commission approves plat for new Casey's store
MCPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson City Commission approved a plat for a new Casey's General Stores location to be built north of Love's Travel Center. The previously unplatted parcel had already received a special use permit for its gas sign and site plan approval from the planning commission, officially filed under the company's legal operating entity, Casey's Retail Company. City staff noted that the plat approval serves as the final administrative step before developers can begin pulling building permits.
City annexes land south of Love's for future development
MCPHERSON, Kan. — City commissioners unanimously approved an annexation request for a parcel of property located immediately south of the Love's Travel Center Planned Unit Development. The contiguous property was annexed by right and zoned as an agricultural transition district (A-1). The move provides McPherson with additional land for commercial development, which will undergo rezoning once specific platting plans are submitted.
Mid-year financial report shows McPherson finances on target
MCPHERSON, Kan. — McPherson remains in a strong financial position midway through the year, with $37.03 million in total cash investments as of June 30. During a quarterly financial report, Finance Director Richard Miller noted the general fund is running slightly tight at 56 percent of budgeted expenditures, driven largely by seasonal parks spending and upfront administrative allocations. However, revenue remains robust, with the city having collected over 95 percent of its ad valorem taxes and remaining on track to meet all current 2026 strategic goals.
McPherson Police Department Welcomes New Officer
MCPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson Police Department introduced Kara Thompson as its newest officer during the city commission meeting. Thompson, a Kansas Wesleyan University graduate originally from New Mexico, is scheduled to enter the law enforcement academy before beginning field training in McPherson. Off duty, she enjoys bowling.
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