Commission awards $482K contract for street repairs

City resolves resident safety concerns over proposed sidewalk

Board of Public Utilities nears completion on infrastructure rebuild

City inks overpass traffic signal agreement with KDOT

City receives annual financial audit

Commission terminates easement to boost industrial development

Fire department adds new inspector captain position

Commission awards $482K contract for street repairs

MCPHERSON, Kan. - The McPherson City Commission unanimously approved a $482,592 contract with APAC-Kansas Inc. for the city's 2026 mill and overlay projects. Public works director Eric Duerksen reported that the winning bid came in well under the engineer's estimate of $597,000, saving taxpayers more than $100,000. The upcoming paving work will target local streets and nearby project areas to address pavement degradation before more intensive, costly repairs are required.

City resolves resident safety concerns over proposed sidewalk

MCPHERSON, Kan. - The city commission successfully mitigated resident safety concerns regarding the proposed sidewalk on North Maxwell following collaborative on-site meetings. During the public input session, local residents publicly thanked Mayor Jim Loving and city staff for their collaboration. The updated design keeps the new sidewalk within the existing easement and ensures it remains under 5 feet wide. The modifications successfully addressed neighborhood concerns regarding the safety of pedestrians crossing residential driveways.

Board of Public Utilities nears completion on infrastructure rebuild

MCPHERSON, Kan. - The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) reported that an electric infrastructure rebuild in the Countryside area is 95 percent complete between Northglen and North High Drive, despite recent minor weather delays. BPU representatives also noted that underground crews completed single-phase primary installations for the Sunset View Estates Development and are steadily transferring water services along Ash Street to update aging utility infrastructure.

City inks overpass traffic signal agreement with KDOT

MCPHERSON, Kan. - The city of McPherson approved an updated traffic signal maintenance agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for the I-135/US 56 interchange. Because KDOT does not independently maintain traffic signals across the state, the revised contract formally tasks the city's public works department with providing necessary services. The agreement updates municipal labor rates to ensure the city is adequately compensated for the expected maintenance time.

City receives annual financial audit

MCPHERSON, Kan. - Christina Henson from The Loyd Group presented the city's latest annual financial audit to the commission Tuesday. Henson delivered an unmodified opinion regarding the city's compliance with Kansas Municipal accounting guidelines, though the audit contained an adverse opinion regarding Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) due to the state's regulatory reporting format. The auditor praised city staff for their meticulous record-keeping and noted that the city's total financial assets, including the electric and water utility funds, showed a strong increase over the past year. The audit was accepted as presented.

Commission terminates easement to boost industrial development

MCPHERSON, Kan. - In a move to stimulate local economic growth, the commission unanimously approved an agreement terminating an outdated McPherson County Rural Water District 2 easement on property located north of Pfizer. The land, owned by the McPherson Industrial Development Co. and the Board of Public Utilities, no longer requires the easement because water lines have since been moved to the public right-of-way. The removal of the easement significantly decreases building restrictions, making the parcel highly marketable to prospective industrial buyers.

Fire department adds new inspector captain position

MCPHERSON, Kan. - To improve the efficiency of its community risk reduction division, the city commission approved the job description for a new fire inspector captain. The position will directly assist Division Chief and Fire Marshal Chet Ranzau with daily inspection duties, community outreach and safety enforcement. The McPherson Fire Department expects to fill the newly authorized role following the start of the fiscal period on July 1.

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