McPherson commissioners set to see $22.1 million, 30-year wastewater plan

McPherson's sewer system needs roughly $22.1 million in work over 30 years — more than $7 million of it in the next five — under a master plan set to go before city commissioners Tuesday, Aug. 18. Public Works Director Eric Duerksen was listed to present the finished plan as a project closeout at the commission's 9:15 a.m. study session in Conference Room A/B, an informational item with no vote attached.

The plan states the recommended 30-year capital improvement program totals about $16.2 million in current planning-level dollars, and reaches about $22.1 million when lower-priority projects are escalated at an assumed 3 percent annual inflation to the midpoint of each implementation period. It says those planning-level improvements cover rehabilitation of the treatment plant, phosphorus removal, wet weather flow management, collection system capacity and continued monitoring of biosolids and PFAS-related regulatory requirements. The plant treats domestic and industrial wastewater and supplies effluent — the treated water leaving the plant — for reuse at the CHS Refinery and Turkey Creek Golf Course.

On the same agenda, staff asked commissioners to approve $28,350 for a three-year subscription to Waterworth rate analysis software, split among the street, sewer and stormwater funds with no ad valorem or sales tax money. The agenda item summary says it would replace complex Excel spreadsheets and the need to hire a rate consultant. Staff wrote that the city could use the software immediately for sewer rate analysis, a street pavement assessment and capital improvement planning.

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