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McPherson – Week of July 22, 2025

County Considers Sales Tax; County Negotiates Road Repair; KDOT Approves Safety Study; Airport Fuel-Farm Replacement; New Public Works Director

Greg Loving

22 Jul 2025 • 4 min read

County Considers Half-Cent Sales Tax for Ambulance, Mental Health Services

County, Enterprise Products Negotiate Contentious Road-Repair Agreement

KDOT Approves Safety Study for Notorious Moundridge-Area Intersections

McPherson Airport Fuel-Farm Replacement Project Moves Forward

New Public Works Director Introduced as Major Road Projects Continue

1. County Considers Half-Cent Sales Tax for Ambulance, Mental Health Services

MCPHERSON COUNTY - McPherson County is exploring a county-wide, half-cent sales tax to create a dedicated funding source for its five ambulance service providers and mental-health services. During their Monday meeting, commissioners gave a verbal consensus to proceed with discussions among the providers, which include the cities of Lindsborg, McPherson and Moundridge, as well as the Canton and Marquette fire districts. If the tax is ultimately placed on the November ballot and approved by voters, the county would look at lowering its property-tax mill levy by two mills, as it would no longer fund ambulance appropriations and Prairie View’s mental-health services from property taxes. The proposed tax would carry a 10-year sunset clause, requiring renewal by voters after a decade.

2. County, Enterprise Products Negotiate Contentious Road-Repair Agreement

MCPHERSON COUNTY - A lengthy negotiation took place Monday between the McPherson County Commission and representatives for Enterprise Products, a pipeline company needing to conduct repairs under Old U.S. 81, just south of Navajo Road, north of the city of McPherson. The discussion centered on a memorandum of understanding designed to address the county’s concerns over the significant road excavation. The final agreement, pending legal review, will include a five-year, $100,000 bond from Enterprise, a full road closure with a split detour to minimize traffic on township roads, and a provision for the county to approve the contractor and the final repairs. The county also secured a commitment for Enterprise to supply an adequate amount of rock for the detour routes, with the township overseeing its application.

3. KDOT Approves Safety Study for Notorious Moundridge-Area Intersections

MCPHERSON COUNTY - McPherson County has successfully secured a state-funded safety study for two angled intersections near Moundridge that have been the site of accidents. It was announced at the county commission meeting on Monday that the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) approved a Traffic Engineering Assistance Program (TEAP) study for the intersections of Old Highway 81 with Arrowhead Road and 22nd Avenue. The study, which will be conducted by the firm Kirkham Michael at the state’s expense, will analyze the intersections and provide a range of low-cost to high-cost options for safety improvements.

4. McPherson Airport Fuel-Farm Replacement Project Moves Forward

MCPHERSON COUNTY - The long-awaited fuel-farm replacement at the McPherson Airport is cleared for takeoff after commissioners authorized signatures on an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation during their Monday meeting. The governor has confirmed that funds are available for the first phase of the project, which is desperately needed to fix ongoing issues with the current fuel system. While the agreement is now in place, construction is not expected to begin until the fall of 2026, though the contractor has reportedly locked in the price for the work.

5. New Public Works Director Introduced as Major Road Projects Continue

MCPHERSON - The City of McPherson has a new leader for its Public Works department. Eric Duerksen was formally introduced at the City Commission meeting on Tuesday as the person now in charge of street repair, wastewater, storm sewer, code enforcement and more. Duerksen, a McPherson native, expressed his excitement to make a larger impact on the community where he and his family have put down roots. Immediately following his introduction, he provided updates on several major road-construction projects, including ongoing work on the 1100 block of North Elm Street, the 800 and 900 blocks of Myers Street, and the mill-and-overlay project on Maxwell Street.