mcj

McPherson – Week of July 9

High-Speed Chase; New Dive Rescue Boat; Water Park Leak; Modernizing County Records; Successful July 4th Event

Greg Loving

09 Jul 2025 • 4 min read

McPherson County Sheriff’s Office Involved in High-Speed Chase

Fire Department Plans for New Dive Rescue Boat

Costly Leak Discovered at McPherson Water Park

County Modernizing Records with Massive Digitization Project

City Celebrates Success of July 4th Extravaganza

1. McPherson County Sheriff’s Office Involved in High-Speed Chase

MCPHERSON COUNTY – A recent high-speed chase on the interstate, where the suspect exceeded 100 mph and was not apprehended, sparked questions about the deployment of new surveillance technology. During the public input session, a commissioner inquired about the status of the Flock Safety cameras that the county had previously approved for purchase. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed the cameras have not yet been implemented but agreed they would be helpful in identifying suspects in such incidents. The cameras are slated to be installed on the interstate, among other locations.

2. Fire Department Plans for New Dive Rescue Boat

MCPHERSON – The McPherson Fire Department, which participated in search and recovery operations this weekend at Kanopolis Lake, is planning for the future purchase of a new boat specifically to support its dive rescue team operations. Officials explained that the department’s current inflatable boat, recently approved for replacement, is designed for swift-water rescue and is not ideal for dive missions. The proposed funding strategy involves setting aside the department’s $25,000 annual allotment for technical rescue for two consecutive years, 2026 and 2027, to create a $50,000 fund for the boat purchase. The department will also seek state or federal grants, though an official noted that such funding has become harder to secure for fire rescue as priorities have shifted to cybersecurity.

3. Costly Leak Discovered at McPherson Water Park

MCPHERSON – The McPherson Water Park is undergoing significant repairs after a break was discovered in an underground water line. Leak investigators were brought in from Omaha and used a camera to find the break in an overflow line connected to the lazy river. City staff has hired Dondlinger Construction to perform the excavation and repair. The initial cost is estimated at $15,000, but officials noted the price could rise if the damage extends under the concrete deck, requiring more extensive work to locate. Crews were already on-site digging to address the problem as of the meeting date.

4. County Modernizing Records with Massive Digitization Project

MCPHERSON COUNTY – McPherson County's Planning and Zoning department is making significant headway on a large-scale project to digitize decades of physical records. Two temporary employees are scanning thousands of documents into a digital format. As of the meeting, one employee had scanned over 4,400 surveys from the vault and was expected to finish the scanning phase by the following week. The other employee has scanned over 1,000 planning and zoning case files and is anticipated to finish that portion by the end of July before both begin the more intensive work of indexing the digital files.

5. City Celebrates Success of July 4th Extravaganza

MCPHERSON – The McPherson 4th of July Extravaganza was a major success, drawing an estimated 750 to 1,000 people to Wall Park. A representative from the McPherson Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) reported that attendees enjoyed an evening of live music, face painting, and an “incredible” fireworks show. Special thanks were given to CHS for sponsoring the fireworks, the Intrepid Brass Band for performing, and the McPherson Parks, Fire, and Police departments for their critical support in making the community event a success. One commissioner also singled out the Parks Department for its effective mosquito control, which was praised by out-of-town visitors.