MCPHERSON, Kan. – The McPherson City Commission Tuesday approved a contract to construct eight pickleball courts in Challenger Park. The courts are a joint project with the McPherson Recreation Commission, which approved their share of funding for the project in January. The contract with Renner Sports Surfaces, working with FieldTurf USA, is through the Greenbush Cooperative purchasing group.
The total cost for the courts, including contingencies and sub-grade work to be done by Vogts Construction, came to just over $473 thousand. The city is responsible for just over $210 thousand of the project with MRC to cover the rest.
Code Variance
On a 2-1 vote McPherson City Commissioners Tuesday approved a code exception related to the opening of a new downtown restaurant. Architect Brendan Randa with Plan 4 asked for the exception concerning the number of fixtures required in restrooms in Pizza Ranch, which will be in the building at 206-208 North Main.
The occupant load for the building would require three fixtures in each restroom, but that occupant load is inflated by the space occupied by the buffet of the restaurant and a planned arcade. The variance would allow them to have two fixtures.
Commissioner Larry Wiens voted against the exception. The Commission also approved a special event alcohol permit for McPherson Main Street’s Summer Kick-Off on the Plaza Saturday evening.
Tree Removal
Commissioners approved hiring Walton Tree Service to remove nine more trees in Lakeside Park in connection with the third phase of the bank restoration project. Public Works staff reviewed the plans with Commissioner Gary Mehl. While the contract is being approved now, actual removal won’t take place until park turf goes dormant in the fall.
Street Repairs
Work gets underway this week on another street project in McPherson, as contractors began the removal of the curb, gutter, the existing street, and trees along South Walnut between Avenue A and D, which is part of a Community Development Block Grant.
The concrete base for the reconstruction of Maxwell south of Avenue A is now about 60 percent complete, with final grading expected to be wrapped up this week and ready for asphalt.
Concerning the Skancke Street project west of Chestnut to the tracks, crews are preparing to place the majority of the second half of the street. That project has had delay issues due to a combination of rain and street crews having to split time between that and the Maxwell project.
