April 2 McPherson City Commission Report
By Lucky Kidd
McPHERSON, Kan. — McPherson City Commissioners Tuesday awarded Vogts-Parga Construction of Newton a nearly $1.8 million bid for the Euclid extension of the Elm Street Drainage Project. Vogts-Parga has the lower of two bids received on the project, which was not quite $50,000 above the engineer’s estimate.
Public Works Director Jeff Woodward gave updates on projects in Lakeside and Wall Parks that have run into some issues. He. said testing of broken concrete panels at Wall Park showed no reinforcing fibers were present.
That information has since been communicated to Lock and Load, the manufacturer of the panels, and the company brought in to install replacement panels has stopped work until after they have been tested to make sure they were properly manufactured with those reinforcing fibers.
Woodward said the re-work on the Lakeside Pond Phase 3 bank restoration, involving correction of the geogrid on the retaining walls, is proceeding, with work continuing on the base and bottom course of wall panels.
An agreement related to the single track hike-bike trail on the southeast edge of McPherson was approved by the Commission. The agreement with Jim Strawn Contracting involves the part of the trail to the east of the Foxfire Addition north of Avenue A. There is a similar agreement in place with the developer of the Deerfield South Development on the south side of Avenue A.
A new McPherson City Clerk has been hired. Leah Kawanguzi will begin work April 29th. She is a certified public manager and has over ten years of experience with a local municipality. As part of her hiring the Commission waived residency requirements.
Commissioners approved two promotions within the Police Department. Detective Sergeant Ayeshah McFall was promoted to Investigations Lieutenant, taking the position that was held by Ryan Bauer who is now a captain in the department. This promotion is effective May 20th. Blaine Janssen has been promoted to Operations Sergeant and DARE officer, that promotion took effect Monday.
Approval was also given for the hiring of an equipment operator 2 in the Street Department, of an administrative assistant for the Public Lands and Facilities Department, and for three seasonal hirings at the Water Park.
The Commission approved the payment of annual GHIN handicap sanction fees for members of Turkey Creek Golf Course. These fees, which are collected as part of the annual membership fees. The GHIN system is the official handicapping system of the United States Golf Association and among other things enables Turkey Creek members to take part in tournament events that require a GHIN handicap.
Authorization was given for a just over $445,000 payment for a new rescue truck, which is in the process of being built. Once done and a final inspection is made of the apparatus by Fire Department personnel, the city will need to make the final payment to take ownership. Commissioners also approved a just under $3,200 payment for repairs and annual service on the extrication tools used by the Fire Department
The Commission approved a waiver of building permit fees for Cat House McPherson, which is planning to build a “catio” at their shelter at 201 South Elm. Commissioners approved having We Wash Windows clean out the HVAC ducts at the McPherson Animal Shelter to take care of a large build-up of dog hair, dust and debris in the ducts, at a cost of $1,587.
Commissioners approved replacement of computers used by the Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development/City Administrator and a staff accountant. The computers they are now using are having issues and not functioning properly. Cost of the computers including docking stations comes to just under $2,700 from Reach Solutions.
Approval was given for a partial release of the developers agreement with Windy Ridge Development LLC on the Deerfield Senior Homes project related to approximately a dozen items within the agreement that have been satisfied.
The Commission approved a closure of part of Marlin Street for the promenade as part of McPherson High School’s prom April 13th and requests connected with the United Way of McPherson County Triathlon July 27th including use of streets in the area of Lakeside Park and the Water Park.
