By Lucky Kidd
McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — McPherson County Community Foundation President and CEO Becky Goss gave McPherson County Commissioners a presentation on the Mastermind McPherson County initiative during their meeting Monday. MCCF is in the second year of a three-year initiative to provide information on needs within McPherson County it will utilize as part of their grant process. Goss said the process is to make sure they are meeting the needs of the community.
“We have a granting program. We have a process where people can apply,” Goss explained, but “sometimes we feel that we’re not necessarily connecting with the residents themselves.” Goss shared information on a survey they conducted last year, which provided data for the county as a whole and for each community in McPherson County.
From that five areas of focus were developed, including child care, economic development, leadership, community health, and place making or quality of place. Organizations and groups then had an opportunity to apply for funds, with $60,000 awarded in the past year and the intent to award more in future years.
Program director Betsy Davis gave commissioners a presentation on some of the programs they were able to fund, which covered four of the give areas identified. These programs touch all McPherson County communities except Galva from which no proposals were received. This ranged from support of mental health initiatives to beautification projects in several communities to a community engagement project for Parents as Teachers in Moundridge, to assisting the McPherson Housing Coalition in purchase of the land where they have a project now under construction.
The 2024 Mastermind Survey is currently underway, and if you haven’t filled it out yet you can find the survey link at www.mcphersonfoundation.org.
Commissioners approved a proclamation for National Library Week during their meeting Monday. McPherson Public Library Director McKenzie Murphy accepted the proclamation, saying, “It’s just a great reminder for people to get out and see libraries. We’re not just a building of books anymore.” Murphy added that McPherson County is lucky to have six public libraries, making access to them easy.
In a report to the Commission, Sheriff Jerry Montagne said his deputies made 19 arrests last week with 38 people in jail as of Monday Morning. Of those, three inmates are female and five are being held for courts other than District Court. Montagne also told Commissioners deputies have over the past week been concentrating on seat belt enforcement along I-135.
Montagne along with Corrections Captain Arlo Blevins met with commissioners in a brief executive session to discuss personnel items. Following the executive session, Commissioners approved the hiring of a new corrections officer to start in May and an end of introductory period for the corrections employee who currently oversees transport services.
