By Lucky Kidd
McPHERSON, Kan. — Another change order has been approved for the Euclid extension of the Elm Street drainage project. This change, approved by the McPherson City Commission Tuesday, adds $26.150 and seven days to the contract to replace and relocate traffic signal conduit and wiring in the Main and Euclid Intersection. The wiring has to be lowered so as to not interfere with new construction.
The Commission approved another change order on Phase 4 of the Lakeside Park Bank Restoration to replace a clay tile pipe that was uncovered during construction and needs to be replaced, costing just over $1,200. Commissioners also approved an increased cost of $285 on backup controllers and batteries for the traffic signals on Kansas at I-135 and Champlin to cover shipping, which wasn’t in the earlier price in the purchase approved last month.
Commissioners agreed to purchase a Cellebright system for the McPherson Police Department. This system allows law enforcement to extract information from cell phones and social media accounts in criminal investigations. Another system has been tried at the request of the Sheriff’s office however it didn’t work well and was limited as to what phones it could download. The first-year cost of the system will be $26.105 with an annual renewal of $15,000.
The Commission approved renewal of the contract with Dr. David Dupy to provide medical direction for the McPherson Fire Department. This contract is for an amount not to exceed six thousand dollars. Commissioners approved the renewal of software contracts with First Arriving IQ for status tracking and other data, and with Target Solutions Learning for continuing education and tracking of it for re-licensure requirements. Combined cost of both comes to a little over $6,000. It also approved payment for four members of the department to attend an annual Fire Department Instructor’s conference next April, this item is being approved now to take advantage of hotel availability and purchase of two Police vehicle radios from Ka-Comm for just under 14 thousand dollars.
New guidelines were approved for flexible schedule and/or hybrid work arrangements. This policy would allow employees to work adjusted schedules or remotely for part of their work week, if approved by the department head involved. This would be for such things as working from home on a short-term project or hours other than the standard 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. The policy also sets out various requirements and expectations when working under these non-standard situations.
A payment of just over $19,000 was approved to Vogts Crushing for crushing of all available rubble. This time they crushed 2,165 tons of material, or nearly 5.7 million cubic yards. Per an agreement, the city pays a per-ton price plus half of an hourly fee for the actual crushing work.
The Commission also approved a payment to BPU to replace a streetlight on West Avenue A damaged in a traffic accident, and billing of that cost to the vehicle owner.
