McPHERSON, Kan. — Work to fix the snow drain system that had been installed incorrectly at the new McPherson Fire Station 2 began last week. Fire Chief Chad Mayberry told the McPherson City Commission Tuesday concrete cutting began last week, and removal and excavating has been completed on the west side with foam board wire mesh also installed.
Weather issues have put a halt to any work for this week, and probably next week as well. Also, on hold due to weather is final dirt work on the site. Warranty work was also completed last week on some cracking in joints above door frames in the living quarters, and they have received the air vac diesel exhaust system which is ready to install. Mayberry said they are still on target to be into Station 2 on North Main in early March.
In other Fire Department matters the Commission approved annual mutual aid assistance agreements with the other fire departments in McPherson County, which allows McPherson Fire’s certified fire investigators to assist in fire investigations for those departments. The Commission also approved payment of an invoice for station alerting equipment and other electrical work to Hedlund Electric, and renewal of the software licenses for the computers in fire apparatus enabling them to link into McPherson County’s CAD data.
Commissioners accepted a nearly $314,000 bid from KC Service and Contracting LLC of McPherson for the Police Substation remodeling project. The substation will be located at Kansas and Elm in what was at one time the local office for the Kansas Department for Children and Families. They had the lowest of five bids received, with construction to start March 1st with 120 days allowed for completion.
The Commission also accepted bids from REACH Solutions for various technology and access control items for the substation. Also approved were purchases of range ammunition and less than lethal chemical munitions for the Special Response team, three rifle scopes and mounts and an annual payment for Taser certification.
Items related to a warranty claim on the city of McPherson’s street sweeper, which has been out of commission more than it’s been in service since it was purchased in 2021 were approved. Most of the issues have dealt with the DEF system on the sweeper. After receiving a warranty cost reimbursement check from Central Power System and Services, the Commission approved payment for repair work. The dealer paid directly all of the costs associated with warranty work excepting one invoice for reset work that was done last week.
The Commission approved a bid from PLI for sidewalk construction on Autumnwood Drive adjoining MCDS and on the east side of their Clubhouse property, purchase of lamps and lamp sleeves to re-stock inventory used on the disinfection unit at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and authorized disposal of two old dump trucks via online auction, these replaced by new units.
Commissioners approved an increase in the maximum authority for purchases not requiring City Commission approval. The limit from 2008 to 2021 was $1,000, which was increased to $1,500 in 2021. The Commission upped that limit to $3,000, effective March 1.
A bid for fencing changes at the McPherson Water Park was accepted by the McPherson City Commission Tuesday. Monroe Fending submitted the low of two bids received out of three solicited for the project that will relocate an existing fence to allow free public access to the water park’s splash pad.
Commissioners also approved another correction to the city’s fee schedule for 2025, this to include the rental charges for three of the shelter houses at Lakeside Park.
The Commission set a public hearing Feb. 25 on special assessments for the Veranda West development infrastructure, approved the 2025 health insurance plans for city employees, and authorized adding a finance interim pending approval of the city attorney.
For McPherson Main Street it approved an appropriation for membership in the Kansas Main Street Association and the Trick or Treat Main Street event in October.
