Fire wins Battle of Badges blood drive

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the McPherson County City
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mission and Heart 2 Heart Child Advocacy Center. The agreement offers Heart 2 Heart about 700 square feet of space in the McPherson Municipal Building at a monthly rate of $700, with utilities included. A similar offer has also been offered by the McPherson County Commission for space in the Bank of America building, although Mayor Tom Brown said the offer of his board was meant as an alternative and should not be viewed as competitive. Heart 2 Heart recently lost its existing lease and has been looking for options that would allow it to continue providing advocacy services to children in McPherson.

•In response to ongoing Environmental Code violations, the commission issued a 60-day notice to the owner of property at 501 E. Hancock. A previous notice to secure broken and otherwise open windows and doors on the property was not responded to, forcing the city to board up the openings themselves. Further notices are being or have previously been issued in reference to roof problems, dangerously low electrical lines, broken siding, an open and unsecured garage door, rotting sill plates, fallen privacy fencing, peeling paint, loose garbage and a dead tree trunk in need of removal. Should concerns not be tended to within 60 days, the property, which already has $9,000 due in penalties and back taxes, will be required to pay the city for repairs. The property has been recommended for condemnation by City Building Inspector John Puchosic and is in a deteriorated condition some 8 to 10 times worse than neighboring properties.

•The vacation of 350 feet of city property at the end of Maple Street was approved. Zoning Administrator Tom Stinemetze said “legally speaking, that piece of street has never actually existed,” referencing the Planning Department’s assertion it had never intended that area to be considered in the City of McPherson. But the city considers the property in its right-of-way. The vacation will be effective 30 days after its passing, unless a protest be submitted, requiring the issue be considered in a public hearing.

•The McPherson Board of Public Utilities  is considering replacing a stretch of water line running along First Street. The section, located between Grimes Street and McPherson High School, has suffered two breaks already this year, both within 50 feet of one another and each inflicting significant damage to road surfaces in the area. BPU will attempt to synchronize any such construction with road repairs to the street.
•A letter of engagement was issued by the commission with Standard and Poor’s. The letter allows the credit ratings agency to evaluate the merits of the utility’s credit standing. This will allow BPU to move forward in refinancing approximately $7 million in bonds.

•The commission issued a funding approval to the McPherson Fire Department for the purchase of new hydraulic hoses for its Jaws of Life device. The unit, purchased in 1994, was identified as having leaks in its hose during routine testing, and attempts to patch the leaks were unsuccessful. Up to $1,500 was approved for replacement hosing materials.
•An ordinance was approved designating proceeds from effluent water income to be initially deposited in the city’s general fund. Such income will later be transferred to the bonds and interest fund for payments on capital improvement projects, such as the $1 million drainage project of earlier this year.

•The appointment of Brent Christiansen to the McPherson Public Library’s Board of Directors was approved. Christiansen will fill the vacancy left by sitting board member David Harger, who is leaving the board during an unexpired term.
•Stinemetze informed the commission a public hearing will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 4 to consider the adoption of new subdivision regulations. The new regulations have been under development for almost three years.

•The State of Kansas has given the city permission to continue with floodplain modifications, providing a list of 15 specific restrictions which must be taken into consideration in the process. This will allow McPherson to proceed with modifications, which have been at a standstill pending permission to proceed from the state.
•In his weekly report, City Administrator Nick Gregory received approval for two bonds.