McPherson County Planning Board conducts contentious election and plans future vote

The McPherson County Planning and Zoning Board convened on January 13, 2025, to address several key agenda items, including officer elections and personnel changes. The meeting began with board members taking their oaths, as required by Planning and Zoning Administrator John Kinsey.

The first significant discussion revolved around the election of board officers. It was revealed that Kinsey did not wish to continue as secretary, leading to a deviation from established bylaws regarding the election process. Kinsey attempted to conduct the election by using colored paper for votes, which raised concerns among board members about the legality of the process. A member pointed out that the bylaws clearly state that officers should be nominated and elected based on the highest number of votes. The meeting concluded with a motion to hold a proper election at the next meeting, ensuring adherence to the bylaws.

Following this, the board approved the minutes from the previous meeting without any objections. Julie McClure, the Director of Emergency Management and Communications, provided updates on personnel matters, including the approval of a pay change for Jamie Thompson, whose performance evaluation was noted to be satisfactory. McClure also reported on the Wyndham site project, indicating that ground-breaking was expected to begin soon.

Sunny Millison from McPherson Harvey County Community Corrections presented a personnel change request for Eileen Drake, who is transitioning to a temporary part-time role as she prepares for retirement. The board approved this request without budget implications.

Additionally, the board discussed appointments to the community corrections advisory board, approving the reappointment of David O'Dell and the appointment of James Bergstrom and Thomas Thompson.

The meeting concluded with a brief executive session, after which the board returned to discuss further personnel matters, including a request from the county appraiser to fill a vacant position, which was also approved.

Overall, the meeting highlighted procedural challenges within the board, personnel updates, and ongoing projects within McPherson County, with a commitment to rectify the election process in the upcoming meeting.