[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6189637,"mediaKeyId","5055892-53567cccb68495601cdd2702cd3ed54e","parentId",5055892,"title","IT director requests increased budget citing cybersecurity workload; board raises questions on long-term costs","audioSeconds",943,"startMs",4268971,"endMs",5212951,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055892-53567cccb68495601cdd2702cd3ed54e&start=4268&end=5212","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055892-53567cccb68495601cdd2702cd3ed54e/thumbnail_4268971.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6189637/McPherson-County/Kansas/IT-director-requests-increased-budget-citing-cybersecurity-workload-board-raises-questions-on-long-term-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189637-71418b11fccd6ebcbd18dec2835b199b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442758&Signature=GVTeoCu6mY4weNCW9VnxQZ6s0EnwHpXgGpjUxeETrfwrn1Ef2XrdsC5HbGEfBa~J3zNqLyOqU--xd715kW8ICgSQq8Q08uaqBWJWRs5GUZ0hBYPvdexQGoOmH1bJ295Q~68h~pDP027uy7b4sq-kmkSycynD8PEJvsByFRAi1c8qdidj8CLi8y9Pr7L-YREauaFma1HOcI2PX4dyuNqcl8KRbpgFXFhx4CN1j8rba90bs6f4ifZYEhnVJGeygE86FdpQENT6CM9D7Yrr~grsHUQnxETPU~aTfJ0a5pHTZtiDuJbgZpqW5JAGo8y1-yEZ4PfornVQsWIfsdnDnKli2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","McPherson County, KS","date","2025-06-23T00:00:00Z","article","Jeff, McPherson County’s IT director, presented his proposed 2026 information-technology budget on June 23, saying the proposed total represents about a 10% increase over 2025 and that the office is trying to keep increases below industry averages.

Jeff told the board the typical annual IT increase is 20%–30% but that his proposed budget shows a smaller rise. He attributed the rise primarily to personnel costs and new contractual obligations for patching, asset management, help-desk functions and enhanced backup/disaster recovery services. Jeff said cybersecurity and managing security tools now consume the majority of his time — he estimated roughly “80% of my time” is spent on security management — and that to perform the work in-house would require two to three more employees.

Board members asked for clarification on personnel line items and whether software subscription and telephone line items could be reallocated between budget lines to better reflect recurring costs (Jeff said some Office 365 costs historically moved between line items and he recommended consolidating software purchases under IT to ensure department consultation for technology purchases). Commissioners also asked Jeff to refine capital-outlay needs and to correct an apparent personnel-salary table formatting error in the packet; staff agreed to update and resubmit corrected figures.

Jeff said he has asked other departments to include server replacements in their budgets and that he expects to replace a backup Active Directory server for the courthouse if capital outlay is approved. He said several security and management tools purchased in 2025 contributed to the contractual increase for 2026, and that consolidating software purchasing with IT will reduce unsupported ad-hoc purchases by departments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","McPherson County Board of County Commissioners - June 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","McPherson County IT Director presented a 2026 budget with a roughly 10% overall increase driven by personnel and contractual costs tied to cybersecurity, backup/disaster recovery and new software tools. Commissioners questioned sustainability and sought clarification on personnel and recurring costs.","taxTitle","McPherson County, Kansas","taxId",73439,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189641,"Public Works director reports on roads, bridges and a scheduled US-56 corridor open house; board approves a maintenance promotion",236,2154271,2390821,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055892-53567cccb68495601cdd2702cd3ed54e&start=2154&end=2390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055892-53567cccb68495601cdd2702cd3ed54e/thumbnail_2154271.jpg","/articles/6189641/McPherson-County/Kansas/Public-Works-director-reports-on-roads-bridges-and-a-scheduled-US-56-corridor-open-house-board-approves-a-maintenance-promotion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189641-185be9d3d07e73d1c03638bf3ff0e85a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442758&Signature=T8UKht9Cb-MNWu1NKCaZakC-ZSrfHVb6dqveh5IIasSr8sOPqJBqOZadWESrCTHkKcFQoaBAnE5PrGGlcQ4mVNhz6g7a7Nne4SG8A-1lWq6hxOGizEmPm5bEXj2DqgP92AoW5bfbCrv1Ap3VvpLfpulicGlGsIeAjJqn4j2k-5dSnlIJ1~gB5ZhTUapnWOoZjyFmYD8Tywp2aRk6AgLm2WBo1It25otc8G9dX2p0tqWqxiPW9TNr2FEUMq~annIKE1ZybHPFTgbV923a76TKxZW7ScdqOvHGq-AggI4ttsk4NJI~3OMuUY5yqw4BDv06HKnM8EE9f2cLt6RjGPE1TA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","David Monenblest, McPherson County Public Works director, briefed the board on June 23 about personnel changes, upcoming construction and planning items affecting county roads and bridges.

Monenblest requested promotion of Barry Sisson from Maintenance Worker 3 to Maintenance Worker 4; the board approved the personnel change by voice vote. He told commissioners the promotion will leave one Maintenance Worker 4 vacancy that the department plans to backfill by promoting from within and hiring at lower levels.

Monenblest gave multiple operational updates: crews continue shouldering and pavement repairs; a small bridge field check was rescheduled for Friday; the county expects bridge inspection work to cost about $150,000 per year (proposal evaluation in progress); and APAC is scheduled to mill 20th Street soon and repave. He said Cherokee Road would be widened by about a foot on each side (projected width increase from about 22 to 24 feet, to be confirmed), and the department is coordinating detours and a memorandum of understanding with Enterprise Pipeline for a major project on old U.S. 81 that will require truck detours and local circulation changes.

Monenblest also said he and Emergency Management attended a US-56 corridor study and that open houses are planned July 22 (McPherson) and July 23; the study’s recommendations could include wider shoulders, passing lanes, bridge widening and safety improvements at intersections. He warned that passing lanes require careful siting and may reduce township access points where they are installed.

The director asked the board about scheduling a road tour to review county projects; commissioners discussed meeting dates and the next work session scheduling.

The board approved the promotion; other items were updates and no board votes on specific projects were taken at the June 23 meeting.","Public Works Director David Monenblest updated commissioners on staffing, bridge inspections, road projects and the US-56 corridor study open houses on July 22–23. He requested and the board approved promotion of a maintenance worker.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189646,"Emergency management: Wyndham paging antenna to be repaired; storm damage estimates sent from townships",304,1551411,1856171,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055892-53567cccb68495601cdd2702cd3ed54e&start=1551&end=1856","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055892-53567cccb68495601cdd2702cd3ed54e/thumbnail_1551411.jpg","/articles/6189646/McPherson-County/Kansas/Emergency-management-Wyndham-paging-antenna-to-be-repaired-storm-damage-estimates-sent-from-townships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189646-c33b3e06a7342329c70b9b974088251a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442758&Signature=GtDVpecpLCEEfG0yB6s5ZgXzdwsAMMSoqmjyEwYBxtWtpM6tmWuZBcSTr0NFH3-sG~6J00BbYFnhnTb97FkmGOpiMpUdS96~TmCv51NhNohvYepnIZXIv1O9NPK7u3DbSpvEdcV5v4up5qtkEOsSF~YHjCXfd5OFtqMbuJC4b6~VjtJqIQnOR1EV2IVAeU~wiZyJL11MfNjIQCe1172W78mYyoqSHM1kAZeq1V8wFkephbGnlFqeZI~SKucKJfWzReQf6iQXe4IOT7IjhceAvtxWX4QNxkMO1m3l1UdPCl~Dx~rcUiygKSxl~zYmfEtEO3Vsr3TtfPCHmEVCJsFwRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Emily Yates, director of emergency management communications, briefed the McPherson County Board of Commissioners on June 23 about two related matters: a failed paging antenna at the Wyndham site that requires immediate repair, and initial township reports of storm damage that could feed a county disaster declaration request.

Yates said the Wyndham-site antenna has been “in and out” since May; she presented a quote from KCOM for $4,009.87, noting most of the cost was labor and that KCOM offered a used antenna at no charge. The board approved the repair by voice vote.

Yates also reported that three townships have already responded with damage estimates; combined so far those estimates total about $64,400, and she is awaiting further township reports. She told the board the county’s reporting threshold for damage is $142,652.56 and that the state’s threshold for a statewide disaster declaration appeared to be around $5.6 million (she said she would confirm exact state guidance). Yates said she will continue to collect estimates and follow up with the state as the county compiles damage figures for possible assistance.

Board members and staff discussed the reporting process and the paperwork burden for townships; Yates said she had already emailed trustees to request estimates and would continue outreach. Commissioners asked her to follow up with the state this week and to remind townships to submit timely estimates.

The approved antenna repair is intended as a temporary repair to restore paging until replacement tower equipment scheduled to arrive in early July is installed and accepted.","Emergency Management Director Emily Yates told county commissioners that a Wyndham paging antenna has failed and the board approved a $4,009.87 repair. Yates also reported preliminary township storm-damage estimates totaling about $64,400 and said she is coordinating with townships and the state on a possible disaster declaration.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189651,"McPherson Airport officials seek funding to replace deteriorated underground fuel tanks; $1 million project proposed with small local match",265,667921,932941,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055892-53567cccb68495601cdd2702cd3ed54e&start=667&end=932","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055892-53567cccb68495601cdd2702cd3ed54e/thumbnail_667921.jpg","/articles/6189651/McPherson-County/Kansas/McPherson-Airport-officials-seek-funding-to-replace-deteriorated-underground-fuel-tanks-1-million-project-proposed-with-small-local-match","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189651-e62494c00dd8ba1c1a76f25264471095/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442758&Signature=kNzaEG8kDxYSFLR3m7KvzrIj2NwETlMlnHwo9EccHAO6AI96Sjm8nRKGVCzNSHJSsVU-VkDL5I8koGQEn8WZPg9GVANOHzj66JLzb4r7Kkx6djwmYrOK7p1TAQ0dd-LCKWHPw9-1A-akNdZNxQKQCOibO8VLa5nprGmKiqI-PjvpcMQK~8au9ec2YqSyY665mkSIM8EVCOOBKqAIm915r3YXIeYprPg3DcbMYKXsEVVP5Swfl7yWjbaOrvyz8cAVh2wXFe30z2XBD30yFk7q1eQajbyzN3cUpPvcmzo~49Dd-amKeZl87lK3i1Z3-zdCQoqiIRKH~RJ5fW~39ND2HA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","McPherson Airport representatives told the county commissioners on June 23 that aging underground fuel tanks have taken on water and are hurting aircraft fueling and revenue, and asked the county to support a project to replace the system with new above-ground tanks.

The airport presenter said filters removed from a tank showed “ugly” contamination and that the last inspection found about 3 inches of dirty water in the bottom of one tank. The airport is requesting a 10% increase to its budget as part of longer-term plans to replace fuel infrastructure.

Airport staff outlined a funding strategy that combines federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants, KDOT (Kansas Department of Transportation) aviation funds and Build Kansas apportionments to reduce the local share. Staff estimated a total project cost of about $1 million to remove existing underground tanks and install new above-ground tanks for Avgas, Jet A and mogas. They told the board the local airport match could be less than $50,000 if the three funding streams are combined.

Staff explained the operational problems with the current underground tanks: water intrusion, extensive filter changes, nonfunctional credit-card readers that limit after-hours fuel sales and decades-old tank infrastructure (one tank described as nearly 70 years old). Above-ground double-walled tanks on concrete pads would be easier to inspect and maintain, staff said, and could be installed with a design phase this fall, bidding in spring and construction next summer.

Board members asked about tank capacity and revenue implications; airport staff said they would likely downsize capacity relative to the historical levels in order to keep fuel fresher while still buying economically sized deliveries. Officials also confirmed runway and lighting maintenance projects are planned through FAA funding and that some hangar improvements were funded in part with ARPA dollars.

Airport staff urged commissioners to consider the timing advantage: for the upcoming funding cycle FAA local match requirements drop to 5% (from a typical 10%), additional Build Kansas funds could cover part of that local match, and KDOT aviation funds could be layered to allow a single-phase project instead of phasing over multiple years. Staff cited a recently bid project in Eureka at about $700,000 as a comparable.","McPherson Airport Authority presented its 2026 budget and urged the county to support replacing aging underground fuel tanks with new above-ground tanks for Avgas, Jet A and mogas. Staffers said the combined FAA, KDOT and Build Kansas funding could make the roughly $1 million project affordable with a local match under $50,000.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6189655,"Votes at a glance: routine approvals, an affiliate agreement and a paging antenna repair approved",5760,27551,5788411,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5055892-53567cccb68495601cdd2702cd3ed54e&start=27&end=5788","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5055892-53567cccb68495601cdd2702cd3ed54e/thumbnail_27551.jpg","/articles/6189655/McPherson-County/Kansas/Votes-at-a-glance-routine-approvals-an-affiliate-agreement-and-a-paging-antenna-repair-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189655-b6abb61022c83818c332ff1ff8f4d65a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442758&Signature=aGCzVQv9w2xNanMahEEcE025d2KLuz0AzxHaMVU-RFoQDM7buQXV6HZNiZbjl63gsTqgLM~EpVzd9Zl-scofV5Hd-zu~q80DwEOoPj9SEq5Znxsv2Muta~q-797g6grr7uNZcOuhyTCvd~YayLVLVDRz6Rg49icCbkRy-~lnif5dUkdOtSS5qPhRMexlb1fngIC0G4g~RvnCFWtisyb1~XrNF5dXX1ZaIR4bfpffSUFqyZr7VhzqkbUdAhVbFqZKydfodT30z9RrWw5B~3ywEs5Cew5m7amMpWU7vBvFBXbrqBpSS4pXuRua0QOVpy7vY6Ejdia4eY2Xnx7vCvYU5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The McPherson County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved routine business and several items of county business during their June 23 meeting, including checks and payroll, an affiliate agreement for the county’s Community Development (CDD) program, personnel actions and an emergency communications repair.

The board approved the meeting agenda and the minutes of June 16 at the start of the meeting. Commissioners then approved checks and claims and payroll as presented.

Commissioners voted to authorize the chairman to sign an affiliate agreement allowing a new service provider to participate in the county’s CDL program and to receive compensation under that program. The board also approved a personnel change notice for Veri Lisonbee effective July 6 and approved a promotion PCN for Barry Sisson, moving him from Maintenance Worker 3 to Maintenance Worker 4.

Emergency Management presented a quote to replace an inoperative antenna at the Wyndham site; the board approved awarding the work to KCOM (listed in the staff motion as AECOM/Wyndham paging and antenna repair) not to exceed $4,009.87.

Near the end of the meeting commissioners moved to direct the county administrator to change the county building address from the old number on West Marlin to the new North Maple address, and the meeting was then adjourned.

Votes recorded in the meeting transcript were taken by voice; the clerk recorded motions as “All in favor, say aye,” and there were no roll-call tallies provided in the transcript.","The McPherson County Board of Commissioners on June 23 approved routine agenda items, payroll and claims, authorized an affiliate agreement under the county’s CDL program and approved a $4,009.87 emergency paging antenna repair for the Wyndham site.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

IT director requests increased budget citing cybersecurity workload; board raises questions on long-term costs

Public Works director reports on roads, bridges and a scheduled US-56 corridor open house; board approves a maintenance promotion

Emergency management: Wyndham paging antenna to be repaired; storm damage estimates sent from townships

McPherson Airport officials seek funding to replace deteriorated underground fuel tanks; $1 million project proposed with small local match

Votes at a glance: routine approvals, an affiliate agreement and a paging antenna repair approved