[{"_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",6137351,"mediaKeyId","5601742-7cc89a1c2201f577d5f5d766dbec7806","parentId",5601742,"title","County approves MOU with pipeline operator to repair Old Highway 81 after pipeline work","audioSeconds",359,"startMs",3240000,"endMs",3599000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5601742-7cc89a1c2201f577d5f5d766dbec7806&start=3240&end=3599","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5601742-7cc89a1c2201f577d5f5d766dbec7806/thumbnail_3240000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6137351/McPherson-County/Kansas/County-approves-MOU-with-pipeline-operator-to-repair-Old-Highway-81-after-pipeline-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6137351-f5607c6216831ee749c1d36a4798cb0b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770803030&Signature=mD8YqVkgEZ6ZdR9godHUoYBS0mtzN9SDv6Crgwq3vHXo47Aj8AC1M4gOh2QKe-rPNHZ92m~lZ-sRiOfy2gqp66q4v3Ib7B~2UvO07Zrth31msXhaXJIuTO~10MaCuXH7-ADxwcPiyGQQNdNoPbxHOojiFVWLIaX0DuqWzURLJ9pzJYWnl4RUObpqN1E438F82r3g74jK0nwERmKnUqpU8CU~8TylZ-lbl9Se3o~9Ln2HGy6K-aPtu6SuAOpirrKOJSkoAo8OpnEtZPJXwEiMEq144oCUKyjUFSzW2hDmUGzne5JGo40ZWlAvsc6H02nWSWS-bFWMDAAjIs~IPJ6v5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","McPherson County, KS","date","2025-07-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Board of County Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with Mid America Pipeline Company LLC (Enterprise Products) to repair a section of 14th Avenue/Old Highway 81 affected by pipeline work. The MOU covers contractor work to sleeve the pipeline across the full road width, place flowable fill, recoat the pipe and restore the roadway; the company will post a bond and coordinate detours and rock deliveries with McPherson Township.

Burrell Barnes of Enterprise Products outlined the scope and schedule for the repair work, saying the company will “open cut the entire road” and sleeve the pipe across the roadway so the county will not need repeated repairs. He described flowable fill and coating steps and said the sleeve would likely extend about a half foot beyond the concrete edge so the ends are visible. Barnes also said the company planned to video the roads before and after work to document condition.

County and company staff discussed detour and surfacing logistics. Enterprise said it would deliver rock if McPherson Township does not handle delivery and that three types of material may be required: a small quantity of 2-inch rock for a bridge, 1-inch clean rock for the detour and sand for dust control. Barnes and county staff discussed contingency plans if heavy rain affects the schedule; the contractor estimates roughly six to seven days for the on-site contractor work, with county crews following to compact and complete final surfacing. The board approved the MOU and authorized signatures to permit work to begin when the contractor is ready.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","McPherson County Board of County Commissioners - July 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The county approved a memorandum of understanding with Enterprise Products/Mid America Pipeline to repair roadway damage on 14th Avenue (Old Highway 81) caused by pipeline work, authorizing sleeve, flowable-fill and resurfacing work and coordination with township officials for detours and rock delivery.","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},6137356,"Board approves three-year contract with Arnold Group for county compensation study",1303,1862000,3165000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5601742-7cc89a1c2201f577d5f5d766dbec7806&start=1862&end=3165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5601742-7cc89a1c2201f577d5f5d766dbec7806/thumbnail_1862000.jpg","/articles/6137356/McPherson-County/Kansas/Board-approves-three-year-contract-with-Arnold-Group-for-county-compensation-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6137356-dbaa80fa9531232b05dc7b84925e98c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770803030&Signature=Qlh83J5R4q7Hz5trl0MWnO9snIyzsuNzg6U4Q95~U2gT-IkchIgz0gPMIzQNzInJK4K4v5CIe~TRl4Xjb7SSnVE~nnxM~Pzhp39HDRrKwx1Zs~0fuprUbNpRIDlnd-z6BFbSr~c4dE9qIcBpPnHdxCjcU7cd3RwLWVBLA~F7jwyLe7CsvFdxKosSi48Pw0ryAUd7EObCEijMvcU13FwrYfTV9GcdZiW8c7b6CdILyIkCKAD1GAp78Q8H3Z0a27qq5Vq95h32SZZ0XicbUsjxkpiwMsu-JuY9ESZ7asVTs-Xe6ytp2FRZhtjMtMiiAjcbPfMmv2CEO74cF1M1q9a4zA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of County Commissioners approved a three-year engagement with the Arnold Group to complete a compensation study and develop a compensation blueprint for county jobs. The board also approved an optional job-description review and update not to exceed $8,422.

Philip Hayes of the Arnold Group told commissioners the firm’s approach combines internal job evaluation and external market benchmarking and includes deliverables such as an electronic comp workbook, implementation guidance and recommended policy language. \"At the heart of this project, it's more than just retaining your talent, but it's attracting new talent and then getting them on the train that they wanna stay on,\" Hayes said.

Hayes described the firm’s process: stakeholder meetings (he recommended in-person meetings with department heads), grading positions using a point-factor methodology, identifying benchmark positions and producing a comp book and implementation options. He said typical timelines for the project run about four to six months from authorization, with job-description drafts ready in two to three weeks once the writer has the stakeholder inputs.

The board approved the Arnold Group’s investment option 1 for $51,006.92 over three years and the optional job-description update/creation not to exceed $8,422. Commissioners discussed the value of a three-year engagement to support phased implementation and follow-up work during the county’s transition period.","The county approved a three-year, $51,006.92 engagement with the Arnold Group to conduct a compensation study and accepted an optional job description review up to $8,422; the consultant outlined a 4–6 month typical timeline and recommended stakeholder meetings and policy updates.",{"_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},6137360,"County hires Kirk and Michaels for bridge inspections; two-year contract approved",399,1119000,1518000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5601742-7cc89a1c2201f577d5f5d766dbec7806&start=1119&end=1518","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5601742-7cc89a1c2201f577d5f5d766dbec7806/thumbnail_1119000.jpg","/articles/6137360/McPherson-County/Kansas/County-hires-Kirk-and-Michaels-for-bridge-inspections-two-year-contract-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6137360-606a0883cf53ec252d4a50e69cba0d2f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770803030&Signature=GOfe3cIDKTvXnD4PH7r-zpPgITp3twYwoTY7q6cU-Fj7S~LHZJWVoM4t73OtxGMkhri0tYUQ2UEVW9FyJZMVRaftTqcEck11fWZCPAosKwWIT-JoHjiovFsoA8mIU6~reKHGfrBAf5R8ZDvhCgnpfpocRHC3syc6fSHIwl-pr-B8t-9OyvULIaSXSpcUT-hc08N4~uvB2R1PJgBvZo-tLzbdz5tyGehYm5hPHU1epLqPqt4oxGWLhkd4Vyp1sIaROy1JBvMaoddxCkcCa9uuW8i~Gb2igiive51tHxgxRgxL3gMNAcImX-5pv3xOns-NCXJ0UE6NElRwvQSwyWQ0EQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of County Commissioners authorized the county administrator to sign an engineering services agreement with Kirk and Michaels to perform bridge inventory and inspections, not to exceed $193,200 every two years plus $1,000 per new bridge.

David Barnablust, McPherson County public works director, told commissioners the county performs required inspections of bridges and other structures and that its long-time bridge inspector is retiring this year. “McPherson County has done their own inspection for, let's say, the last 50 years. We have 460 bridges that are over 20 foot in length, and the Federal Highway and KDOT requires to inspect those every 2 years,” Barnablust said.

Barnablust described the county’s larger asset inventory: 1,140 total structures in county records, of which 460 must be inspected biennially and an additional 680 structures are inspected on a 10-year cycle. He recommended contracting out the biennial inspections while staff recruits and trains a new inspector; the county’s long-term plan is to train in-house personnel, a process Barnablust said could take several years.

Under the approved proposal Kirk and Michaels will inspect about 40 bridges per month over the contract term; Barnablust said this approach yields more consistent inspections than trying to inspect half the bridges in a single month. He told the board the company’s proposal was roughly 30% less than other bids the county evaluated. Commissioners voted in favor of authorization and the contract was approved in open session.","The county approved a two-year contract with Kirk and Michaels to inspect bridges after the long-serving county inspector announced retirement; the contract covers biennial inspections of 460 bridges and costs about $193,200 every two years plus fees for newly constructed bridges.",{"_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},6137364,"McPherson County adopts temporary moratorium on commercial battery storage projects",374,326000,700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5601742-7cc89a1c2201f577d5f5d766dbec7806&start=326&end=700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5601742-7cc89a1c2201f577d5f5d766dbec7806/thumbnail_326000.jpg","/articles/6137364/McPherson-County/Kansas/McPherson-County-adopts-temporary-moratorium-on-commercial-battery-storage-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6137364-d4d257e5a4cc74bcb38aeebb294a6cc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770803030&Signature=gFGcJjQkexQSLsEq0XC~F0LXk5fHs9PaGH2jEK-y3RSr4bz9mCahCdILfGcxf8V2v6vI79IcEBcl3uorzSBDP4xP7Zqnuy6253UdDjF4x3uHf4GDArVZquxoZHhSC-8d16bFoRqvkidxlSzgc7-1S8iv7f2Oh8l1PcqeBS77FuZ9C679~MaBsmQTO8dPlsmj1V2oAQPm8VLD9tcdRwWZtUITdIisaiUQxuTgh6M1jumvJ6xjogtrM5tqX8sOEiHuJx4QqlF-R-wMuTwyD3h3aVbQd0U1LU7yNoIp6g4JNfNAFEZWoq2SSe0YatYgHo4eu~NzBRPA5ueQ-hRIBvqwDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The McPherson County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2025-13, imposing a temporary moratorium on commercial battery energy storage systems in the county’s unincorporated areas. The resolution, approved by Chairman Becker and Commissioners Keizer and Adele, directs staff and the planning board to review the county comprehensive plan and zoning regulations for possible changes to regulate commercial battery projects.

County planning and zoning administrator John Kinsey framed the moratorium as a short-term measure to give staff time to study the technology and potential local impacts. “This is similar to the one that is in play with Harvey County, and it is also modeled after what we did for our solar and wind regulations. It is a temporary one in nature. It will last through 01/01/2028,” Kinsey said.

The moratorium covers commercial battery energy storage systems — commonly large lithium battery installations — and related storage, production, generation and distribution activities in unincorporated McPherson County. Kinsey told commissioners the county currently has no pending applications for such facilities but cited examples from other jurisdictions and described how some systems are configured as containerized units that require water cooling and substantial infrastructure.

Commissioners discussed open questions raised in the presentation, including taxation and where similar facilities already operate in the state. Kinsey said he believed the state legislature considered tax treatment for some systems in 2024. He also noted data centers are a related concern that county planning has not yet studied. Commissioners directed staff to return with more detailed recommendations; Kinsey estimated a 4- to 5-month formal review period that he would likely begin in January and present to the planning board.

The resolution states the moratorium is intended to protect public health, safety and welfare while the county updates its regulatory framework. It will remain in effect through Jan. 1, 2028, unless the board acts sooner.","The Board of County Commissioners approved a temporary moratorium on commercial battery energy storage systems to allow staff and the planning board to review zoning and comprehensive-plan rules; the moratorium runs through Jan. 1, 2028, and commissioners directed a months-long review of regulations.",{"_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},6137346,"Health department allowed small debt write-offs; statute cited for removal from collections",102,732000,834000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5601742-7cc89a1c2201f577d5f5d766dbec7806&start=732&end=834","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5601742-7cc89a1c2201f577d5f5d766dbec7806/thumbnail_732000.jpg","/articles/6137346/McPherson-County/Kansas/Health-department-allowed-small-debt-write-offs-statute-cited-for-removal-from-collections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6137346-dbda04db7c2a141c12f36025746726ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1770803030&Signature=OKmyAtrMyg99DJc4ELQX~3uY~UhlAhOHrrF~N1jz-4e-D4pySMPAxeAYcldPjHr8SW9fkiNLjYmK-iPbmENLMX9U5~qfYA1MyGeLREEXD5FIV7OOLgbbZwnzXmSffFFVHTevT7oOL8J9Jfzr2Zv8UVvw6jsJOCzRUAJRqeRFZEcROKzaAjY7b4Vk7AW5xs4g8RG6I80GsptKNOf9lx~6iM5CFCCd~E3uGiY9hDxpgpQQUIYoUo1Lvg1Z4x2XLGwP3BT59dlmFVGv77E2UPaoBrKqVZk89~-kX8f4j2OQTyUcWDzGvTGU9VrFGn62xpL-mHNm7APXmXlqVr4eUNdCQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of County Commissioners approved a health department request to write off $22.50 in policy-driven debt and to remove $62.50 from the Kansas Debt Recovery System under KSA 60-5-11, county billing specialist Julia Jensen said.

Jensen explained the health department’s policy: balances under $25 cannot be added to the Kansas Debt Recovery System and accounts lacking identifying information cannot be added. If an eligible balance is unpaid within 12 months or otherwise meets the department’s criteria, the policy calls for commission approval to write it off.

Jensen told commissioners the $22.50 write-off appears in the packet and the $62.50 amount must be removed from the state collection system because it has reached the statute-of-limitations period. The board approved the request by voice vote.","The board approved writing off $22.50 in health-department debts and removing $62.50 from the Kansas Debt Recovery System under KSA 60-5-11, which limits the time medical debt can sit in collections to five years.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County approves MOU with pipeline operator to repair Old Highway 81 after pipeline work

Board approves three-year contract with Arnold Group for county compensation study

County hires Kirk and Michaels for bridge inspections; two-year contract approved

McPherson County adopts temporary moratorium on commercial battery storage projects

Health department allowed small debt write-offs; statute cited for removal from collections