Public works promotes employee, updates commissioners on bridges, millings and paving plans

McPherson County public works director briefed commissioners on personnel and infrastructure items and secured approval for a staff promotion.

Dave Mona Bliss (identified in the meeting as public works director) requested promotion of Jordan Nolte from Maintenance Worker 2 to Maintenance Worker 3 to serve as the second person on the county asphalt crew. The board approved the personnel change effective June 22, 2025.

Bliss said the county plans milling on 20 Seventh Avenue and is preparing to bid several bridge projects after engineering work; he said consultants would produce bid specifications and cost estimates. Bliss also said the county requested a traffic study (a TEP study) for the Arrowhead and Old 81 intersection following recent crashes and will request additional studies if needed for other intersections.

Bliss described training plans for maintenance and engineering staff, including sending employees to snowfighter and asphalt plant operation trainings in the fall, and said he will present additional training proposals at the next work session. He asked commissioners whether they wanted a road tour and asphalt plant tour; commissioners asked staff to prepare proposed work for 2026 and a list of completed 2025 work for review at a future session.