McPherson County commissioners adopt resolutions declaring sections of county roads as minimum maintenance

The McPherson County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to adopt two resolutions that declare specific sections of county roads as minimum maintenance and to transmit the declarations to the County Planning Commission for public hearing and posting.

The actions affect: Thirteenth Avenue between Pioneer and South Florida (amendment to a prior declaration) and multiple sections in New Garland Township, described at the meeting as Overland Road, Twelfth Avenue and Pablo Road, plus specific border-road segments between Twelfth and Fifteenth avenues. Commissioners approved both resolutions by roll call votes.

The measures, introduced by county planning staff, were described at the meeting as procedural corrections and new declarations. Planning staff said the Thirteenth Avenue item amends a prior resolution (2024-12) to correct the public-notice and hearing sequence; the resolution approved Tuesday is numbered 2025-08. The second item, numbered 2025-09, was presented as a new resolution declaring several New Garland Township roads as minimum maintenance.

Neither resolution changed maintenance practice immediately; staff said the resolutions initiate a statutorily required sequence: publication in the local paper, a hearing before the County Planning Commission, a recommendation back to the commissioners and then posting of the road if the process is completed. Planning staff explained that the Planning Board will determine the exact section(s) included and will hold a public hearing before the board considers final adoption of a declaration that raises fines or changes the road’s status.

A roll-call vote was recorded for both items. After the motion on resolution 2025-08, Chairman Becker, Commissioner Kieser and Commissioner O'Dell voted aye and the resolution was adopted. For resolution 2025-09, Chairman Becker, Commissioner Peterson and Commissioner O'Dell voted aye and the resolution was adopted.

Planning staff also noted that townships affected had previously signed off on the New Garland items and that the Planning Commission hearings are scheduled for August. Commissioners discussed whether some prior paperwork had combined the public hearing and the adoption on the same day; staff said the amended resolution corrects that procedural irregularity for the Thirteenth Avenue item.

The declarations will proceed through the Planning Commission’s public hearing process; if the Planning Commission recommends adoption, commissioners may act again after the required notice and posting steps.