McPherson County advances Soddy Road safety work after $100,000 Hanich Trust award

McPherson County commissioners moved forward on a multi‑year plan to improve Soddy Road after receiving a $100,000 initial payment from the Robert F. Hanich Charitable Trust.

The award, approved by the trustees after the county submitted an application in August, will fund the first phase of the “Soddy Road Safety Improvements and Flood Protection Project,” which the county describes as raising the road’s edge height and widening a mile to 18 feet where needed. Chairman Brett Nason said the payment is the first of five scheduled disbursements tied to project milestones. The board discussed using reclaimed asphalt from Prairie Trace Road as part of the work and is coordinating haul and stockpile logistics with highway staff.

Highway Superintendent Tom Werblow told the board that the road department has been grading, hauling gravel and applying crushed concrete in several locations and that the Soddy Road work will be scheduled once site prep and materials are in place. “We’ve applied crushed concrete on several county locations this year and plan to use a mix of materials to stabilize the base before widening,” Werblow said.

The board has repeatedly added Soddy Road projects to monthly road plans and solicited public comment; residents who attended hearings raised concerns about recurring flooding and the narrow width of the existing roadway. Commissioners discussed options including pulverization and crushed concrete placement after receiving a quote from Level LLC (owner Robert Watson) earlier in the year; no decision was made at that time, and the Hanich grant later made the project financially feasible.

The county also advanced related road infrastructure work: it approved a two‑year, 2,000‑hour comprehensive extended warranty for a John Deere grader ($15,600) and authorized right‑of‑way easements and an application to move an approach at the North Hall Church Road and Highway 97 intersection to address a safety issue. The board adopted the annual One & Six Year Road Plan (Resolution #2021‑11) and approved monthly road plans throughout the year to fund targeted repairs, auto‑gate installation and patching.

To support on‑site work, commissioners explored local crushing and reuse of asphalt removed from Prairie Trace Road and accepted bids and estimates for equipment repairs and materials hauling. In November the board authorized borrowing from the county Inheritance Fund to purchase a tractor and loader (Resolution #2021‑25) to supplement road equipment.

Next steps include completing easement documentation, finalizing procurement for base materials, and scheduling the first construction phase once required permits and contractors are confirmed. The county’s project timeline will depend on material availability and weather; commissioners indicated they will continue public briefings as plans firm up.