Frequently Asked Questions

Per City Ordinance 10-3 it shall be unlawful for any person to keep any swine in the City.

Permits must be paid for with either cash, check, or credit card.  Please be advised that if a credit card is used there will be a convenience fee added. 

Please refer to the cemetery rules and pricing sheet for more information. 

All persons attending court are expected to be dressed appropriately for the dignity and decorum of the court proceeding. No guns, cell phones, pagers, food, beverage or children are allowed in the court room. Once you arrive for your court hearing, please sign in with the clerk. 

We accept cash, check, credit/debit card or money order. The court accepts payment in person, by mail, or over the phone. Please makes checks and money orders payable to McPherson Municipal Court.

Protect your home and property by keeping items out of sight, installing lights and always locking your vehicles, home and out buildings.

Report suspicious activity by calling 911, McPherson County Communications/Dispatch at 620.245.1266 or Crime Stoppers at 620.241.1122. Suspicious and/or criminal activity and tips can also be reported via the Crime Stoppers Facebook page.

Request extra patrol by calling McPherson County Communications/Dispatch at 620.245.1266.

You must go to the Joint Law Enforcement Center, 1177 W. Woodside, and speak with a Law Enforcement Officer to find out if a warrant for your arrest exists.

Visit the Kansas Department of Revenue website to determine if your driver's license is valid.

Officers respond to all 911 calls even when the caller states the call was accidental to ensure safety. Someone may be forcing the caller to say the call was accidental when it wasn’t.

Copies of vehicle/accident collision reports may be obtained at the Lexis Nexis Police Reports website.

Requests for copies of McPherson Police Department reports must be submitted to the Administrative Support/Records Management Supervisor who is listed under Police Department Contacts. Business hours for Administrative Support/Records Management are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.

Protection from Abuse and Protection from Stalking orders can be requested from the District Court Clerk located on the second floor of the McPherson County Courthouse, 117 N. Maple.

If you reside in the City of McPherson and believe you have been scammed, file a report with the McPherson Police Department.

Information regarding scams is available on the Federal Trade Commission website.

It is unlawful for any person under 16 years of age to be in any public place between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. For additional information, refer to McPherson, Kansas – Code of Ordinances, ARTICLE IV. - OFFENSES INVOLVING PUBLIC SAFETY, Sec. 54-176. - Curfew for Underage Persons.

It shall be unlawful for any person to be in, on or about any public park or public recreation facility owned by the city or to park vehicles on any park boulevard, street, drive or parking area within the public parks and public recreation facilities from 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. For additional information, refer to McPherson, Kansas – Code of Ordinances, ARTICLE IV. - PARK USE REGULATIONS, Sec. 58-91. - Hours.

Contact the McPherson County Humane Society at 620.241.3682 when you find a stray cat.

VIN inspections are completed on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and on Wednesdays and Thursdays 12:30 to 3 p.m., at the McPherson Municipal Court, 113 N. Ash. Contact VIN Inspectors during these hours at 620.245.2501.

Request parking permits at the McPherson Municipal Center, 400 E. Kansas.

Request a Peddler's License at the McPherson Municipal Center, 400 E. Kansas.

Street closures may be requested through the McPherson Public Works Department at 620.245.2545.

Call the McPherson Board of Public Utilities (BPU) at 620.245.2515 when you have a power outage.

Fire trucks have first responder personnel and can get help to you quickly. The ambulance or rescue unit will provide transportation to an emergency room, depending on the nature of the call. All members are certified Emergency Medical Technicians.

Firefighters ventilate smoke and superheated gases for safety and visibility. This allows firefighters to get inside the building to find and extinguish the fire, thereby reducing property damage. This also reduces the chances of significant fire events such as back drafts or smoke explosions.

The fire hose is the lifeline of a firefighter when fighting a fire. If you drive over it, the hose can be damaged and any firefighter at the end of a nozzle will have the water interrupted - possibly causing injury or death.

We block traffic lanes for the safety of our personnel and our patients. Blocking extra lanes keeps our personnel safe when they go back to our apparatus to get more equipment, and it helps protect the victim(s) we are trying to stabilize.

You must meet certain qualifications to become a firefighter. Contact the McPherson Fire Department at 312 E. Kansas Ave. or 620.245.2505 for more information.

Firefighters work a 24-hour shift and must supply their own food. They combine their money to purchase food for meals. Often, you will see them at a grocery store in a fire apparatus. The only way the McPherson Fire Department can ensure that firefighters will respond and arrive in an average of less than 4 minutes is by using the vehicle they respond in and with all firefighters present and available. Sometimes firefighters receive a call while shopping for food, which means they leave directly from the grocery store and have to come back later to finish their grocery shopping.

All residences within the City of McPherson shall follow Section 34-5 of McPherson, Kansas Code of Ordinances.

To schedule a fire inspection, contact the McPherson Fire Department at 620.245.2505.

Our smoke detector program provides free smoke detector installation in your home. Call 620.245.2505 to schedule an appointment. Smoke detectors save lives and are required by City of McPherson Code of Ordinance.

No, all fire hydrants need to be visible and unobstructed.

There are medical personnel on duty at the fire station that are glad to help you with a blood pressure check or any other issue that you might have.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a tasteless, odorless, colorless, poisonous gas. It is a by-product of “incomplete combustion.” When a person inhales high levels of carbon monoxide for a long period of time, it displaces the oxygen in the blood causing the heart, brain and other vital organs to be deprived of oxygen. Extended exposure to strong concentrations of carbon monoxide is life threatening. Loss of consciousness and suffocation may result without warning. Make sure your home has a carbon monoxide detector!

YES! It is awesome! All fire prevention tools are purchased from donated funds.

Report a leaking fire hydrant or other fire safety concerns to the McPherson Fire Department at 620.245.2505.

Our rating is an ISO 3 up to 5 miles from the McPherson Fire Station. Our rating is an ISO 10 for everything beyond 5 miles.

First Aid and CPR courses are offered by McPherson Fire Department. To enroll in a course, call 620.245.2505.

All fire reports are public record and subject to KORA request. Incidents that are under investigation or pending litigation will not be released without a court order. All reports have a $45 administration fee.

McPherson firefighters routinely train local employers on the correct use and application of a fire extinguisher.

Address numbers need to be 4 inches in size or larger and should contrast against the background where located.

Complete the Event Planning Form when you want to use a city park or a city facility, when you plan to close any city streets or when you are organizing a 5K or 10K race.

Contact the City Offices at 620.245.2535 to check the availability of the facility and to reserve the space. The facility is rented on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Contact the City Offices at 620.245.2535 to confirm current rental rates for Lakeside Cabin.

Contact the Community Building Event Manager at 620.245.2576 to check the availability of the facility and to reserve the space. The facility is rented on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Contact the Community Building Event Manager at 620.245.2576 to confirm current rental rates for the Community Building.

Contact the City Offices at 620.245.2535 to receive assistance with your request.

The City of McPherson has a master plan for multi-use trails within the City limits, and the 10-foot sidewalk along Avenue A was a part of that plan.

The City received a $385,000 Transportation Alternative (TA) grant to assist with the cost of the 10-foot sidewalk along Avenue A.

Yes, the City of McPherson received an additional $1.1 million grant. Design plans are underway for Phase II, which will continue the 10-foot sidewalk east along Avenue A. The sidewalk will turn south just before the creek and cross over to Bremyer Dog Park and then north along Centennial Drive to South Front Street.

The 10-foot sidewalk along Avenue A is a multi-use trail that runs from Wall Park to Thunderbird Street.

Yes, major reconstruction projects typically include sidewalks.

An advantage to property tax is that lower income families who do not own property are not directly affected. Disadvantages to property tax are that only property owners pay the tax and no transference occurs meaning only McPherson residents pay the tax. Advantages to sales tax are 30 percent or more of the tax is paid by non-residents and all citizens contribute to the tax. The disadvantage to sales tax is all citizens pay the tax including lower income families.

If the half-cent sales tax is not renewed or some other funding source is not identified, street projects such as preventative maintenance, street department forces and equipment would all be at risk. Streets will also deteriorate faster and services such as snow removal will be diminished.

The first half-cent sales tax is dedicated to street infrastructure. The second half-cent sales tax is project specific and is designated to fund the First Street reconstruction project, the community building renovation currently under design, hiking & biking trails and parks & recreation facilities.

It is estimated 30 percent or more sales tax collected in McPherson is collected from non-residents.

By State law a specific tax can only be in place for 10 years; thus, a new tax for another 10 years must be approved by public vote.

Each half-cent sales tax is in place for 10 years. The first tax, dedicated to street infrastructure, began on January 1, 2011, and will sunset on December 31, 2020. The second tax, dedicated to specific projects, began on October 1, 2013, and will sunset on September 30, 2022.

A small portion of property tax has always been designated for basic road improvements. However, prior to the implementation of the first half-cent sales tax there were not enough resources to cover large street projects. Only preventative maintenance was performed.

The current mill levy is $138.929 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Ad valorem or property tax currently funds six areas including State (1.5 mills); County (30.158 mills); State USD (20 mills); USD 418 (29.653 mills); City (51.570 mills) and McPherson Recreation Commission (6 mills).

Yes, currently $350,000 is transferred from the general fund and applied to the street department budget.

Transparency is operating with full disclosure to citizenry.

Street infrastructure was only funded by the general fund prior to 2010.

If the half-cent sales tax is renewed, a Cost Benefit Factor (CBF) will be used to prioritize street projects. The City Commission is also committed to addressing at least two projects from each City quadrant as identified by the public.

The stormwater utility fee is paid by McPherson residents and businesses and bears the cost of drainage issues. Residents pay $7 per living unit. Commercial and industrial properties pay proportional to the amount of impermeable area affiliated with the property. The half-cent sales tax is a tax on any goods sold in McPherson, which is earmarked for street infrastructure.

Grimes Street is in the design phase. Plans are to address drainage issues and reconstruct the street in 2018.

Yes. Grimes Street will receive new curb and gutter and a storm sewer pipe, which will carry water down Anna Street to be dumped into the ditch by McPherson High School. Plans also include widening Grimes Street during the reconstruction process.

Once reconstructed, it is anticipated Grimes Street will have an increase in traffic and the City will analyze traffic flow to determine if additional stop signs are needed.

Two separate projects are under construction along North High Drive. The first project replaces lift station #4 with the new lift station being placed on McPherson High School property. The second project is a new sewer line located in the alley between Myers Street and Barber Street. The line runs from Anna Street to Loomis Street and ties into the sewer along North High Drive.

Work along Walnut Street from First Street to National Street will include curb and gutter repairs, roadway milling and patching and a two-inch asphalt overlay.

Walnut Street will be milled and overlaid from First Street to National Street.

The street department has numerous small projects on the list to complete, which includes repairing potholes.

Upcoming projects include Walnut Street (mill patch and overlay); North Front Street (reconstruction from McDonald’s to Champlin Street); South Front Street (mill, patch and overlay); Hartup Street (total reconstruction from Kansas Avenue to First Street) and Elizabeth Street (total reconstruction from Hartup Street to Park Street). If the sales tax passes, the City will have completed all eight quadrant-selected projects and many more.

Concrete typically lasts longer. The City completes overlay concrete with asphalt if the concrete is in fair condition.

Light maintenance includes action such as crack seals, slurry seals, conventional seals and thin overlays. All of these measures are also preventative maintenance.

The Public Works Department prepares maps for outlining street repair.

Completion is contingent upon the complexity of the project. Crack sealing may take a few hours to complete while a reconstruction will take several weeks.

All projects are surveyed before and during construction projects. The level of surveying depends on the extent of the reconstruction.

The City budgets $150,000 per year for crack sealing.

An overlay occurs when asphalt is layered over an existing roadway.

Potholes can develop very quickly and it is not possible for the City to monitor every street in town. The Public Works Department should be contacted if one observes a pothole in need of repair. While the City works hard to fill all potholes, this step is just a temporary fix.

While several factors influence the life of a street, the typical life span is 30-40 years.

The Public Works Department sweeps gutters with the street sweeper. After heavy rains, street department forces unclog drains. The code enforcement officer also alerts homeowners about the importance of removing leaves and grass clippings from the gutters.

The City does not have smoothness specs similar to KDOT.

A visual inspection of each block of street is taken and assigned a numeric value between 1-10.

Traffic count, road condition, base strength, pavement thickness, cost and public input are all factors considered when setting priorities for road repair.

The list of streets was determined by the Cost Benefit Formula (CBF) utilized by the Public Works Department as well as public input.

Two developers are currently working on plans east of Maxwell and south of Avenue A. The cost of the new streets is bore by the developer with a portion placed on specials to be paid by the new homeowners.

The four quadrants are divided by major arterials of Kansas Avenue and Main Street. The quadrants represent a fair split of the older streets in the City needing attention.

The City Commission is committed to completing at least two projects in each quadrant if the half-cent sales tax is renewed.

A schedule for completing the priority projects has not been determined and will be contingent upon funding sources.

Surveying has been completed to upsize the storm sewer pipe and to install new inlets to alleviate drainage problems in the area.

It is anticipated street improvement needs and related funding will take many, many years to overcome.

Even if the half-cent sales tax is approved for another 10 years, the City will not be able to complete all priority projects by 2030.

The City recently partnered with the railroad to repair numerous crossings and is continually working to accomplish more repairs. 

Mayor Brown has worked hard to develop a relationship with the railroad, which has result in many railroad crossing improvements. However, the City cannot force the railroad to repair any crossing.

While Wheeler Street is on the list of concerns, it is not scheduled for immediate improvements.

Yes. South Front Street is scheduled for improvements during 2018. However, the annual reevaluation of streets and budgets may dictate otherwise.

Yes, designs are underway to create a public street. The road is currently a private drive. A community improvement district (CID) will be established to assist with funding for the project. Once reconstructed, the road will become a City street named Plaza East Place.

Grimes Street is currently being designed. However, drainage issues have complicated the process.

Yes. It is anticipated drainage improvements along Grimes and Anna Streets will have a positive effect on the entire area.

Yes. Plans for Grimes Street include a total reconstruction.

While West Euclid Street is on the list of concerns, it is not scheduled for immediate improvements.

A short section along Woodside Street in front of the Law Enforcement Center will be reconstructed during the later part of 2017.

The City is monitoring Northview Road closely. The new Mohawk Road interchange will require Northview Road to be widened and rehabilitated. The project will be a priority but will be very expensive to complete.

While Hulse Street is on the list of concerns, it is not scheduled for immediate improvements.

While Myers Street is on the list of concerns, it is not scheduled for immediate improvements.

The City is considering reconstruction on both East Lakeside Drive and West Lakeside Drive.

When improvements are made in the area of the Avenue A and Maxwell intersection, it is likely the road will be widened to include a turning lane.

The ballot question will read as follows:

“Shall the following be adopted?

Shall the City of McPherson, Kansas (the “City”) be authorized to: (1) impose a special one-half percent  (1/2%) city-wide retailers’ sales tax (the “Sales Tax”), the proceeds of which shall be used only to finance the City’s expenses relating to the costs of construction, reconstruction, operation, and maintenance of public streets, sidewalks, street related drainage, traffic control devices, maintenance and expense of street lights, curbs and improvements appurtenant thereto within the City and related financing costs; the collection of such Sales Tax to commence on January 1, 2021 or as soon thereafter as permitted by law and shall terminate ten (10) years after its commencement; and (2) issue sales tax revenue and/or general obligation sales tax bonds to pay the costs of such street improvements, street light maintenance and expense, and associated financing costs; all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 12-187 et seq., as amended?”

As mandated by state law, a specific sales tax can only be imposed for 10 years. The current half-cent sales tax expires on December 31, 2020.

The half-cent sales tax will be implemented on January 1, 2021, if it is approved during the November 2017 election.

The Mohawk interchange provides better access to industries located on the north side of McPherson. It also reduces truck traffic along Kansas Avenue.

The intersection of Mohawk and Centennial Road is under County jurisdiction; thus, signage and lighting concerns need to be addressed by the County Commission.

The City can designate a truck route. However, both are public routes and trucks cannot be prohibited.

With the completion of the KDOT project along US 56, the City of McPherson will take over maintenance of US 56 from I-135 to the Hwy 81 bypass.

KDOT has its own standards for road and bridge construction.  Many cities, including the City of McPherson, often follow these standards.

The reclaiming process provides opportunity for collaboration between the City and County and results in effective road repairs. The City also saves tax dollars by not having to pay for County labor, contractor overhead or profit.

Yes, the City has plans to reconstruct North Front Street from McDonald’s to Champlin Street. The City also plans to mill, patch and overlay South Front Street between Centennial Drive and Champlin Street.

Yes. Unfortunately, trucks cannot be prohibited from driving along public streets.

Because alleys are considered public right of ways, a homeowner cannot keep motorists from using an alleyway as a street.

No, there is not a published street sweeping schedule at this time. However, the City is considering posting a schedule on the website.

Because salt causes pavement deterioration, the City uses salt brine to pre-treat road surfaces before predicted storms. Salt brine uses less salt and allows efficient ice removal from the road surface.

Accumulations of less than 6 inches of snow result in the Street Department clearing primary routes. When there are six inches or more of snow accumulation, residential streets are cleared.

The half-cent sales tax funds 60 percent of the Street Department budget. The Street Department also receives a transfer from the general fund and a small portion of gasoline tax.

A City ordinance allows swimming pool water to be drained into the storm sewer; however, swimming pool water may not be drained into the sanitary sewer system.

Yes, quadrant and project maps are available to the public and can be obtained by calling the Public Works Department at 620-245-2545.

Potholes are continually being filled, but are not a permanent solution. Pothole concerns should be reported to the Public Works Department at 620-245-2545.

Governor Kelly’s mask mandate will remain in place until rescinded or until the current statewide State of Disaster Emergency expires - whichever is earlier. 

Yes, if social distancing cannot be maintained.

If you are exercising by yourself, you do not need to wear a mask.  If you are exercising as a group, you must wear a mask if social distancing cannot be maintained.

The City of McPherson must abide by the Governor and County mask order.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all individuals over the age of two wear masks in public settings and when around people who don’t live in their household. Numerous studies have found that masks help reduce the transmission of COVID-19.