South Hutchinson city manager escalates dispute with Reno County over a bridge replacement
SOUTH HUTCHINSON – In an escalation of a dispute with Reno County over who should replace a deteriorating bridge on Scott Boulevard, South Hutchinson’s new city administrator announced on Friday plans to close Avenue F for 90 days.
In a news release sent out late Friday afternoon, Joseph Turner said the closure, which will start Aug. 2, is to allow the replacement of a leaking water line.
The street will remain open to residents and vendors providing goods and services to them, such as mail, delivery, and refuse services, the release stated, but closed to through traffic.
Reno Commission supports continued mask mandate, limited gathering sizes
The split votes came after nearly 90 minutes of public comment and commission debate.
The health order keeps limits of 10 people in place on private gatherings, with exceptions, and asks residents to respect businesses that follow the state mask mandate.
Interim Commissioner Dr. Mark Steffen, suggesting it was a compromise, attempted to amend the health order to include opting out of the governor’s mask mandate, but his motion failed 1-2.
Commissioner Ron Hirst then made a motion to support the local health order, which was approved 2-1.
Steffen then made a separate motion to opt-out of the governor’s mask mandate, which also failed 1-2.