Here’s a brief look at Monday’s Great Bend City Council meeting.
• The council approved the payroll register ending Aug. 30 in the amount of $441,232.51 and the claim’s warrant covering bills to date.
• It authorized closing Main Street on Oct. 10 for the Great Bend High School Homecoming Parade from 19th Street to Lakin Ave. from 2 p.m. to no longer than 5 p.m.
• Lakin Ave. on the south side of the courthouse will be closed on Oct. 19 for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s “Car Show for a Cause” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• During the recognition of visitors, Janice Walker from the League of Women Voters spoke about the upcoming candidates’ forums and other issues. A Great Bend woman, Joni Haines, spoke about problems that have arisen since the city added a ditch near her property. Her husband Don handed out photos. City Administrator Logan Burns said there is a ditch maintenance plan and agreed the City needs to mow there. “We will get on it,” he said.
• Administrator Burns gave an update on what is happening within the City organization and Public Relations Director Addison Crites reported on the website update and plans for Homes for the Holidays.
• A public hearing was held and then the council approved a resolution accepting a State Revolving Funding (SRF) application for rehabilitating the lift station at the airport. The SRF loan is for $800,000 with an estimated loan forgiveness of $480,000. The remaining $320,000 can be financed for 20-30 years at an interest rate below the market rate. City Engineer Hitha Kadiyala and Brad Shores from JEO Consulting Group reported.
To remain eligible for this funding, the City must submit a full loan application, including a preliminary engineering report, to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) by Oct. 15.
• City Engineer Kadiyala and Shores also reported on funding the City applied for and was awarded for a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) federal grant. The project is a $200,000 study, of which $160,000 will be covered by the grant and the City’s responsibility will be $40,000.
Per the agenda, “This initiative will involve hiring engineering consultants to conduct a comprehensive safety analysis. The study will include a review of crash data and consider the needs of all road users – pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and drivers. The outcome will be a set of recommended policy and process improvements, as well as potential infrastructure enhancements. Collaboration with community groups, public agencies and other stakeholders will be a key component in the planning process.”
The City approved the project. Shores said this study will also improve the City’s standing when applying for competitive grants.
Shores said JEO would like to do the study. However, this is a federal grant and therefore the City will make a request for proposals.
• The rabies ordinance was amended in regard to quarantine requirements, based on discussion with local veterinarians on modern standards. The old ordinance has a 14-day minimum quarantine period after a dog bites someone, while KDHE standards call for a 10-day period.
• An amendment to the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the dragstrip project was added to the agenda and approved. To mitigate performance concerns associated with traditional control joints along the track, and for long-term durability, the change was recommended. The council approved this amendment to the Bartlett & West construction agreement for $336,443.
