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Utilities Department will split from Public Works - 2 directors needed
Great Bend City Council meeting at a glance
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Here’s a quick look at the July 7 Great Bend City Council meeting.

• Don Erickson was appointed to the airport advisory board.

• The payroll register covering up to June 21 was approved in the amount of $568,588. Bills to date were also paid.

• A resolution was approved for a 2025 GAAP waiver. Each year, the City requests a waiver from the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for the reporting of financial statements. This allows the City to use the regulatory basis of accounting under the Kansas Municipal Audit and Accounting Guide.

• Lakin Ave. from Kansas to Main will be closed from noon to 8 p.m. on Aug. 29 for a Kans for Kids Car Show.

• Multiple items were approved for Party in the Park on Aug. 9. McKinley and 17th St. Terrace will be closed starting at 9:50 a.m. for the wet/dry parade. After the parade, 17th St. Ter. will be closed west of McKinley to White Sands Drive until midnight to utilize for extra parking and allow one-way traffic to be directed to the west. Vehicles that are not street-legal and are affiliated with the local car club will be allowed to preregister and travel no more than 12 blocks to get to the Party in the Park Car Show. Cereal Malt Beverages (no bottles or glass) will be allowed in Al Burns Field for the concert, with the help of the Legion Riders and Great Bend Police Department as additional security. The Veterans Memorial Park curfew will be extended past midnight for cleanup of the event.

• There were comments by Councilman Gary Parr, an administrative update from Administrator Logan Burns, and an economic development report from Sara Arnberger, who is leaving her position as Great Bend Economic Development Director this month. “This is my last council meeting addressing you all,” she said. The council also welcomed Addison Crites, the City’s new public relations director.

• An ordinance was approved that establishes a Utilities Department and the position Director of Utilities. This splits Utilities from the Public Works Department. With the recent resignation of Public Works Director Jason Cauley, after a recent City Council work session, Burns recommended restructuring the department by dividing it into two separate entities. With $60,000 budget for each director, this will cost the City an additional $60,000 a year. The positions are now open and applications will be taken until July 27. Meanwhile, staff are continuing their work and Burns said, “Everything is functioning as it should.”

• Great Bend has been participating in a nationwide class action lawsuit against manufacturers of PFAS chemicals. Some of those claims have been settled and Great Bend’s share is $1.3 million. City Attorney Allen Glendenning explained the options of accelerating the payments, which are scheduled to come in through 2033. An early lump sum payment would involve a discount of the total and a transaction fee. The council voted 8-0 to authorize accepting an accelerated payout if the final number is deemed acceptable by the mayor, city administrator, finance director and city attorney.

• The council defeated a motion to accept proposals for daycare services at the Front Door Community Center. A 4-4 tie was broken by Mayor Cody Schmidt. Motion failed 4-5. The council then approved a motion to lease space at the Front Door to Great Bend USD 428 for a Parent-Teacher Resource Center. The vote was 5-3. The City will prepare a lease agreement to bring back to the council.