City will require public to use face masks
BY DALE HOGG
dhogg@gbtribune.com
The Great Bend City Council Monday night approved a city mandate calling for everyone entering city buildings to wear a face mask due to COVID-19.
On July 2, the Barton County Commission opted out of Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order mandating the wearing of face masks to fight the spread of COVID-19. So, currently in Barton County, there are no requirements.
“However, we’re starting to see pretty significant increases in activity here within Barton County and here in Great Bend,” Francis said. “Quite honestly, we’ve seen some effect to city staffing as a result of it.”
So, he was seeking approval of a city requirement to wear face coverings in all city facilities during business hours.
The city has already done this for the staff. “So anytime that we’re not able to adequately social distance, we are wearing masks and the whole purpose is to protect our staff, and to try to prevent any kind of mass quarantine situation.”
There was a situation in the Public Works Department last week. “We had approximately 10 people that are quarantined as a result of contact with a positive COVID case. Had those people been wearing masks, that number would have been would have been held, most likely, to the one person.”
He was asking the council to take it a step further.
Francis said they will have masks available to provide people coming into the buildings.
“This is more out of an abundance of caution to try to prevent any kind of mass quarantine where we lose significant amount of staff,” he said. There was also a near miss at the last council meeting where there had a potential person who ended up testing negative for the virus.
“But had that person tested positive, there was a very real chance that everyone who attended our last council meeting, and probably all the city hall staff, would have been quarantined,” he said. “We’re trying to take steps to prevent that from happening.”
However, the vote ended in a 4-4 tie, with Brock McPherson, Alan Moeder, Cory Urban and Barry Bowers voting for it, and Jolene Biggs, Dana Dawson, Junior Welch and Lindsey Krom-Craven voting against.
So, Mayor Cody Schmidt cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the motion.
The eighth-annual Party in the Park set for Aug. 8 will not take place, following action by the Great Bend City Council Monday night, yet another victim of the raging COVID-19 pandemic. On June 15, the council had given the go-ahead for the event.
“A month ago, we had discussed this and the council voted that they wanted to move forward with Party in the Park,” City Administrator Kendal Francis said. “We wanted to make every attempt to try to get some type of normalcy back. And at the time, I think maybe I would have agreed with that.”
How fast things can change was evidenced by the fact the council met in person, but required the public to stream the meeting and view it remotely. This allowed the council and staff to socially distance in the City Council chambers.
“Honestly now, my view has changed. I would recommend that we would look to cancel it,” he said. “We have a tremendous amount of staff and volunteers who work that event. And I have a fear of bringing in hundreds or thousands of people into a somewhat confined area.”
He was worried about staffing levels and the city’s ability to serve the public. “I do have some employees who are reluctant to volunteer, at least to the capacity that they would have normally.”
Many of them stayed the entire day to work the entire event in the past, he said. “But, several of those have said that they’re not comfortable doing so now.”
There are still scheduled shifts to take care of some of the basic setup and tear-down. However, “it’s during the bulk of the day that we may be short on help.”
They have had discussions with the other entities involved, and one has said that they would not participate due to the coronavirus. The others have indicated they are fine either way.
The city is already out about $7,500 in deposits, Community Coordinator Christina Hayes said. That money is non-refundable.
“The part that concerns me is the tracing situation,” Councilwoman Jolene Biggs said. “So if you have a big group of people like that, and someone tests positive, it’s literally impossible to be able to trace back and notify those people.”
“I am either all in, or all out,” Hayes said when asked if she was for canceling. “So, if we do it, I would like everyone to do it. And if we don’t do it, I would like everything to be canceled.”
But, “I am I scared, and I’m concerned about it, yes,” Hayes said.
In addition to concern about the public and city staff, Hayes is also worried about the event itself and its brand. She doesn’t want to see something bad happen and Party in the Park be tainted.
Nonetheless, Councilman Junior Welch asked where they draw the line, supporting the idea of going on as planned.
“That’s a valid point,” Francis said.
“But, everything comes with a liability,” he said. “Just from my position, and my desire to protect our staff and the services that we provide, I’ve seen how quickly in the last few weeks that we can lose a large chunk of staff and that’s really what my concern is. I’m obviously concerned about health and safety for citizens, but they can choose whether to attend, or not attend.”
There was a situation in the Public Works Department last week. There were approximately 10 people that were quarantined as a result of contact with a positive COVID case.
The measure passed by a 6-2 vote. Voting for it were Brock McPherson, Alan Moeder, Cory Urban, Barry Bowers, Biggs and Lindsey Krom-Craven, and against were Welch and Dana Dawson.
Dating back to 2013, the idea for the party stemmed from citywide festivals held in years gone by when citizens would gather in public places and celebrate summer, harvest or just the joys of living in a small town. Now, the city is bringing that vibe back.
Great Bend City Council meeting at a glance
Here is a quick look at what the Great Bend City Council did Monday night:
• Approved a garbage and refuse ordinance amendment. At the July 6 meeting, the governing body reviewed proposed changes to the abatement process for garbage and refuse nuisances, City Attorney Robert Suelter said.
• Approved a cutting weeds and vegetation ordinance amendment. Also at the July 6 meeting, the governing body reviewed proposed changes to the abatement process for cutting overgrown weeds and grass. This ordinance designates the height at which weeds are to be abated at nine inches (it was 12) and modifies the notice time period, Suelter said.
• Tabled a mobile food truck ordinance. At the July 6 meeting, a draft of the mobile food vendor ordinance was given to the Governing Body. Three changes have been made in the re-written ordinance.
The amount charged for the license has been left blank for the Governing Body to determine and to allow mobile food vendors to operate on public property only at city sponsored events or with pre-approval, Suelter said.
No Mobile Food Vendor shall operate a Mobile Food Unit within the city without a valid current license issued by the city clerk. Such license shall at all times be displayed in a prominent place on the unit, and personal to the applicant and shall not be transferable. A license is not required for mobile food vendors operating in city approved events.
There were concerns over sales tax collection issues.
• Approved the purchase of new vehicles for the Police Department. Based on the approved capital outlay plan, the GBPD has budgeted to replace four Ford Interceptor SUV vehicles from Marmie Motors and equipment through B&B Equipment of Russell in the patrol fleet, and one Dodge Durango from Marmie Motors and equipment from B&B Equipment in the Detective Fleet, Police Chief David Bailey said. GBPD will trade in two 2018 Interceptors, one 2009 Dodge, and one 2016 Ford Interceptor to Marmie Motors for this purchase.
The cost for the vehicles is $166,519 and the cost for the equipment is $29,256.90 for a total cost of $195,775.90.
• Approved a bid from Suchy Construction of Great Bend of $1,601,206.54 for the Sunflower Rod and Custom Association drag strip.
In October 2019, the city was awarded funding through the Kansas Department of Transportation Cost Share program for the demolition and reconstruction of the dragstrip. The city recently solicited bids for the project, receiving seven bids, said Joel Kroschell with EBH Engineers, the firm handling the project.
Suchy Construction was the low bidder. Aaron Suchy has worked with SRCA in this endeavor and is intimately familiar with the needs and requirements of the project.
City staff feels confident that Suchy can deliver a quality finished product.
• Approved a change order for the Great Bend Events Center office complex remodeling project.
Following the June 21 storm, it was discovered that water was seeping through cracks in the exterior stucco walls of the office complex portion. City staff explored several repair options and have been waiting on a decision from the city’s insurance company before making a recommendation.
Insurance has now informed us that they are denying the claim, Building Inspector Logan Burns said.
The quickest and most cost-effective option is to apply an elastomeric coating to the exterior walls which can be tinted to match the rest of the building. This is not a permanent solution. however, it will provide several years of protection, which then allows us time to build funds for a permanent fix, he said.
Most important, it will also allow the interior remodeling to continue in a timely manner, he said.
Brentwood Builders of Great Bend is able to do this work for $26,500 and allow them to complete the project.
• Heard a departmental update from City Administrator Kendal Francis. He focused on the 10th and Harrison intersection in regards to turning into McDonalds and assorted COVID-19 related matters.
• Heard a report from Community Coordinator/CVB Director Christina Hayes. She focused on the recent Summer Sidewalk Sale, Christmas in July later this month and revitalizing the city’s decorative birdhouse tour.
• Approved the 2020 GAAP waiver. Each year the city requests a waiver from the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for the reporting of city’s financial statements and to allow the City to use the regulatory basis of accounting under the Kansas Municipal Audit and Accounting Guide, said City Clerk/Finance Director Shawna Schafer.
The city each year votes to waive adherence to GAAP. In short, GAAP requires reporting cash and non-cash assets, and liabilities.
However, when it comes to what the state wants in its budget documents, this won’t work. So, many municipalities waive GAAP annually and operate on a regulatory basis (modified cash basis), tracking cash, certain accounts payable and encumbrances only, to make reporting easier.
Auditors must note this in their reports, but there is no averse impact for it.
• Approved an amusement hall license for National Entertainment Network (James Sevalt) for the arcade in Walmart.
• Approved a street closure for Main Street from 24th Street to 12th Street during the Together as a Community We Stand United Parade from 5-6:30 p.m. Sept. 26, or until the end of the parade.
Also approved for the event were: Permission to allow cereal malt beverages in Jack Kilby Square from 5:30 p.m. to midnight for the event; and closure for the north half of Lakin Avenue from Main to Kansas from 5 p.m. to midnight.
• Approved abatements at: 1114 Holland, Accumulation of Trash/Refuse, owned by Stanley Kriegh and Kandyce Miskell; 1408 11th, Accumulation of Trash/Refuse, owned by and Emesto Fernandez; 2606 21st, Accumulation of Trash/Refuse, owned by Jerald Peplisnki; 222 Hickory, Accumulation of Trash/Refuse, owned by Jesus Carbajal; 103 Elm, Accumulation of Antonio Quiroz; 304 Locust, Accumulation of Trash/Refuse, owned by Maria Madrid Sanchez; 316 Locust, Accumulation of Trash/Refuse, owned by Darren Visonhaler; 308 Buckeye,Accumulation of Trash/Refuse, owned by Jaime and Lisett Roman; 227 5111, Accumulation of Trash/Refuse, owned by WHB Inc.; 211 5th, Accumulation of Trash/Refuse, owned by Larry Staab; and 416 Buckeye, Accumulation of Trash/Refuse, owned by Pauline and Toby Halfhill.
• Approved a resolution that authorizes the city to accept Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas grant funds. On June 16, the Kansas State Finance Council approved the SPARK Taskforce’s proposal to distribute money to counties to help address the health and economic challenges inflicted by COVID-19. They further directed counties to allocate and share Coronavirus Relief Funds with public educational and municipal entities within their counties, City Administrator Kendal Francis said.
The attached is the resolution that authorizes the city to accept those funds.
The county will receive $5.2 million and allocate that out to the county itself, school districts and cities. Great Bend will receive about $860,000.
• Approved a revised residency policy. The Employee Handbook currently mandates a 30-minute response time for public safety positions, Human Resource Director Randy Keasling said. The revision removes that requirement to allow a larger applicant pool except for the following key positions: Fire Department chief, deputy chief and division chiefs; and Police Department chief, captain, detectives, and lieutenants.
• Held a 25-minute executive session for the evaluation of City Administrator Kendal Francis. The contract Francis requires that a review be carried out annually on his anniversary date of July 30. The council returned to its open meeting and approved a 3% raise and two-year contract extension for Francis.
