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$2M street repair project coming
EMS studying patient transport
new deh street repair pic
The City of Great Bend will take bids on $2 million in street projects this year. Tribune file photo

Great Bend City Administrator Logan Burns described this year’s $2 million investment in street repairs as the biggest project of its kind during his time with the city.

Burns outlined the scope of the work at Monday’s City Council meeting. He expects all of these projects will be bid out this summer:

Resurfacing/Reconstruction Projects

  • Patton Road – 10th to K-96
  • Broadway Avenue – McKinley to Polk
  • Harrison – Broadway to 21st
  • Monroe – 10th to Broadway
  • Washington – Quivira to city limits bridge
  • Paseo – Quivira to Washington
  • 12th Street – Washington to Main
  • Morton – Broadway to 19th
  • Frey – 10th to the 281 bypass

Chip Seal Projects

  • The area just north of the high school off Washington: Sunset Road, Sunset Place, Zara, Cheyenne, Shawnee, Walnut, Pawnee and Pawnee Place
  • McBride Parkway to Morphy
  • Hubbard Street – Broadway to 22nd
  • 21st Street – Holland to the 281 Bypass
  • MacArthur Road – 7th to city limits (previously done with asphalt millings, now getting a double chip seal)
  • 3rd Street – C Street to SW 40 out to the airport

Possible add-on

There is a potential add-on pending the city’s application to the Kansas Department of Transportation for a cost-share grant. Burns expects to hear back by June 1. That project includes Main Street from 10th to 19th, along with Broadway Ave. from Williams Street to Kansas Ave.

EMS patient transport

Burns also reported that the Great Bend Fire Department/EMS is still compiling data on its pilot program for patient transport. At a previous meeting, Fire Chief Brent Smith said the pilot program has ambulance drivers transport patients to the nearest hospital, rather than giving them a choice. In most cases, this results in people going to the University of Kansas Health System – Great Bend Campus. Other area hospitals are Clara Barton in Hoisington, Ellinwood Hospital in Ellinwood and Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in Larned. Burns said administrators from Clara Barton Hospital have proposed a task force to evaluate transport services and non-emergency 911 usage.

Other

Burns also noted that the new city website launched May 18, the Wetlands Waterpark opens Saturday, and the council will have a budget work session on June 1 after the regular City Council meeting. June 1 is also the filing deadline for anyone wanting to run for elected office.