The long-awaited improvements to the 10th and Grant intersection are finally a go following action by the Great Bend City Council Monday night. The council authorized the Kansas Department of Transportation to award the bid for the project.
The city entered into an agreement with KDOT for geometric improvements at what the state calls the US-56/156/K96 and Grant Street intersection. KDOT solicited bids and three were received with Morgan Brothers Construction Inc. of LaCrosse was the low bidder at $688,473.
This project is funded through a KDOT Geometric Improvement Grant which requires 10 percent City matching funds. By signing the authorization to award, the city committed matching funds in the amount of $214,000, City Administrator Kendal Francis said.
Work is expected to begin next March and take a matter of months to complete. Although 10th Street will remain open, it will be narrowed, thus limiting traffic. This makes the current expansion of Eighth Street between Grant and McKinley crucial as it will act as a bypass during the project.
As for Eighth Street, the council Monday approved authorizing and directing the issuance, sale and delivery of general obligation temporary notes for the effort. The resolution also authorized the levy and collection of an annual tax from property owners along the street to pay for the note as it comes due, City Attorney Bob Suelter said.
The street expansion is a petition project, meaning it is paid for by a benefit district made up of businesses and property owners along the stretch of street. Special assessments charged to these owners will cover the cost of the work, and the resolution passed includes covenants and agreements to provide for the payment and security.
The action amounted to the rolling together of notes approved last month for the street work and new notes for the sewer and waterlines.
The total being funded is $1,149,421, and that includes street, water line and sewer improvements. The notes will be held by Farmers Bank and Trust.
This differs from the 10th and Grant improvements that are KDOT funded.
On Aug. 21, Venture Corporation of Great Bend was awarded the bid to pave the street with asphalt at a cost of $426,343.50. Venture has a substantial completion date of Nov. 13 and final completion date of Nov. 20. The Ellsworth engineering firm of Kirkham-Michael is handling the inspection.
Gilmore and Bell of Wichita is handling the issuance of the notes.
Great Bend City Council meeting at a glance
Here is a quick look at what the Great Bend City Council did Monday night:
• Authorized the Kansas Department of Transportation to award the bid for the 10th and Grant street intersection improvement project.
• Approved authorizing and directing the issuance, sale and delivery of general obligation temporary notes for the Eighth Street expansion project. The resolution also authorizes the levy and collection of an annual tax from property owners along the street to pay for the note as it comes due.
Gilmore and Bell of Wichita is handling the issuance.
• Approved the proposal from the city’s on-call engineering firm Professional Engineering Consultants of Wichita for $50,000 for the street evaluation and geographic information system mapping. This will be used to develop a street maintenance program.
• Approved a bid from Brentwood Builders of Great Bend for $60,950 to paint the Events Center. If an additional third coat of paint is needed, there is an alternate of $9,100.
It has been budgeted to get the exterior painted in the 2018 city budget.
• Approved the snow and ice removal policy for 2018-19. It is unchanged from recent years.
• Learned the committee formed to study installing artificial turf at the Great Bend Sports Complex met last week and will meet next week. It should have a recommendation ready for the council by the first meeting in December.
• Learned the on-going waterline replacement project is about 80 percent completed.
• Approved offering a letter of support for the Roots and Wings Foundation’s grant application from the Kansas Department of Transportation.
• Heard a report from Great Bend Chamber of Commerce President Jan Peters. She focused on the Great Bend Better than Great visioning effort and the 40 chamber ribbon cuttings that have taken place so far this year.
• Approved Home for the Holiday street closures on Nov. 24: Close Main Street from 24th Street; to 12th Street during the parade from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; keep Main Street closed from Broadway Avenue to 12th Street for an additional two hours after the parade to allow for activities; close Lakin Avenue between Kansas Avenue and Main Street from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
