There have been good things happening on the economic development front over the past year, from the Holiday Inn Express to Freddy’s to a myriad of other new businesses and business expansions. But Great Bend Chamber of Commerce President Jan Peters was looking into 2017 when she gave her report to the Great Bend City Council Tuesday night.
“I was trying to think of what to tell you at the start of a new year,” she said. Then she harked back to a conversation with City Administrator Howard Partington a decade ago about the importance of strong relationships.
“That’s what we’re going to get back to,” she said. “We’re going to get back to basics.”
The chamber, which also oversees the city’s economic development efforts, will reach out to community leaders and meet one-on-one to glean ideas from their years of experience. “We have some amazing business people in this community,” Peters said.
The need for strong relationships extends beyond the city limits. The Kansas Legislature opens its 2017 session Monday with three new lawmakers representing the Great Bend area.
She wants to encourage these legislators to contact local officials if they have any questions. Meanwhile, city officials will press issues of local concern in Topeka.
Peters also asked that residents offer their input to lawmakers. There will be two legislative coffees in Great Bend where folks can listen to and ask questions of these state representatives.
These are set for Saturday Feb. 11 and March 11. More details about these were unavailable as of presstime Tuesday night.
In other business Tuesday night, the Great Bend City Council:
• Approved abatements at: 1444 Broadway, motor vehicle nuisance, owned by James Richard Kathman; 301 Cedar St., for motor vehicle nuisance, owned by Mike Schroeder/Kathy Thacker; 1807 Stone St., for motor vehicle nuisance, owned by Larry S. Davis/L. D. Davis; 309 3rd St., for accumulation of refuse, owned by Ricardo Cervantes/Maria Magadan; 403 Dogwood St., for accumulation of refuse, owned by Larry L. and Mary Sloan; 1800 Seventh St., for accumulation of refuse, owned by Richard and Sherri Byerly; and 801 Hubbard St., for accumulation of refuse, owned by Salvador and Tosha Perales
• City Administrator Howard Partington presented an update of departmental activities over the past two weeks.