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 request from Great Bend Alive Inc. to repair and paint the alley between the 2000 block of Forest and the 2000 block of Lakin with a colorful geometric pattern. Great Bend Alive is the arm of Great Bend Economic Development Inc. that sponsors the Final Fridays on Forest.
GBED President Sara Hayden said her group would pay for the work and the maintenance of the painting.
• Approved an ordinance vacating a street right-of-way in a portion of Baker Avenue and a portion of 11th Street for the new police station.
Project architects GLMV Architecture of Wichita requested vacating 25 feet of the western right-of-way of Baker between 11th and 12th Streets, and 18 feet of the northern right-of-way of 11th Street, along 1121 Baker Avenue to provide an adequate area for the site.
It was determined the project did not fit within the legal boundaries of the existing location. This will allow the existing site to be expanded to fit the area layout previously approved by City Council, Building Official Logan Burns said.
• Following a public hearing, approved a resolution deeming a structure at 814 Monroe as unsafe and dangerous. City Building Official Logan Burns reported during the May 2 meeting it was “it was an eyesore for the neighborhood.”
During his inspection, he found numerous problems.
• Heard a report from City Administrator Kendal Francis.
He noted the council’s budget meeting would take place at 6 p.m. Monday, July 11, at City Hall, 1209 Williams.
• Heard a report from Christina Hayes, Convention and Visitors Bureau director and community coordinator. She focused on the success of June Jaunt and a recap of other recent city events.
• Approved allowing the Bat Cats baseball team to hold a fireworks show following their July 22 game. In case of bad weather, the alternate date is July 29.
• Took under advisement a suggestion from Ward 1 Councilwoman Lindsey Krom-Craven to offer incentives to council members to encourage more people to run for office. She mentioned swimming pool passes or gym memberships,
• Changed the date of the next council meeting from Monday, July 4, to Tuesday, July 5, because of Fourth of July holiday.
• Approved the annual list of business licence renewals.
• Approved abatements for trash and refuse violations at 2521 12th, Thomas L. Pearson; 1918 Jackson, Angel A. Monyoya; 719 Morphy, Steven Favela; and 215 Becker Ct., Donald R. Freed.
• Approved abatements for motor vehicle violations at: 328 Fruit, Sue Meyers; and 803 Madison, Bankers Trust Company of California.
As part of the ongoing efforts to improve the 2000 block of Forest Avenue for the Final Fridays on Forest events, the Great Bend City Council Monday night approved a request from Great Bend Alive Inc. to repair and paint the alley between the 2000 block of Forest and the 2000 block of Lakin with a colorful geometric pattern.
Great Bend Alive is the arm of Great Bend Economic Development Inc. that sponsors the Final Fridays on Forest. GBED President Sara Hayden said her group would pay for the work and the maintenance of the painting.
“Great Bend Alive has really been working on enhancing this downtown entertainment district,” said Hayden. “Our next project that we’re hoping for is a partnership with the Barton Arts Movement to get the community involved in art.”
Referring to an example of what the organization has in mind, she said the idea is to paint the alley surface with a giant mural. “This would be a community paint day where we allow families to come out and help paint one of those shapes,” she said.
But first, “we noticed that there’s quite a few potholes and things in that alley, and we didn’t want to paint over them and make them hidden for people to stumble on them,” Hayden said. They contacted L&M Contractors of Great Bend to handle the patching. Great Bend Alive will pay for the work through sponsorships and donors.
Next, she asked for permission for her group to paint the stretch. Again, sponsors and donors would cover the costs.
Road-grade paint would be used, but would have to be refreshed in three or four years, she said. GB Alive would also pay for that and all maintenance.
“There is not a timeline on the paint at this moment,” she said. They have to wait to see when the repairs can be made.
