A trio of actions taken by the Great Bend City Council Monday night set into motion the new city sales taxes approved by voters during the Nov. 2 general election, as well as the project to build a new Police Station.
First, it adopted an ordinance authorizing the levy of the three citywide retailers’ sales taxes in the aggregate amount of .45%.
The governing body had to pass the ordinance to move forward, said David Arteberry with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company of Kansas City, Mo., the firm picked as the city’s municipal advisor. “This is the official action you need to take to move forward,” he said.
“Congratulations on passing the sales taxes,” Ateberry said. In these uncertain economic times, it shows that the voters support the direction the city is headed.
The taxes included:
• .10%- debt service construction of a new police station with a 20-year sunset. The estimated revenue comes to $377,752 per year.
The estimated $7.3 million, 20,000-square-foot facility at 12th and Baker on what is now a city parking lot and will also house the Municipal Court.
It should be paid off before the sunset. Any funds generated after that will roll into an account to pay off future debts.
• .15% - quality of life improvements with no sunset. The estimated revenue comes to $566,628 per year.
This covers improvements to parks and other recreational facilities, as well as maintenance.
• .20% - pension for public safety personnel (police and fire) with no sunset. The estimated revenue comes to $755,504 per year.
The .45% total for all three would the city’s sales tax rate to 8.75%. Now, the ordinance will go to the Kansas Department of Revenue and will go into effect April 1, 2022, Ateberry said.
Second, the council approved a resolution authorizing the construction of a new Police Station and providing for the payment of the costs by issuing bonds, Ateberry said. They are working with Gilmore & Bell, P.C. of Wichita which is serving as the city’s bond counsel.
Third was the approval of a resolution authorizing the sale of bonds to fund the project. The city has $1.5 set aside for it so the city is selling the bonds totalling about $5.5 million to cover the balance.
He said the plan is to come back before the council when it meets on Dec. 6 with the bond sale results. At that time, principle and interest rate will be finalized.
The goal is to structure the bonds so the payments are close to the total generated by the .10% tax, but slightly lower to give a margin of safety.
A construction schedule for the facility has not yet been determined. But, city officials are targeting a spring start time with 12-month construction window.
Great Bend City Council meeting at a glance
Here is a quick look at what the Great Bend City Council did Monday night:
• Adopted an ordinance authorizing the levy of the three citywide retailers’ sales taxes in the aggregate amount of .45%.
The governing body had to pass a resolution to move forward, said David Arteberry with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company.
• Approved a resolution authorizing and providing for the construction of a new Police Station and providing for the payment of the costs.
• Approved a resolution authorizing the offering for sale of general obligation bonds for the new Police Station.
• Approved a conditional-use permit at 3205 16th Street for Silvercreek LLC. at the request of Chad and Deidra Ohnmacht. They applied for the permit to operate an Air BnB at the location.
The Planning Commission considered the matter at its Oct. 25 meeting and recommended approval. At that meeting the only interested parties were the Ohnmachts, Building Inspector Logan Burns said.
• Approved the K-96 City Connecting Link Improvement Program agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation.
The city was notified in July that it was awarded an FY 2023 CCLIP grant for resurfacing of K-96 between U.S. 56 and Patton Road, said City Administrator Kendal Francis.
KDOT has allocated $300,000 for construction and construction engineering. The city will be required to provide a minimum of 10% plus anything over KDOT’s contribution.
The local share is anticipated to be $234,183, Francis said. Funding would come from Federal Funds Exchange funds.
• Held a 30-minute executive session to discuss the performance of nonelected personnel. Present with the Mayor Cody Schmidt and the council were City Administrator Kendal Francis and City Attorney Allen Glendenning.
After reconvening in open session, no action was taken.
• Heard a report from City Administrator Kendal Francis. He focused on the Kansas Department of Transportation grant to improve Heizer Park and vandalism done to the tennis Courts at Veterans Memorial Park.
• Heard a report from Christina Hayes, Convention and Visitors Bureau director and community coordinator. She focused on a marketing award received by the city and the success of the 2021 Great Bend Airfest.
• Approved Christmas Home for the Holidays street closures.
• Approved closing Adams from 17th to 19th and Jefferson from 18th to 19th 12:30-3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. for the drive-through Santa’s Workshop.
• Approved a tree trimmers license for Claflin Tree Service (Garett Akers) out of Claflin.
• Approved a cereal malt beverage license for Mr. Burger at the request of Stacy Schwartz.
• Held a work session on storm water management. It was the concensus of the council to move forward on having an assessment done of the city’s 200-250,000-liniar-foot storm water network.
• Approved trash and refuse abatements at: 1611 Park Ave., Gustavo B. Prieto and Judith A. Prieto; 1720 Morton St., David Dunham; 301 Cedar St., Mike Wayne Schroeder; 2000 Holland St., Aracel Y. Narvaez; 1219 Madison St., Elizabeth Davidson; 1305 Bradley Rd., Carol D. Schartz; 3410 17Th St., TMS Rentals LLC.; 923 Jefferson St., Anthony Werner; 1036 Jefferson St., Michelle Grigsby; and 1108 Baker Ave., Rex T. Cruse.
