New lights will soon illuminate the walking path on the north side of Veterans Memorial Park, the Great Bend City Council decided Monday night. This is one of the most popular projects to come out of the quality-of-life sales tax initiative approved by voters in November 2021.
“We have since looked into the requirements for walking path and lighting,” said Assistant City Administrator Logan Burns of the nearly one-mile loop. “We’ve been back to the drawing board on this a few times,”
They have compiled information that includes trenching, conduit, light pole bases, lights, wiring and equipment associated with the control of the lighting from various vendors in the amount of $66,060.
Some city staff will be helping with the project to reduce costs that would include gluing pipe and pulling wire, he said. “I would ask for some additional costs to complete the project that include glue, and miscellaneous parts and equipment that would not exceed $4,000.
“Careful thought has been given to the placement of these lights as we are aware of the housing that is to the north of the park,” he said. He was referring to the Amber Meadows housing development and how the city wanted to minimize the glare for those residents.
“We think we’ve achieved that,” Burns said. “I don’t think we’ll have any issues.”
Nine of the lights on the north side will have special shields. They all have power settings.
The project involves 20 20-foot poles. They will be about 200 feet apart on the north side and 250 feet apart on the south side (due to the existing street lighting).
Burns said the LED lighting will use minimal electricity.
The hours the lights are on will vary on the season and time of year.
Great Bend City Council meeting at a glance
• Approved resolutions setting unsafe and dangerous building public hearings for properties at 750 Jefferson, 1622 19th and 2421 12th for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan 15, 2024, at City Hall.
• Moved forward with lighting at Veterans Memorial Park.
• Approved membership in HGACBuy(Houston-Galveston Area Council), a Houston-based third-party broker that has negotiated contracts with multiple companies using the number of members to leverage buying power.
Using HGACBuy would allow for one point of contact to send and receive bids, said Fire Chief Brent Smith. “We would still be able to receive bids from vendors who are not associated with HGACBuy. There is no out of pocket cost to join the partnership an, any fees are negotiated between the vendor and HGACBuy.”
• Approved the city’s veterinarian service contract for 2024 with Dr. Mike Malone.
• Held a 20-minute executive session to seek legal advice for pending legal matters.
After reconvening in open session, no action was taken.
• Heard a report from City Administrator Brandon Anderson. Topics included the slow progress on the new Justice Center, now-resolved clogs at the Waste Water Treatment Facility and City engineering services.
• Heard a report from Christina Hayes, Convention and Visitors Bureau director and community coordinator. She focused on this weekend’s Home for the Holidays events, CVB marketing awards and the new wayfinding signs that are in the works.
• Approved a cereal malt beverage license for Sage Cauley and Johan Sanchez with Hatchet Axtion.
• Approved abatements for garbage and refuse violations at: 706 Morton, Kevin Joseph Davidson; and 1429 17th, Myron Dean Maresch.
• Held a work session to discuss the Lofts at the Zarah project.
