Taking the next step towards a revamped economic development effort in Great Bend, the City Council Monday night approved the articles of incorporation and by-laws for the newly formed economic development entity. It will be known as Great Bend Economic Development Inc.
The council on Sept. 3, accepted the mayoral committee’s recommendation to create a standalone non-profit organization whose purpose would be to conduct economic development activities.
With guidance from attorney and committee member Mark Calcara, the committee has drafted articles of incorporation and by-laws for the organization. “As a member of the organization, the city must approve the wording and authorize the mayor to sign them,” City Administrator Kendal Francis said.
The next step is for the chamber board to sign off on the documents, Francis said.
Under the plan, the GBED will be governed by a five-member board of directors. Two positions will be selected by the council with priority given to sitting council members, two will be selected by the chamber, and those first four will then select the remaining at-large member.
Applications are currently being sought. They are due by noon on Monday, Oct. 21, and the board will be announced at the Nov. 8 and Nov. 18 council meeting.s
Ex-officio members will include the mayor, city administrator, chamber executive committee chairperson and Convention and Visitors Bureau director.
The chairperson shall be selected by the board.
Board members will serve two-year terms that are renewable for one additional two-year term. If a member serves two consecutive terms, he/she must wait one term before again being eligible to serve.
The commission will hire a full-time director. The job is now being advertised and an announcement should be made by month’s end.
However, Councilman Brock McPherson questioned the documents. “They don’t fit in with what I Understood,” he said.
He had several problems, listing them to the council. He wanted to table action on the matter until the items had been reworked.
Councilman Cory Urban said several of those present were on the committee that wrote the articles and bylaws. Urban and other council members tried to allay McPherson’s concerns.
Still, “I don’t think they are ready to be voted on,” McPherson said. His motion to table died for a lack of a second, and he was the lone vote against approval.
Background
The Council Sept. 3 approved a new economic development plan for the city. Instead of contracting with the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, the new 501 c(6) non-profit entity will be guided by a board made up of city and chamber representatives.
On May 6, Mayor Joe Andrasek appointed a five-person committee made up of himself, Dawson and council members Jolene Biggs, Cory Urban, and now-resigned member Chad Somers to study the agreement with the chamber. The goal was to analyze how the city handles economic development.
In June, the council voted to terminate its agreement with the chamber and explore other possible options. The committee met with chamber representatives.
However, on June 17, the council approved ending the contract with the city wanting more oversight on economic development.
Last December, the city and the chamber approved a revamped contract for economic development services. The old contract dated back to 1999.
Historically, the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development had a contract with the city to handle its economic development efforts. This involved business recruitment and retention, and workforce development.
Great Bend City Council meeting at a glance
Here is a quick look at what the Great Bend City Council did Monday night:
• Heard a presentation on legalizing side-by-sides and utility vehicles on city streets from Derik Schneider and Aaron Andrews.
Many cities have been legalizing the side by sides (SxS’s) such as Polaris Rangers, Polaris RZR, Canams and Artic Cats. All the other towns in Barton County allow these vehicles on the streets. They are not allowed on State Highways except to cross.
Dodge City and Garden City are larger in population and have passed ordinances regarding these vehicles. Safety and registering considerations include: ensuring lights, turn signals & horns with proof of insurance and roll cages, and registering with the city not county.
They said allowing SxS’s would appeal to younger families, promote tourism and generate revenue.
The matter was tabled for a future meeting.
• Approved a possible cost-share application with Barton County for a potential amount of $120,000 to mill and overlay Airport Road (SW 40 Avenue). This road is split between the city and county, with the south-bound lane falling within the limits of the city’s airport and industrial park and the north-bound lane in the county.
• Approved the articles of incorporation and by-laws for the newly formed economic development entity. On Sept. 3, the city council voted to accept the mayoral committee’s recommendation to create a standalone non-profit organization whose purpose would be to conduct economic development activities.
The committee has drafted articles of incorporation and by-laws for the organization, Great Bend Economic Development Inc. As a member of the organization, the city must approve the wording and authorize the mayor to sign them, City Administrator Kendal Francis said.
• Tabled a code of ethics for elected and appointed City officials, and granted authority to the city administrator to establish and maintain a similar code of ethics and related administrative policies for city employees.
• Approved a revised employee handbook. The current handbook was approved by council in December of 2015. City officials have spent the past year reviewing the policies and making the changes needed to bring it up to date, Keasling said. The revision touches almost every policy in some way; some changes were small, and some changes amounted to a complete re-write of a policy.
Legal Counsel from The Kansas League of Municipalities has reviewed the draft and made recommendations and changes as well, Keasling said.
• Approved the snow and ice removal policy for the 2019-2020 season. Public Works Director Simon Wiley said there were no changes from previous years.
• Approved a nondiscrimination agreement. When Federal funding is issued to a municipality, the municipality must comply with the Title VI requirements. Passing the revised Title VI Nondiscrimination Agreement will put the city into compliance, Wiley said.
• Approved the 2020 Blue Cross/Blue Shield rates for employee insurance. There was no increase and rates will remain at the same level as 2019, Human Resource Director Randy Keasling said.
• Approved the street closings for the Home for the Holidays Christmas Parade on Nov. 30.
Closures include Main Street from 24th Street to 12th Street during the parade from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Main Street will continue to be closed from Broadway Avenue to 12th Street for an additional two hours after the parade to allow for activities.
Also closed will be Lakin Avenue between Kansas Avenue to Main Street from 4-9 p.m., and parking on the north side of Lakin Avenue from noon to 9 p.m.
• Approved a sidewalk dining license for Dennis Crouse, owner of Re-Perks coffee shop.
• Approved a one-day cereal malt beverage license for Edgar Jacobs with the Odin Store. He submitted it for a wedding being held at the Great Bend Events Center on Saturday, Oct. 19.
• Approved a one-day cereal malt beverage license for Joshua Ellis with Kansas Sidewinders MC. He submitted it for the Shriner’s Casino Night being held at the Great Bend Events Center on Saturday, Nov. 2.
• Heard a report from City Administrator Kendal Francis.
• Heard a report from Great Bend Chamber of Commerce President Jan Peters. She focused on the first Manufacturing Day held last Friday.
• Approved abatements at: 805 Adams, Accumulation of Trash/Refuse, owned by Matthew and Agata Hearn; 804 Adams, Accumulation of Trash/Refuse, owned by Tony Jones; 2606 21st, Accumulation of Trash/Refuse, owned by Jerald Peplinski; and 3218 23rd, Accumulation of Trash/Refuse, owned by Julio and Leonor Vazquez.
