Sidewalk repair program a hit
The City of Great Bend’s Safe Sidewalks Program is only a few weeks old, but it is already a success, said City Administrator Kendal Francis, addressing the City Council Monday night.
“We’ve had 14 applications today for our new safe sidewalk program and 10 of those have been approved,” he said. However, no one yet has gotten permits for the work.
Once a permit is pulled, the clock starts to get the work done, he said. They’ll have 30 days to make the repairs.
“And if there’s a reason for a delay, engineering will work with them to work through that,” he said. But, the city must receive a paid invoice or receipt so that the reimbursement can be issued to the property owner.
“We’re we’re excited to have that much interest in such a short amount of time,” he said.
There are several qualifications, but the plan provides both residential and commercial property owners a 50% reimbursement of labor and materials up to $800 (corner lots are eligible for up to $1,600). If the repairs are self-performed, the plan will only reimburse for materials.
This program will be annually funded at $20,000. The FY-2022 funding will be provided by the quality-of-life sales tax. In subsequent years, it will be funded half from sales tax and half from the Public Works budget.
Automated water meter project underway
Work started earlier this week on the City of Great Bend’s long-awaited automated water meter reading system. Speaking to the City Council Monday night, City Administrator Kendal Francis said this is seen as a way to improve accuracy in tracking consumer water use and save the city money.
Crews started work between Kiowa and Frey streets from Fifth Street to the southern city limits. “The initial work is going to be drilling holes in the metal lids on the meter pits. So that’s where the antennas will be fastened so that the signal can get through the metal lid,” he said. And then physical installation of the meters will start the following week.
“It’s going to go by (billing) cycles,” he said. They’re starting with cycle three in that area and rotating through the others.
The city will get the word out to plumbers who often have to turn off water meters that they will have to take precautions, Francis said.
With this system, water use for the city’s roughly 6,500 users is beamed directly to the Water Office at the Front Door Facility. Usage can be read and tracked in real time.
The cost of the system and related infrastructure came in at about $2.4 million, plus some annual maintenance expenses. By alleviating the city’s long-running water meter reading woes, it is expected to pay for itself in five to 10 years.
Local business up for historic preservation grants
The latest Heritage Trust Fund grants have been announced, and there was good news for Great Bend, said Great Bend Economic Development Inc. President Sara Arnberger, in her report to the Great Bend City Council Monday night.
“They were just due at the beginning of November, and we were able to have two property owners here in Great Bend that took advantage of those,” she said. “We won’t know awards until December or January, but they both were able to submit for the full amount which is $90,000.”
This is not a done deal, but “we’re very optimistic and excited to see if we can secure our first Heritage Trust Fund grant here.”
These come through the Kansas Historical Society. Downtown Great Bend buildings are eligible because of the Registered Historic District.
She did not disclose what the businesses were.
Updated data shows positive news
Great Bend Economic Development Inc. has received its updated data package for this year prepared by consultants Retail Strategies. And there was some good news, GBED President Sara Arnberger said, addressing the City Council Monday night about the preliminary results.
“We do have an expanded trade area and then also our numbers in educational attainment have increased,” she said. “Those are both some positives.”
They are working to put the full data package on GBED’s website, so it will be available in coming weeks.
