The gleaming new walking bridge at Veterans Memorial Park is in place, Great Bend Interim City Administrator Logan Burns told the City Council Monday night.
“They got it installed last week and they did that in one day,” he said. “It was impressive.”
In March, the council approved the purchase of the bridge from EZ Docks for $158,555.90, with EZ Docks handling the installation. The old bridge was installed around 2000 and well used, but the lumber and the floats were deteriorating.
Federal Emergency Management Agency money from the flood a couple years ago totalling $146,480.74, which covered the up-front cost. Between FEMA and the State of Kansas funds, it leaves the city having to cover 15%, or about $12,000.
Sports Complex sign spots still available
In March, the City of Great Bend announced in order to bolster improvements to the Great Bend Sports Complex, the city would sell advertising along the outfield fences of the varsity baseball and softball fields.
Now, “we still have spots open for that,” Interim City Administrator Logan Burns said, speaking to the City Council Monday night. “We’ve got several businesses that have taken that opportunity.”
The deadline to secure a sign is Friday.
“I think we kind of expect for some to trickle in after that, but we’ll work with you and see if we can get it up as quick as we can.”
Burns said there are also four areas available for sponsorships along the east and south fences leading into the complex.
The 4-b-5-foot outfield signs are selling for $4,000, or $7,000 for a sign on both fields. Also, for $25,000, a name or business will be placed above the scoreboard.
For more information, email Burns at lburns@greatbendks.net.
Free tickets available for KCAC tourney opening night
Community night at the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Baseball and Softball Tournament is coming up Wednesday, May 3, and there are limited free tickets available for those evening games, said Christina Hayes, Great Bend community coordinator and Convention and Visitors Bureau director, in her report to the City Council Monday night.
The tickets will cost $15 otherwise.
“This is where we all go out and we have T-shirts to give away and it’s Great Bend’s way of saying thank you to KCAC and all the teams that are there for coming and choosing Great Bend,” she said.
This marks the ninth year Great Bend has hosted the KCAC tourney, she said. And, the city has just secured the event for 2024 and 2025.
“The Great Bend Recreation Commission and the CVB worked on that together to make sure that we were bringing them back to our complex and putting them in our hotels for this big tournament. This is a pretty big deal.”
Contact Hayes at 620-793-4111 or stop by City Hall at 1209 Williams St.
Council Quest added to June Jaunt
Council Quest is among the new activities planned for this year’s June Jaunt, set for Friday and Saturday, June 2 and 3. Christina Hayes, Great Bend community coordinator and Convention and Visitors Bureau director, explained the event when speaking to the City Council Monday night.
“There have been people who have been asked, ‘Who are some of our council members? Who is our mayor?’” she said. “So I’m going to create a fun card that has all your pictures on it and a place for signatures.”
If people catch one of these city officials out in public within that week and have them sign the card, they will be able to win prizes, she said. Selfies are also encouraged.
Art and Wine Walk coming
The Great Bend Art and Wine Walk “is set to be a wonderful event again this year,” said Christina Hayes, Great Bend community coordinator and Convention and Visitors Bureau director. It is set for 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, May 5.
“Head downtown for an evening of art, wine, hors d’oeuvres and shopping,” she said. “Each participating store will have different goodies to try out.”
For more information, contact Hayes at 620-793-4111.
Walkers coming through Great Bend
On May 11 and 12, the group of walkers calling themselves Huffing and Puffing on the High Plains is going to be visiting and spending the night in Great Bend, said Christina Hayes, Great Bend community coordinator and Convention and Visitors Bureau director.
“They’re a group of walkers that will walk from Lyons to Ellsworth, Ellsworth to Great Bend, Great Bend to Ellinwood, Great Bend and Larned, Larned to Fort Larned, Larned to Russell, Russell to Wilson and then Ellinwood to Kansas Wetlands Education Center,” she said.
“What’s fun is the CVB is working with them to find points of interest,” she said. “It will kind of be like a walking tour as they walk through our town. But we will welcome them with open arms, of course. That’s kind of different and fun.”
Justice Center work continues
The brick work is now completed on the new Great Bend Justice Center entry and the bricked wainscoting is in place all around the building, Great Bend Interim City Administrator Logan Burns said.
This is the nearly $9 million, 20,000-square-foot facility at 12th and Baker that will house the Police Station and Municipal Court. Work started last September and it should be completed by August.
Window frames are approximately 50% complete and the glass for them is about 30 days out, he said. The Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS) coating will probably be installed toward the end of the week or early next week.
The fencing has been moved back around the site to accommodate site work for the utilities, which will be done in about three weeks. This has forced the closure of the ally behind the structure for now, he said.
Installation of Sheetrock and other interior work is also continuing, he said.
