Finally, there is a resolution to the long-running issue over the design and engineering services for the historic Sunflower Rod and Custom Association dragstrip resurfacing project.
The Great Bend City Council Monday night authorized Mayor Cody Schmidt to sign an agreement with Evans, Bierly, Hutchison and Associates Consulting Engineers of Great Bend for the engineering of the Sunflower Rod and Custom Association dragstrip for $51,000.
EBH will provide both design services (to include survey, field checks, work drawings, specifications and bid letting) as well as construction services (which in part includes construction inspections), said EBH’s Joel Krosschell. The design portion is for $22,000 and the construction portion is not to exceed $29,000, for a total project cost of $51,000.
This is one of two cost-share projects the Kansas Department of Transportation approved for the city, the other being the resurfacing of a big stretch of 10th Street totaling $3.3 million.
“I’m glad we could keep it local,” said Councilwoman Jolene Biggs.
Krosschell said survey work has already been done, and further work will be completed in the near future.
Background
The approval of the design and engineering agreement with the city’s on-call engineering firm Professional Engineering Consultants (PEC) of Wichita was removed from the Feb. 18 agenda. The matter was later discussed at a council work session following the March 3 meeting.
Rewinding a little further, at a contentious Feb. 3 council meeting, SRCA’s Hank Denning raised concerns about the cost of the design work, concerns that caught the attention of council members. After this, PEC had further discussions with the Kansas Department of Transportation, and as a result, KDOT backed off on some of its requirements.
These resulted in a reduction in fee of $10,200 for a new total of $86,500, PEC indicated prior to the Feb. 18 meeting. However, the matter was still tabled.
It was Feb. 3 also when PEC reported its fee for the racetrack would be $96,700. This was presented at the same time PEC proposed the $123,000 design fee for the 10th Street-U.S. 56 paving improvements, which was approved that night.
However, Denning said he didn’t understand why the city would pay·$96,700 for the dragstrip design, when the National Hot Rod Association has already provided the design and specifications. He also thought that the project would be completed before this racing season and as it stands now this is not feasible with the letting of bid set for June.
After much discussion, Councilman Cory Urban motioned to table the PEC dragstrip agreement until the Feb. 18 council meeting so that staff can obtain more information from KDOT and NHRA. Urban then made a motion to approve Mayor Cody Schmidt to sign the PEC U.S. 56 contract.
In October 2019, Great Bend was awarded funding through KDOT’s new cost-share program to perform a full-depth replacement of the entire SRCA dragstrip track plus mill and overlay a large portion of U.S. 56. For ease of management, KDOT separated the city’s application into two separate projects, the dragstrip and 10th Street, both of which were reviewed and accepted by city officials.
KDOT will reimburse the city 75% of the total construction costs for both. This comes to $1,590,867 for the track and $1,461,028 for the street.
Great Bend City Council meeting at a glance
Here is a quick look at what the Great Bend City Council did Monday night:
• Held a discussion on the impact of the coronavirus and the city’s planned response to it.
• Appointed Lindsey Krom-Craven to fill the vacant Ward 1 City Council seat. City Clerk/Finance Director Shawna Schafer administered the oath of office.
Krom-Craven replaces Jessica Milsap who resigned to take the job as president of Great Bend Economic Development Inc.
• Authorized Mayor Cody Schmidt to sign an agreement with Evans, Bierly, Hutchison and Associates Consulting Engineers of Great Bend for the engineering of the Sunflower Rod and Custom Association dragstrip for $51,000.
• Approve partnering with Barton County for the KDOT Cost-share Program for an equal cost share not to exceed $120,000 for the mill and overlay of Airport Road (SW 40 Avenue).
• Approved the purchase of a brine maker and spreader unit from Varitech Industries of Alexandria, Minn., for $40,656.03.
• Approved the purchase of two mosquito foggers from Clarke, Roselle, Ill., for $25,691.60.
• Approved revised building code ordinances. The City of Great Bend is currently on the 2006 International Code Council codes, 2006 Uniform Mechanical Codes, 2006 Uniform Plumbing Codes and 2005 National Electrical Codes, Building Inspector Logan Burns said. In order to keep up with updated codes and construction standards, the Great Bend Fire Department and Building Inspection Department proposed adopting the 2018 ICCs, UMCs, and UPCs, and 2017 NECs.
Burns said they held a joint meeting with the Building Board and the Board of Construction, Trades, Examiners, and Appeals, and the proposed code adoption passed unanimously.
• Approved a requested resolution for unlicensed businesses to serve complimentary alcohol on their premises for the Art and Wine Walk event held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, May 7. The request was made by Community Coordinator Christina Hayes.
• Approved a cereal malt beverage license for Tosha Tanner with the Corner Market at 2337 Washington St. They are taking over the Presto Convenience Store.
• Heard a departmental update from City Administrator Kendal Francis.
• Heard a report from Community Coordinator Christina Hayes.
