Bids were awarded for the fourth stone to be installed at the Golden Belt Veterans Memorial and for the Biblical murals at Hillcrest Cemetery to be restored when the Barton County Commission met Wednesday morning.
Bids to make the improvements at the county-owned Golden Belt Memorial Park and Hillcrest Cemetery, both located north of Great Bend, were taken through Feb. 7, County Works Director Darren Williams said.
With the stone, specifications were developed to ensure that the new stone would match the stones currently in place, he said. Great Bend sculptor Chet Cale submitted the only bid of $28,837.
“Cale has worked on this project since its inception,” Williams said. It was noted that the cost of the stone is offset by the purchase of engraved lines.
The bid calls for 75%, $21,627.75, be paid up front. The balance of $7,209.25 is due upon installation.
He was hoping to get it done by Memorial Day, Williams said. But, with supply chain snags, Veterans Day is probably more realistic.
As for the two murals in the A and C sections of Hillcrest, “The Last Supper” is on the west side facing east and “The Lord is My Shepherd” is on the east facing west.
Both are carved marble reliefs that have been painted. However, those paints have faded and worn away.
For this, two bids were received, Williams said.
One was from Cale, who would clean, prep and paint all previously painted surfaces in similar colors, returning each mural to its original state. His price was $6,769.
The other bid was from Great Bend artist Melanie Ryan, who actually submitted two bids. For $4,300 she would clean, prep and restore the monuments to their original condition, and for $5,300 she would do a full-color restoration of the “Supper,” including areas that were not colored originally.
Williams recommended Ryan’s $5,600 bid. This was approved.
“It will really dress up those murals,” he said. “It will really bring them to life.”
Ryan was present for the Wednesday meeting and was asked by commission Chairman Shawn Hutchinson, District 4, how long the paint would last.
“Longer than you,” Ryan joked. She estimated the lifespan to be 50 years, and said she would provide maintenance for the next several years.
District 5 Commissioner Jennifer Schartz noted it was nice to spread these two projects out amongst two local artists.
Barton County took over the memorial parks in 1996 following a bankruptcy. At that time, they were in an unkept state and deteriorating.
Care of the facilities falls to the Road and Bridge Department.
Golden Belt Memorial Park and Hillcrest Cemetery are located on NW 50 Road.
