In other business Monday night, the Great Bend City Council:
• Approved the Kansas Department of Transportation Federal Fund Exchange Agreement. KDOT has approved the city’s request to participate in the FY2017 Federal Fund Exchange Program. In exchange for the federal monies authorized, KDOT will reimburse the city $165,739.28 in state funds. This represents a 10 percent reduction of the total funds available, or $184,154.75.
The 10 percent is kept by the state as an administration fee. The advantage, is that the money comes from the state with fewer strings attached.
The city has participated in the program since 2011. The funds will be used for street repairs.
• Approved abatements at: 500 Odell St., motor vehicle nuisance, owned by Myrla C. Keenan; 500 Odell St., accumulation of refuse, owned by Myrla C. Keenan; 715 Kansas Ave., accumulation of refuse, owned by Paul Boehnke and Maria Sanchez; 1915 8th St., accumulation of refuse, owned by Jason Bitter and Annmarie Wylot; 1622 19th, accumulation of refuse, owned by Karen Jones and Sandra Wright; and 1622 19th, motor vehicle nuisance, owned by Karen Jones and Sandra Wright.
The Great Bend City Council struck a chord with the Great Bend Recreation Commission Monday night as the council approved partnering with GBRC on the installation of outdoor musical equipment at Veterans Memorial Park.
“We think this will be a tremendous draw,” said City Administrator Howard Partington. The large, colorful instruments will be placed near the large shelter house at the southwest corner of Vets.
Both the city and the GBRC will cover 50 percent of the cost of the instruments, with the total cost being $17,065.25. The funds for the project were allocated at the July budget work session, Partington said.
It was noted that the powder-coated metal equipment will require virtually no maintenance. It will also be located far enough from residential areas that the youthful performers should bother area residents with their spontaneous concerts.
This project is the second phase of the joint effort between the city and the commission for the improvements to Vets, Partington said. The first phase was the fit trail and global motion features that were installed late last year on the north side of the lake.
As for the fitness trail, there was a ribbon cutting for it last November.
The original fitness trail, installed with underwriting from the Great Bend Kiwanis Club, followed a walking path in the park, with stations where people could stop to exercise. But the stations, made mostly of wood, had deteriorated over the years and weren’t being used much.
The new Fit Trail — actually a cluster of equipment for circuit training — came to life with the help of many people and businesses. It was a collaboration between the Great Bend Kiwanis Club in partnership with the City of Great Bend and the Great Bend Recreation Commission.
It features a cluster of 11 pieces of fitness equipment, with instructions on how to use and adapt the exercises for personal fitness levels.
There’s also a playground area for children ages 5 to 12 years, including the nine-foot “Global Motion,” which is a rotating playground net climber. Children can ride and climb on 14 nets inside and out on two levels.
The goal is to create a family friendly environment that encourages individuals and families to become physically active and to design an area for children to play while their parents utilize the Fit Trail fitness equipment.
