In his bi-weekly update to the City Council Monday night, City Administrator Howard Partington said local tournament organizers did it again. The city hosted the Kansas State High School Activities Association 1A/2A baseball and softball tournament and a Hap Dumont Baseball tournament at its Sports Complex in the past couple of weeks.
Great Bend Recreation Commission and Park Department staffs “turned in another great performance in making the recent tournaments a success,” Partington said. “Thanks to all of the staff members who worked so hard and thanks to all of the volunteers who provided such great help and efforts.”
One comment that city officials heard was that the professional level of the announcers for the KSHSAA tournament was as good as they had ever observed. Rec Commission staff served as tournament organizer for both events.
Community Coordinator Christina Hayes handled media requests for the KSHSAA tournament over and 25 different media outlets from all over the state requested to attend the games to report on the teams they were following. “It was a great success and many compliments were made to our Sports Complex,” Partington said.
These followed the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Baseball and Softball Tournament at the facility April 30-May 3.
The teams and fans that participated in the KCAC event offered high praise for the organization of the event and the quality of the venue.
Other update highlights included:
Public Works
• Reset school zones for summer school
• Removed crosswalk west of 24th and Main and installed no parking signs east of Main on 24th Street
• Repaired senior center south parking lot
• Sanitarian: 509 year to date complaints, 51 new complaints ( 16 by citizens, 35 by staff ), 42 complaints completed by citizens, six abatement notices sent and 22 vehicles into compliance.
Police
• The last D.A.R.E./ I Make A Difference party for the school year was held at Park Elementary School.
• Officer Jefferson Davis served as the keynote speaker and presented a commencement speech to eighth graders at Great Bend Middle School on May 21.
Fire/EMS/Inspection
• Personnel conducted Scuba Dive training at the water park.
• Conducted station tours for several grade schools.
• Construction of the Burn Building has started.
• Inspection continues to collect contractor license renewals for 2014-2015 year.
Administration
• Worked with the Personal Money Management committee to critique and ensure that the classes used as a pilot program for city staff ready for the next business, CUNA Mutual Retirement Solutions (formally CPI) is the next business that will try out the program.
• Held the Business Olympics for Claflin on May 24th 9 teams competed and it was a great event! Locals commented on how fun it was and they are excited to come watch the Great Bend Business Olympics during June Jaunt!
• Hosted the send-off for Miss Barton County Bonny Boultinghouse of Great Bend and Miss Golden Belt Michelle Page of Downey, Calif.,  Saturday May 31, as both contestantse headed to participate in the Miss Kansas pageant. As a send-off, the city partnered with the MoPar Car Club for their Shine & Show, the Golden Belt Humane Society, and Rana Luna Boutiques to host an event that drew around 40 cars and 150 people.  
• The city council’s tour of facilities is set for June 13 beginning at 8 a.m. at the city office. This is the first step in the council’s budget planning for 2015.
• Other agencies making city budget requests have been invited to make comments after the June 16 council meeting.