Great Bend Mayor Mike Allison Monday night named a selection committee for the long-vacant position of director of public lands. The committee will interview applicants for the job and make a recommendation to the full City Council.
Named were Allison, Councilman Dana Dawson, City Administrator Howard Partington, Human Resources Director Terry Hoff and Public Works Director Don Craig.
 The position of the director of public lands has been empty for several years. It was last held by Mike Cargill.
During that time Hoff, in addition to his human resource director duties, has directed the operations of the airport, cemetery, Wetlands Aquatic Park and parks. Bob Suelter, in addition to his city attorney duties, has directed the operations of the Great Bend Zoo.
Now that the position of Police Chief has been filled it was suggested that the city’s administration concentrate efforts on filling the director of public lands position.
In other business Monday night, the City Council:
• Approved the closing of Main Street between Broadway and Lakin be closed from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on April 28 for the The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event, sponsored by the Family Crisis Center Inc’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Center.
In another matter, the council approved spending $2,431 to help the Family Crisis Center upgrade its phone system and wiring for the system.
The center asked the city and county to share in the cost of this improvement.
“As we step up efforts to fight drugs within our community, it would be recommended that we participate in the requested partnership that will help in our working together to identify people who contribute to the drug problem in our community,” City Administrator Howard Partington said. Money was set aside at budget time to fund special activities that would help fight the drug problem.
 • Authorized Mayor Mike Allison to sign a lease with Roger Ward to run the concession stand at the Great Bend Sports Complex. The lease expires Dec. 31 and calls for ward to pay the city 10 percent of the gross receipts.
Ward has seven years of concession experience, including at Century II in Wichita and Wichita State University.
• Approved the low bid by SMC Utility Construction of Oklahoma City, Okla., in the amount of $460,855 for the 10th Street water main replacement. City Engineer Rob Winiecke will said this was the third time the project had been bid. 
The stretch of waterline involved runs down the middle of the street and has caused problems in the past. The new line will run parallel to the street.
There are two street improvement projects planned for 10th Street, but they can’t happen until the water main is replaced.
• Approved abatements at: 1716 Hubbard St., owned by Lisa and Monique Vasquez, for motor vehicle nuisance and accumulation of refuse; and 210 Baker Ave., owned by Alfredo Chavez, for accumulation of refuse.