There are a lot of diverse people in this area with a lot of diverse interests, Community Coordinator Christina Hayes told the Great Bend City Council Monday night.
“We are a melting pot of a lot of different people and cultures,” Hayes said. That makes coming up with a community-wide promotion difficult.
But, Hayes said, not impossible.
She and others are starting the planning process for Melting Pot Month in September. The idea is to tie together the Mad About Monarchs at the Kansas Wetlands Eduction Center Sept. 14, the Sunflower Rod and Custom Association Summit Points Race and Party in the Park Sept. 21, the benefit bull ride Sept. 27, and the Big Bend Bike Rally and Renaissance Festival Sept. 28.
“We want people to come and experience something different,” Hayes said. More information will be announced later.
 Hayes said she is continuing to schedule media and marketing for the Summer Sidewalk Sale and the Back to School Stores Pay the Sales Tax Sales. Both are retail driven events that stores throughout the city can participate if they choose.
She also met with Sheryl Cheely to brainstorm ideas for the downtown area. Cheely is requesting a reusable Scavenger Hunt for visitation of small or large groups. To make the information more useful, Hayes will create a “fun facts” portion to use for both scavenger hunts and social media promotions to promote Exploring Great Bend Stores.
In addition, she attended the Waters True Value Emergency Services Appreciation Day meeting. This event set for Saturday is designed to educate the public and thank all the Barton County emergency response agencies. It will take place from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Waters, 1649 W. K-96.
Also at the meeting Monday, City Administrator Howard Partington gave an update on city departmental activities. Highlights included:
 Fire/EMS/Inspection 
• City Inspector Lee Schneider met with company representatives on the Blizzard Energy project .
• Schneider reviewing sprinkler plans Medical Office at Great Bend Regional Hospital.
• Crews conducting dive rescue training this month at Stone sand pit.
• Met with Waters True Value regarding participating in their upcoming event.
• Permits issued (City) for June, 2013      
Building  – 32                                 
Plumbing – 16
Electrical – 9
Mechanical – 15
• Fire responses for June – 30
• Emergency Medical Service responses for June – 163

Police
• Officer Jefferson Davis provided a tour of the Police Department for a group of students from the Center for Counseling.
• Davis and Officer Jacob Harlow attended the D.A.R.E. conference in Lawrence.

Public Works
• Replacing 85 feet of curb and gutter on Forest between Stone and Williams. 
• Installed center turn lane signs on Broadway between McKinley and Polk. 
• Cleaned all storm lines around Great Bend High School.
• Finished painting Streetscape light poles and cleaned animal stall drains at Expo 3 Building for the Fair.
• Sanitarian:  846 year-to-date complaints, 70 new complaints (23 by citizens and 47 by staff), 35 complaints completed by citizens, 11 abatement notices sent, seven abatements performed and eight cars brought into compliance.

Administration:
• Partington met with members of the Blizzard Energy team last week.
• Roger Edgar and Partington participated in the Moody’s rating conference call last week. They talked with the analyst for over an hour and a half. The city is working to not have its bond rating lowered.
• Partington has been spending a lot of time working on the budget. The work session is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 24.