In other action Monday night, the City Council:
• Accepted the city’s 2013 audit at the recommendation of the council’s Administration Committee. On July 8, the committee met and the annual audit report was on the agenda. Vickie Dreiling of Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball presented the report to the committee.
“It was good for the city,” Committee Chair Joel Jackson said. There were “limited concerns,” all of which could easily be remedied.
• Authorized the closure of 17th Street Terrace west of McKinley to White Sands Drive from 7 a.m. to midnight Saturday, Aug. 16, for the Party in the Park. This is to utilize the extra parking (this includes the car show) and allow one-way traffic to be directed to the west. Also authorized related to the event were: Allowing one-way traffic to go clockwise through Veterans Memorial Park that day; allowing the discharge of fireworks in Vets by contracted officials only for the fireworks display starting at 10 p.m. ; and allowing people to be in the park past midnight for cleanup, since the concert will probably run long and city crews may be around until 1:30 working.
The moves were made at the request of Community Coordinator Christina Hayes.
• Approved several actions relating to the rehabilitation of Runway 11-29 at the Great Bend Municipal Airport. The council authorized Mayor Allison to sign the grant agreement with Federal Aviation Administration for the rehabilitation of the lighting circuit on Runway 11-29 at Great Bend Airport with the city’s share of $29,514 and the Federal share being $265,621. It also authorized Allison sign: The contract with Burns & McDonnell (the city’s share being $7,574.40); and the L&S Electric contracts (with the City share being $17,139.12).
Airport Manager Martin Miller said the project came in $103,000 less than the estimate and 90 percent of the cost is being paid by the FAA. The contractor will be doing most of the work in the evenings so there will be limited interruptions of air traffic.
• Accepted change orders for intersection improvements at U.S. 281 and 24th Street. In all eight change orders were issued, six of which were for deductions to the contract, and the remaining two were for additional work related items associated with the pavement widening and overlay, said City Engineer Rob Winiecke. In all the city incurred an overall increase of $7,011.36 (1.5 percent) to the original bid price of $466,697.60.
• Accepted a change order for the slurry seal project along 10th Street. The city encountered an increase in striping quantities to restore the pavement marking along the corridor. In all, the city incurred an increase of $10,657.08 to the original bid price of $348,344.05, said City Engineer Rob Winiecke. Vance Brothers Inc. of Kansas City is doing the work. The project falls under the FY2014 KLINK (Kansas Connecting Links) through the Kansas Department of Transportation, and much of the cost will be reimbursed.
• Approved abatements at: 1811 Stone, owned by Joseph Mermis, 304 Buckeye, owned by Cecelia Mattice, and 2805 20th, owned by Doyle Smith, all for accumulation of refuse; 200 Pine, owned by Jamie and Robert Barlow, for refuse and a motor vehicle nuisance; and 1111 Morphy, owned by Lloyd and Emelia Johnson, and 220 Holland, owned by A.G. Smith, both for motor vehicle nuisance.
• Set Nov. 13 as the date for a code consultant to discuss code updates and property maintenance. The consultant to come and discuss updating the building and related codes and provide information about the property maintenance code, said Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano. It will be a luncheon meeting at the city’s Front Door facility.
• Heard a report from Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes. She said the city had to upgrade its license to show the free movies in Jack Kilby Square, but now they can announce what they are and publicize them more. This week’s movie will be All Dogs Go To Heaven, and next week’s movie (the last of the summer) will be Goonies.
She also talked about plans for Party in the Park Aug. 16.
• Heard a departmental update from City Administrator Howard Partington.
Noting that it was more than double previous projections, the Great Bend City Council Monday night voted to reject a bid submitted for utility improvements in the Amber Meadows housing development.
At issue were water and sewer lines for Prairie Rose Drive. The city received a single bid from Nowak Construction of Goddard for $271,339. City Engineer Rob Winiecke’s original estimate was $137,930.
Winiecke said they had three contractors interested in the project. But, after 30 days, the city only received one bid
So, to help generate more interest, the council also authorized city staff to negotiate with potential bidders. This may include working with those who have thought about bidding in the first place.
Council Member Dana Dawson asked why there was so little interest. Winiecke said it was difficult to tell, adding it could be timing of the project or the contractors’ work load.
They may also pursue other methods of advertising the job.
All this aside, time is of the essence, said City Administrator Howard Partington. Ross Vogel, owner of Employer Housing Partners LLC, in Overland Park, is ready to build eight to 10 new homes in Amber Meadows, but can’t until the utility work is done.
He wants to have the houses completed before the weather turns worse come fall.
