The Great Bend City Council will hold a special team-building meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13. The purpose of the session is to reexamine city codes regarding substandard housing, City Administrator Howard Partington said.
The meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. in the Great Bend Front Door facility, 1615 10th St. Featured will be a code enforcement consultant and the introduction of the city’s new code enforcement/assistant building inspector.
It was at a budget planning meeting in June that the council established substandard housing and the demolition of these structures as a priority. In fact, the it authorized Partington to add $60,000 to the budget (the equivalent to 1.5 mills) to cover the salary of a staff position charged with expediting run-down house inspections and removal.
The council also approved bringing in the consultant as part of this effort to revisit housing codes.
The reminder about the meeting was part of Partington’s departmental update. Other highlights included:
Public Works
• Excavated and poured 392 yards of concrete on Morton Street Between Seventh and Ninth streets.
• Sanitarian: 942 year to date complaints, 20 new complaints (six by citizens and 14 by staff), 20 complaints completed by citizens, one abatement notice sent, seven abatements performed and four vehicles brought into compliance.
 Fire/EMS/Inspection
• City Inspector Lee Schneider met with the Building Board and the Board of Construction Examiners and Appeals (BOCTEA) to review the updates of the codes.
Police
• Purchased seven body cameras and software.
• Installed the camera at the courthouse that views the band shell and courtyard.
• Great Bend Police Department personnel recently concluded a narcotics investigation with the arrest of four subjects. Over the past several weeks the GBPD was making controlled narcotic purchases from a known person. On 10/27/14, approximately 8 p.m., officers of the GBPD arrested three at the scene of a controlled narcotics buy. A fourth suspect fled the scene but has since been apprehended.
Over a pound of marijuana was seized by GBPD at the scene valued in excess of $4000.00. From this investigation a search warrant was sought for the residence at 217 Pine. Another half pound of marijuana was seized at this location.
Engineering
• 281 Bypass: Concrete rubblization was completed on Thursday, Oct. 30. Venture placed asphalt base course at Kansas Avenue on Thursday and worked on Friday and Monday to complete placing asphalt base course between 17th and 10th streets. Placement of asphalt surface course started this week.
• Broadway: Venture completed edge milling and the placement of asphaltic skim patch material between K-96 and McKinley Street on Thursday, Oct. 30. Due to an unfortunate equipment fire, the placement of the ultra-thin bonded asphalt surface has been delayed, while Venture waits for replacement parts to arrive to fix the machinery. Status is day-to-day at this time.
• Eighth Street: Frey to Elm streets: Venture began milling this section of roadway Monday afternoon, and began introducing stabilization Tuesday. Placement of the asphaltic driving surface is anticipated later this week.
• 11th Street: Morton to Odell: Venture intends to begin milling this section of street this week.
• 12th Street: Harrison to Monroe streets: Venture intends to begin milling this section of street this week.
• Morton Street: 10th to Ninth streets: Venture intends to begin milling this section of street this week.
• Intersection of 10th and Harrison: Railroad Crossing Adjustment: K&O crews began working on adjusting the railroad crossing to grade this morning. Work will be ongoing for the next few days with construction anticipated to be completed by the end of the week.
 Administration
• The first Saturday of Explore Great Bend was Nov. 1, stores held open houses with free tasting’s and warm greetings. Citizens were out Exploring and signing up to win the $1,000, $500 and $250 prize in which the winner will be drawn after the parade on Nov. 29.
• This Saturday’s Explore Great Bend theme is “Caught Ya Exploring Day” where random people out exploring will be rewarded with $25 gift cards from the participating locations.