Full-time employees at the Great Bend Recreation Commission will each receive $250 bonuses in recognition of the work that went into opening the new GBRC Activity Center. Four seasonal, part-time employees will also receive $125 bonuses, the GBRC Board of Directors decided Monday.
Board member Diana Dawson first suggested the so-called mission bonuses, also known as milestone bonuses, noting all of the extra work the staff did in preparing for last Friday’s open house.
"Two of my visions (as a board member) have come true," Dawson said, referring to the GBRC Activity Center at 18th and Adams St. and the new baseball complex near Second and McKinley. "It’s because of the staff and what they’ve done for the last five or six years."
Dawson first suggested a $125 bonus, comparable to Christmas bonuses, which are in the form of Great Bend Chamber of Commerce gift certificates. However, she wanted the bonus to be in cash and to include the taxes. As other board members discussed the matter, they settled on the $250 amount, which will go to Executive Director Diann Henderson and the six other full-time employees. Henderson suggested four seasonal employees also worked hard and should receive bonuses, which the board agreed to.
At Monday’s board meeting, Henderson said she estimated 250 people attended last Friday’s open house, which was followed by a Great Bend Middle School dance, both at the new Activity Center.
The public is just getting acquainted with the new facility, Henderson said. For those who are confused, she said the old facility at 1214 Stone St. is still the Carl Soden Recreation Center, also known as the Recreation Center, while the new building at 18th and Adams is the GBRC Activity Center, or the Activity Center.
Some staff members have moved their offices to the Activity Center while others remain at the Recreation Center, so no additional staff has been hired, Henderson said. There are some additional hours for part-time employees to keep both buildings open to evening activities.
"We still have supplies and equipment that are arriving (at the new building) daily," Henderson said. Batting cages in the gym there should be available for public use by the end of the month.
In other business, Henderson announced that the term for board member Mary Misegadis will expire at the end of the year, and that she has expressed an interest in serving another term. She was appointed by Great Bend Unified School District 428’s board, which will make the next appointment. Henderson was directed to write a letter in support of reappointing Misegadis.
During the month of September, the Recreation Commission had 1,559 people enrolled in activities. There were 12,414 total participants, including 4,919 spectators, and the commission offered 880 hours of supervised activities.
