Plans are well under way for the Community Service Day set for Wednesday, April 24, Great Bend City Administrator Howard Partington told the City Council Monday night. The event came up as part of his update on city activities.
Partington said Community Coordinator Christina Hayes is working with Great Bend High School on the massive volunteer effort which involves whole student body doing community service projects. Around 900 students will be doing clean up, or projects for organizations, businesses and the city from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 
Other highlights of his report were:
 Public Works
 • Saturday 3-23 and Sunday 3-24 had salt and sand trucks and motor grader out due to ice and drifting snow.
• Installed an American with Disabilities-access ramp at the northwest corner of 24th and Washington.
• Completed work at the South Washington flood control gate and walk path, and opened the gate for access to the river at this location.
• Cleaned out ditches and culverts on 281 bypass south of Broadway.
• City Sanitarian Gregg Vannoster said there were 397 year to date complaints, 58 new complaints (13 filed by citizens and 45 by staff), 47 complaints completed by citizens, seven abatement notices sent, two abatements performed and 18 cars into compliance.
Fire/EMS/Inspection
• Two firefighters attended three-day advanced fire school in Topeka.
• Two new firefighters started three-week training today.
• City Inspector Lee Schneider met with representatives of the tire recycling business Blizzard Energy (which is moving to the Great Bend Municipal Airport area) to discuss plans.
• Schneider reviewing plans for Medical Office Building at Great Bend Regional Hospital.
• Mark Orth conducted fire extinguisher training for the Barton County Road and Bridge Department.
Police
• Officer Jefferson Davis and Officer Harlow attended “Teen Violence” training in Arkansas City.
• Officer Jefferson Davis and Susie Guenther participated in the Central Kansas Spring Expo.
• March 25 – Davis and officer Paul Millard, Cpl. John Reynolds and Sgt. Gary Davis attended the “Active Shooter & School Violence Awareness and Mitigation” seminar in Hays.
• March 26 – The State Fire Marshall’s Office presented training on “Explosive Awareness” for all officers.
 Administration 
• Hayes is working on Stores Pay Sales Tax Day promotions and advertising plans, participating stores will be paying sales tax for customers on April 13. She put together several coupon opportunities for any Great Bend Business to be part of for the Sunflower Rod and Custom Association events, Community Theater performances, Sports Complex activities and the Farm and Ranch Expo.
• Hayes is continuing to work on June Jaunt, both regionally and locally. She said there are exciting things happening in the city May 31 and June 1 and 2. She is also working on securing sponsorships to help offset the cost of the events.
• Partington attended an Housing Opportunities Incorporated Board Meeting last Wednesday.
• HOI broke ground on the 22 unit senior housing project on 31st Street just east of Washington Avenue. The City supported the application for tax credits for this project last year.