Additional changes at 24th and Main approved
BY DALE HOGG
dhogg@gbtribune.com
Monday night, the Great Bend City Council approved a resolution paving the way for the removal of an outdated crosswalk that is just 80 feet west of the new intersection improvements at 24th Street and Main Street. City Engineer Robert Winiecke said there is a new crosswalk at the intersection that is protected by the traffic signal and has a pedestrian activator button.
The sidewalk will also be rerouted to line up with the new crosswalk and the old crosswalk ramp will be removed.
Also related to the intersection project, the council approved a resolution establishing a no-parking zone on the south side of 24th Street from Main Street to Kansas Avenue. The area in question is actually an old shoulder for 24th which is used as a turning lane to enter the convenience store at the corner. But, it is also used by trucks as a parking area.
Winiecke said the work has brought about new lane striping. With this change, vehicles parked in the area would impede the flow of traffic, thus making it necessary to bar and parking there.
As for the extensive project, Bryant and Bryant Construction Inc. of Halstead was awarded the bid by the Kansas Department of Transportation. The state is splitting the cost of the work with the city by paying $250,000. The city’s share is $216,000.
Included are: The replacement of the storm drain at the northeast corner of the intersection; new curb and gutter, and pavement expansion (northeast corner); mill and overlay of the intersection (done by Venture Corporation of Great Bend); and new traffic signal poles and lights. In addition Kansas Gas Service relocated an existing gas line that is in conflict with the proposed storm drain improvements.
The work started in early March and is just about completed.
In other business Monday night, the Council:
• Set the 2015 budget-planning calendar. The key dates include: Tour of city facilities at 8 a.m. June 13; presentations by agencies that receive city funding after the June 16 Council meeting; goal session at 6 p.m. July 2; budget work session at 6 p.m. July 15; and the budget hearing at 7 p.m. prior to the Council meeting on Aug. 18.
• Accepted the low bid from Haynes Electric Inc. of Gulfport, Miss., totalling $55,532 for sanitary sewer improvements to provide sewer service to Haz Mat. This project is near Fire Station #2. Haynes Electric will extend the city’s sanitary sewer system by 803 linear feet to serve Haz Mat’s new location just west of the fire station. Haz Mat will pay $50,032 for the project and the city will pay $5,500, said City Engineer Robert Winiecke.
• Approved a garbage and refuse license for South Hutchinson-based Stutzman Refuse Disposal Inc.
• Heard a report from Community Coordinator Christina Hayes.
• Heard an update on city activities from City Administrator Howard Partington.
The Great Bend City Council heard some good news on the housing development front Monday night.
Great Bend Chamber of Commerce President Jan Peters shared an email she received earlier in the day from Matt Gillam, vice president of development for Leawood-based Overland Property Group. The developer’s 48-unit apartment complex known as the Reserves at Trail Ridge had been awarded tax credits by Kansas Housing Resources Corporation.
The $7-8 million complex will be located on the west side of Grant Street across from Wal-Mart. The apartments are considered income-qualified housing.
“We are currently working with our financing partners, architect, engineers and contractor to begin the closing and construction process,” he said. They anticipate construction on Phase 1 of the two-phase project to begin in September with the first units coming available in mid May of 2015.
The first phase of this facility will feature a clubhouse with amenities such as a fitness facility, barbecue and picnic area, paved walking paths, children’s playground and sports court. “The spacious apartment units will have everything from beautiful knotty alder cabinets and trendy black appliances, to nine-foot ceilings and walk-in closets,” Gillam said.
“I also want to thank you Jan (Peters), for all of the hard work you have put into this,” he said. “We also really appreciate the City Council of Great Bend and City Administrator Howard (Partington) for working with us on the details to make this development a reality in Great Bend and look forward to becoming a part of your great community.”
“This is certainly wonderful news,” Peters said. “We are very excited.”
She said the city’s application for a Rural Housing Incentive District through the Kansas Department of Commerce was critical to the success of this endeavor. The city applied last year and it was approved in December 2013.
An RHID is a KDC program designed to aid developers by assisting in the financing through tax credits. RHIDs are available for any small- to medium-sized city in Kansas.
The fate of tax credits for other housing projects remains unknown, Peters said. She referred to Employer Housing Partners LLC. that wants to construct six market-rate four-plexes at 29th and Washington and eight single-family homes in the Amber Meadows addition.
