In other business Monday night, the Great Bend City Council:
• Heard a report from Community Coordinator Christina Hayes. She said the participating stores are pleased with the success of November’s Explore Great Bend campaign.
• Approved an abatement at 3116 17th, owned by Joseph Farris, for accumulation of refuse.
• Adopted the Snow and Ice Control Policy and Operational Procedures for 2014-15. Public Works Director Don Craig said the policy was condensed from previous years. It prioritizes what streets get cleared first and other snow-related concerns.
The policy comes up annually during the second meeting in September and is usually acted on at the first meeting in October. However, some on the council asked for some clarification on some points, thus delaying approval.
Copies of the policy are available for the public and it will be up on the city’s website as well.
• Accepted the low bid from Mies Construction of Wichita for $219,050 for the extension of the city’s water main to service the new Heartland Ag facility.
Grand Island, Neb.,-based HeartlandAg is opening a new site just outside the city limits. The company has purchased about 33 acres just north of the city limits on the west side of U.S. 281 to build a new commercial fertilizer equipment sales, parts and supply facility.
HeartlandAg, which is new to Great Bend, has agreed to pay the cost of the expansion.
The company expects to employ five to six people at first, but may expand to 12-14.
• Heard a departmental update from City Administrator Howard Partington.
It’s been a busy year at the historic Great Bend Drag Strip said Hank Denning, president of the Sunflower Rod and Custom Association. He gave his annual report on the activities at the track during the City Council meeting Monday night.
“The drag strip and the club have been doing very well,” Denning said. Although the weather forced the cancellation of a handful of events, in all 2014 was a success.
Between the regular points races, the visit by the nationally viewed Drag Week and the Lucas Oil series races, hundreds of drivers and thousands of spectators passed through the facility. Some even braved less than hospitable weather.
As for 2015, “we’re not going to try anything risky,” Denning said. The organization is still stinging from 2013 when about half the events were scrubbed due to bad weather.
He plans on having the points races, Lucas Oil races and the Rocky Mountain Super Chargers back again. He also hopes to bring Drag Week and the top-alcohol racers back.
The group spent about $25,000 on the track this year, he said. They plan on having the surface re-ground and building and new ticket shack next year.
Denning also said they are willing to continue with a partnership agreement with the city where by SRCA pays a portion of the overall upkeep of the Expo Complex. This would be above what the club spends to maintain the race track.
On a related note, 308-409 convention organizer Phil Reed visited with the council. The event drew 60-plus classic cars with those engine sizes from 33 of the lower 48 states, New Zealand, Australia and Canada.
“It was a success,” he said. “We love Great Bend.”
He praised the cooperation he received from city officials, businesses and everyone he met. “We were overwhelmed.”
Reed has spent a lot of time over the years making preparations for the event, and made several trips to Great Bend. He said he was impressed every time.
He also thanked the SRCA. “We would not be here if it were not for the SRCA.”
