November will be Explore Great Bend month again and participating retailers will be ready to host a different event each Saturday, City Administrator Howard Partington told the City Council Monday night.
Open houses are the first Saturday, Caught Ya Exploring is the second Saturday, Find a Turkey Day is the third, and Black Friday and Small Business Saturday are the last two events.
These activities will help prepare folks for the upcoming holiday season. The city’s holiday event brochure for November and December will be released Nov. 1 and Community Coordinator Christina Hayes will distribute them when they are printed.
This also means the city is looking for Trail of Lights Greeters again for the Brit Spaugh Park entrance. Hayes is gathering volunteers “to be the cheerful faces that spread holiday joy,” Partington said.
Hayes and company are also collecting goodie bag items to giveaway to those that drive through.
The seasonal events were among the items on Partington’s departmental update. Other highlights included:
Police
• The Police Department conducted a series of training sessions last week to implement their new Policy Manual. This new manual has been developed by command staff over the last year.
Fire/EMS/Inspection/Code Enforcement
• Battalion Chief Eugene Perkins attended the EMS World Expo in New Orleans. He attended multiple EMT presentations and he will work with the shifts and medical director to share the information he learned.
• Stuart Baker completed his Certification for code enforcement officer.
• The shifts are still working on Fire Prevention Week visits that include pre-schools.
Public Works
• Sprayed for mosquitoes on Oct. 6. This is the last time for the year.
• Upgraded marker signs at the Great Bend Airport.
• Repaired a storm water drainage washout at the Great Bend Airport.
• Installed a supplemental stop sign at 10th and Patton on the south west corner for west bound traffic. The fact that this was a potentially dangerous situation was brought to the attention of city officials by a concerned motorist, City Administrator Howard Partington said.
• Assist with the new Fit Trail at Veterans Memorial Park.
• Flushing fire hydrants.
Administration
• Community Coordinator Christina Hayes attended The League of Kansas Municipalities Conference last week along with staff member Utility Superintendent Charlie Suchy and council members Wayne Henneke, Allene Owens and Joel Jackson.
• Hayes and Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Emily Goad are both attending the Kansas Tourism Conference this week taking place in Overland Park
• The Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo Zoo Boo will take place Oct. 29 and there are more booths than last year. “Staff will be all working to get the zoo decorated for a good safe fun event, Partington said. It runs from 5:30-8 p.m.
• Watco has advertised for bid the construction of the transload facility at the airport.
