A couple weeks back, a new, brushed metal sign was installed on the front of the Great Bend Events Center, polishing off the venue’s exterior restoration that has also included work on the facade and parking lot. This followed preliminary remodeling work on the inside of the facility.

However, additional internal renovations in the long-abandoned office complex attached to the back of the center are on hold for now. The City Council, meeting virtually Monday night, tabled a more than $500,000 project that includes an office for Great Bend Economic Development Inc. and meeting rooms for the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), which already has its office there, and handicapped-accessible restrooms.

Some on the council worried about the impacts of COVID-19 on the city’s budget. With the council planning a 2020 budget planning session for May 12, they wanted to wait and discuss funding options for the project further.

“I’m saying, I am not clear on the funds,” said Councilwoman Jolene Biggs, one of the four “no” votes that sank the measure. “It is beyond my comfort level.”

“That’s fine,” said Councilman Barry Bowers who voted for the project. But, “you’re operating out of fear.”

“I’m actually in favor of it. I actually want it to be done,” Biggs said. She just wants to see the numbers first.

After the motion to proceed with the work failed, a motion to take the issue up at the May 18 council meeting passed 6-0.

Paying for it

The city has appropriated $300,000 from the Events Center Fund. In addition, Great Bend Economic Development Inc. set aside $100,000 for their office remodel at the center from the Economic Development Sales Tax Fund, but of that, only $58,548 remains. 

So, total money set aside for the project between the city and GBED is $358,548, leaving a shortfall of $184,582. This balance will come from the Economic Development Sales Tax Fund with the Events Center and CVB paying back the fund over the next few years. 

This work includes the eco devo office and secretarial space for GBED President Jessica Milsap, two 75-120 person breakout rooms to use with the center to bring in bigger conventions, and extra space for the CVB (for storage and preparing visitor packets).

“I think it’s important to mention the fact that the $300,000 in the transit gas tax dollars can only be used to use help promote tourism, and with conventions and bringing visitors to town,” said Christina Hayes, community coordinator and CVB director. “A lot of people misunderstand how the economic development dollars are different than sales tax dollars.”

Sales tax funds continue to come in, if at a reduced rate. But, the guest tax comes only from “heads in beds” in motels, and that has come to a halt now.

However, she feels it will bounce back once the city is open to tournaments, weddings and other events. In fact, she has conventions in the que wanting to come to Great Bend, possibly on a repeat basis if the facilities are ready.

The project

City officials starting meeting with an architect last fall to determine the scope of the project, City Inspector Logan Burns said.

The city received three bids for the Events Center remodeling. They were from Harbin Construction of Salina (with a base bid of $539,000), Paul-Wertenberger Construction of Hays (with a base bid of $513,500) and Brentwood Builders of Great Bend (with a base bid of$509,480). 

“Brentwood Builders gave the low bid and the mechanical and electrical subcontractors being used for the project were Moeder Plumbing, Heating and Air (Great Bend) and Haynes Electric (Larned),” Burns said. Brentwood Builders could start construction on May 18 and finish the project by Oct. 31.

Pryor Automatic Fire Sprinkler of Great Bend has given a bid of $33,650 for the remodel of the center to extend the existing sprinkler system into existing office spaces and the new office remodel. The new sprinkler design will allow for future expansion. 

This makes the total project cost $543,130. But, Burns said there is also $25,000 for contingencies and hardware built into that price, and that may not be needed making the price lower.

Included in the remodel is 7,000 square feet on the office complex first floor. This leaves 21,000 in the remainder of the building.

The price breaks down to $78 per square foot, compared to $200 for a new build. The cost to replace the building would be over $5 million.

Burns and City Administrator Kendal Francis said there could be ways to trim the cost of the project through “value engineering,” but it wouldn’t be a significant amount. 

Also, by delaying action, Francis said the favorable bid the city received could be invalidated and getting the project done in a timely manner could be at risk.

Hayes has a convention coming to town in December and needs the break-out room space including in the remodel. Existing space could be retrofitted to work, but it would be challenging.

Besides, Bowers said the city should want to put its best face forward when these groups hold events here.

History

The center and the office complex behind it were added to the hotel complex (which dates back to 1962) in the 1980s. The office addition has been unused for many years and is in disrepair.

The council approved utilizing $500,000 donated by an anonymous group of local residents to purchase the convention center in 2011 from the owners of the adjacent Highland Hotel (most recently the Great Bend Hotel and Convention Center which is now closed).

A lot has been done already. Changes have included:

• The removal of a covered walkway connecting it to the now-defunct Great Bend Hotel and Convention Center next door.

• New carpet and tile.

• The old canopy and supporting columns were removed.  

It was replaced by a 34-by-60-foot canopy covering 2,000 square feet with a 14-foot clearance. Along with this, there will be an 18-by-80-foot plaza in front of the center.

• About 8,500 square feet of the southeast quarter of the parking lot were removed and replaced. This is sloped, making the building more handicapped accessible and improving drainage.

• Additional repair of the external facade with the new gray colors.

• New sound system, and projectors and screens were installed.

• Updating the kitchen.

• Some of the front doors were replaced with wider doors. There is also be an automatic door opener installed.

In addition, there is a new handicapped ramp.

• Variable LED lighting under the canopy is in place.

• An ice and snow melting system under the canopy was installed.

• To separate the city-owned Events Center and the neighboring and now closed Great Bend Hotel and Convention Center, a covered walkway connecting the two buildings was removed. 

• The CVB was moved from its old location at the intersection of 10th and Monroe to a remodeled space in the center in early 2016.