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Zoo will close for Zoo Boo prep
zoo logo

 The Great Bend City Council Monday night approved a request to close Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo on the day of Zoo Boo for the safety of those involved and to offer ample time for preparation.

The annual Halloween tradition is set for 5:30-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the zoo. In years past, it has started at 6 p.m.

Last year, City of Great Bend Council allowed organizers the whole day on Saturday to get set up and ready for Zoo Boo, Community Coordinator Christina Hayes said. “We would like to request the same allotted time to get prepared for this grand event.”

The closing will allow the city staff and 25 other businesses/organizations to have the day to come in and successfully set up their area so they can fully prepare for the thousands of kids that will come. “We have a lot of new entities that want to be involved,” Hayes said.

The event runs only that evening, but city workers will be working starting Friday to get things in place and ready, she said. “However due to safety of both the workers, volunteers and the animals we would like to request that it is fully closed so we can string electricity, lights and other decorations.”

In other business Monday night, the City Council:

• Authorized the closure of Forest Avenue from Main Street to the alley located east of Williams Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 12 for the seventh-annual Charity Chili Cook-Off sponsored by Sunflower Diversified Services.

Planned as a midday event, the contest will consist of team, and individual entrants in a judged competition as well as public tasting of entries and we plan to expand to other retail locations around the city. Sunflower also requested the city make the electricity that is in place along the street be available for booth use.

• Authorized the closure of Forest Avenue from Main Street to Williams Street from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Oct. 15 for the YP5K and Half Marathon start and finish. The event is sponsored by the Barton County Young Professionals.

• Approved a cereal malt beverage license request for the Quality Inn at 3500 10th Street.  

• Approved abatements at: 1718 Baker Ave., accumulation of refuse, owned by Shawna D. Reece et al; 124 Maple St., accumulation of refuse, owned by Ramon Garcia; 124 Maple St., motor vehicle nuisance, owned by Ramon Garcia; 117 Maple St., accumulation of refuse, owned by Baudilio Hernandez; 117 Maple St., motor vehicle nuisance, owned by, owned by Baudilio Hernandez; and 720 Morphy Motor vehicle nuisance, owned by Quincy Stahl.

• Held a first review of the city’s Snow and Ice Control Policy. Each year the Snow and Ice Control Policy is updated by Public Works and handed out for council review and action at the following meeting. The council was told there were no changes from last year’s policy.