By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
For years, there has been a push to install turf at the Great Bend Sports Complex to recruit more outside tournaments and prevent cancellations and postponements because of rainouts.
In a group effort with the Great Bend Recreation Commission and USD 428, the City of Great Bend is moving forward with placing artificial turf on the infields at the five ballfields at the complex.
City Administrator Kendal Francis noted 57 teams did not come to Great Bend due
to rainouts or field conditions at the Sports Complex during the 2018-2019
season. Along with decreased chances at economic income, the city could lose
out on currently scheduled tournaments at the facility, including the Kansas
Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) baseball and softball tournaments and
Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Class 2-1A State
Baseball Tournament.
"We know the KCAC is actively looking for other sites that offer artificial turf," said Francis. "I believe KSHSAA will be moving to that type of requirement for their state tournaments as well. In the college and high school timeframes, there just isn't the ability to reschedule those events if there is a rainout."
Hellas Construction, based out of Austin, Texas and with an office in Wichita,
proposed three options ranging from nearly $1.4 million for turf on the
infields and bullpens to $3.5 million for all five fields to be completely
turfed. Great Bend settled on option one for $1,398,000 to place turf on the
infields, foul territory and bullpen areas.
The city plans to cover 60% of the
cost or $920,000, while the school district will contribute $280,000 and Great
Bend Rec $200,000 plus annual maintenance.
"We currently do not allow practices at our Sports Complex to try to keep it up for games on the weekends," said Great Bend Mayor Cody Schmidt. "If we are going to invest this kind of money, this will be a facility used a lot more to get the bang for our buck. That is another selling point if you can add five more fields to your practice schedule for the Rec Center."
Great Bend Recreation Commission Sports Director Chris Umphres noted Hellas
could start this August and be finished by next February with the installation.
With a lifespan of 12-15 years, the cost for Hellas to replace the turf in today’s dollars is roughly $600,000. Great Bend anticipates setting aside $50,000 to $60,000 a year for a replacement fund when the turf ages out.
At Monday’s work session, the Great Bend City Council seemed in favor of pitching a quarter-cent sales tax to be directed towards quality of life improvements. Sales tax is currently at 8.25% in Great Bend and the quarter-cent sales tax would generate approximately $900,000 each year that could be used for other improvements, not just turf replacement. The sales tax question would go before the voters on the November election. Francis informed the council that even if the sales tax question fails, the city is still in position to set aside funds for the replacement.
The USD 428 Board of Education and Great Bend Recreation Commission Board still need to approve contributions to the project. Looking to get more information, the school board delayed a vote on the matter until March 8.
The Great Bend Rec is scheduled to hold a special meeting Friday, Feb. 19 at 12:15 p.m. to take action on a letter of support for the project.
The approval to turf the ballfields will officially go before the city council
at their March 1 meeting.