By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
A .15% sales tax increase was approved last November for quality of life
projects in Great Bend and collections on that tax started arriving in June.
Now the Great Bend City Council is ready to move forward with a handful of quality
of life projects around town, hopefully with a few completed by the end of the
year.
On the list to accomplish in 2022 is improve lighting at the Veterans Memorial
Park walking trail. City Administrator Kendal Francis said $75,000 has been set
aside from the tax collections to light up the path more.
"We've already tasked Scott (Scott Keeler, Public Lands Director) to research the best lighting options," said Francis. "We want to be mindful that there are houses nearby that we're trying not to light up, but give some security on the walking path. It does get pretty dark on the west side of the trail."
Bathroom improvements at Veterans Park and Brit Spaugh Park is also on the list
of projects for this year. Francis said the city has received feedback to have
year-round usage of the restrooms, even in the winter season.
"We are exploring the option of putting on timed entry locks on the doors," said Francis. "They will lock and unlock on scheduled times so city staff does not have to physically lock them up each night."
Other listed 2022 projects include a sidewalk repair cost share program, fish
habitat improvement, Christmas lights, paintball course and improvements on the
south side of Brit Spaugh Park.
At this week’s work session, the city council was in consensus to create an
action item at the next meeting to approve the launch of these projects.