By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Following Great Bend voters passing a .15% “quality of life” sales tax
increase last November, a 13-person committee formed to guide the discussion on
how the tax collections should be spent. A 10-year capital improvement plan was
approved by the Great Bend City Council that allots funds from the tax for
certain projects.
The committee wanted to make sure the public saw a quick return on their tax
dollars with “low-hanging fruit” projects. Public Lands Director Scott Keeler
said one of those projects includes a kayak or canoe launcher at Stone Lake.
"You can use a canoe or kayak on this launcher," said Keeler. "It allows you to safely get in and out of them. It prevents you from getting wet."
Depending on how sales tax collections go, funds for quality of life projects
could vary, but Great Bend anticipates to receive $567,000 from the .15% tax in
2023.
Keeler noted the next project the city and Great Bend Recreation Commission
would like to see progress on is improvements to the south park at Brit Spaugh
Park. Likely phased in, plans include a basketball court, pickleball courts, a
mini soccer pitch and a playground area for the south side of the park.