By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The City of Great Bend is throwing $20,000 into a fund to assist
property owners to make repairs to public sidewalks. The cost share program is
available immediately on a first come, first serve basis.
Great Bend had a sidewalk repair program, but city administration noted it was
poorly written. The revamped plan provides both residential and commercial
property owners a 50% reimbursement of labor and materials up to $800.
At Monday's meeting, Great Bend City Council recognized that some sidewalks are in poor shape
because tree roots have caused them to buckle. Mayor Cody Schmidt and most of
the council felt the cost share program should only apply to the repair of the
sidewalk and not the removal of trees.
"I don't think financially we have that set there for tree removal," said Schmidt. "$20,000 would be eaten up in no time. I think we keep with sidewalk repair and we can always adjust. $20,000 is not going to go very far with the $130 per yard of concrete."
Corner lots are eligible for up to $1,600. If repairs are self-performed, the
plan will only reimburse for materials.
The program will be annually funded at $20,000. The fiscal year 2022 funding
will be provided by the “Quality of Life” sales tax. Subsequent years, half of
the plan will be funded by the sales tax and the other half from the Public
Works department budget.