By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
At the end of August, the Great Bend City Council approved new sound and lighting at the Crest Theatre in downtown Great Bend. A decision to add a video wall was tabled until the Sept. 21 meeting, which doubled as the bid deadline. Monday night, the body voted 7-0 to approve the purchase of the video wall for no more than $41,000 from the city’s contingency fund. Mayor Alan Moeder brought the issue to a vote.
“Three weeks ago, we agreed to help fund the musical part for the sound system for $21,000,” he said. “Since then, we’ve raised $10,000 more for that. Shawn Hutchinson has raised $15,000 to help cover part of the wall. We’re still not done fundraising.”
The city had received one bid from Satellite Pros to install the 265-inch video wall for $44,995. At the August meeting, Moeder reported the city had raised $77,375. Holding back $30,000 for an upcoming concert, the city used the remaining money to purchase the $68,450 sound and lighting improvements. Every private dollar raised is a city dollar that can be used elsewhere.
“If there’s anybody out there who would like to donate to the Crest Theatre, we’ve raised over $100,000 with private donations,” Moeder said. “If we can get it done by private donations, I’d be happy. If anybody has any questions or concerns about it, I’d be happy to listen to them.”
Moeder added the project will be included in the Golden Belt Community Foundation’s Giving Tuesday in December, and he is also working on another sizable private donation.
As discussed at the August meeting, the goal is for the Crest to host four or five concerts a year, bringing additional traffic and revenue to the city of Great Bend. Great Bend Community Theater and other organizations that use the Crest would also benefit from the upgraded technology.