By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Glassman Corporation took Great Bend officials through a final walkthrough in January for the completion of the new heating and air conditioning system installed at the Crest Theatre.
HVAC replacements for larger buildings are no small nor cheap projects. The $572,700 HVAC was placed outside the theater near the southeast wall. The City of Great Bend budgeted $350,000 over two years for the replacement.
City Administrator Kendal Francis says the city is also finalizing a $90,000 grant to help pay for the HVAC.
"We did receive a grant from the Kansas Historic Society, so we are closing that out," said Francis. "We will receive those funds once we turn in our paperwork."
Jerry Renk, a Crest Theatre Board Member, presented the Great Bend City Council a check worth more than $130,000 for their share of the HVAC expense. After the budgeting and grant, it was understood that the Crest Theatre Board would have to cover the remaining balance on the project.
The old heating system was original from when the building was built in the 1950s.