Great Bend Post
Great Bend voters will decide on a three-quarter-cent sales tax in the upcoming Nov. 3 general election. Before that, the Great Bend City Council will hold a pair of public hearings on water quality at tonight’s city council meeting.
The first public hearing tonight pertains to the Water Resource Recovery Facility, located on the southeast edge of town of Kiowa Road and 2nd Street, which has components that have exceeded their design life. This has resulted in safety concerns and decreased system reliability in treating the influent wastewater. Priority 1 improvements at the facility carry an estimated price tag of $20.3 million. Priority 2 improvements would cost the city an additional $6 million.
The second public hearing is related to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which the city is pursuing for financial assistance to help fund eligible construction, administration, and related project costs. The city has identified several requirements to pursue in order to comply with the Lead and Copper Rule, including the replacement of public service lines made of lead or lead-contaminated materials and the replacement of private service lines disturbed during the replacement of eligible public lines.
The council will also consider approving the first amendment to the loan agreement between the city and Lofts at the Zarah, LLC, which would reflect an authorization of an additional $90,482 in funding from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, which was approved at the last council meeting. The council will also consider a $33,648 drone replacement for the Great Bend Fire Department.
Tonight’s city council meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.