By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The bids for the construction of the new Great Bend police station went out Monday afternoon, and the City of Great Bend anticipates presenting the
guaranteed maximum price for the 20,100 square-foot structure at the Aug. 15 city council meeting.
City Administrator Kendal Francis said the design remains the same since May
when the city council chose to keep the municipal courtroom as part of the new
construction.
"The last time we made the decision to keep the court in the building, as far as structurally, there have not been any changes," said Francis. "Nothing about the layout has changed, no addition or subtraction of rooms."
Eliminating the court room from the design and keeping it at its location on Williams Street could have saved the city $1.2 million.
Rising inflation costs have caused the projected expense to continue to climb.
In May, the new facility was estimated to cost more than $9.1 million.
Citizens voted in favor of a .10% sales tax increase last November to go towards bond debt for the police station. The city anticipates more than $5.6 million from the bond proceeds over the 20-year sunset. The city will find savings to make up the difference.
The new police station will be built on the city-owned parking lot at the southwest corner of the 12th Street and Baker Avenue intersection.