Great Bend City Council meeting
April 7 - 6:30 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers
The council meeting will be livestreamed for the public to view on the city council Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/gbcitycouncil/.
Agenda
Opening: Pledge of Allegiance
A. Consent agenda
B. Old business
C. Recognition of visitors and announcements
The public is free to comment on items not listed on the agenda. Comments should be limited to three minutes.
D. New business
1. Councilmember reports
2. Administrator's update
3. Economic Development report
4. Discussion of Vets Park alcohol ordinance
The City of Great Bend currently treats Vets Park as permission only for events that happen at the park such as Party in the Park. The other avenue the council could take is that it would be exempt like the Events Center and the Expo Complex where there is a blanket exemption on no alcohol. There is no requirement for council approval for any particular event or time and alcohol can be consumed there at any time. At the zoo and the main hangar, consumption must be approved by the council each time. The one thing that was brought up was during summer adult slow-pitch softball games, there is alcohol consumed in the parking lots of Al Burns and Vets, but the city has not had any trouble after speaking to Police Chief Steve Haulmark. One idea is to make Vets Park permission only but then come back with a resolution to allow alcohol consumption during adult softball leagues and be exempt. The informational item will be discussed by the city council.
5. July 3 fireworks show
A motion will be presented to approve a three-year agreement with Victory Pyro for $15,262.04 per year for a total of $45,786.12 for years 2025, 2026 and 2027.
6. Mini-pitch surfacing at Heizer Park
A motion will be presented to approve the quote from Merritt Tennis & Track Systems for the mini-pitch surfacing (acrylic surface on the court) at Heizer Park for $27,930.16.
7. Preliminary engineering report for the water system
The City of Great Bend would like to enter into an agreement with JEO Consulting Group for the 2025 Water System Preliminary Engineering Report (PER). This project will evaluate both the city's main water system and the airport water system, identifying current issues and proposing solutions for future needs. A motion will be presented to approve the agreement with JEO for the 2025 Water System Preliminary Engineering Report for $75,000.
8. Preliminary Engineering Report for the wastewater treatment facility
The City of Great Bend is wanting to partner with JEO Consulting Group to develop a 2025 Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) plan. The goal is to assess the current state of the WWTF and provide recommendations for necessary improvements. A motion will be presented to approve the agreement with JEO for the 2025 Wastewater Treatment Facility preliminary engineering report for $85,000.
9. Air burner
Since the inception of the compost site, the city has burned tree debris in a berm area. Depending on the wind, the city can become inundated with the smell of smoke. In addition to this, the street crew must watch the fire 24 hours while the fire is burning. An air burner would burn approximately three to four tons of material an hour. The system is an enclosed steel box with an air curtain that traps smoke and increases the interior temperature to approximately 1,800 degrees. Once it is up to temperature there is no smoke. The city could burn during the day and within two hours of the end of the day begin the process of snuffing the fire; thus, under normal conditions eliminating the need for staff to stand by. A motion will be presented to approve the purchase of the air burner firebox from Air Burners Inc. for $163,107 and for Hammeke Electric to install an electric box at the compost site for $2,259.12 for a total cost of $165,366.12.
Adjournment