By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Great Bend City Councilman Dana Dawson requested to discuss possible alternatives to address broken windows in buildings being replaced with wood or similar materials. After the topic was briefly mentioned this past summer, the governing addressed the issue again Monday night.
Dawson emphasized the impact of first
impressions when visitors come to Great Bend and see boarded up windows with
plywood throughout the business district.
"Just like junk in the yard in a residential area, I don't think it is something we should try to enforce citywide," said Dawson. "I don't think we have the time or manpower. If we would limit ourselves to a business district of the downtown area and 10th Street, it would make a difference in the way things look."
Great Bend staff created a rough draft of an ordinance that would allow windows
to be temporarily boarded for not longer than 30 days. After that time, windows
would need to be replaced with glass or plexiglass. Failure to comply with the
ordinance could be punishable by a fine of $500.
City Administrator Kendal
Francis says there is no current ordinance that addresses boarded up windows and questioned
the enforcement of any potential policy. Dawson urged further consideration of
the issue to determine how broad of a scope the city should enforce.
"Ever since I got on this Council, it has been what do we have to do to help the downtown and make the town look nice," said Dawson. "Then we allow buildings to look like someone drove through the front of the building and we allow them to sit with a bunch of plywood in the front."
The City Council agreed to table the agenda item and discuss the matter at a
future work session.
