By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

The latest suggestion thrown out there in regards to paying Great Bend
City Council members is $50 per meeting attended. 
In June, councilmember Lindsey Krom-Craven asked about incentives to get more
residents interested in serving on the council. 
At Monday’s budget session, councilmember Natalie Towns suggested $50 for each
councilmember per meeting. 
"You don't want to pay someone that doesn't show up to the council meetings," said Towns. "It would have to be per council meeting, even though you spend time on the phone, answering emails and meetings other than the council meetings." 
A proposed $100 a meeting would be given to the mayor. Between the mayor and
eight councilmembers, the expense would be $500 per meeting, or $12,000 each
year. 
Mayor Cody Schmidt became the second member of the governing body to publicly
state he would not accept any payment if the idea passed. 
The city council plans to bring up the issue of paying councilmembers at a work
session on a later date.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657651835519.png" alt="A suggestion to pay each councilmember $50 per meeting they attend was proposed at the Great Bend City Council budget session July 11, 2022." />
 <figcaption>A suggestion to pay each councilmember $50 per meeting they attend was proposed at the Great Bend City Council budget session July 11, 2022.</figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostThe latest suggestion thrown out there in regards to paying Great Bend
City Council members is $50 per meeting attended. 
In June, councilmember Lindsey Krom-Craven asked about incentives to get more
residents interested in serving on the council. 
At Monday’s budget session, councilmember Natalie Towns suggested $50 for each
councilmember per meeting. 
"You don't want to pay someone that doesn't show up to the council meetings," said Towns. "It would have to be per council meeting, even though you spend time on the phone, answering emails and meetings other than the council meetings." 
A proposed $100 a meeting would be given to the mayor. Between the mayor and
eight councilmembers, the expense would be $500 per meeting, or $12,000 each
year. 
Mayor Cody Schmidt became the second member of the governing body to publicly
state he would not accept any payment if the idea passed. 
The city council plans to bring up the issue of paying councilmembers at a work
session on a later date.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

$50 a meeting suggested for Great Bend councilmembers