The Great Bend City Council will approve a 2026 budget ordinance following a public hearing when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18, at City Hall.
Other items on the agenda include taking the next steps leading to the construction of a new hotel and restaurants, as well as a STAR Bond project at the Expo Complex.
The meeting will be livesteamed at http://facebook.com/cityofgreatbend. The following information was taken from the agenda:
Budget ordinance
The city does not intend to exceed the revenue-neutral rate and proposes a budget that calls for no more tax dollars than last year. The tax rate will be 41.357 mills.
Hotel/restaurant development
As part of the incentive package for Great Bend Lodging LLC, the City of Great Bend is authorized to issue Industrial Revenue Bonds to finance the acquisition, construction, furnishing and equipping of a hotel and two restaurants at 3017 10th St. The council will be asked to approve a resolution “determining the advisability” of issuing taxable IRBs for this purpose. The principal amount shall not exceed $23 million. It is important to note that the City of Great Bend will not be financially obligated on the bonds and, if the bonds are not issued, the City shall have no liability to the tenant.
PETRA STAR Bond submittal and project development
PETRA Services has been actively engaged in the planning phase of the STAR Bond project at the Great Bend Expo, in collaboration with the City of Great Bend and Great Bend Economic Development since November 2023. With the operational feasibility study nearing completion, the project is now approaching a key milestone, the final submittal to the Kansas Department of Commerce. PETRA proposes a multi-phase development partnership with the City. The council will be asked to approve two steps to continue the process. Step One involves a fee of $28,515 to include regular check-ins, in-person meetings and the final submittal by Sept. 30. This will lead to Step Two, full project development.
As the development partner, PETRA will oversee all aspects of implementation in close collaboration with the City, external consultants and other stakeholders. A 4.75% development fee, based on total project costs, will apply during this phase. The council will be asked to approve both steps.
Other agenda items
Other items on the agenda include:
• Change of date for the next City Council meeting to Tuesday, Sept. 2, due to Labor Day.
• Approving a tree trimmers license for The Royer Brothers Tree Service out of Hutchinson.
• Reports from City Administrator Logan Burns, Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Amanda Gaddis, and Great Plains Development Director Bob Wetmore.
• A recommendation to rezone 217 South U.S. 281 from LM-SC (light manufacturing/service commercial) to Agriculture. This is requested to allow Emily Johnson and Noah Brown to rebuild the house at that address if an act of God were to occur and due to financing the new house from the bank. They spoke at the July 28 Planning Commission meeting and the commission recommends approval.
• The council will be asked to approve a quote from Trojan Technologies for the UV System maintenance required by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, for $52,321.74. Utilities Supervisor Darren Doonan will report.
