Darren Doonan, utilities superintendent of the City of Great Bend’s Public Works Department, has been named Water Operator of the Year by Kansas Municipal Utilities (KMU). Public Works Director Jason Cauley noted the honor during Monday’s City Council meeting.
According to their website, KMU is the statewide association representing Kansas cities and other public and not-for-profit agencies involved in the ownership and operation of municipal utilities. Formed in 1928, KMU provides assistance, information, and support to members regarding legislative and regulatory issues, training and educational programs, and numerous other services towards advancing municipal utilities to achieve maximum benefits for the customer-owners served by our member utilities. KMU is the only state association focused and dedicated exclusively to municipal utilities and the issues directly affecting them.
In 2024, Diana VanBruggen with the City of Russell received the Water Operator Award of Excellence at the annual KMU Conference. This year’s conference takes place April 23-25 at Wichita.
Meeting at a glance
Here’s a quick look at Monday’s Great Bend City Council meeting.
Dr. Mike Malone, DVM, left, receives an award from Mayor Cody Schmidt in appreciation of his years of service as the veterinarian to the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo.
• Mayor Cody Schmidt made the following appointments
- Reappoint Steve Dyer and Jim Hayes to the Airport advisory board
- Reappoint Jean Clair and Cathy VonFeldt to the Humane Society board
- Appoint Alma Lares to the Housing Authority board
• The payroll ending April 12 was approved for $542,638.
• Main Street from 24th to 12th Street will be closed from 10-11:30 a.m. on June 7 for the Big Bend Bash Parade. Lakin Avenue will be closed from Main Street to Williams Street from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. for a car show.
• A one-day Cereal Malt Beverage License for a beer garden at the Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 3 in Jack Kiley Square was approved. The applicant was Julia Marin. The council also approved an ordinance to allow alcoholic liquor and cereal malt beverages to be sold and consumed on the premises.
• Dry Lake Brewery received a temporary premises extension from 4 p.m. to midnight on May 3 for their anniversary party. The area includes the alley and part of the parking lot behind the business.
• The purchase of a TruNarc Analyzer from Thermo Fisher Scientific for $38,495 for analyzing narcotics was approved, using the Police Department’s money from the opioid settlement funds. Chief Steve Haulmark described the system, which rapidly identifies drugs in their packaging. Among its benefits, the system can identify fentanyl without the officer needing to touch it.
• Electrical work at the Wastewater Treatment Facility was approved. Hammeke Electric submitted the only bid, for $49,262.
• The Council approved a three-year contract for veterinary services to the zoo with Nels N. Lindberg, doing business as Animal Medical Center. Longtime vet Mike Malone, who is retiring, was recognized.
• Councilman Gary Parr asked questions about the City’s decision not to contribute to Barton County’s Facade Improvement Grant program.
• Sara Arnberger and Amanda Gaddis reported on plans for the first Big Bend Bash in June.
