At Monday's Great Bend City Council meeting, City Administrator Logan Burns briefly commented on progress on a new hotel and restaurants next to the Events Center.
“We’ve wrapped up the developer agreement with REV Development. They’ve got some restaurants on board right now and then they’re looking to start the hotel (construction) towards the end of the year or early next.”
The news was part of Burns’ report on city events and department updates.
He started his report by sending a big thank you to Fire Chief Brent Smith and the Fire Department “for the courageous actions last week in Ellinwood.” They assisted with the rescue of a worker who fell while working inside a 120-foot water tower.
Next, Burns said the striping at 10th Street intersections is complete and the City crew will follow up to tie in areas where the contracted painters left off.
The City received notice on July 18 that it is approved for a Kansas Water Pollution Control revolving fund loan for $800,000 for a Lift Station 17 at Fuller Industries. “$480,000 would be in loan forgiveness, and then $320,000 at an interest rate of 3.09%, so we’ll submit that back to the State to see if we get final approval.”
Applications for the Public Works director and Public Utilities director positions were set to close on July 22.
At Heizer Park, the concrete for a shade structure was poured last Friday. Burns reminded the council that a donation from the Kiwanis Club will make that possible. “We’re hoping to get that framed up in the next month or so. Our crew is currently hauling dirt and leveling up around the bathrooms, along with the irrigation.” That should be done “in the next couple weeks.”
Crews are also progressing on a rose garden at the cemetery.
Burns also congratulated the Great Bend Bat Cats on their successful season and noted the Great Bend City Council page on the internet was “rebranded.” He thanked the new public relations director, Addie Crites, for that project. “She’s making some big strides here in the first couple weeks she’s been on.”
Burns concluded by mentioning the Golden Belt Community Foundation will host a dinner and social event called On Tap on July 30 at Dry Lake Brewing.
Action items
In action items Monday:
• The council approved grant offers for repaving the Great Bend Municipal Airport. Airport Manager Martin Miller recommended the low bid from American Road Maintenance for $493,415.
• The council also approved Venture Corporation’s bid for asphalt resurfacing on city streets for 2025. Venture submitted the only bid, $1,017,213.60. Money will come from the quarter-cent sales tax. Assistant City Engineer Hitha Kadiyala reported the 24th and McKinley intersection is in bad shape and said the work will be done before school starts. Several residential streets will also be targeted this year.
• The council approved an amendment with Bartlett & West for work on the dragstrip, for $5,205,405.
