Latest news with #CodySchmidt
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Darren Doonan earns statewide recognition
Apr. 22—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.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Downtown sidewalk grant, Art & Wine Walk, and GBRC fireworks approved
Mar. 18—Three Great Bend City Council members were absent from Monday's meeting. Councilman Kevyn Soupiset was also not at the meeting initially but Mayor Cody Schmidt called him on the telephone so there would be a quorum. A roll call was taken for each vote, with all items passing 5-0. One vote required at least 2/3s of the council's approval to pass. Mayor Schmidt cast the required sixth vote in favor of adopting Ordinance 4454, establishing the Great Bend Lodging Community Improvement District. Here's a brief look at actions taken at the March 17 meeting: —Payroll ending March 1 was covered in the amount of $454,238.61, and other bills to date were paid. —A door-to-door license was approved for Shelly Burhenn, doing business as Four Soldiers Mowing LLC, Great Bend. —A tree trimmer license was approved for Charles Roberts, doing business as Roberts Tree Service, Larned. —The Mayor signed the concession lease with Jason Ward at the Sports Complex. GBRC Fireworks —The Great Bend Rec Commission received approval for a firework show at the Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt on the evening of April 5. —Two resolutions were approved setting public hearings on May 5 to declare dangerous buildings. The mobile home at 201 Walnut was damaged by fire in June 2024 and the house at 218 Pine was damaged by fire last month. Art & Wine Walk —Amanda Gaddis with the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau talked about the 11th annual Art & Wine Walk, set for May 2. An ordinance was adopted to allow unlicensed businesses to serve complimentary alcohol on their premises for this event. Hotel Development Incentives —A public hearing was held, with no objections voiced, on creating a Community Improvement District (CID) and sales tax within the district. This is part of the incentive package for Great Bend Lodging LLC, which plans to build a hotel and restaurants on 10th Street next to the Great Bend Events Center. The council then adopted Ordinance 4453, establishing the Great Bend Lodging Community Improvement District. —A public hearing was held, with no objections voiced, on adopting a redevelopment project plan. This is another step in formalizing an incentive package for Great Bend Lodging LLC. After the hearing, the council voted 6-0 to adopt Ordinance 4454, adopting the plan. Downtown sidewalk grant —Assistant City Engineer Hitha Kadiyala reported on a Transportation Alternatives (TA) Grant project and the council approved the Transportation Alternative agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation. The City applied for this program on March 1, 2024, for downtown sidewalk repair and accessibility improvements on Main Street from 10th to 17th. The project grant was awarded last October. "Even though our eligibility should be a 20% match if the program is awarded, KDOT awarded the grant project with 100% funding with $0 city match, which includes construction engineering and preliminary engineering," Kadiyala reported. "As the next steps for the process, KDOT requires the City to enter into a City/State agreement. We are currently in the process of selecting a consultant for this project and once the selection is made, we then have to enter into a separate three-party contract developed by the state as well." The TA grant is a reimbursement project and funding will come from the KDOT grants fund and the quarter-cent city sales tax fund.
