Latest news with #LoganBurns
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wald & Co. regains GB Fireworks show
Apr. 9—The Great Bend City Council was divided Monday on who should get the contract for the City's July 3 fireworks shows at the Expo. Instead of following the administration's recommendation of Victory Pyrotechnics from Wichita, which did last year's show, the council voted 4-2 to go with Wald & Co. Inc. and All-American Display Fireworks for $15,000. Councilwoman Jolene Biggs made the motion, noting Wald & Co., based in Ellinwood, is local. Victory Pyro's recommended option was a three-year agreement for $15,262 per year. The motion was seconded by Alan Moeder and "yea" votes were by Biggs, Moeder, Gary Parr and Tina Mingenback. Voting "no" were Cory Urban and Davis Jimenez. Kevyn Soupiset and Rickee Maddox were not at the meeting. In the discussion before the vote, Parr asked who did fireworks at the last Party in the Park, where he said there was poor communication in synchronizing the show with the music. "We were a quarter of a song off." City Administration Logan Burns did not know the answer to that question. Urban, who voted against the motion, said, "I heard there were issues" with Wald & Co. in the past. "There were, yes, a couple years ago," Biggs said. She did not elaborate. Discussion continued about the importance of communication and whether the fireworks go high enough. City Administrator Logan Burns said former Community Coordinator Christina Hayes raised the money for the 2025 show along with securing $11,637 for next year's shows. The City needs to continue to raise funds for future shows. Next year is the U.S. sesquicentennial (250th anniversary) and Great Bend may want a bigger fireworks show, Burns said. He added that the City partners with Eagle Radio for the patriotic music that plays during the shows. Alcohol consumption rules for Vets Park Alcohol consumption is banned on most property deeded to the City of Great Bend but city officials realize that ban isn't always obeyed. City Administrator Logan Burns led discussion at Monday's Great Bend City Council meeting on what the next alcohol ordinance for Veterans Memorial Park should look like. Burns said he plans to bring an ordinance before the council at its next meeting. Although alcohol is banned, the city can always pass a resolution allowing consumption during special events. "We currently treat Vets Park as permission-only for events that happen at the park, such as Party in the Park," Burns said. Any event with alcohol consumption must also be approved at other locations, such as the zoo or the main hangar at the airport. It requires the Council to approve a resolution each time an event comes up. Targeted areas, such as the Great Bend Events Center, can also be exempted from the ban. Another avenue the Council could take is to exempt the park from the ban on alcohol. This is already done at the Events Center and the Expo. Council approval isn't needed for any particular event or time, and alcohol can be consumed there at any time. "One thing that was brought up was, during the summer adult slow pitch softball games, there's alcohol consumed in the parking lots at Burns Field and Vets Park," Burns said. After speaking to Police Chief Steve Haulmark and Public Lands Director Scott Keeler, he determined there have been no issues caused by this. "This thing has been going on for 50 years. I mean, it's nothing new, but we haven't had any trouble with it," he said. "One idea is to make Vets Park permission only, but then come back with a resolution to allow alcohol consumption during adult softball leagues," Burns said. The Council could exempt all or part of the park from the no-alcohol rule. Recently, the topic of consumption has moved to the Municipal Auditorium, where the sponsor might want to hold a corn hole tournament during the Big Bend Bash in June. A blanket exemption from the "no alcohol on city property" rule might work, or "you can put those specific locations that you want to be exempt, and then everything else is permission only." Burns said no decision was expected Monday. "(This will) just be discussion on where we want this to go. ... We'll come back at the next meeting with an ordinance." Mayor Cody Schmidt said crafting ordinances over the course of two or more meetings is a good idea. "I think this is probably what you'll see in the future with ordinances, as we move forward. We'll have more of a discussion before we take any action on it." He said that should relieve City Attorney Allen Glendenning from having to write two or three different ordinances to suit everyone's input and suggestions. Councilmembers were in agreement that there shouldn't be alcohol at, for example, the Sports Complex, where youth ball games are played. But for adult games, the consensus was that the ordinance should reflect what they already know happens. "This is just the consumption side of it," Burns said. "If you're going to sell it, there's still going to have to be licensing and permits." It was also noted that cereal malt beverages are not considered "alcohol" under state law. Originally, that meant 3.2 beer could be sold with a CMB permit. Then, in 2019, the State of Kansas amended its statutes to allow "enhanced beer" with alcohol content up to 6 percent to be sold in businesses holding cereal-malt beverage licenses. At that time, Great Bend amended its ordinance to be in line with state law. Meeting at a glance Here's a quick look at items approved at Monday's Great Bend City Council meeting: —Mayor Cody Schmidt named several board appointments and reappointments: — Cassandra Hernandez and Karry Schmidt to the Library Board — Carol Steiner to the Commission on Aging Board — Ryan Hammeke, Jason Wahlmeier and Alan Crowther to the Board of Construction, Trades, Examiners, and Appeals (BOCTEA) — David Olson to the Zoning Board and the Building Board of Examiners and Appeals —The Council votes 4-2 to approve a proposal from Wald & Co. Inc. for the July 3 fireworks show for $15,000. —The council approved a change to the mini-pitch surfacing at Heizer Park. Merritt Tennis & Track Systems will put an acrylic surface on the court to add aesthetics and long-term preservation of the concrete, for $27,930. —The council approved an agreement with JEO Consulting Group for a 2025 Water System Preliminary Engineering Report for $75,000, and for a Wastewater Treatment Preliminary Engineering Report for $85,000. —The commission approved the purchase of an air burner firebox for the compost site from Air Burners Inc. for $163,107, and Hammeke Electric will install an electric box at the site for $2,259.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mud volleyball approved for Veterans Memorial Park
Feb. 19—On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Great Bend City Council approved the recommendation to bring the Oozefest Mud Volleyball tournament back to Veterans Memorial Park for this year's Party in the Park. The council also approved the recommendation to not have fireworks at Party in the Park this year. City Administrator Logan Burns said the mud volleyball pit will be located just to the west of the Splash Pad. "It is a bare spot now," he noted. Councilwoman Tina Mingenback asked Burns to share what he told her about re-seeding the area afterward to reduce dust and regrow the grass. Burns said that is the plan. By adding irrigation and hydroseed, "We could get it back up and looking good." He asked Public Lands Director Scott Keeler to comment. Keeler said timing has always presented challenges but irrigation will help. Councilwoman Jolene Biggs concluded, "I think it's worth a try." Mud volleyball brings 1,000 to 2,000 extra people to the event and it hurt attendance at Party in the Park when it was moved to the Expo grounds last year, Burns said, reading the recommendation that came out of a recent work session. There will be showers near the pit and muddy contestants will be advised not to enter the Splash Pad, which is fenced off. There were concerns that excessive mud might damage the pumps on the new water feature. "We'll try it for one year," he said. By eliminating fireworks, the city will save $5,000. Staff would like to use that money to have three bands play for the concert at the end of the Party.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Public hearings set for hotel incentives
Feb. 5—Two public hearings are scheduled for March 17 as the City of Great Bend hopes to offer incentives for Great Bend Lodging LLC to build a hotel and restaurant at 3017 10th St. on the vacant land next to the Great Bend Events Center. Other actions taken at Monday's City Council meeting included a major software purchase, approval of highway improvements and a change in the purchase of a new vehicle for the School Resource Office at the Great Bend Police Department. Once the Great Bend Hotel and Convention Center were a combined entity. Later, the City acquired the convention center at 3111 10th St., which is now the Great Bend Events Center. The former Highland Hotel property at 3017 10th St. sat empty until Great Bend Economic Development purchased it in 2022 and launched Project Change (see The hotel was razed and work began to find a developer for a new hotel and restaurant. Public hearing 1 On Jan. 27, the Great Bend Planning Commission reviewed the proposed project plan and adopted a resolution finding it is consistent with the comprehensive plan for the development of the City. After the public hearing, the intention is for the City Council to adopt the redevelopment project plan within the boundaries of the 10th Street Redevelopment Project. The boundaries are where the vacant land is now. This is part of the incentive package for Great Bend Lodging LLC. Public hearing 2 As part of the incentive package of Great Bend Lodging LLC, the city proposes creating a Community Improvement District (CID) and levying a CID 2% sales tax inside that district, where the hotel and restaurant would be built, to help pay for the costs of the nearly $23 million project. The portion of the project proposed to be financed with tax would generate $3.4 million over the maximum term of 22 years of the CID. "The sales tax would only be for the property ... east of the Events Center, currently vacant land," City Administrator Logan Burns said. The city council will be asked to adopt these measures on March 17 after the conclusion of the public hearing. New Finance Software purchased for City The City's finance software, which includes the general ledger, payroll, accounts payable and utility billing, is through Tyler Technologies, and Great Bend uses its product FundBalance, City Clerk/Finance Director Shawna Schafer said. "We were notified by Tyler Technologies in early November that the solution FundBalance will reach its end of life and will be retired effective Dec. 31, 2026," she said. Staff sat through three software demos with three different companies and recommended Edmunds GovTech software, based in New Jersey, as the most user-friendly. "They have a lot of features I thought would be beneficial for the City," Schafer said, adding these are features the current software does not have. "Some features will really speed up our processes." GovTech was also the most economical, at $98,778 ($59,715 one-time conversion fee and an annual fee of $39,063). The other demos were from Tyler Technologies ERP Pro Solution for $147,520 ($96,700 conversion fee and annual $50,820 fee) and Computer Information Concepts (CIC). However, CIC "never gave me a quote," Schafer said, adding she attempted to follow up with them three times. "They did say during the demo that the software is being rewritten currently and that if we switched to them, we would be doing the conversion twice, but the second time would be at no additional fee." Bryce Edmunds from GovTech attended the council meeting via Zoom to answer questions. The council approved the purchase from GovTech. The funds will come from a year-end transfer to the capital equipment fund. There was an overage in the police station sales tax money and the council has the consensus to transfer it back to the general fund to replenish a portion of the $250,000 year-end transfer to the police station fund in 2023. Highway improvements Assistant City Engineer Sreehitha Kadiyala spoke and received the council's approval of a bid from Venture Corporation for a 2024 CCLIP project for $477,328. This consists of a resurfacing project on Main Street from the bridge to 2nd Street and on Patton Road from 10th to 9th St. The City put out bids for the construction of CCLIP (City Connecting Link Improvement Program) Pavement Surfacing Improvements and Venture submitted the only bid. This is a reimbursement project; the State's participation is 90% and the City's is 10% of the cost. CCLIP is run by the Kansas Department of Transportation. SRO/DARE vehicle Last month, the council approved the purchase of a replacement vehicle for the Great Bend Police Department's School Resource Officer/Drug Abuse Resistance Education from Marmie Chevrolet for $55,000 and authorized upfitting from Superior Emergency Response Vehicle (SERV) in Andover for up to $12,000. Police Chief Steve Haulmark said he learned the approval came too late and the city had "missed the window" for that price from Marmies. "SERV said that they would sell us one for the original quoted price," Haulmark said. "I'm back here this evening asking for authorization to purchase that vehicle from SERV for the amount of $56,750 (and the upfitting for a total of $69,238)." It was approved. City Administrator Report City Administration Logan Burns gave the following report on city business at Monday's City Council meeting: —Fire Station 2 roof repair continues. Great Bend Fire Department's new pumper tanker is expected on Feb. 21 and a new ladder truck should arrive on Feb. 18. —Roofmasters is expected to have the roof at the Sports Complex done by March 1 before ball games start. —Council members were reminded to let Burns know if they want to attend the annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet or the Western Kansas Delegate trip to Washington, D.C. —The next council meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 18, due to the 17th falling on Presidents' Day. "As part of that meeting, we'll be bringing back the decision for mud volleyball and fireworks at Party in the Park," Burns said. —The committee that makes recommendations for the Quality of Life Sales Tax has sent the updated capital improvement plan, which the council needs to look at during an upcoming work session. —John Worden, administrator of The University of Kansas Health System — Great Bend Campus, will give an economic impact study presentation at the March 3 council meeting.
