Here’s a quick look at what the Great Bend City Council did when it met on Monday, Oct. 21.

• The council approved paying bills to date and the payroll register covering the period ending Oct. 12, in the amount of $524,146.80.

• City Administrator Logan Burns reported the restrooms have been installed at Langrehr Field, the Citywide Cleanup started last Saturday and continued through Oct. 27, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is going in at Veterans Park, with a Nov. 11 ribbon cutting planned. The downtown Halloween Parade starts at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Burns also reminded everyone that the continuation of the citywide half-cent sales tax is on the ballot in the Nov. 5 election.

A “yes” vote is for the tax to continue; it is not a new tax or an increase, he said. Thirty-five percent (35%) of the money is used for property tax relief, 45% goes for capital improvement projects that are used for fire and EMS, and 20% goes to the economic development incentive fund.

• Director of Public Works Jason Cauley reported on two grants the city has received. The transfer alternative grant is $600,000 for sidewalk and curb and gutter improvements, and for some ADA improvements, from 10th Street to 19th Street, and around the courthouse square, starting in 2026. The other project is the improved traffic signal for 10th and McKinley, including a left turn arrow and cameras. Originally expected to cost $400,000, it is now looking closer to $1 million but the state has decided to go forward with it next year, he said.

• There were three abatements on the agenda for unlawful accumulation of trash but one was taken care of before the meeting when tires were removed from the property. The two approved by the council are both on the same property, 1807 Stone St. There are picnic tables in disrepair that need to be removed, and there are vehicles parked on the yard that need to be parked on an improved surface. Code Enforcement is directed to remove the nuisances and any costs will be assessed against the property.

• An ordinance was adopted amending the zoning regulations to allow a merger of smaller lots into a larger lot for zoning purposes. Lot-tie agreements have been approved in the past, Burns said, describing the new rules as “a cleaner process.”

• A public hearing was conducted on the proposal to create a Great Bend STAR Bond District that includes the site of the proposed hotel and restaurants at 3017 10th St. as well as the area by the dragstrip at the Expo grounds. Troy Miller with the Barton County Fair Board spoke.

“It’s exciting to see that maybe there could be some great new things going on, but a lot of unanswered variables (will) need to be discussed. I know that we would like to be a part of that,” he said.

“You will be a part of it, we assure you,” Mayor Cody Schmidt said. After the hearing, and ordinance was approved establishing the district.

The public can learn more about STAR Bonds at kansascommerce.gov. The next step will be a feasibility study, followed by the creation of a project plan. STAR Bonds help finance projects to attract new visitors while improving the quality of life for Great Bend and Kansas residents. The bonds must be paid off in 20 years using the increase in sales taxes realized through the project. There is no additional sales tax that the citizens of Great Bend are subject to and taxpayers are never responsible for bond payments.

• There was a 15-minute executive session to seek legal advice from the city attorney.