Recently elected City of Great Bend governing body members officially re-took their seats Tuesday night at City Hall, after their election on Nov. 7, 2023. Also, it was announced there is a vacancy on the council, that held by outgoing Ward 4 Councilwoman Natalie Towns who unsuccessfully ran against the other Ward 4 Councilwoman Rickee Maddox.
The officials took their oaths of office in the City Council chambers at City Hall as the council reorganized during its first meeting of the year. The council usually meets on the first and third Mondays of the month, but moved to Tuesday this year due to the New Year’s holiday.
City Clerk Shawna Schafer swore in Mayor Cody Schmidt, Ward 1 Councilman Alan Moeder, Ward 2 Councilwoman Jolene Biggs, Ward 3 Councilman Cory Urban and Ward 4 Councilwoman Rickee Maddox.
In a related agenda item Tuesday night, the council elected Urban as council president. The council president is a serving council member elected by the members of the City Council to serve in the temporary absence of the mayor.
“I’d like to take a second to thank Natalie Towns for the service that she’s given the city,” Schmidt said, as he presented her with a plaque. “It is just a thanks on behalf of myself and the city.”
“It’s been an honor,” Towns said.
A vacancy on the council
The city is divided into four wards, each with two council members that serve staggered two-year terms. Towns’ term was up for reelection last November, so she filed to run against Maddox, who in August had been appointed to fill the seat of Brock McPherson.
McPherson’s seat, declared vacant after he failed to take the oath of office and missed four consecutive regular meetings, is up for reelection this year. Both Towns and Maddox filed for this seat, with Towns losing.
By taking the oath, Maddox relinquished McPherson’s former seat and took the one held by Towns. That left Maddox’s former seat open and Towns without a seat at the council table.
As to refilling Towns’ seat, “there will be an application process,” Schmidt said. Applications are available on the city’s website, greatbendks.net, at City Hall, 1209 Williams St.
“If interested, please contact Shawna Schafer with any questions,” he said. The vacancy will remain open until filled.
The City of Great Bend is governed by a mayor and city council who are elected by the people of the city. The mayor and city council, acting together, are the governing body.
The mayor is elected by the city at large.
All governing body members serve two-year terms.
Great Bend City Council meeting at a glance
Here is a quick look at what the Great Bend City Council did Tuesday night:
• City Clerk Shawna Schafer administered of the oath of office to elected officials Mayor Cody Schmidt, Ward 1 Councilman Alan Moeder, Ward 2 Councilwoman Jolene Biggs, Ward 3 Councilman Cory Urban and Ward 4 Councilwoman Rickee Maddox.
• Elected Urban as council president.
• Approved a lease agreement with Kestrel Inc. for property at the Great Bend Industrial Park that will ultimately be sub-leased by Eagle Med. The rate will be $1,125 per year for the remaining four years on the lease.
William Chase, Kestrel president, has approved and signed the lease, and after the mayor authorizes it, it will go into effect. Chase is finalizing his sub-lease with Eagle Med and when completed will be required to submit a copy to the city as a stipulation.
The “escalator” clause has been exercised and his new lease rate will be $1,125 per year for the remaining four years on the lease, City Administrator Brandon Anderson said. Recommendation: Motion to authorize the Mayor to sign the Kestrel Inc Lease agreement.
• Approved the purchase of a 2017 John Deere motor grader from Murphy Tractor for $155,500.
Earlier this year, the city’s 1997 770 CH went down with transmission issues that are in the neighborhood of $70,000 to fix, Public Works Director Jason Cauley said. They approached Murphy Tractor to look for a used machine.
As the year came to a close, the Public Works Department was able to pull the funds together from delay purchases, grants and fund transfers, providing an available amount of $182,554.
Luke Fanshier with Murphy Tractor was able to find a used grader with 5,000 hours and the warranty still intact until May 2024, for $181,500. They were able to give $25,000 for trade-in on the current grater, bringing the total for the grader to $155,500.
The grader is a single-owner township grader, Cauley said. “It is six-wheel-drive, making it great for the winter snow season and heavy dirt work.”
Murphy Tractor will have it delivered and have a final inspection before delivery to the city by mid to end of the month.
• Approved a contract with Roofmaster’s Roofing as the general contractor in partnership with Brentwood Builders for the repairs to city properties due to damage from the July 16 hailstorm.
• Approved the deferment of the Sunflower Rod and Custom Association’s loan payments during the pending legal actions related to the lawsuit involving the dragstrip.
On April 5, 2021, the Council approved a loan to the SRCA to assist it with the costs of building retaining walls and installing new timing systems at the dragstrip in connection with the city’s’ rebuild of the track. The terms call for annual payments due on Dec. 31. Since the dragstrip is not operating, the SRCA’s ability to generate the funds to make the 2023 payment has been impaired, City Administrator Brandon Anderson said.
The SRCA asked that the council agree to defer this payment during the pendency of the legal actions concerning the dragstrip.
• Held a 15-minute executive session to conduct the six-month evaluation of City Administrator Brandon Anderson. When reconvening in open session, the council took no action.
• Toured of the old Police Station at 1217 Williams and discussed what options the city now has to utilize the structure. The council adjourned from there with no further action taken.
• Heard a report from City Administrator Brandon Anderson. He focused on ongoing city projects.
