Tina Mingenback was sworn in Monday to a vacant Fourth-Ward seat on the Great Bend City Council.
Mayor Cody Schmidt said two candidates were interviewed and Mingenback was the unanimous choice. Her term will run through January 2025. Schmidt also appointed Grady Bolding to fill a vacancy on the Great Bend Public Library Board.
In other business, the council approved Stone Sand Company’s bid of $169,600 to remove and replace the damaged driveway at Fire Station No. 2.
Assistant City Manager Logan Burns said the city received 14 bids for this project and one bid, from Morgan Brothers Construction in La Crosse, was lower at $167,820, but he recommended going with the local company based in Great Bend.
“The bids were narrowed down to three local contractors and the low bidder,” Burns stated in his report. “Each of these bids met our scope of work and specifications.” The bid from Stone Sand was $1,780 more than the non-local bidder. Burns said that is well within the 5% allowable difference the City can accept to favor a local contractor.
Zarah Lofts move forward with council action
The Great Bend City Council held a public hearing Monday on a proposed ordinance establishing the Zarah Lofts as an RHID (Reinvestment Housing Incentive District). Hearing no comments from the public, the council then approved the ordinance, moving the project of creating downtown loft apartments closer to reality.
Dominic Eck with Gilmore Bell told the council, “This will formalize the district.” The development agreement already approved by the council will take effect with the adoption of the ordinance.
Anderson to represent the City in water discussions
Great Bend City Administrator Brandon Anderson was appointed by the City Council on Monday to represent the City regarding the Big Bend Ground Water District No. 5.
Issues involving water, and especially groundwater, are important to Great Bend and the city should have a voice on the Big Bend board, Anderson told the council. That will allow administrators to be better aware of issues and concerns that could become important. The board voted to approve a certificate of incumbency to Big Bend G.M.D. No. 5 and to appoint Anderson as a representative.
Four properties abated on Monday
Four Great Bend properties wil garbage and refuse were abated at Monday’s Great Bend City Council meeting. Assistant City Manager Logan Burns said the properties had furniture and other trash outside in violation of city ordinance. By passing resolutions of abatement, the Code Enforcement department of the city is authorized to cause the removal of the nuisances and certify all associated costs to the City Clerk for assessment against the property.
The properties were
• 2801 19th St., owned by WLS Rentals LLC
• 3108 23rd St., owned by Randal Alan Lynn LLC
• 232 Maple St., owned by Guadulupe L. Guzman
• 2101 27th St., owned by Jennifer McKenna.
