Barton progress community 2017

FACING THE FUTURE

Community Great Bend • Ellinwood • Hoisington • Claflin

PROGRESS Special to the Great Bend Tribune • Sunday, February 19, 2017

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2017

A valuable community resource

It’s been a long process, but city’s Events Center taking shape

BY DALE HOGG dhogg@gbtribune.com

A

diamond in the rough.

That is how one could have described what is now known as the Great Bend Events Center. It just took some vision to see the potential. “Sometimes you don’t know what you’ve got until it plays itself out,� said City Administrator Howard Partington.

It has been a long road for city officials since the city took ownership of what was an outdated facility, then known as the Convention Center, in 2011. But, today, this gem is starting to sparkle. “It’s really nice,� Partington said. “We’re kind of excited about that.�

Over the years, the city has held special council meetings and conducted surveys to gauge public opinion for the long-running project. There were a lot of ideas thrown around over the years on what to do. There was even talk of a partnership with Barton Community College. “It got to be a real big price tag,� Partington said of early proposals. Some of these were extensive costing millions of dollars. “We decided to just do a little bit at a time,� he said.

New HVAC, some new paint, some new room partitions and other improvements were done indoors.

Next, the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau office was moved into a specially remodeled office.

This year, he said they hope to replace the worn carpet.

Then, the outside became a target. In July 2016, the City Council approved a nearly $300,000 renovation for the main entrance of the facility. “This was a fairly large project,� City Administrator Howard Partington said. “The goal is to change the front of the Events Center.�

In general, the scope of the work involved replacing the canopy, providing better accessibility to the front entrance and replacing a portion of the parking, all of which has been done.

Changes included: • The existing canopy and

supporting columns were removed.

It was replaced by a 34-by-60-foot canopy covering 2,000 square feet with a 14-foot clearance. Along with this, there will be an 18-by-80-foot plaza area in front of the center. • About 8,500 square feet of the southeast quarter of the parking lot was removed and replaced. This is somewhat sloped and done to make the building more handicapped accessible and improve rainwater drainage. • There will be additional repair of the external surfacing, or plaster that covers the building’s facade. This will incorporate the new gray color scheme that will eventually be used on the entire center. • Some of the front doors were be replaced with wider, 42-inch doors. There is also be an automatic door opener installed. “The new entry way done,â€? Partington said. “People will be able to walk right in.â€?

In addition, there is a new ramp for those who are handicapped. • Variable LED lighting under the canopy is in place. • An ice and snow melting system under the canopy was also installed.

In November of last year, the council decided it wanted to separate the cityowned Events Center and the neighboring Parkside Hotel and Convention Center and authorized the removal of a covered walkway connecting the two buildings.

To further distance the city-owned center from the privately owned adjacent Parkside Inn Hotel, approved was a bid for $12,900 to tear down the cover over the sidewalk/ driveway. Included in the bid is work to return the eastern Events Center wall back to a flat surface and remove the door.

This returned the building to its original appearance, City Administrator Howard Partington said.

The portico was added after the complex was built.

Down the road, the council may consider remodeling the area that served as the entry from the passageway. But, Partington

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The front entrance of the Great Bend Events Center is shown after the new canopy was constructed, making entrance into the building eaiser.

said that would cost about $57,000 and would take some more consideration. “There’s still work to be done,� Partington said.

But,he added, it is great to see it taking shape, adding they plan to hold an open house eventually.

More than a face lift Great Bend officials had long sought to gain more oversight over the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau. The retirement of 30-year Director Cris Collier in December 2015, the city had an opportunity to do that.

When the city brought the CVB into its fold, it moved the office from its old location at the intersection of 10th and Monroe to a remodeled space in the Great Bend Convention Center. Christina Hayes now serves as the director along with her duties as the city’s community coordinator. Emily Goad supervises the office.

Up until the change, the CVB Board was a separate entity. Now it will be an advisory board to the council and the staff will be city personnel.

The board meets regularly to find ways bring more people into the community to spend nights in local motels. It consists of six representatives from the hotel/motel and tourism sectors, one council member and three at-large members.

They are appointed by the mayor, approved by the council and serve two-year terms. “I do see them as becoming more active,� Partington said. He senses a lot of excitement about the change.

Mayor Mike Allison stressed that the goal will now be to promote local events and activities.

The switch didn’t take place immediately. The cur-

rent ordinance sunset at the end of 2016 and the change was implemented starting Jan. 1.

The council voted to move the CVB office in January and in February 2016, the city remodeled the front office area of the Events Center to accommodate the CVB. “We’re working on visitors center sign,� Partington said.

This is all part of a strategy

to better package and promote Great Bend. “We’re getting to where it’s attractive,� he said of the center, which also serves as a Kansas Travel and Information Center through the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. It is important to make it look appealing to attract passersby.

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Splash pad, band shell on schedule

Great Bend continues to improve parks, infrastructure in 2017

BY SUSAN THACKER sthacker@gbtribune.com

T

he band shell expansion and splash pad addition in the courthouse square are on schedule to be completed this spring, Great Bend City Administrator Howard Partington said. About the time those projects wrap up in late April, construction may get underway for two major improvements at Great Bend’s Brit Spaugh Zoo. The front of the band shell stage will be enlarged with a rounded, 7.5-foot expansion. The addition of a ramp on one side will make the stage more accessible.

Other improvements will include replacing doors and eliminating a step down into the restroom, as well as making sure the existing floor and new stage flooring match.

The fountain and cannon have been removed from the south side of the square.

A touch-activated splash pad is being installed between the south wall of the courthouse and the low wall that delineates the north end of the plaza.

Wiens & Company Construction, Hutchinson, is the contractor for both projects, which are funded by a $300,000 donation from the Thelma Faye Harms Charitable Trust.

“We’ve been working on the project for a number of years,” Partington commented.

Zoo improvements Over at the zoo, there are plans to quadruple the size of the grizzly bear exhibit and to create a one-acre exhibit that will bring bison back to the park. These projects are being financed by gifts from the Dorothy M. Morrison Foundation totalling $230,000.

The zoo has four grizzly bears who share a 6,500-square-foot exhibit that will be expanded to 26,500 square feet. They will have a larger pond and a creek running through their habitat.

There are plans to have three bison in an exhibit on the west side of the zoo.

There will be a hay shed/ feeding area. Once the fence is moved, people will be able to park on the west side and view the bison without

SUSAN THACKER Great Bend Tribune

Work continues on the expansion of the band shell in the Barton County Courthouse Square. Wiens & Company is doing the work and also constructing a splash pad that will be located just south of the courthouse.

actually entering the zoo.

Youth input Each summer, the City of Great Bend hosts Youth Academies, where middle school students spend a day touring city departments. After viewing the inner workings of the city, students meet with city officials and talk about improvements they would like to see. This has led to past city projects such as the skateboard park and artificial ice-skating area.

Improving the zoo was

one of the top areas of interest for students last June, Partington said. Another area of interest was adding more features at the Wetlands aquatic center.

Several ideas have been researched, including bowlshaped water slides or diving features. While nothing is currently in the works, Partington said there will be fun water park improvements in the future.

Other improvements In 2016, the Fit Trail area at Veterans Memorial Park

was completed. “We’re continuing work at Veterans Park and Brit Spaugh Park,” the city administrator said.

Infrastructure improvements also continue, Partington said.

Street work has always been a priority for the city and last year was no exception with spending on repairs on residential and arterial streets topping $1.85 million and another $489,000 on U.S. 56 and U.S. 281, Partington said. “Again, for 2017, the city is projected to spend

well over $2 million on street repairs. The city is undertaking a $6 million project to replace aging water lines, mostly in the downtown area, and at the same time make upgrades at a number of water well locations.”

The city will also re-plat the Amber Meadows subdivision to improve drainage, continue to improve the Great Bend Events Center and evaluate the most needed improvements at the Great Bend Police Department.

Tejal and Amarish Patel of Concordia, and an uncle, Ishwar Patel of Vancouver, Canada, bought the hotel portion. The family, which already operated smaller hotels in Concordia and Beatrice, Neb., officially took over the hotel portion of the Highland Complex on Aug. 23, 2011.

In June 2011, the council approved utilizing

$500,000 donated by an anonymous group of local residents to purchase the convention center, which included the attached office complex behind the center.

The attached Highland Hotel has 174 rooms and was started in 1962.

The center and the office complex were built in the 1980s.

EVENTS CENTER, from page 2 “We want them to stop in,” he said. “Then we may talk them is to staying around for a day or two.”

If not, they may come back later with their families or businesses. “We would like them to come and enjoy our community.”

But, all this work is not just for travelers. Today, the center is the sight of banquets, fundraisers, wedding

dances and other activities.

“We want our community members to enjoy it as well,” Partington said.

Office space Attached to back of the Events Center is a massive, two-floor office complex which has been vacant for many years. It will remain so for a while longer, Partington said.

“We don’t know what we’re going to do with that,” he said. Severely outdated and in need of repair, this is a project for down the road.

The complex used to house several businesses, offices and agencies, and even the CVB. And, a few years back, local officials pushed for it to house the offices of the Kansas

Department of Agriculture after its lease expired on its Topeka facility.

However, the KDA eventually relocated to Manhattan.

So, for now, it remains empty.

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2017

Spring: the most wonderful time of the year (for a wetland) SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

A

s the long, cold winter transitions into the first signs of spring, nature comes alive at our local wetlands, Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, and at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center.

Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira NWR are large wetland complexes designated Wetlands of International Importance due to their importance as stopovers for migrating birds along the Central Flyway.

More than 340 species of birds have been documented at the wetlands.

Ducks, geese, herons, and raptors are commonly seen throughout the year, but the spring migration is a spectacle not to be missed, with huge congregations of shorebirds, pelicans, cranes, and other waterbirds not typically associated with the prairies of Kansas.

Birds are not the only visitors to the largest wetland on the interior of the United States.

Visitors from all over the United States, and even other countries, flock to the wetlands to bird watch, photograph, and to see the

expansive landscape and wildlife. Visitors can access the wetlands by vehicle, and take a driving tour on dike roads and county roads that wind through the wetlands.

The Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC) is your one-stop shop for every visit to the wetlands and is located at Cheyenne Bottoms along K-156 highway 10 miles northeast of Great Bend. The 11,000 square foot museum operated by Fort Hays State University is home to the Koch Wetlands Exhibit gallery, a classroom with live animal exhibits, and a great lineup of public pro-

grams throughout the year.

Admission is free! Van tours, a nature trail, and a pollinator garden provide a glimpse of what Kansas wetlands are and what you can find in them. Staff at the KWEC are happy to answer questions about the wetlands and give advice for your wetlands visit.

The KWEC is open Monday through Saturday 9a.m. to 5p.m. and Sunday 1-5p.m. The Center is closed on Mondays from November 1 through March 31 and on major holidays.

The KWEC offers a wide selection of public programs and events

throughout the year.

Events are listed at http:// wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu or call 877-243-9268 for more information.

Make plans to get involved with these special Spring programs at the KWEC: • Turtle Tots Preschool programs – March 10, 17, 24 from 10:00-11:00a.m.

Ages 3-5. Registration required. • Special Spring Break Activities - March 18-26 throughout each day.

Special displays and activities each day for drop-in visitors. • KWEC Craft Workshop: Paper Making –

March 26 at 2:00p.m. Adult program. Registration required. • Fairy Garden Workshop – April 2 at 2:00p.m.

Adult program. Registration required. • Greater Prairie-Chicken Lek Tours – select date throughout April. Check KWEC website for dates. $25 fee. Registration required. • Wings ‘N’ Wetlands Festival – April 28-29. $150 fee. Registration required. • Digital Photography Seminar with Craig McCord – May 20 at 9:00a.m.4:00p.m. $49 fee includes lunch. Registration required.

New fit trail a hit for the community

BY RUSSELL EDEM redem@gbtribune.com

G

reat Bend residents have a new place to reach their fitness goals while their children have a place to play and enjoy the outdoors.

The Great Bend Fit Trail in Veterans Memorial Park opened in November 2016 with the cooperation of many business in Great Bend. “This is a wonderful facility,� Mayor Mike Allison said. “This has been a great cooperation between many businesses in Great Bend.

This facility is something different and it gives our citizens a new place to exercise and even spend time with family as the Fit Trail offers playground equipment for children.�

The original fitness trail, installed with underwriting from the Great Bend Kiwanis Club, followed a walking path in the park, with stations where people could stop to exercise. But the stations, made mostly of wood, had deteriorated over the years and weren’t being used much.

The new Fit Trail — actually a cluster of equipment for circuit training — came to life with the help of many people and businesses.

Diann Henderson, director Great Bend Recreation Commission, noted, “The Great Bend Kiwanis Club in partnership with the City of Great Bend and the Great Bend Recreation Commission staff have been working diligently the past year to develop a master plan to

improve and relocate the existing deteriorating fitness stations located along Veterans Park hike and bike trails. The goal is to create a family friendly environment that encourages individuals and families to become physically active and to design an area for children to play while their parents utilize the Fit Trail fitness equipment. The Recreation Commission is excited to work with these partners in providing this new fit trail.�

The Fit Trail is located on the north side of Veterans Lake between the two parking lots near the restroom and hike and bike trail. It features a cluster of 11 pieces of fitness equipment, with instructions on how to use and adapt the exercises for personal fitness levels.

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There’s also a playground area for children ages 5 to 12 years, including the innovative 9-foot “Global Motion,� which is a rotating playground net climber. Children can ride and climb on 14 nets inside and out on two levels.

The Great Bend Kiwanis Club is proud to partner with the Great Bend Recreation Commission and the City of Great Bend to bring new and updated fitness equipment to Veterans Memorial Park. It’s a goal of Kiwanis to foster the wellness of our community by making fitness equipment accessible to the entire family. We look forward to continue working with our partners on future projects to help improve

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GBRC to expand sports programs

BY RUSSELL EDEM redem@gbtribune.com

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he Great Bend Recreation Commission is expanding on its youth baseball program to include more children and make the experience more enjoyable. “For many children, tee ball and pitching machines are the first opportunity to play in an organized softball or baseball game,�

Sports Director Chris Umphres said. “It’s the same that many parents and coaches get their initial experience with the Great Bend Recreation Commission’s softball and baseball programs. Blastball and Tee Ball programs are where children learn to love the game, make new friends, and have fun on the field.�

According to Umphres, in past summers, the BlastBall and Tee Ball programs introduced the fundamentals of playing ball through a blueprint of fun developmental skills and high energy practices for the children.

Following the past success of the BlastBall and Tee Ball programs, the Great Bend Recreation Commission will be expanding these programs and excited about the new formats.

The BlastBall program will now provide 3 yearolds an opportunity to participate with other 4 year-old children. This will still be an instructional program geared to teaching the skills needed for the advancement into older leagues. There will

be two sessions of BlastBall to choose from this summer.

The Tee Ball program will now include 5 and 6 year-old participants. This allows boys and girls to play on their own teams.

These teams will utilize volunteer coaches and go through the same process as the older leagues.

Tee Ball will follow a game schedule with some modified rules to ensure success for all participants.

This should prepare the players for the next level of pitching machine league.

Rookie League (pitching machine league) will become much more like

traditional softball and baseball.

GBRC will still utilize a pitching machine but standard rules will be used to prepare the players for future years.

Volunteer coaches will be needed to help make this league a success. Children ages 7 and 8 will be placed on teams, score will be kept and standings will be tracked.

Enrollment for the summer sports programs at GBRC will begin Feb. 27 with early bird registrations.

Flyers and more information will be passed out in the schools or by calling 620-793-3755.

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2017

BeWell seeing improvements

Committee excited about what the future holds

BY DALE HOGG ddhogg@gbtribune.com

T

he mission statement for BeWell Barton County is a simple one.

“Inspire and advance policy, environmental and lifestyle changes that promote healthy living for all residents of Barton County.”

Formed about six years ago through a Kansas Health Foundation grant, BeWell continues to strive for this goal. It was sponsored by the Golden Belt Community Foundation but now is a part of the Barton County Health Department.

BeWell falls under the Central Kansas Partnership umbrella, a prevention coalition of parents, professionals and concerned citizens from Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Stafford, and Rush counties. In addition, the coalition deals with chronic diseases, drug and alcohol prevention, and teen pregnancy and suicide prevention.

Since 2012 interested community members have worked towards increasing access to physical activity for everyone, said Health Department Educator Janel Rose who is a coalition member. “From educating the community about the importance of activity to building awareness of opportunities available and promoting safety, the group has worked to improve the vitality and livability of our community. They are working towards complete streets policies and strategies that ensure that anyone, regardless of age or abilities, can walk or bike safely in our communities.”

Now, Rose said, there are visible signs the communities in the county and the county as a whole are making great strides.

For example: • The county and each city have endorsed the Active Barton: A Bicycle and Pedestrian Program for Barton County master plan created

by BeWell.

• There are 55 bicycle safety signs covering rural county blacktops, as well as an increased number of wayfinding signs.

• Great Bend has installed bike safety signage and painted sharrows (bike route markers) on key streets.

The city is also eying other projects involving walking and bike paths.

• Claflin, Ellinwood and Hoisington have all taken steps to improve pedestrian access.

“Collaboration between Barton County, Cities of Great Bend, Hoisington, Ellinwood, and Claflin paint an achievable, bright future for generations to come in Barton County,” Rose said.

“The development and the county’s and cities’ adoption of the Active Barton Master Bike and Pedestrian Plan in 2016 was a major step in strategic planning that will lead to a vibrant and healthy community,” Rose said. The plan guides everything from placement of bike safety signage to recommendations for improving critical road intersections where school children cross highways, and identifying needed bike and pedestrian trails to destinations in our county.

“Bike safety signage placed throughout Barton County is a recent Be Well Barton

TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

One of the 55 bike safety signs around Barton County is seen over the handlebars of a bicycle. The signs were part of BeWell Barton efforts.

County and Barton County accomplishment visible to anyone, resident or visitor, who travels the black top county roads,” Rose said.

“The Barton County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan is an essential tool that needs to be utilized for a cohesive vision,” said Sue Cooper, program officer for the Golden Belt Community Foundation and a coalition member. “Be Well Barton County is instrumental in reminding city and county officials of the plan’s infrastructure and safety features.

Walkable communities promote health, economic development, and are aesthetically pleasing.”

Some background After a series of meetings at the beginning, a leadership team was formed and the members narrowed their focus to active transportation – the promotion of cycling and walking. They soon realized this was still too broad.

So they honed our mission to Complete Streets, the concept of signs, sharrows,

safe sidewalks, bike lanes and bike racks, and walking paths that make a community pedestrian friendly.

Members have met with city and county officials and attended meetings of governing bodies. There has been much support,resulting in funding for signs, resolutions supporting the efforts of BeWell and plans for future improvements.

This also led to the master plan, funded by BeWell.

There was a kickoff event attended by about 70 people, that took place on Aug. 26, 2015, at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center and featured a mini bike expo, displays on active transportation planning and infrastructure, a presentation on the process, and road and gravel cycling rides.

Field reconnaissance: Bicycle field work on this plan and a companion project on adapting the Kansas Byway system for active tourism gave us the opportunity to travel through much of the county and all four principal towns by bicycle. This was

followed by a survey that explored the characteristics of Barton County respondents and measured their level of comfort with various types of infrastructure. The survey received 70 responses and provided information that contributed to the directions of this plan.

Workshops in Great Bend, Ellinwood, Hoisington, and Claflin took place on Sept.

29-30 and Oct. 5-6. At these working sessions, members of the public from each community worked with us over maps and aerial photos to define destinations, resources, problem areas, and route ideas.

The results of this process informed the plan which cites how highlighting active transportation improves the health of residents, taps into a new vein of economic development and betters the safety for pedestrians and motorists alike.

Back to the roots It goes back to the group’s mission statement, those involved said.

The focus will be to educate officials about retrofitting existing streets and transportation routes to accommodate walking and bicycling for transportation and recreation, and to improve access to community destinations.

While it’s well known that proper nutrition and physical activity are connected to good health, healthy eating and active living can be challenging when healthy foods and physical activity opportunities are limited in availability and accessibility. The places where people live, learn, work and play influence the ability to maintain a healthy diet and complete the daily recommended amount of physical activity.

“Proper nutrition and regular physical activity are key components to lowering the risk of chronic disease and increasing overall health,” said Steve Coen, president and CEO of the Kansas Health Foundation. “Through this initiative, we’re excited to partner with organizations and communities across the state as they work to implement their plans meant to ensure that when it comes to healthy eating and active living for Kansans, the healthy choice is also the easy and accessible choice.”

As for the future, the BeWell team held a meeting this week and on the agenda was where to go from here. The group is looking at additional grand opportunities, new trail developments and other activities.

“The group plans to continue work towards the implementation of the master bike-ped plan and explore and encourage greater access to healthy foods in Barton County,” Rose said.

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE â&#x20AC;˘ SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2017 â&#x20AC;˘

7

HOISINGTON

TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

Work continues on a Habitat for Humanity house in Hosingotn.

Habitat homes coming to fruition

BY VERONICA COONS vcoons@gbtribune.com

H

OISINGTON â&#x20AC;&#x201C; In February 2016, the deeding of 322 E. Sixth and 358 W. Broadway for two house builds was approved by the Hoisington Land Bank. Habitat will resume building the Sixth Street house this spring, and expects to have it done soon after. Then, it will proceed with home on Broadway.

Members of the Hoisington Chamber of Commerce, Hoisington City Council, and Barton County Habitat for Humanity gathered at 322 E. 6th Street in Hoisington in March 2016 to break ground on a project that will make the dreams of one as yet undetermined Barton County family come true. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Habitat for Humanity Barton County was formed in 2001 after the Hoisington tornado, so it is only fitting we should come back,â&#x20AC;?

Board Chair Austin Coyan said. He shared with those gathered the mission and accomplishments of the organization to date.

Each of the identical homes will have three bedrooms and 1.75 bathrooms.

Because of current lending laws, families have not yet been chosen. A list of names of those interested has been gathered but no formal applications will be taken until it is announced on the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facebook page. That will be in a few more weeks when the foundation is poured for the first build.

Almost a year ago, the house that once stood on the now vacant lot was damaged beyond repair from a fire that claimed the life of its owner. The family donated the lot to the Hoisington Land Bank, which then had the lot cleared. In

TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

Pictured is the groundbreaking in Hoisington.

September, the city approved the transfer of the lot to Habitat.

Operating with no staff, the completely volunteer group is able to dedicate all donations and funds raised to projects that provide the opportunity of home ownership to families in Barton County. They are able to do this through noninterest-bearing mortgages on homes built largely by donated labor and supplies.

Families provide 400 hours of sweat equity towards the building of their home,

and along the way learn construction skills, as well as money management and finance skills that will help them to stay focused on their quest of paying off and maintaining their home. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The City of Hoisington is thrilled to partner with Habitat in increasing the supply of affordable housing here, and we hope to do more in the near future,â&#x20AC;? said City Manager Jonathan Mitchell.

Long term goals include exploring more options

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outside of Great Bend to truly provide affordable housing to Barton County.

After the two Hoisington builds, they will roll out a new program, Brushed

with Kindness, to offer to current homeowners needing assistance. Donations and volunteers are always needed and appreciated, Austin added.

In 2015, the Hoisington City Council made agreements with Housing Opportunities Inc. and Habitat for Humanity that would relieve housing pressure by increasing the available safe and affordable housing in Hoisington in the coming year. They did this by authorizing the Hoisington Land Bank to transfer lots for the purpose of development.

This is good, because a recent housing study contracted by the city detailed Hoisingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extremely low vacancy rate and aging inventory.

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8

• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2017

School on track for May completion

BY VERONICA COONS vcoons@gbtribune.com

H

OISINGTON — In April, 2016, USD 431 Superintendent Bill Lowry welcomed members of the Hoisington community to the official groundbreaking for the new Lincoln Elementary School to be built adjacent to the school that has served generations of Hoisington youth since 1926.

In June, 2015, the $11.5 million project was given the thumbs up by voters in a special bond election.

Over the summer and through the fall, construction continued at a steady pace, and by October, students outfitted in toy hard hats and vests came from the existing Lincoln school on foot and from Roosevelt Elementary by bus to the construction site where contractors had prepared the I-beam that would top the entrance of the new school. There, they waited in line for their turn to select a permanent marker and sign their name before workers attached it to a crane and lifted it into place.

On Tuesday, Feb. 14, members of the USD 431 Board of Education attended a walk-through of the building with Superintendent Bill Lowry, led by Nabholz Construction Rep. Mickey Starkey. As they passed through the opening of the plastic dropcloth covering what will be the main entrance of the school, they found a state-of-the-art school under construction.

The 40,000 square foot structure will accommodate grades two through five, and will include utility rooms that provide room for growth in the future if needed. Inset display areas throughout the schools’ hallways will provide plenty of place to showcase student

art and papers. Ramps throughout the building provide accessibility for handicapped students, as does an elevator near the main entrance at the east vestibule.

“When this building is complete, it will be completely ADA compliant,” Starkey said. The building is on track for completion by May 5.

First floor The office will be located by the front entrance, and security features will require visitors to be identified before gaining entrance.

Incorporated into the design is a vault for holding records.

The lunchroom features a kitchen that will contain a double oven, grill top, and equipment that will allow meals to be prepared, at least in part, on site.

The new gymnasium, not quite regulation sized, will provide ample room for students to play volleyball, basketball, and more.

Special education rooms, as well as two Title One rooms are located in proximity to the music and art rooms, which double as the tornado safe rooms with their walls built of concretefilled block.

School board members noted the brighter colors that will define the classrooms for second and third grade students.

Each grade will also have a specific bathrooms, each with a separate girls and boys room and a common sink area so teachers can observe that students are using proper handwashing techniques. There will also be a combination water fountain/bottle filling station for each grade. Two other combination units will be located elsewhere in the school, as well as one bottle filling station at the bottom of the north stairwell near an accessory entrance and

VERONICA COONS Great Bend Tribune

Students from Roosevelt Elementary and Lincoln Elementary visited the construction site of Hoisington’s newest school Wednesday afternoon where they signed their name on a beam that will crown the entrance. Each signed their name for posterity on a prepared beam and watched it lifted into place. It was part of a topping up ceremony arranged by the contractor, Nabholz Construction.

COURTESY IMAGE

An artist rendition of the New Lincoln Elementary School that is expected to open its doors in time for the start of school in 2017.

the door to the playground.

That station, it was decided, would not include a water fountain in order to avoid any possible congestion.

Second floor More muted colors define the space for the fourth and fifth grade students. The second floor also includes

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Board members’ impressions of the building were positive.

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GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE â&#x20AC;˘ SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2017 â&#x20AC;˘

9

ELLINWOOD

Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flood control effort flowing well

BY STAFF REPORTS

E

LLINWOOD â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Since its founding about 140 years ago, flooding has been a reoccurring problem in the Barton County community.

Recent steps by city officials here are aimed at correcting that.

Now, the work is underway. Agreements have been reached with area landowners, trees have been removed and the ground is ready to be leveled and planted with grass in time for spring rains.

It is also time to secure funding to go ahead with project. The City Council will hold a study session in a few weeks with the possible result being a bond issue.

In order to complete the project, the city will need several more thousands of dollars which are not in the budget and one solution is to issue a bond. Last year, the city retired the 1997 bond for the sewer plant build. In 2017, another bond will be paid off, leaving the city debt free, so starting over with a new bond is not out of the question, officials said.

Floating a bond issue is a time consuming and expensive process, so while they are in the preliminary exploration process, another infrastructure issue is being

considered with an eye towards bundling the two together into one bond.

That issue is the poor condition of curb and gutter and streets in several locations, many of which need replacing.

Ellinwood streets are about one-third brick, one-third asphalt, one-third concrete, and a few gravel streets, Komarek said. The brick streets are in the worse shape, and Ellinwood Superintendent of Streets Kevin Clair advises replacing them.

This would entail removing the brick and replacing it with either asphalt or concrete.

Up to now Drive north on Hirsch Street and within a mile of US 56, on either side of a small bridge, one can see where trees were removed in the area.

Since finalizing agreements with two Ellinwood landowners in the fall of 2016, the city has been working diligently to implement a flood control plan with a significant portion in place

by March.

Ellinwood City Manager Chris Komarek has served in the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electrical department since 1981.

In addition to being the interim city manager, he is

also the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electrical plant supervisor and checks in at the power plant every day.

His knowledge of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s infrastructure made him the perfect fit when the previous city manager, Bud Newberry, abruptly stepped down from his position earlier in 2016.

He had been working closely with Newberry on a plan with the Kansas Department of Transportation to make major improvements on the stretch of US 56 running through the city.

He was also familiar with the initial work the city had started to address flooding that has occurred twice in the past decade, most recently in 2014. Those initial steps included a study by civil engineers EBH & Associates that identified the problem and possible solutions.

And while the flood control project and the highway project are not related, the fact they are both happening at the same time may prove a bonus for the city.

Flooding from a different direction Since its founding in the late 1800â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Ellinwood would from time to time experience flooding when the Arkansas River to the south of the town couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t handle the pressure of torrential rains.

But in recent years, as farm-

ing practices have changed, the river is more often a trickle, and even during heavy rains flooding hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t occurred. Now, Ellinwood is threatened by water coming from the northern and western parts of the county.

At a council meeting last autumn, Komarek produced images of Barton County. He traced a network of what he referred to as sloughs back to the area north of Doonanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and south of Barton Community College where some of the water that ends up in Ellinwood begins to flow.

Another slough travels back to the Cheyenne Bottoms area around Hoisington. There are locations northwest of the city where, if the pressure is too great, the water breaks out of the sloughs and in some instances travels along ditches or across farmland until it reaches Ellinwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Airport Road at the far west end of the city. The first signs of flooding occur there, resulting in washouts of the road in places, and requiring the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s road crew to make repairs after water recedes.

Following heavier rains, water flows through a slough that skirts around the northern neighborhoods of Ellinwood, onto land owned

by Mary Jo and Ronald Cunningham on the west

side of Hirsch, and Kathleen Hildenbrand on the east side of Hirsch.

Nearing the bridge where Hirsch crosses over the slough, over time a number of volunteer trees sprang up, and with newer no-till farming practices, stubble left on fields have washed into the slough and has been caught in the trees, creating essentially a natural dam.

The remedy The city formalized easement agreements with the Cunninghams and Hildenbrand last fall for the purpose of maximizing efficient drainage and construction of a drainage channel over both of their properties.

Temporary easements were also secured allowing the city access to bring in equipment to tear out and dispose of the trees and debris that have accumulated in the slough over the years. Both parties have been compensated for the easements and for any loss of crops farmed on the land which is a direct result of work being done on the project. After the construction of the drainage is complete, the city will plant a native grass to protect against erosion, and will mow that grass regularly throughout the year, Komarek said.

Since the agreements were

signed, the city has removed a number of trees. They are waiting on approval of an application from the state to begin removal of the other debris in the channel. When that is in order, the city, with help pledged from Lincoln Township, of which Ellinwood is inside, the debris will be removed starting at the eastern end of the slough, working towards the west. This, Komerek said, is important so that if a rain occurs between then and now, the pressure will not be too great on the western edge of the buildup.

In a perfect world, there would be no rain until all the debris has been removed.

At the eastern edge of the buildup, water flows under the highway east of town, and eventually make its way to the Arkansas River. Once past the obstruction, the natural capacity is enough to handle the flow, Komarek said.

This first step in the flood control project will hopefully go a long way towards protecting the city. The city is currently in communication with other landowners to the west and the east for further easements. Ultimately, Komarek hopes the county will help out with equipment and labor further up the line to help the city further.

Splash Pad set to become reality ELLINWOOD â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A splash pad will be coming to Ellinwood after the Ellinwood Rotary Club was successful in raising the full amount needed for the project. The Ellinwood City Council at its January meeting gave its approval to write the check to pay for the materials and labor needed to complete payment.

The effort to bring the water feature to the community dates back to last April.

At that time, Rosie Joiner, a member of the Ellinwood Rotary Club, presented an

update on the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress raising the money for the pad to be installed at Ellinwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s City Park near the public pool. The projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s estimated cost for the pad, water features, and installation of all trains, valves, controllers, site improvements by the city like grading, sodding and installing electrical and plumbing was $113,712.50.

At that point, the club had raised all but $36,737 in cash and in-kind donations, grants, and cash pledges.

Then, in November, cement was poured for the much anticipated water

attraction.

Come December, the Rotary Club got some good news. The results of the Golden Belt Community Foundation Giving Tuesday

were announced. In the spirit of #GivingTuesday and to celebrate their 20th Anniversary, the foundation awarded $20,000 in grants across the four-coun-

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• GREAT BEND (KAN.) TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2017

CLAFLIN

VERONICA COONS Great Bend Tribune

Vickie and Randy Oeser, with their grandson Layton, have spearheaded a project to have welcome signs posted at the east and west ends of the city. The reflective sign should be up sometime this spring.

At Claflin, the signs point to city pride

BY VERONICA COONS vcoons@gbtribune.com

C

LAFLIN - Vickie Oeser and her husband,Randy, travel the area often. She noticed a lot of towns of different sizes all had one thing in common.

“Almost every town has a welcome sign,” she said, mentioning Bushton, Holyrood, Great Bend and Hoisington among them. “Claflin doesn’t have anything. We wanted to fix that.’

Early in 2016, the Oesers

approached the Claflin City Council and asked permission to take on a project to bring welcoming signage to their home town. After doing some initial cost estimates, they decided to work on one sign at a time, to be placed on K-4 on both the east and west ends of town. The city gave them a nod of support, and they went to work learning what is involved in having a sign erected.

They contacted the Kansas Department of Transportation to find out how to transform their

dream into reality. They were given guidelines and requirements for the sign.

After learning that the sign project would not be hindered by its proximity to the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway, the city paid the $250 processing fee to KDOT for sign placement.

Meanwhile, the Claflin Area Pride organization helped organize fundraising for the project. Oeser, a quilter, donated one of her quilts to be raffled at a CAP-sponsored social in August. Area service

organizations including the Lions Club and the Knights of Columbus chipped in, and donation cans at the local grocery store check out have steadily filled over the months.

By September, enough had been raised that the Oesers were ready to order the first sign, which they had made by a local area vendor at a cost of $763.10 (not including posts and frame). It looked like the sign would go up in the fall of 2016, but there was one more hurdle to jump.

KDOT required a signed

legal agreement from the owner of the land where the sign would be placed.

Jeff Beck owns the property at the eastern edge of the city, and agreed to host the sign in the corner of his fenced pasture on the north side of the highway. Oeser anticipates receiving the release soon, and is hopeful the sign will be up for all to see sometime this spring.

The reflective sign, measuring 3-feet by 16-feet, will

stand roughly 7-feet high at the base, and will welcome all to Claflin. Once up, the Oesers would like to have another fundraising supper and kick off the second phase of the project, a sign for the west end of town.

“The community has really done a lot to make this project happen,” Vicky said.

“I didn’t mind doing the legwork and the research, filling papers out and sending them in.”

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