Council names assistant administrator

Dale Hogg, Great Bend Tribune, Kan.
·4 min read

Nov. 22—Great Bend City Council meeting at a glance

Here is a quick look at what the Great Bend City Council did Monday night:

—Heard a presentation from Bob Wetmore, co-director of Dodge City-based Great Plains Development Inc. about the services GPD provides. This is a non-profit economic development agency that works with cities and counties by helping with loans to them as well as entrepreneurs.

—Approved the purchase of a 2023 Ford F-250 3/4 ton 4x4 pickup truck for $45,365 from Marmie Ford for the Park Department. This truck will replace a 1993 Dodge

Dakota and help the department operate more efficiently with its towing capabilities, said Public Lands Director Scott Keeler.

—Approved naming current city Building Official Logan Burns as the new assistant city administrator. This action followed a 15-minute executive session added to the agenda Monday night.

—Held a 30-minute executive session to discuss information deemed privileged in the attorney-client relations. The executive session included the council, Mayor Cody Schmidt, City Administrator Kendal Francis and the City Attorney Allen Glendenning.

When they reconvened in open session, no action was taken.

—Heard a report from City Administrator Kendal Francis. He focused on the ongoing project to install the new automated water meter reading system.

—Heard a report from Christina Hayes, community coordinator and Convention and Visitors Bureau director. She focused on the Home for the Holidays festival this coming Saturday and the city's 150th anniversary celebration.

—Approved abatements for trash and refuse violations at: 2512 16th St., Lewis Presley Jr.; 432 Locust St., Myriam Concepcion and Banuelos Silva; 300 Plum St., Wanda Gamboa; 421 Dogwood St., Maliegha Jade Prieto; 800 Monroe St., Israel Sanchez; 1618 Jefferson St., Max and Sars Hames; 57 3rd St., Adam Chartier; 105 3rd St., Adam Chartier; 101 3rd St., Adam Chartier; 1622 19th St., Lakeyia Jones; 218 Pine St., Lawrence Rowe; 1814 Adams St., Steven Favela; 2526 11th St., Gary and Gail Alexander; and 1445 12th St., Kevin and Marleen Davison.

—Approved abatements for motor vehicle violations at: 819 Stone St., Doris Arispe; and 1447 9th St,, Teeter LLC.

Current Great Bend Building Official Logan Burns was named the assistant city administrator by the City Council Monday night. The action followed a 15-minute executive session added to the evenings agenda.

However, the appointment was not unanimous.

"I want to start off by asking if (City Administrator Kendal Francis) believes that the City of Great Bend needs an assistant city administrator?" said Ward 3 Councilman Davis Jimenez as the council reconvened in open session.

"I guess, in all honesty, I'd say no," Francis said. "I do think that the reorganization as it structured is needed. I don't know that we necessarily need that position to be headed by an assistant city administrator."

Under this restructuring, there will be Community Development Department that will now be headed up by Burns who will report to Francis. This department bundles together code enforcement, building inspections and permitting, and it will also work with Public Lands.

The city has budgeted funds to fill the post since 2013, but it has remained vacant. Those funds are part of the end-of-year transfers that go towards other projects, Francis said, noting it has been nice have that money available.

However, it was fellow Ward 3 Councilman Cory Urban who moved to appoint Burns. Voting for the hiring with him were Ward 4 Councilman Brock McPherson, Ward 2 Councilman Kevyn Soupiset, Ward 2 Councilwoman Jolene Biggs and Ward 1 Councilwoman Lindsey Krom-Craven.

It passed 5-2 with Jimenez and Ward 4 Councilwoman Natalie Towns voting against it.

A new challenge

For his part, Burns said somewhat nervously this will "definitely be a change," but he is excited about the challenge. He has been with the city for about three and half years serving basically as the building inspector.

He will still oversee inspections and code enforcement, but will now have other administrative duties, he said. But, he said he feels his current job has prepared him for this.

The time line for the transition is uncertain, he said. They will have to fill the job he is leaving behind and replace Maggie Glynn, inspection technician, who is retiring soon.