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Airport

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1. Does Great Bend provide scheduled commercial air service?

Commercial flights to and from Denver operate daily at the Great Bend Municipal Airport. For more information, contact Great Lakes Airlines at (620) 792-4900 or visit Great Lakes Airlines Website.

2. Does Great Bend Municipal Airport comply with enhanced security guidelines?

In compliance with Homeland Security regulations, access to the aircraft parking areas and runways/taxiways is restricted, and the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) provides the same screening process as any major airport. Passengers must check-in one hour prior to their scheduled departure time.

3. Does the airport have an industrial park with room for development?

The airport currently has approximately 500 acres of land available for industrial development and aviation-related business.

4. Are tours available at the airport?

The Great Bend Municipal Airport will host tours on a pre-arranged basis. Please contact the Airport Manager’s office for staff availability at (620) 793-4168.

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Aquatics

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1. What are the hours at the Wetlands at Great Bend?

The Wetlands is open daily from 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm. The facility is also open on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm for family night.

Hours are subject to weather conditions.

For more information, please visit the Wetlands

2. Can the Wetlands at Great Bend be reserved for private parties?

The Wetlands is available to groups wishing to hold private parties. Private parties will be available on most weekdays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm and on weekends from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The fee for renting the facility is $150 per hour.

In addition, any group that has more than 100 people in attendance will be charged an extra $1 for every person in excess of 100. A deposit of $50 will be required when reserving the facility and will be applied to the total cost of renting the pool. Sales tax applies.

Please contact (620) 792-1516 to reserve the pool during the pool season. Outside the pool season, contact (620) 793-4160.

For more information, please visit the Wetlands

3. How can I find out if the pool will be open due to weather conditions?

Weather often interrupts the opening of the pool. To find out if the pool will be open when weather may be a concern, please call (620) 792-1516.

If the pool will be closed or if the opening will be delayed, we will provide a recorded message indicating the plans for the day.

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Building Inspection

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1. How do I get my gas turned on?

If your gas has been off for a while, Kansas Gas may require an inspection. To get an inspection the gas lines must be pressured and inspected while the gauge is still attached. On rental property a licensed plumber must take out the permit, pressure the lines, and call for an inspection. Only if the home is owned and occupied by the owner may the owner take out the permit and perform his own work. Structures may not be built over gas lines.

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Cemetery

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1. How can I purchase a cemetery lot?

To purchase a cemetery lot, please contact the Cemetery Office at
(620) 793-4167. We will be happy to assist you with your questions.

2. When do we need to pick up Memorial Day flowers?

Memorial Day flowers need to be removed from graves by 8:00 am on the Monday following Memorial Day. This will allow the cemetery staff to continue mowing and perform the necessary maintenance at the cemeteries. We will not be responsible for any items left after this day.

3. What are your rates?

The rates vary depending on the day of the week for the burial.

For more information, please call (620) 793-4167 or view our Fee Schedule

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City Administrator

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1. How do I request an item be placed on a City Council Agenda?

The Great Bend Mayor sets the City Council Agenda. Requests to place items on the agenda must be submitted to the Great Bend City Administrator. The requests can be made by calling the Great Bend City Administrator at (620) 793-4111, or mailing the request in writing to the Great Bend City Administrator, P.O. Box 1168, Great Bend, KS 67530. Please include your contact information and a detailed description of the requested item. The City Administrator will notify you when and if the item will be placed on the agenda.

2. How do I report a concern or complaint to the City of Great Bend?

There are two ways to report a complaint / concern to the City of Great Bend. The first way is visit the home page and click on the link that says “Report a Concern”. Here you will be given a list of more frequent concerns that are received. You will be required to give some basic information about yourself mainly so you can receive a follow up communication on your concern or complaint. If the concern is not listed or you feel more comfortable contacting staff directly then you can also call the Administrative Office at (620) 793-4111. Report A Concern

3. How do I sign up to receive council meeting agendas and/or minutes or other information from City?

By clicking on the link on the Home page that states “Notify Me Signup" you can sign-up to be notified digitally when council meeting agendas or minutes or other news items become available. Under the “Notify Me” module you can pick and choose what news and information you wish to be notified about. You have the option of unsubscribing at anytime when emails are received. Notify Me.

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EMS

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1. Why do I have to pay for a public service like EMS? Don't I already pay taxes for that?

Actually, very little of our operational budget comes from tax-based funding, in fact, less than 20% of our budget comes from the taxpayers of Barton County. The remainder of our operational budget comes from billing for our services.

2. Why didn't Medicare cover my ambulance bill?

Unfortunately, Medicare does not always cover ambulance charges to the hospital. It is important to remember that Medicare is a benefit, not an insurance plan. Medicare determines whether an ambulance trip is medically necessary by an established set of guidelines. Many factors contribute to this decision by Medicare.

Some of these factors include:

• Did the patient's condition at the time 911 was called warrant immediate medical attention? Remember, this decision is made by Medicare, not be the EMS staff attending to the patient.
• Could the patient have been taken to a hospital by any other means of transportation other than an ambulance?
• If the patient was being transferred from one hospital to another hospital by ambulance, could the patient have received the same level of required care from the transferring hospital? Also in many cases Medicare will not pay for transport from a greater facility to a lesser facility, which includes being transported from a hospital back to a residence.

3. What do I do if Medicare does not pay my ambulance bill?

If Medicare does not cover your ambulance bill, you have the right to file with Medicare for a Medical Review. This process is explained in the Medicare Remittance Notice that the patient receives from Medicare in the mail.

When filing for a Medical Review, it is recommended that the patient provide the following documents to Medicare:

• A letter from the patient's family physician explaining why the ambulance transport was medically necessary
• Copies of the patient's ambulance transport medical records. The patient may contact the Butler County EMS Billing Office at (316) 321-9260 to obtain a copy of his/her records
• Copies of the patient's medical records from the hospital that the patient was transported to
• A letter from the patient explaining why 9-1-1 was called for medical assistance

Notice: Filing for Medical Review does not guarantee that Medicare will reverse their original decision, but is an option to all patients covered through Medicare.

4. Why wasn't a claim filed with my secondary insurance company after Medicare denied my claim?

Most patients have insurance coverage secondary to Medicare. However, most of these secondary insurance policies are Medicare Secondary Supplement Policies, such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan 65. These secondary insurance coverage plans will only cover balances after Medicare pays their coverage rates. Therefore, if Medicare does not cover the charges, then neither will most of the secondary insurance plans.

5. The hospital filed with my insurance company, so why didn't Great Bend EMS?

If a patient receives a bill for their ambulance transport without insurance being filed, it is most likely because the EMS Billing Office does not have complete insurance information on file for the patient. Please contact the Billing Office at (620) 793-4141. This information can be mailed to:
Great Bend EMS
1205 Williams
Great Bend, KS 67530
Fx: (620) 793-4146

Once all insurance information is on file with our billing office, we will gladly file a claim with your insurance provider.

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Engineering

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1. Where does my sewer line connect to the City sewer main line?

The City Engineering Department can provide the location of sewer wyes. Call (620) 793-4111 or see us at 1209 Williams St.

2. Does the City have copies of maps available?

The City Engineering Department does have maps available for a fee. Call (620) 793-4111 or see us at 1209 Williams St.

3. Does the City have Plat information?

The City Engineering Department can provide Plat information such as lot dimensions, easements, addition lot and block numbers. Contact us at (620) 793-4111 or see us at 1209 Williams St.

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Finance

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1. Where can I register to vote?

City residents have the choice of registering to vote at the Barton County Clerk's Office or the City Front Door Building at 1615 10th Street.

2. What is the population of Great Bend and other cities and townships in Kansas?

This information can be located by selecting economic and demographics from the Kansas Department of Budgets website.

3. Can I pay my water / sewer bill at City Hall?

You may drop a payment in the drop box at the City Hall which is picked up the following morning. All cash payments and customer service needs to be done at the Front Door Building at 1615 10th Street.

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Fire Inspections

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1. How big of a LP tank can I install?

LP tanks may not be used in the City except for barbeque grills and for roofing by permit only.

2. Is training available?

The fire department provides hands-on live fire training to your personnel.

3. Who inspects my proposed day care?

The Great Bend Fire Dept performs initial and annual inspections for day care. The Kansas State Fire Marshall requires a home inspection as regulations for day care homes exceed homes not used for day care.

4. What regulations govern fire codes?

The Great Bend Fire Dept (GBFD) has adopted the 2006 International Fire Code.

5. Is a license required for fireworks? When may fireworks be utilized?

Yes, the GBFD has a list of fire safety guidelines and regulations for firework stands prior to the final inspection and commencing to sell fireworks in the City. Fireworks may be shot from 10:00 am to 12:00 midnight on July 4 only.

6. Are tent permits required?

The GBFD issues tent permits and inspects to see that these regulations and fire safety codes are met.

7. When is my business inspected for fire safety?

Annual fire inspections are made on commercial structures. The property owner is given a reasonable time to correct violations prior to a re-inspection.

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Front Door Community Center

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1. Is internet access available in the meeting rooms at the Front Door?

Wireless internet service is available in both meeting rooms at the Front Door.

2. How do we make arrangements to schedule the meeting rooms at the Front Door?

To schedule the meeting rooms at the Front Door, please contact Julie Urban or Terry Hoff at (620) 793-4111. For more information on the fees and procedures to use of the building, please refer to the additional information provided.

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Human Resources

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1. Can we fill out an application or send a resume for City of Great Bend job openings at any time?

Thank you for your interest in employment with the City of Great Bend. An application is required for each position. Unsolicited or partially completed applications or resumes for positions not currently open will not be considered. Department heads will review applications and interview those applicants he/she determines will best meet the needs of the City, their department and the essential job functions of the position. Should your application be selected you will be contacted by Human Resources to arrange an interview.

2. What benefits are offered to City employees?

The City provides competitive benefit packages for the employee and family. For more information, please see Employee Benefits.

3. Is the Great Bend Police Department hiring?

The City of Great Bend accepts applications throughout the year for the Police Department. Applications are kept on file to develop a test group. When an opening occurs and the department is prepared to test, those who have applications on file may receive an invitation to test. Applications are unique to the test group and another application must be submitted for future test groups.

4. What does it mean when a job application deadline is “open until filled”?

Open until filled means that there is no application deadline. We will continue to accept applications until a candidate is selected, at which time the job posting will be removed.

5. How will I know whether I am being considered for the job?

Applications are screened at different times depending on the job title and application deadlines. Please do not call to check on the status of your application. You will be notified as soon as we determine whether or not you are being considered for a position.

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Legal

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1. What is the function of the Municipal Court?

The Municipal Court has jurisdiction of violation of City ordinances for traffic cases, certain criminal misdemeanors, and other types of cases such as violation of fire codes, nuisance codes, building codes, and parking violations.

2. Where is the Municipal Court located?

The Great Bend Municipal Court is located at 1217 Williams and can be reached by calling (620) 793-4124.

3. What are the hours of the Municipal Court?

Municipal Court is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Municipal Court offices are closed on holidays.

4. Who is the Municipal Judge?

The Municipal Judge is Charles Pike.

5. When is court in session?

The Municipal Court is in session at 8:30 am on Mondays for arraignments. The trial session of the Municipal Court is at 8:30 am on Thursdays.

6. What is a no contest (nolo contendere) plea in the Municipal Court?

Although a no contest plea entered is not an admission of guilt, the defendant does not contest the facts and will be found guilty without a trial and a sentence will be imposed. As with a plea of guilty, one may present mitigating matters to the court after being found guilty.

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Parks Department

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1. How do I reserve Jack Kilby Square?

Jack Kilby Square and the band shell can be reserved for special events on a first-come, first-served basis.

Reservations can be made by calling (620) 793-4160 or visiting:
1209 Williams
Great Bend, KS

2. Can we reserve the shelter house at Vet’s Park?

At the present time, the large shelter at Vet’s Park may be reserved by calling (620) 793-4160. Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis.

3. What time does the Park Close?

Midnight

4. Are alcoholic beverages allowed in the parks?

City ordinance allows 3.2 alcohol content beer in the shelter houses and picnic areas of the parks. Glass containers are not allowed.

The Great Bend Recreation Commission prohibits the use of alcoholic beverages in any area where their activities are being held, such as ball fields, soccer fields, and other sports fields.

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Planning & Zoning

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1. What steps do I have to follow to get a property rezoned?

To rezone a property an individual must start by completing an application for rezoning. There are two separate applications depending on whether the property is located in the Great Bend city limits or in the three-mile extraterritorial zoning authority around Great Bend. There is fee associated with that application.

The applicant must also submit a Certificate of Ownership provided by a qualified title company that lists the owners of record within 200 foot radius (for properties in Great Bend) and 1000 feet (for property in three-mile radius) around the subject property. This certificate of ownership is used to notify nearby property owners of the proposed change to zoning. The City of Great Bend must abide by state statutes that requires certain public and private notifications which in turn makes it essential for us to have a completed application and certificate of ownership data no less than 22 days in advance of a public hearing which is held during the Planning Commission meeting which regularly falls on the last Tuesday of each month.

The process for a conditional use permit is the same as it is for a rezoning request.

2. How long does it take to get a property rezoned or receive a conditional use permit?

Overall the process of rezoning or getting a conditional use permit generally will take approximately two months. This of course depends on a number of factors including but not limited to:

• Timing of submittal of applications and certificates of ownership (both must be in our possession 22 day in advance of the Planning Commission meeting which is the last Tuesday of the month)
• Action taken by either the Planning Commission or the City Council
• Any protest petitions filed or legal action taken by adjacent land owners to block the change

The 20 days prior to the required public hearing a notice must be placed in the official city newspaper and a notification letter must be sent to adjacent property owners (those within 200 feet in the city and those within 1000 feet in the three-mile radius).

The public hearing is held at the Great Bend Planning Commission Meeting which regularly meets the last Tuesday of each month. The Planning Commission will make their recommendation at the meeting. Following the planning commission recommendation there is a required 14 day period in which individuals can file a protest petition against the request.

After the Planning Commission makes their recommendation and the 14 day waiting period expires the item goes to the Great Bend City Council for their decision. Generally the item will be placed on the council agenda for the third Monday of the month following the public hearing. When the Great Bend City Council hears the request they have three choices: approve the recommendation of the Planning Commission, deny the recommendation of the planning commission, or send the item back to Planning Commission for further discussion or review.

If they send it back for further deliberation to the Planning Commission it will placed on the next Planning Commission agenda. And will be returned to City Council on the next regular meeting following the return to the Planning Commission. If the City Council approves the item, it becomes official upon both signature and publication of the ordinance or resolution in the official city newspaper.

3. How do I find out whether a use complies with planning and zoning regulations?

If you know the zoning district designation for a property, you can generally find out what is allowed by looking in the Great Bend Zoning Regulations. Part 3 – Part 6 of these regulations discuss what is allowed in the specific zoning districts.

When looking at these regulations, you will find that most uses can be clearly defined. However, there are sometimes uses that do not fit perfectly into any description. If there is any question as to what category a use fits into contact the Great Bend Zoning Administrator at (620) 793-4111.

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Raptor Center

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1. What should I do if I find an injured bird?

The Raptor Center is one of the premier rehabilitation centers in the U.S. The first step is call for assistance. However, your help is needed. Please stay with or get a good location on the bird. We will need to be able to find it when we arrive.

For assistance, please call:
Ph: (620) 793-4226 for assistance
Ph: 620) 786-5420 for emergencies

2. Should I give the bird water or food?

Please do not attempt to feed or water the bird, it could result in choking.

3. Can I keep a baby or injured bird?

All raptors are protected by federal law. In order to raise a bird it is necessary to have all of the federal permits and follow the rehabilitation procedures.

Young birds need special attention very quickly. Please never attempt to do it on your own for a couple of days. By then, it is too late.

4. What do I do if I have seen the bird down on the ground for a while?

Time is critical in rehabilitation work. Call as soon as possible. Old injuries heal poorly.

General Ph: (620) 793-4226
Emergency Ph: (620) 791-7778

5. Can I pick up a baby great horned owl?

If you see a young great horned owl on the ground, be aware that mom probably is near by and more than willing to defend her young. This will result in an attack. Owls are very aggressive.

6. What is The Raptor Center going to do with the bird?

The goal of The Raptor Center is to rehabilitate and return to the wild all bids brought to the Center.

7. What do raptors eat?

Raptors are predators. It is very important to feed a species appropriate diet of whole body prey in order to maintain proper nutrition.

8. How do you become a falconer?

For information regarding falconry, please consult Kansas State Wildlife and Parks.

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Sewer & Wastewater Division

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1. Where does the water go after it is flushed or dumped down the drains from my home?

It goes into the sanitary sewer system to the Wastewater Treatment Facility.

2. What happens to the treated water when it leaves the wastewater treatment plant?

The water is released into the Arkansas River for irrigation and aquatic life.

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Street Division

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1. Is an ordinance in effect for keeping motorized vehicles off the hike and bike trail?

Yes. The flood control dike north and south of the Arkansas River is in the city limits.
City Ordinance 10.32.010 states:


A.It is unlawful for any person to drive or operate a motor vehicle, as defined by the standard traffic ordinances of the city, upon any dike or upon any levee system located within the city limits of the city. This section shall not apply to the operation of authorized maintenance or emergency vehicles upon said dikes or levee system.


B.Violation of this section shall be considered a Class A misdemeanor as defined by the Uniform Public Offense Code and it shall be punishable by a fine of up to $2500, a jail sentence of one year, or both said fine and prison.

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Utilities

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1. Who do I call if I need my water turned off for repairs?

During business hours, you should call (620) 793-4100.

If it is an emergency, after-hours, or on a weekend or holiday, you should call (620) 793-4100 and follow the instructions for a water emergency.

2. Who do I call if I have a sewer line problem?

For all sewer emergencies, regardless of the day or time, you should call (620) 793-4170.

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Water Division

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1. Who is responsible for the water line from the meter to the house?

The property owner is responsible.