One of the three abatements presented at Monday’s Great Bend City Council meeting was the property at 3017 10th Street. The Great Bend Hotel & Convention Center has remained closed at this location for nearly two years and is becoming an eyesore for anyone driving down the City’s busiest street. Sanitarian Austin LaViolette commented on the trash and refuse on the property and the need for mowing or trimming the weeds.
An audience member at City Hall questioned why the City does not step in and do something, but the repeated answer is the property is privately owned so the City does not have any say on how the building is maintained or used.
Great Bend City Attorney Bob Suelter told the audience member that eminent domain is out of the question.
Bob Suelter Audio
Suelter says unless the building is deemed unsafe and dangerous there is not much the City can do besides make them keep it cleaned up on the outside, and Suelter believes the building is structurally sound.
Great Bend Police Chief David Bailey stated his department has removed subjects, some homeless, that broke into the hotel through the back entrances. In April, police officers arrested a man suspected of stealing items from inside the hotel that was located hiding in between the walls of the building.
With a possible pool not drained, it was suggested an inspection be made inside the hotel to search for environmental violations.
Bob Suelter Audio
The City has reason to believe that water and electricity have been shut off to the Great Bend Hotel and that there are several taxes and bills not paid associated with the property.
The cost for the City to attempt to purchase the land and demolish the hotel would be extensive. Community Coordinator Christina Hays said the best bet is that the property comes available through the Barton County tax sale and some individuals purchase the land and develop something after the building has been razed.
The City has done a courtesy trimming of the weeds once and a business in town has voluntarily done the trimming twice. The City will continue to add the expense of cleaning up the property to the owner’s taxes.
The City of Great Bend has been trying to separate the now named Great Bend Events Center from the hotel since the City received ownership of the Events Center in 2011. The canopy that once connected the two buildings was removed and the Events Center entrance was repainted.
Suelter noted community businessmen bought the Events Center from the bank and handed over ownership of the facility to the City in 2011 for $500,000. Suelter says the City would be willing to strike a similar deal with anyone willing to purchase the hotel.
