Great Bend’s on-call engineer Josh Golka says PEC plans to max out the $6 million of bonds for the water line improvements. The issuance of the bonds were earmarked specifically for waterline repairs, so APAC Kansas will try to replace as many aging pipes as possible.

This approach was highlighted when Golka came before the Great Bend City Council for a second change order to the project.

Josh Golka Audio

The second change order included additional improvements and modifications and is not to exceed $510,021. The main purpose of this change order is to address breaks and leaks in other pipes branching off the main waterlines and abandoning the old existing waterline.

The new pipes have put pressure on the old lines and residents may have noticed the water in the gutters.

Josh Golka Audio

The first change order came in under the not to exceed amount of $294,596. The final amount for the first change order was $214,528, which leaves the City with a remaining budget for additional improvements of $1,066,042.

Great Bend City Administrator Kendal Francis noted the project is roughly 70 percent complete and expects it to be completely finished by late fall or early winter.