GREAT BEND — A conceptual budget for the new Great Bend police station to
be presented before the Great Bend City Council this upcoming Monday will be
more than $380,000 over budget.
Less than a year ago, the construction was not to exceed $5 million and as of
February 2022, the project budget is nearly $7.7 million. GLMV Architecture and
McCown-Gordon Construction will present a proposal of over $8 million.
On Monday’s agenda, city staff noted the amount is not necessarily the guaranteed
maximum price and there are significant contingencies built into the total
project cost. The city pointed out there are coronavirus aid and relief and
economic security funds available to cover the upfront cost if needed.
Citizens voted in favor of a .10% sales tax increase this past November to go
toward bond debt with a sunset in 20 years. The city anticipates more than $5.6
million from the bond proceeds and currently have over $2 million in savings
for the project.
The new police station will be constructed on the city-owned parking lot at the
intersection of 12th Street and Baker Avenue. The new facility will
roughly triple the size of the existing police station that was built in 1938.
In June of 2021, it was reported the anticipated cost was not to exceed $5
million. In September, the projected cost was $5.8 million. In October, the
anticipated cost was $6.7 million. In December, the design and construction was
estimated at $7.3 million.
Construction costs per square foot jumped much higher than what Great Bend initially
anticipated.
McCown-Gordon proposed beginning the site demolition in July and finishing the
construction in April of 2023.
The update and proposal will go before the city council Monday, Feb. 7.