By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The existing turf at Hays' Larks Park was installed in 2012 and needs to be replaced. The industry standard expectation is for the turf to last 1o years.
Larks Park is owned by the city of Hays and managed by Fort Hays State University.
Jeff Boyle, director of Hays parks, is recommending a low bid of $296,773 from Mid-America Sports Construction, Lee's Summit, Missouri.
The city would pay $148,386, which is half the cost.
Commissioners will vote on the bid recommendation during their meeting Thursday.
Also on the agenda is a new hangar to be built at the Hays Regional Airport that will accommodate a new, larger airplane for the Kansas Highway Patrol.
The sole bid came from Commercial Builders, Hays, for $1.3 million.
The city will be responsible for constructing the new hangar, and KHP will purchase the hangar from the city when construction is completed. KHP will also pay the city $350,155 for project services rendered.
Most of Hays north of Interstate 70 is served by a single six-inch natural gas line provided by Midwest Energy. It crosses I-70 just east of Exit 157.
The current gas line has little to no capacity for future additions, and "during extreme weather events, we have observed gas pressure dips in parts of Hays because of constrained capacity," Midwest Energy spokesman Mike Morley wrote in a memo to city commissioners.
Midwest Energy is seeking an easement from the city to locate a second line within 5 feet of the western edge of city-owned property located southeast of 27th and Commerce Parkway, commonly known as the "Braun Property."
It would loop the gas system, providing enhanced and redundant service to the city of Hays north of I-70.
The cost of the project is estimated at $2.5 million, to be paid by Midwest Energy and scheduled for completion this year.
Commissioners will be asked to permit Toby Dougherty, city manager, to approve the easement request.
The commission will also be asked to approve the following appointments by Shaun Musil, mayor, to city boards:
The complete April 11 agenda is available here. The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.