By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Two new housing proposals were presented to Hays city commissioners during their Thursday work session.
The nonprofit Epworth Village Inc. is asking for a 15-month exclusive option for the city-owned property at 26th and Main, south of Astra Bank, Greg Daughhetee said. The option would allow Epworth to raise money for a high-density housing project on the 2.1 acres.
If Epworth is successful in raising funds and city commissioners approve the project layout/design, the city would donate the land for the project, Toby Dougherty, city manager, said.
"Without some grant funding, be it private or public, it doesn't happen," Daughhetee said.
Epworth plans to pursue federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC).
The latest housing needs assessment for Hays lists housing for low-income residents as the city’s highest need.
Rent would likely run between $700 and $900 a month for the 24 to 26 two-bedroom units, Daughhetee said.
"We also saw in that housing study that some 55% of renters in our community were 'rent-challenged,' paying over 35% of their income in living costs," he said.
Epworth Village Inc. has provided low-come housing for many years at two locations in Hays, Epworth Village, 2700 Epworth Street and Epworth Towers, 2800 Augusta Lane.
Epworth's request will be considered at the Oct. 8 city commission meeting.
SEE RELATED STORY: Rising costs resulting in more Ellis County residents struggling to make ends meet
Moderate income housing
PWC Management, Hays, purchased a 7.2 acre tract of property north of Felten Elementary School, 201 W. 29th, where it plans to build residential housing.
As part of the process, PWC is applying for a $600,000 Moderate Income Housing grant, requiring a resolution of support from the city.
The Kansas Housing Resources Corporation administers the Moderate Income Housing program, which is designed to serve the needs of households that don’t typically qualify for federal housing assistance.
The grant would provide down payment assistance for 20 of the proposed 30 single-family residences to be built. PWC also plans to apply for a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District and Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credits, which would be considered at future city commission meetings.
The resolution of support was moved on to the Oct. 8 city commission meeting.
Economic Development Policy draft
City commissioners reviewed an updated draft of the city’s Economic Development Policy. The policy was last reviewed in 2024, with changes being made last in 2021.
The updates "clean things up" and are non-substantive, Jarrod Kuckelman, assistant city manager, said.
The draft policy update will move on to a future city commission meeting.
Grow Hays executive director retirement
Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, announced his retirement at the end of the year. The Grow Hays Board of Directors has begun a search for his successor.
Commissioner comments
ACCESS Public Transportation
Commissioner Sandy Jacobs, Vice-mayor Alaina Cunningham and Dougherty serve on a task force looking at how to close the funding gap for ACCESS public transportation, operated by Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK).
The task force will next meet Oct. 6 and is expected to ask Hays and Ellis County to provide about $30,000 in combined additional funding for the 2027 fiscal year.
Dougherty told city commissioners there is available money in the city budget reserve account raised for transportation in the past.
"I can come up $22,500 in (the county's) fiscal years 2027 and again in 2028 within my budget authority if the commission is OK with it ... to stop the bleeding," Dougherty said.
DSNWK would fund half of the total shortage," said Jacobs. "It's a three-way partnership between the city, the county and DSNWK."
Sternberg Museum
The upcoming closing of Fort Hays State University's Sternberg Museum of Natural History will impact the city, several commissioners said.
"It's a huge draw to our community," said David Vilaysing.
"No options should go unexplored in keeping it open," Cunningham said.
Vilaysing said, "I would hate to see our taxes go up," but he asked what the city could do to help out.
Executive session
Dougherty called for a 20-minute executive session with commissioners, city attorney and city management staff to discuss the acquisition of real property.
No action was taken following the executive session.