By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays city commissioners will vote Thursday on whether to give themselves a substantial pay hike.
Each of the five members currently receives $150 a month, or $1,800 a year.
Vice-mayor Sandy Jacobs is proposing their compensation be increased starting in January to $12,000 a year, or $1,000 a month. The mayor would be paid $1,250 a month.
Hays city commissioners are paid considerably less than their peers in several similarly-sized cities as well as some smaller towns.
Jacobs, who is retired, hopes better compensation will attract more candidates and more diverse group of people running for the city commission.
She estimates commissioners spend a minimum of 15 hours a week on city business and thinks that may discourage some people who would have to take time off without pay from their jobs.
In other business, the commission will vote on issuing $3.5 million in industrial revenue bonds for the Grow Hays microfactory scheduled to open in mid-February. The city would act as a conduit issuer with Grow Hays responsible for the payments.
Requests for a $33,361 reimbursement payment to the Hays Recreation Commission for swimming pool operations will be made, along with two vehicle abatements.
Sarah Wasinger, Hays Chamber president/CEO, will present an update on activities of the Child Care Task Force of Ellis County.
Commissioners are expected to approve the updated city limits map and sign a resolution supporting Medicare expansion in Kansas.
The complete Dec. 14 agenda is available here. The meeting starts at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Vine.