By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
"Exciting" and "something we've been needing for a long time"
That's how Hays city commissioners described the next steps for three more housing and business/retail developments that were unanimously approved by the commission Thursday.
Jess Rohr, public works director, called approval of the final plat for the Depot Addition near 10th and Walnut a "great example of a good infill project. ... All the utilities are in place. We're not building new streets."
Hays developer Michael Graham has proposed building a multi-family apartment complex on the city-owned property, which is the site of the former train depot.
A new street will be constructed as part of the 27th and Main Street Addition.
Astra Bank will move its operations to 27th and Main and develop the two lots, including residential multi-family housing and a neighborhood shopping district.
The property will have access along Fort Street, Main Street, 27th Street and from the planned extension of 26th Street through the center of the development.
The land was originally purchased to be the site of a future police station. However, an agreement with Astra Bank was reached to convert their existing building, 1100 Fort, into the new Hays police station and municipal court facility.
Commissioners also approved the planned development of The Grove by Grow Hays.
The retiree-focused mixed housing will be built north of Hays Medical Center on Canterbury Drive. This is the final step before infrastructure bids can be submitted.
The development will also extend the city’s multiuse path network by constructing a one-mile connector from the juncture of 22nd Street and the existing HaysMed path north to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History.
"This is something new for Hays and is likely to bring in new people to the community," said Shaun Musil, mayor.
Construction of the Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center will start late this summer. The facility will also house the new senior center and a child care.
A public hearing was set for Sept. 12 to establish a reinvestment housing incentive district requested by Grow Hays. The developer has proposed that the city finance and construct the project infrastructure. The incentive district revenues would come from incremental property tax revenues collected on the project site for up to 25 years.
Local property taxes will not be affected, said Collin Bielser, deputy city manager.
A charter ordinance allowing the city to issue general obligation bonds to finance projects in its capital improvements plan by simple adoption of a resolution was also approved.
"It gives greater flexibility for the city to authorize certain capital improvement projects," said Kim Rupp, finance director.
Commissioners also talked about sales tax collections, which are slightly down so far in 2024.
Those collections are the primary funds for the city's general fund.
"Cautious, but not concerned" is how Dougherty said the commission should think of the situation.
Current tax collections for July are up somewhat, Rupp said.
Musil said he didn't want the city to be too reliant on revenue from athletic teams coming to Hays to use the Bickle/Schmidt Sports Complex.
"Our visitors to the Sternberg Museum are up considerably in June and July compared to last year," said Commissioner Reese Barrick, museum executive director, "and probably 80% of them are from out of town."
The 2025 budget estimates sales tax revenues to bounce back a little in 2025, with a 2% increase estimated over 2024 projections.
In other business, commissioners:
• Approved proceeding with a nuisance abatement at 515 E. 11th. Another requested abatement for 1700 Marshall Road was moved to the next city commission meeting because "considerable progress" had been made at site as of Thursday morning.
• Approved appointments of Patricia Makings to the Hays Housing Authority Board and the reappointment of Mark Junk to the Hays Recreation Commission Board.
• Heard the June 2024 financial report, the recent progress report for city projects and activities, and a look ahead to the Convention and Visitors Bureau calendar of events for August 2024.