By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays City Commission on Thursday approved a $5.9 million contract with PWC to renovate the former Astra Bank building, 1100 Fort, into a new police/municipal court facility.
PWC, Hays, was awarded the design-build contract for a guaranteed maximum price. The project will provide the police station with more than twice the operational space it has. The city currently rents space from the county.
The new facility will give the city room for growth. The space should be adequate for about 20 years. If the city needs to expand further, it could build in the lot's courtyard, which would extend the building's life by another 30 years.
Mayor Sandy Jacobs lauded the project, saying it is saving taxpayers about $4.5 million compared to building a new facility from the ground up.
Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said, "When we started the project, we wanted to do it right. We wanted to have space for future growth and keep on budget."
"We are very happy with where we are at," he said of the project.
Astra Bank is constructing a new facility at 27th and Main, which is expected to be open by Sept. 1.
Cemetery fees
The commission approved new cemetery fees, with most doubling in price.
Jeff Boyle, director of Parks, said the fees had not been updated in about 20 years. Most of the fees were below the cost of the services.
The proposed prices will place the city near the middle of the pack in terms of other Kansas communities of the same size.
However, Boyle said the fees are still only at about a break-even point. He said the cemetery is still operating at a deficit.
The new fee structure will bring the average burial and headstone placement cost to $1,040.
Jacobs said the city needs to continue reviewing fees for all departments so the community is not faced with such significant increases.
The other commissioners agreed, saying they appreciated the review, but hoped fee increases could be more gradual in the future.
Welcome sign
The city commission approved a low bid for a new LED marquee sign for the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2700 Vine.
The old sign was built to last eight years and lasted 16, said Melissa Dixon, CVB executive director. The deteriorated sign, installed in 2007, has been dark for two years. Dixon said the message software is no longer supported.
Commercial Sign, Hays, was the low bidder at $44,773.
About 18,000 vehicles per day pass through the intersection of 27th and Vine streets.
Dixon said the sign was the first impression Hays gave most visitors.
Jacobs said it is a great way to tell the Hays story.
Insurance
The city will pay a 30% increase in the premium for its 2025-2026 property/liability insurance policy renewal.
Kim Rupp, finance director, said the city has experienced major claims from wind and hail over the last few years, which have driven up the cost of insurance.
The city's property was recently revalued, which also contributed to the increase.
Rupp said the staff intends to actively pursue the remarketing process for the renewal in 2026-2027, including an examination of hybrid coverage and self-funding.
Chickens
The commission was slated to discuss backyard chickens during its next work session, but has pushed that agenda item into July to allow all of the commission members to be present.