By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The estimated cost to remodel the law enforcement center in Hays is $3 million.
With the Hays Police Department relocating to its own building, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office plans to reconfigure the space for its operations. Some funds have already been set aside for the project.
The Ellis County Commission discussed about $9.75 million in capital improvement projects during its Tuesday meeting, including plans to remodel the EMS facility in the city of Ellis.
"There are several ways we could fund this over the next couple of years until the other bond expires in 2030, which then one could offset the other and have minimal impact as we move from 2030 to 2040," Darin Myers, county administrator, said.
Ellis County’s only bond is a 10-year bond that will be paid off in 2030, funded by sales tax dollars, not property taxes.
The commission would need to hold three public meetings to approve the bond, with terms ranging from 10 years for about $609,000 to 30 years for about $320,000.
The current EMS building in the city of Ellis, built in 1970, has drainage problems, is outdated and too small to accommodate newer trucks, Myers said.
Williams Spurgeon Kuhl & Freshnock Architects prepared a preliminary design for a new facility with an estimated cost of $2 million. Previous grant attempts were unsuccessful.
The commission plans to work with the city of Ellis to gather input and explore possible financial support.
About 110 fan coil units in the administrative building require replacement at an estimated cost of $1.25 million, which is higher than initially expected. The courthouse HVAC system also requires replacement due to its inefficiency.
"If it gets below 10 degrees, it becomes less efficient and doesn't produce heat," Myers said. "Then we have to shut the courthouse down for multiple days because there's not enough heat."
Myers said maintaining the aging system costs over $200,000 a year, with replacement estimated at $3.5 million.
Commissioner Michael Berges emphasized the importance of addressing the HVAC system proactively to prevent it from becoming a future burden.