By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
After a 40-minute discussion Thursday and three previous meetings, the Hays City Commission unanimously approved two ordinances creating a common consumption area downtown to allow outdoor possession and drinking of alcoholic liquor and cereal malt beverages.
Commissioner Mason Ruder was absent from the meeting.
Commissioners heard from the owners of Chuck's bar and On The Rocks restaurant, 507 W. Seventh, who wanted to be included in the area but were ultimately turned down. The two businesses share a building near residential neighborhoods and across the street from Fort Hays State University.
"We weren't trying to exclude anyone," said Mayor Shaun Musil, "just trying not to go through any neighborhoods."
The city will apply to the state for the one-year common consumption license. Businesses within that area or immediately adjacent to it wishing to participate must also apply to the state for a license.
Containers, which shall not be glass, must display the name or logo of the participating business.
Year-round hours of operation will be from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., which aligns with state law for the consumption or selling of alcohol.
The area of jurisdiction will be from Seventh and 13th streets to Oak and Ash streets, with a smaller slice between Ninth and 10th streets to Fort Street.
Signs and lines of demarcation will be installed to alert the public they are entering or exiting the common consumption area. Collin Bielser, deputy city manager, estimated the cost for signs, posts and paint would be between $10,000 and $15,000.
City Manager Toby Dougherty said Friday morning he expects it will be about a month before the common consumption area is in effect.
Currently, Hays city ordinances allow public consumption only in a park or approved sidewalk dining location.
In other business, commissioners:
• Approved annexation of property at 2520 Canterbury for the future proposed housing development of The Grove by Grow Hays. Grow Hays and McGinnis Revocable Trust No. 1 own the property and the vacant lots surrounding this address.
• Approved annexation of property at 4945 General Hays Road north of Interstate 70, the former Hays Livestock Commission sale barn. It's owned by Vernie’s Trux-N-Equip, Inc., which plans to relocate its facility to this property.
• Approved the 2023 Uniform Public Offense Code and 2023 Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas cities to reflect changes and updates made by the state legislature
• Approved a bid of $25,590 from Primary Painting & Remodeling, Russell, for the staining of wood structures at the Hays Aquatic Park. The bid is below the budget.
• Reviewed changes in the 2024 draft budget as a result of Monday's joint county/city meeting in which it was agreed that Ellis County will take over operations of the emergency dispatch center beginning Jan. 1. The city plans to build its own police station/municipal court facility in 2025. As part of the agreement, Hays will take over the maintenance of seven roads adjacent to the city limits.