By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The Hays City Commission will discuss The Grove project, employee health insurance and transient guest tax rates on Thursday.
Grove Development project
Sporer Land Development offered the lowest bid of $3,027,348 for various infrastructure improvements in The Grove housing development project.
Driggs Design Group also prepared a $100,438 contract for engineering services, including inspections and testing.
Grow Hays, the developer, submitted an application for economic incentives and requested the city finance $825,000 in RHID-eligible costs.
Health insurance for city employees
The commission will review the 2025 renewal rates from Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The renewal shows a 12.79% increase. Despite this, the city's annual growth remains below the national average.
The commission will discuss the insurance plan and the $625 employer contribution to employees' health savings accounts (HSA).
Transient guest tax rates
A charter ordinance will be presented to the city to raise the transient guest tax rate by 1.25%, bringing it to 8.25%.
The increase would support the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, generating about $250,000 in additional annual revenue.
The complete Oct. 17 agenda is available here.
The meeting starts at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.