By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
A resolution to set a public hearing date for establishing a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District in Tallgrass 2nd Addition, Phase 4, will be considered by Hays city commissioners during their work session Thursday.
The local developer, Heart of America, Ellis County, wants the district implemented on the 101 lots north of 22nd Street and east of Wheatland Avenue. It's the largest known housing development ever created in Hays.
Heart of America proposes the city finance and construct the district eligible items, and the city utilize district revenues to offset its costs. Heart of America would also provide a deposit equal to 30% of the projected infrastructure costs.
If the Reinvestment Housing Incentive District is created, the fund would collect incremental property tax revenues for a maximum period of 25 years, an estimated $6.8 million.
The commission will also hear proposed updates to the 2024 city building code, which was last adopted in 2017 as well as a request for permission by the Downtown Hays Development Corporation to build a small storage building adjacent to the pavilion in the Union Pacific Plaza Park, a city park.
In light of the current drought and its projected continuation by the National Weather Service, a wellfield status update of the Smoky Hill River Wellfield will be presented by City Manager Toby Dougherty.
"The wellfield is used every day and is one of our main sources of water," said Jarrod Kuckelman, assistant city manager.
The complete March 20 city agenda is available here.
The work session begins at 4 p.m. Thursday in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.