By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The five candidates vying for three open seats on the Hays city commission all say they appreciate their community and want to give back to it.
Those running are Sam Allen, Reese Barrick, Mason Hickel, Sandy Jacobs, and Shaun Musil.
This is the first foray into politics for Allen, Barrick and Hickel. Jacobs and Musil are incumbents. Ron Mellick, after serving several times as a city commissioner for a combined 11 and half years, decided against running again.
All the candidates support population growth in Hays. They each see a need for economic development, more housing, and more childcare providers. Ideas for reaching those goals differ.
Samuel Allen
Allen, 20, is the youngest candidate and knows he has a lot to learn about city operations. He's willing to do that and has been regularly attending commission meetings for several months. Allen was also recently appointed a member of the CARE Council.
Allen has been a volunteer for the political state campaigns of Eber Phelps, Hays, and his mother, Laura Allen, who was a write-in candidate for Ellis County Clerk.
His ancestors settled in Catherine in 1875.
"While I may not have quite as much experience as others, I do have a sense of responsibility and accountability to the community we serve," Allen said. "I believe that we must honor our past, but sometimes we have to be willing to make changes if we are to build a better future."
One change Allen advocates is more use of social media by the city commission and individual commissioners, "bringing [them] into the 21st century technology-wise."
Allen believes utilizing several social media outlets, which he is used to doing, will appeal to younger Hays residents, educating them on city issues and encouraging them to be more involved in the community.
"They're a great tool when used correctly."
He believes the city needs to cooperate with other entities in ways to help keep students living in Hays after they graduate from Fort Hays State University, NCK Tech college or Hays Academy of Hair Design.
"We need to find ways to attract more retail businesses for shopping. That'll help them even get a job. It'll bring more money into our community which helps fund the city (through the city sales tax) and help grow the city of Hays."
Allen also wants to focus on more housing, especially at the lower income level for those just starting out.
Although he's single and has no kids of his own, Allen has heard often from other residents about the need for more childcare in Hays for working parents.
Although the city is not directly involved, a possible school bond issue for safety upgrades to aging buildings is something Allen says city commissioners should somehow support.
"If we don't have good schools, no one is going to want to live here. ... They're going to move somewhere else, spend money somewhere else, get a job somewhere else. ... That's why I think a [school] bond is a very important issue for the city."
Allen, who works as a customer service representative in the surgical unit at HaysMed, received a heart transplant at the age of 15. He wants Hays residents know that.
"Without it, I wouldn't be here today. And it tells people I'm an open book. If you want to know something, just ask, and I will answer it to the best of my ability."
Allen is currently a culinary student at NCK Tech, and a third-generation graduate of Thomas More Prep-Marian High School. He also will soon become a state board member for Kansas Legal Services which has an office in Hays.
Reese Barrick
Reese Barrick, 57, is director of the Fort Hays State University Sternberg Museum of Natural History. He's lived in Hays for 12 years.
"I feel it's time for me to give back some service to Hays and help with guiding its future," Barrick said.
The future of Hays, he believes, must include growth.
"The population of the area and in western Kansas is not growing. Hays counts a lot on people from smaller communities in the western part of the state to come to Hays for shopping and as a center for events. If we're going to lose population in this part of the state then Hays needs to grow.
"We need to bring in people which means we need housing. In order to recruit people ... we need really good schools."
Barrick acknowledges a potential school bond issue for USD 489 "is not in the city commission's purview, but advancing a school bond so we can get new schools and keep the best teachers will really advance the city of Hays."
He doesn't think the city needs to donate money towards a school bond issue. Instead, "I think the city needs to work with the school board and really push via the city commission to help promote publicity and get everybody in the city to vote for it."
Barrick serves as a member of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) advisory board which promotes Hays across the state and region. He understands the tourism impact on the city.
"One thing you find out very quickly is how many people come through Hays and stay in our hotels. The transient guest tax brings in a lot of money for Hays. ... You also get an idea of how many events are going on in Hays. ... That brings in a lot of people that are eating in our restaurants, staying in our hotels and shopping. That brings in a lot of [local] sales tax which is really what makes Hays go."
The city's general fund is primarily funded by local sales tax proceeds.
The Hays mill levy has remained the same the past 12 years.
"That means to this point the city has done a really good job of maintaining infrastructure and things that are necessary to keep the city running without having to raise it.
"Part of that is because real estate value has kept going up. So even with a constant mill levy, the money coming into the city has been increasing."
Raising the mill levy is "definitely a option when there are large infrastructure changes or things that need to be paid for, or will be necessary to advance the city."
Barrick, who also has attended many recent city commission meetings, sees a benefit in potentially increasing funding to Grow Hays for more housing. He wants to further study the possibility. Grow Hays is the city's economic development program.
More daycare is "very important" to grow the city, Barrick says, "especially is you want more young families."
He also sees a need to address the financial inequities in Hays, similar to the rest of the country.
"We have a poverty level in Hays that is at something like 17 percent, whereas our unemployment is at two percent. So it's not because there's lots of people that are choosing not to work or are unemployed."
Barrick believes his experience in managing the Sternberg Museum would translate well if he's elected as a Hays city commissioner.
"You work with the city manager and [employees] that are doing a really fine job. You find out what they need to do their job even better or the best they can, and then support them by giving them the funding that they need to do their job."
Barrick, an Eagle Scout, lives in a house purchased with his partner Nicole Frank, faculty development coordinator for FHSU Teaching Innovation and Learning Technologies, and her twins who are freshmen at Hays High School.
Mason Hickel
Mason Hickel, 31, is a write-in candidate for the Hays city commission contest.
He has high hopes Tuesday's local election will result in a good turnout of voters not distracted by national or state races.
Hickel is primarily utilizing social media to get his name out in front of the public as well as yard signs for those not internet savvy. He's also spoken in person to some groups.
"I don't really have a specific platform or issue," Hickel says. "I just want to bring a different ear to the city commission."
He noted that 2020 was the first time he voted in a presidential election. In prior elections "it kind of put me off a little bit. Last year I kind of got into it a little bit more."
Hickel admits "I was not very level-headed with some" (discussion of election issues).
"I kind of want to get back to where I was before. Not really a politics guy but I'm very open to listening to both sides."
Hickel works in Claflin, driving from Hays to his job in the oil field as a service technician.
Still, Hays is home.
Hickel and his wife, Cassie Hickel, (winner of the 2017 Mrs. Kansas title) moved from Claflin to Hays when they found themselves in the larger town three and four times a week.
It's been an opportunity for the family, including daughters Lydia, 10, Aubrey, 8, and Eleanor, 6, to grow. The girls are each involved in dancing and tumbling, and now, sports offered by the Hays Recreation Commission.
"I just want to continue to help Hays continue to grow along with my family," Hickel said.
In addition to helping run her husband's campaign, Cassie Hickel works in the front office of Potter Plastics Surgery and MedSpa.
Hickel has worked for 11 years alongside his dad at their oil pump and supply store in Claflin. "My dad has built a pretty successful business there and it's hard for me to leave."
Hickel has survived the ups and downs of the oil industry and understands its economic impact on Ellis County, the largest oil producing county in Kansas, according to the Kansas Geological Survey.
"I think the biggest effect we've seen is when the oil prices went down last year (related to the coronavirus pandemic) and a lot of houses went up for sale," Hickel said. "A lot of people were losing their houses. It's just rough. The oil business is a tough business to be in."
Although he's not sure what role the city might play in a potential school bond issue, Hickel says "if I was running for school board, obviously I'd be pushing for it." He previously coached boys and girls tennis at Hays High School.
Hickel sees some difficulties in keeping city employees in Hays.
"You see ads all the time for police officers," he pointed out.
"Maybe talking to them to see what we can do to help our law enforcement, and the fire department. They went through a strenuous year. All our first responders did last year.
"We can talk to all our city employees. Is there anything we can be doing to help them out?"
Hickel says he will make a time commitment to perform the duties of a city commissioner if elected.
To familiarize himself with city issues, he's watched the live meetings online the past year and reviews the work sessions archived on the city website.
One of those issues he wants to learn more about is Hays' long-term water supply at the R-9 Ranch in Edwards County.
"I want to see what else we can do to move approval along. ... We need the water in Hays."
In order to help grow Hays, Hickel says more housing is needed, particularly in the low-income category.
"Many new residents to the city, and the college students, they're not looking to buy a $200,000 house. They're looking for $100,000 to $150,000 dollar houses. So what can we do to help those families out?"
Along with Grow Hays, Hickel wants to work with other entities that can help with housing needs, especially for lower-income families.
Childcare is another issue that concerns Hickel.
Even though his family only had to use daycare a couple months, he understands that's not the norm for many people.
"I'm not real knowledgeable about it, so I need to talk to people who know more. We could also reach out to other communities and find out what they're doing about the need for more childcare providers."
Cassie also monitors her husband's Facebook account to ensure timely answers to questions from constituents.
"If I don't know, I don't know," Hickel says, "but I'm always open for shooting me a question. I'm a new person going into politics."
He promises to find out answers and learn on-the-job if he's elected.
Hickel particularly enjoys working with young people and has been a youth group leader.
"They're gonna be the next ones here. We gotta keep them here. Trying to keep the college kids here. Trying to keep the high school kids attending Fort Hays State and being around here a long time.
"I think a good leader needs to listen to all ages in the community."
Sandy Jacobs
Retired banker Sandy Jacobs, 71, has been a Hays city commissioner for five years; one of those years she was appointed to fulfill an unexpired term.
A native of Hays, she currently serves as mayor.
One of the city projects she's most proud of during that time is the major reconstruction of north Vine Street. She previously ran on a platform to "fix Vine Street" and favored the installation of traffic roundabouts.
The North Vine Corridor Improvement Project in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) was recently "substantially completed" after 18 months of construction.
Traffic flow and safety between 32nd and 41st Streets has been improved with the removal of signal lights and installation of four traffic roundabouts.
"It's one thing to control traffic- with fewer accidents and saving time - but the [business] development on each side of Vine is so important," Jacobs said. "We had people talking to us about those areas that didn't like the ingress and egress, feeling it wasn't safe enough.
"Now that's gone and I'm looking forward to some people stepping up, particularly in the area of the old Holiday Inn."
Now she'd like to see the city move faster on creating more housing.
"I think some of the things we've done, particularly in partnership with Grow Hays and Doug Williams (executive director), the RHID (Rural Housing Improvement District) actually caused us to change our development policy.
"Those properties on East 22nd are actually coming out of the ground now and people are seeing what's really happening.
"One young man came from Atchison to buy the (closed) St. Joseph School and convert it into housing. I think that's outstanding for our downtown.
"The housing that we've kind of forgotten about because we approved it so long ago is the (former) Washington Grade School and that is coming along beautifully.
"We're doing some good things. Are we where we're supposed to be? Absolutely not."
Jacobs says more housing, workforce development and daycare needs are issues tied together.
"Unless we think about them all together, we'll never get there."
The three areas of need are represented in a project being considered by a small task force.
It's a new retirement community development to be built north of HaysMed, offering condo housing for hospital locums that come to Hays. Part of the $3 to $4 million facility would be daycare.
Jacobs agrees with the other candidates that a school bond is needed is needed for Hays but doesn't believe the city should support it fiscally.
She considers herself "fiscally responsible" but is not against raising the mill levy.
During 2022 budget preparations, she proposed a one mill increase in the 25-mill levy specifically for economic development and Grow Hays. After listening to the other commissioners, Jacobs ultimately decided "it was not the right time" for an increase.
There is good collaboration between governmental agencies, Jacobs says. This year she started meeting weekly with the individual Ellis County commissioners.
"We do a lot of projects together 'behind the scenes' that the public is not aware of."
She believes Hays' quality-of-life projects also help retain residents and attract new people to the community.
Jacobs also talked about the great cooperation between non-profit agencies and service groups.
"It's because the people in our community have a 'can do' passion. ... When there's an emergency, people step up."
Jacobs, who recently stepped down as director of the Hays Community Foundation, believes she is "here to serve and that was the reason to run one more time."
"That four years [term] is an absolute learning process and right at the end you think 'I have this.'
"I think two terms is probably enough for anybody but I think that second term I can be more valuable."
Shaun Musil
One of the questions most asked of Shaun Musil as he's campaigned door to door is "why in the world do you want to do it again?"
"It's been a good experience. I've enjoyed it," he says. Musil was first elected in April 2013.
Musil, 49, served as mayor during the COVID-19 pandemic onset in 202o.
It was an unprecedented event, fraught with opposing viewpoints among commissioners and the public about a public facemask mandate. There were demonstrations for and against the mandate. It turned personal with threats, and vandalism to Musil family vehicles.
"I wanted to give up but there were so many people who didn't protest.
"People I didn't know would say 'thank you for looking out for us.' I even had people say 'I don't agree with the mask mandate but thank you for doing something.' That made me feel like maybe we did something right."
Musil says he learned "this community truly does care, even if it disagrees."
"I kinda treat the community like I do my family. Sometimes they love me. Sometimes they hate me," he laughed.
Musil and his wife Heather own the Paisley Pear Wine Bar, Bistro and Market in downtown Hays.
He believes that financial experience, combined with his former job as a Coca-Cola warehouse supervisor, help him make good fiscal decisions for the city.
"You always had a project. You want more of this and this but you had to live within your budget. Sometimes you had to invest in stuff - kinda like [the city does] in infrastructure - costs a little bit of money but it's good in the end. "
He's also easily accessible at his business to constituents who may come in with a question about city policy. Musil prefers face-to-face interaction. "It's so much easier to talk to people one-on-one than over email or on the phone."
Although some residents remain opposed to the four traffic roundabouts that were recently completed on north Vine Street, Musil has supported the $13.1 million project from the beginning.
"Interstate (70) traffic was huge this summer according to the city manager, probably one of our biggest travel years ever. I think COVID had a lot to do with that. All that added traffic shows we can handle it.
"A lot of people say we don't need it, but our reasoning for the roundabouts is that as Hays and businesses grow out there, we are going to have more traffic. And we want to be able to handle it in a better way and a safer way.
"I one hundred percent think it's safer, if you follow the rules of the road."
Musil has also long supported growing the population of Hays.
"To me if you're not growing, you're basically dying. And it's hard to grow in western Kansas anymore.
"But it's important for Hays to grow because we're a hub. But it's also important to keep these smaller towns around us vibrant - Plainville, Stockton, Victoria - because they shop in our stores.
"Are we ever going to be a Salina? Probably not. But we need to continue to grow."
Staffing shortages are currently plaguing businesses across the country but Musil wants the community to be prepared.
Businesses he's talked to report their summer revenues are among the best they've had in many years.
"I don't think any of us really expected that."
Local sales tax revenues collected in Hays reflect that trend.
"Unbelievable year. Last year we were up three percent. We're averaging eight to ten percent this year," although he acknowledges prices have increased recently.
Musil agrees with the other candidates that "a lot of Hays growing is having good school facilities."
He's happy to see an improved relationship with the three-member county commission.
Although there is some financial information that can't be shared because of state statute, "we can share ideas," Musil says. "We have a pretty open dialogue with the county anymore."
The collaboration extends to the school district and the Hays Chamber.
"Look at Garden City and Manhattan and their growth. They've all talked in one voice and they've moved forward. They've had a lot of private funding."
There is a lot of private funding in Hays, Musil says, and he hopes there will be more. "You gotta work together. ... "I think we all want the same outcome."
Musil is most proud of his attention to "boring" infrastructure the past four years.
"Water lines, sewer lines. We've spent millions of dollars but nothing had been done since the '50s and '60s."
He also notes the increase in the number of hotel rooms, now over 1,000.
Improvements have been made at Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex with shade structures, new scoreboard and artificial turf, which attracts more out-of-town teams and tournaments.
When it rains, players will still be able to take the field.
"That helps our whole community."
Musil foresees a time soon when the city mill levy will have to be "raised a mill or two, just because we've grown out of what we've been doing. ... We've gotta take chances also. ... I've been here 25 plus years and I love this community. We've got to keep striving to be the best."
One idea Musil has for economic growth is establishing an Amazon warehouse or fulfillment center in Hays.
"We're right on the interstate. We've got the perfect location for everything. Maybe it'd bring more jobs to town."
More housing for more people would be needed.
"The housing need has been an issue since I've been a commissioner and continues to be an issue. We're working on it and I think we've got a good plan in place but we've got to be 'full pedal to the metal' in building houses.
"We build the houses, families come. Maybe they have younger kids who can work in the fast food restaurants. Mom and Dad work for other businesses.
"It all goes together."
The ballot for Hays city commissioner includes Demetrius Chance, who no longer lives in Hays. Write-in votes must exactly spell the candidate's name correctly.
The top two vote-getters will be elected for four-year terms; the third person with the most votes will serve two years.
Be sure to check back with Hays Post and Eagle Radio for election results.