By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The City of Hays will accept a bid for construction engineering work on the reconstruction of Vine Street from south of 13th Street to the intersection of the U.S. 183 bypass at its next meeting.
The commissioners heard a report on the project at a Thursday night's work session.
The low bid is $147,984 from Kirkham-Michael Engineers of Ellsworth.
The city received a $1 million grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation for the almost $4 million project. The city's share of the project will be about $3 million.
The construction bids on the project are set to be let Dec. 15 in Topeka.
John Braun, city project manager, said the work will be done in the 2022 construction season.
The project includes replacement of the concrete pavement, select areas of curb and gutter, sidewalk ramps, pedestrian crossing at Eighth Street, storm sewer inlet tops and pavement markings.
Swimming pools
The city held a joint meeting between the commission and the Hays Recreation Commission to discuss the Hays Aquatic Park and Wilson Pool, and Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.
The rec commission is asking the city for $42,000 to offset losses at the pools for the 2021 season. Attendance had been steadily declining at the pools in recent years, and as a result, operating losses have been increasing, Jeff Boyle, parks director, said.
Poor weather also contributed to losses in 2021, Boyle said.
When the aquatic park was new, more people from outside of the city were traveling to Hays to visit. However, multiple new pools have been built in western Kansas in the last six years that are drawing much of that traffic away from the Hays facility, Boyle said.
Commissioner Shaun Musil recommended the city seek marketing help from the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau. He said traffic in downtown Hays has been strong, and perhaps the city could draw some of those visitors to the aquatic park.
The Hays Recreation Commission has discussed ways to deal with the pools' mounting losses and needs to make capital repairs to the 20-year-old aquatic park.
The rec commission has decided it will change the hours at the aquatic park from noon to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 1 to 6 p.m. on Sundays to 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays with the same Sunday hours.
Roger Bixenman, rec superintendent, said officials hoped this would cut labor costs during non-peak hours at the park.
The park increased its wages to keep up with the labor market last summer and may have to increase wages again this coming summer, he said.
Mayor Sandy Jacobs asked if the officials have considered adding any new features to the pool. Boyle said this could be costly, and the pool is landlocked, so it is limited on space.
Hays has relatively low admission and season pass fees compared to other area pools. The pool could increase its fees, but no decision has been made on that front at this time. The pool has not increased its fees since 2014.
"It's a quality of life issue, that I will stand for all day long," Jacobs said of the pool. "The least amount we have to lose is always good."
The aquatic park is also facing substantial capital expenses. This includes repairs to the slides, north deck, boilers, fence, sand filter and electrical panels totaling about $357,000.
The electrical panels are one of the most urgent needs, and a breakdown could temporarily shutdown the pool, Boyle said.
Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex had $23,000 in operating profit in 2021.
Frontier Apartments
The city commission will have a public hearing on a rural housing incentive district for the Frontier Apartments on Thursday.
The developer is asking for incentives to renovate the former St. Joseph Parish Hall, 210 W. 13th, into 12 moderate-income apartments.
The developers estimates the district will create $450,000 for the development over 20 years.
Total cost for the project is estimated at $2.46 million.