By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The Hays City Commission approved infrastructure engineering services for city-owned property just northeast of Exit 161 on Interstate 70 on Thursday.
The city purchased the 93 acres, known as the Braun property, in 2019 for continued growth and development opportunities. Hays aims for a 1% population increase each year.
Kaw Valley Engineering, Salina, received the low bid of $118,750 for the design of infrastructure improvements.
Tom Howie, Hays project manager, agreed with Hays Vice-Mayor Mason Ruder that bringing infrastructure under I-70 to the new property is "very proactive and shows our intent. It'll never be more cost-effective than now."
A 2023 feasibility study by RDG Planning and Design, Omaha, includes residential mixed housing, commercial business, offices, restaurants, hotels, walking trails, open space and public art.
"When I moved here in the early '90s, there was nothing north of I-70. Look at what we have now," Shaun Musil, commissioner, said.
"It's going to take time, but it's going to happen. ... I'm very proud of what we're doing with this."
Hays has already been awarded $4 million in state funding for retail development as part of the proposed project.
Walking path extension
In other agenda items, T&T Builders, Hays, was awarded a low bid of $231,616 for connecting multi-use paths in northeast Hays.
Jeff Boyle, parks director, said in 2021, Hays funded a new multi-use path from the Hays Recreation Commission to HaysMed. The city is currently working with the state of Kansas on a new path from 41st and Hall to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. The Grove housing development north of HaysMed, will include a multi-use path. The east connector path will link all these path segments.
Once all the new paths are constructed, there will be about five miles of multi-use paths connecting the entire northeast side of town, Boyle said.
Boyle also presented a review of the 2024 financial reports and attendance for Hays Aquatic Park, Wilson Pool and the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.
Hays Recreation Commission board members and city commissioners agreed last week to split this year's $50,895 operating loss for the pools under a long-standing agreement. Hays will reimburse the rec center $25,447.
The sports complex operated at a profit of $39,883.
Water plant demo
Jeff Crispin, water resources director, discussed demolishing two obsolete structures at the water reclamation and reuse facility, 755 General Custer Road.
Three clarifiers were abandoned when the facility upgrade was completed in 2019 to meet the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's new permit requirements.
One clarifier will be kept, although its metal components will be removed. It will be used if highly contaminated wastewater needs to be temporarily separated.
A single bid of $191,550 was submitted by M&D, Hays, and is below the budget of $200,000.
Crispin said the newly opened area would be planted with grass.
Commissioners also approved the consent agenda, which included:
• 2025 cereal malt beverage annual licenses
• Adoption of the 2024 employee pay plan
• Mayoral appointments of Cindy Elliot and Amy Schaffer to the CARE Council
• Waiver resolution for generally accepted accounting principles. The city now uses the Kansas Municipal Audit and Accounting Guide.