By ALIN HETT
Hays Post
Jerry Michaud, DSNWK director representing the ACCESS Transportation Task Force, told commissioners that public transportation is a needed service in Hays and Ellis County.
He asked the county to consider adding $22,500 to support the service’s application for a fiscal year 2028 Kansas Department of Transportation grant.
“General public transportation is an added value to our community and needs to be supported,” Michaud said.
The task force also recommended exploring whether ACCESS could operate as a public service outside the Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas model.
After Michaud spoke, commissioners spoke amongst themselves and discussed possible ways to find the funding to support ACCESS. Commissioners agreed to take the next week and with the help from Darin Myers, county administrator, to see if there is a way to find the extra funds.
The county did not make a funding commitment Tuesday. Myers said the county’s budget is tight, with limited reserves and a projected 18% increase in health insurance premiums, but said he was leaning toward finding a way to support ACCESS.
“I don’t know if I can formally commit and say yes, absolutely today,” Myers said.
Nathan Leiker, county commissioner and member of the ACCESS Transportation Task Force, told his fellow commissioners that the city of Hays has agreed to pay $22,500 under the condition the county matches and pays the same to help fund ACCESS for the years to come.
DSNWK, which provides services to residents with developmental disabilities, spent $97,000 of its own budget to keep the service going.
Leiker said, "I guess the task force view on that is, it's not right for public transportation to be garnering any funds out of what could possibly go to DSNWK clients.”
A joint meeting between city, county and DSNWK employees is scheduled for Monday to discuss the service’s future. County commissioners likely will vote on funding at its next meeting on Oct. 20.
Saline River bridge easement
The commission approved spending $8,730 for additional right-of-way and temporary construction easements for a replacement bridge over the Saline River.
The easements cover two parcels for FAS Bridge No. 120, about 12.5 miles north of Ellis. The county received a Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program grant of up to $4.36 million for construction and engineering of the replacement bridge.
Brendan Mackay, Ellis County public works director, said the county needs the easements to complete the design and move toward construction. The new bridge will be built on a different alignment from the existing structure, taking into account the old bridge’s piers, nearby utilities and steep grades.
“Right-of-way is not included in the participating cost of the grant,” Mackay said.
Apartment grant
The commission gave Grow Hays the go-ahead to coordinate a $750,000 Moderate Income Housing grant application for DP Management’s proposed 120-unit apartment community in Hays.
David Clingan, associate executive director of Grow Hays, said the grant could help offset development costs and allow the apartments to maintain more attainable, market-rate rents. The county would serve as the formal applicant because the city of Hays is supporting another developer’s application this cycle, Clingan said.
“No money at all is being requested from the county,” Clingan said.
The county would retain responsibility for grant compliance, but Clingan said the developer would sign agreements assigning its obligations and providing financial protection for the county.
Clingan said the next step is to submit a notice of application by Friday. Clingan also said Grow Hays and DP Management would return to the commission Oct. 20 with a proposed resolution, project costs, projected rents and developer agreements.
Grow Hays reports
Clingan also gave commissioners an update on Grow Hays projects, including housing developments, small-business lending and local manufacturing.
At Tallgrass Commons, the first three phases are complete and infrastructure work is underway for a fourth phase. Clingan said the development is expected to support 101 homes over five years, for a total of 20 homes per year with prices targeted at $240,000 to $255,000.
Clingan told commissioners 10 lots have been sold, five homes are under construction and three have closed in the Grove. He said construction speed remains a challenge because builders must coordinate trades such as plumbing and electrical work.
“Do we have people waiting for housing for Tallgrass Commons? Do we have people waiting for the Grove? Absolutely, we have people that are interested,” Clingan said. “The Grove question really is: If I bought a house, how soon could I get it built? And that's where we got to work on our timing because some people don't want to wait two years.”
Clingan also discussed the importance of building family style homes using the city of Ellis as an example.
“What's the ripple effect of bringing five new homes into Ellis? Well, five families moving to Ellis means those kids potentially go to Ellis schools, and that helps the school, and then also just continues to help support Ellis and its other things, including gathering taxes,” Clingan said.
Grow Hays has also distributed almost $3 million in small-business loans through 68 loans, averaging about $43,000 each, Clingan said.
Victoria Coalition gets community support
The Ellis County Commission voted to approve the Victoria Community Coalition's request to take waste from its building renovation to the county landfill at no charge.
The coalition has already renovated part of the former St. John's Nursing Home into apartments. The Ellis County Historical Society is also renovating the south side of the building into a satellite museum.
Marilyn Braun, a coalition board officer, said asbestos removal funded through a Kansas Department of Health and Environment grant has been underway for about two weeks. The coalition plans to continue removing material from the building’s older section, including sheetrock and wood, while separating metal for recycling.
“We would just like your permission to be able to take the remainder of it out there at no charge,” Braun said.
Coalition representatives said they had worked with county staff to determine how to sort and dispose of the materials. Commissioners asked that loads be covered during transport.
In other business
The commission approved allowing Bobbi Dreiling, county clerk, to destroy ballots from the 2024 general election after the required 22-month retention period. Commissioners appointed Eugene Rupp and Mike Weber to oversee the destruction.
Commissioners appointed Anna Lopez to the United Way of Ellis County Care Council for the remainder of 2026. Lopez will fill the vacancy left by longtime member John Braun.
Commissioners also selected voting delegates for upcoming annual business meetings. Commissioner Michael Burgess agreed to serve for KCAMP and KWORCC, while Commissioner Neal Younger agreed to serve for the Kansas Association of Counties.