By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays city commissioners will talk about whether to allow fireworks in the city limits during the July 4th holiday at their Thursday work session.
Despite the drought in Ellis County, thanks to recent rains and a forecast for more, city staff does not see a compelling reason to suspend the sale and use of fireworks for the 2026 season, said Jarrod Kuckelman, assistant city manager.
Other agenda items include
• Requests for annexation and rezoning from agriculture to light industrial district for 1375 E. 41st Street by Cathy Braun, property owner. The Hays Area Planning Commission previously approved both requests.
• Interlocal agreement for $300,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grant for Hays developer Tim Speno, One Twenty Seven Investments, for property at 1012 Main St. The lower floor of that building is currently occupied by Eclectic Threads Quilt Studio.
Speno wants to renovate the building's upper floor into Airbnb-rentable units. He was unsuccessful in 2025 in acquiring the federal grant administered through the state. Cities and counties are required to be the official applicants for the CDBG funds.
• Issuance of the Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) for the Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center in The Grove, north of Hays Medical Center on Canterbury Drive, and CERV's, 3701 Vine Street. Construction of both new projects is complete. Utilization of the IRBs allow the developers to obtain a sales tax exemption for purchases related to the construction of the projects. The city acts as a conduit for issuing the IRBs.
• Proposed low bid awards for a new water line along 23rd Street between Lincoln Draw and Fort Street, and an influent mag meter at the water plant.
The complete May 21 agenda is available here. The work session starts at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall.