By ALIN HETT
Hays Post
The Ellis County Commission will consider acquiring right-of-way and temporary construction easements for a bridge project over the Saline River when it meets Tuesday.
The project is 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 a replacement structure.
Brendan Mackay, Public Works director, and public works staff will request permission to negotiate for the additional property access needed to build it.
According to the agenda, in order to move forward with this bridge project, Ellis County will need additional right of way and temporary easements on the parcels adjoining the bridge. This right of way is necessary to allow for the construction of the larger structure beside the existing bridge.
The agenda lists an $8,730 cost.
Apartments
David Clingan of Grow Hays will ask the commission to support a Moderate Income Housing grant application for DP Management’s proposed 120-unit apartment community in Hays.
The application deadline is Oct. 23. If commissioners want to proceed, a resolution and additional information could come before them Oct. 20.
Grow Hays has been working with the DP Management team on a proposed 120-unit apartment community in Hays. Their plans call for market-rate apartments with amenities and professional management to help address housing needs for local employees and families.
Victoria Community Coalition
The commission will also hear from the Victoria Community Coalition, which plans to update commissioners on its work and request a landfill fee waiver for its next project. The agenda says the coalition would separate the waste so it could be buried at the landfill at no expense to the county.
United Way Care Council
Commissioners are also expected to consider appointing Anna Lopez to a vacancy on the United Way of Ellis County Care Council for the remainder of 2026.
John Braun, long-serving Care Council member, has decided to step down.
Access Transportation update
Nathan Leiker, Ellis County commissioner will give an update on the ACCESS Transportation Task Force’s work on options for continuing the service. No action is requested.
An Access Transportation update was also given last County Commission meeting.
In other business
Commissioners will consider allowing Bobbi Dreiling, County Clerk, to destroy ballots from the 2024 general election after the required 22-month retention period. The agenda names Eugene Rupp and Mike Weber to oversee the process.
Commissioners will select a delegate for annual business meetings of the Kansas Association of Counties, KCAMP and KWORC.
The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in the commission room at the Ellis County Administrative Center in Hays.
To view the Ellis County commission agenda for Oct. 13, click here.