The six candidates for Hays City Commission were interviewed by the Hays Post. Their responses are being presented in a question-and-answer format. The other candidates running include Samuel Allen, Reese Barrick, Candace (CJ) Hathaway, David Koshiol, Shaun Musil and David Vilaysing.
Allen did not respond to Hays Post's request for an interview. Allen was arrested on a charge of alleged blackmail in July.
Also listed on the ballot but not pursuing office are Kelly Ancar and Justin Choitz.
Three seats are available on the board. The two candidates with the highest number of votes will each receive a four-year term. The third-highest candidate will serve a two-year term. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Age: 75
Occupation: Retired banker
Why are you running for Hays City Commission?
I've served for eight years, and my passion continues to be for this city as a native.
We have a great body of sitting commissioners right now. We work really well together and have started some things I'd like to be around to finish, not the least of which is the R9 project.
We don't always agree, but we find a common solution that everybody can get on board with, and that's something I'm really proud of.
As an incumbent, what do you think is the most impactful legislation enacted by the governing body since you were elected?
We've done so many things, the most of which is housing.
We changed our economic development policy to allow some more incentive districts. We looked at more moderate-income housing.
We looked at our property taxes as best we could. We continue to have the lowest property tax outside of Johnson County, actually, the ninth lowest in the whole state. We're in the middle of the pack with sales tax.
I think we're not overtaxing from our perspective. I think we're doing what we need to do, and I think it was responsible enough for us and our city staff to develop a conservative budget to remain revenue neutral.
The governing body of Hays chose to remain revenue neutral for the budget year 2026.
On the R9 project, we've been challenged by Edwards County on almost everything we've done. Anything of substance, we have not lost any challenge.
All we can do is continue to work within the statutes. We've asked for less water than is allowed by the state, and that is huge.
The city narrowly avoided a 2-mill levy increase in the 2026 budget. How would you keep the mill levy at 25 mills? Should it instead be increased?
It's always possible. It's always going to be our first goal to remain revenue neutral. We haven't been able to do it often in the last number of years, but we've kept our mill levy at 25 mills for 16 years now.
What is the most pressing issue(s) the city of Hays faces?
Water, of course, is always going to be top of mind with all of us, but there are a couple of things I'm working on and bringing forward as new priorities for myself.
People know that I really am a collaborator. I believe in bringing everyone to the table to find solutions for what we need.
We've done so much good on our last four-year focus, which was housing, with the help of Grow Hays and private developers/investors.
My first goal, other than maintaining taxes, would be retail development.
I talk with Grow Hays about it regularly. They are focused as well because our general fund is run on sales tax.
Our community really, really wants retail, so that's going to be my focus until we see some big gains.
It's been suggested by a local developer that the city provide free land for construction of new homes costing $150,00 or less. What are your thoughts about housing in Hays?
I'm not sure about "should." The city can, and could, look at anything.
Low-income housing is also high on my list, but it's very difficult to think through and work with.
Low-income housing is almost impossible without some kind of incentive, and that's what we've seen in the past is federal incentives. It's really the reason developers go for federal tax credits.
We have talked to a number of groups over the past four years that have not been successful.
With the cost of things today, private investors just can't do it.
Defining low income in our community is another thing. Our recent housing study showed that we are lacking in low-income housing; thus, there is a need to keep it top of mind.
We're working on it all the time. We're having conversations at all levels— state and federal—including conversations with ourselves and what it would take for the city to be able to accommodate low-income housing by investing dollars.
The hard thing to grasp from that is it would require an increase in mills, and it would be a permanent increase. I'm not sure our community is ready for that right now.
Should each city park become more "individualized," offering different/fewer amenities at each location to save maintenance costs?
It's going to be a huge subject going forward because our parks need attention, and we continue to grow our parks.
Jeff Boyle (director of parks) takes amazing care of not only the parks but also the equipment. But at some point, it has to be replaced.
The ARC Park is a model of what we should have everywhere in the community. If we could have three or four more ARC Parks, that would be fabulous.
But to the tune of about $3 million to this point, which has been raised by the Arc of Central Plains for the park, and another $500,000 that hit the commission recently, it's just not possible.
We may have to look at a mill increase in order to bring the parks to the level our community expects.
Some parks are very small, some parks are larger. Everybody wants their park, no matter how small.
I certainly think every part of our community should have its park.
Looking at it from a cost standpoint is going to be a challenge. It'll be a part of our commission retreat in 2026.
Are there areas in the city budget or departments that can be streamlined? What would you change in the city's current operations?
We're always looking at ways to change, and I have to really speak about our associates throughout the city and every department head.
We go through that budget line item by line item by line item. Every department goes through it every way they can.
I always comment on how efficient they are on holding equipment longer than what's supposed to be its lifespan, going two or three years longer before we have to invest.
As we went through the budget this year and being able to hit revenue neutral at the end, it shows our community that it can be confident that we're looking at every single line.
Our deputy city manager, Collin Bielser, did a stellar job in putting that budget together and working with the departments.
There is nothing glaringly wrong to me right now.
Should the city get involved in the operation of the public transportation program ACCESS, which is struggling with its funding? Should the city offer greater financial support?
We could certainly delve into it, and I would be a proponent of that. Do I have a solution today? No.
If we decided to investigate it, I think we would need access to their budget and understand their budget as well as our own, where those dollars might come from.
If DSNWK wants to come back to the commission and brainstorm, we'll help in any way we can.
Anything else you'd like to add?
I continue to believe there is more to be done to ensure the future, and I look 10, 25 and 50 years down the road.
My goal has always been to leave this community better than I found it.
When I first ran for commission, I promised to look at sustainable, responsible, planned economic growth.
Fiscal responsibility is huge on my agenda every year, and quality of life is right up there with it.
I've listened to the community and will continue to listen, and if there's more to be done, we'll put it on our plate.
As told to Becky Kiser/Hays Post