By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Studies suggest that alcohol and/or drugs play a part in as many as 90% of sexual assaults, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, and at least 50% of student sexual assaults involve alcohol.
Representatives of Jana's Campaign and Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services talked to Hays city commissioners during Thursday's work session about the SafeBar Alliance program.
"We are advocating for a city ordinance that would require all drinking establishments and bars in Hays to complete SafeBar Alliance Training and Bystander Intervention Training as part of the liquor license renewal process," said Kaiti Blackburn, executive director of Jana's Campaign. "This initiative aims to create safer environments, prevent alcohol-facilitated violence, and empower staff to recognize and respond to unsafe, harmful situations."
A similar ordinance is in place in Lawrence, home to the University of Kansas.
The free training for employees lasts an hour.
"We'll come in at their convenience," said Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp, director of client services at Options, "even if that's at 2 o'clock in the morning as they're cleaning up and shutting down the bar."
Commissioner Shaun Musil suggested cutting down the training time to 30 minutes.
"They're tired after a long shift, and you're asking them to stay another hour."
Sandy Jacobs, mayor, said, "This is definitely about quality of life in Hays."
She asked staff to look at the proposed ordinance changes for commissioners to discuss further at a future meeting.
Bonds and temporary notes for new projects
Commissioners heard details from Kim Rupp, finance director, about ordinances and resolutions in the process of issuing general obligation bonds and temporary notes for several new projects including:
• Automated water meter infrastructure--$3.6 million
• Police department and municipal court facility--$6.85 million
• The Grove Reinvestment Housing Incentive District--$3.675 million
• The Grove economic development grant--$825,000
• Construction of infrastructure at Interstate 70, Exit 161--$4 million
"This authorizes the bonds to be issued to pay costs of improvements and allows the city to levy for debt service, if necessary," Rupp said.
The ordinances and resolutions will move on for approval at the Aug. 28 city commission meeting.
Rezoning for proposed Lincoln School apartment complex
Jesse Rohr, public works director, presented a rezoning request for the proposed Lincoln School apartment complex, 1906 Ash, from a public and institutional district to a residential multi-family district.
The owner of the property, Hays developer Michael Graham, is proposing remodeling the former elementary school into apartments and constructing a residential multi-family housing development on the surrounding property.
The request was moved on to next week's meeting.
Airport parking lot expansion
Tom Howie, project manager, recommended a bid award for the Hays Regional Airport terminal passenger parking lot expansion. The airport has been seeing record enplanements, and the parking lot needs to be enlarged for a second time since 2018.
Parking at the airport continues to be free.
Estimates are for another record high of 17,000 passenger boardings in 2025.
"With the current capacity of paved and gravel lots at 141 spaces, vehicles still must park in the grass," Howie said.
Morgan Brothers Construction of La Crosse was the low bidder at $248,019. If approved next week, the project would be completed by the end of the year.