By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The recommended contract for R-9 pipeline easement acquisitions will be voted on Thursday afternoon during the Hays City Commission meeting.
The 66-mile pipeline will extend from the R-9 Ranch water wellfield in Edwards County to Hays' Smoky Hill River wellfields south of Schoenchen. Between 130 and 140 land parcels will be affected.
R-9 Project Manager John Braun is recommending the low bid of $1,079,374 from O. R. Colan Associates, LLC, Charlotte, North Carolina. The lease for the firm's specialty computer software is another $29,000. The money will come from the water sales tax reserve fund.
Other business includes the bid for furniture, fixings and equipment for the new Hays fire station at 1732 W. 41st St.
Staff is recommending an of $280,500, with $200,000 coming from the city's share of the Ellis County ¼ cent sales tax in the commission capital reserve, and $80,500 from the budget stabilization fund.
Construction of the city's third fire station is expected to be completed in March, a couple of months ahead of schedule.
A bid for four Freightliner Model 108SD dump trucks in the Service Division is being recommended for $804,525, to Truck Center Companies, Wichita. They would be funded out of the new equipment reserve fund. Each truck would be equipped with snowplows, two equipped with sand/salt spreaders, and one equipped with a brine applicator.
Also on the agenda are two abatement recommendations for 409 Riley Street and 3809 Post Road.
The complete Jan. 11 agenda is available here. The meeting starts at 4 p.m. Thursday in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.