By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays city commissioners will vote on a couple of essential and pricey items at their Thursday meeting.
First on the agenda is the recommended renewal of the city's property and liability insurance coverage with Midwest Public Risk for $454,221 for 2024-25. The premium is a 22.6% increase.
Insurance Planning, Hays, provides oversight for the city as the insurance broker. Taylor Pfannenstiel, commercial lines executive, concluded that Midwest Public Risk offered the lowest cost option.
Water meters
The commission is also expected to approve a $4.5 million project to replace the city's 8,500 water meters with radio frequency advanced infrastructure metering.
No rate increase for water customers is expected.
The city would instead issue a utility bond to pay for the project, taking advantage of an expiring 2009 utility system bond payment this year. A 20-year bond is anticipated.
The Grove
Grow Hays is requesting the city to formalize an intent to issue industrial revenue bonds for The Grove.
Along with a mixed-housing development north of Hays Medical Center, Grow Hays plans to build a 14,000-square-foot facility to house the Hays Senior Center and a child care center.
The industrial revenue bonds will allow the developer to obtain a sales tax exemption for all purchases related to construction
No property tax abatement is requested.
Commissioners will also hear the May financial report from Kim Rupp, finance director, and consider the mayoral appointment of Brian Garrett to an unexpired term on the Hays Area Planning Commission/Hays Area Board of Zoning Appeals. The term will expire April 30, 2025.
The complete June 27 agenda is available here. The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.