By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays city commissioners heard updates on three projects during their Thursday work session.
The existing turf at Larks Park was installed in 2012 and needs to be replaced. The industry standard expectation is for the turf to last 1o years.
Jeff Boyle, director of parks, recommended a low bid of $296,773 from Mid America Sports Construction, Lee's Summit, Missouri .
The city would pay $148,386, which is half the cost.
Larks Park is owned by the city of Hays and managed by Fort Hays State University.
The turf replacement would occur between Aug. 1 and Sept. 15, when neither the Larks nor the FHSU Tigers are scheduled to play baseball.
Commissioners will vote on the recommendation at their April 11 meeting.
Jamie Salter, Hays Regional Airport director, talked about a new hangar to be built that will accommodate a new airplane for the Kansas Highway Patrol.
The plane, with thermal imaging capabilities, is bigger than what can be housed in the hangar used by KHP.
The sole bid came from Commercial Builders Inc., Hays, for $1.3 million.
The city will be responsible for constructing the new hangar, and KHP will purchase the hangar from the city when construction is completed. KHP will also pay the city $350,155 for project services rendered.
Construction would begin this spring and be completed by the end of the year.
The commission will vote on the bid recommendation next week.
Amanda Rupp, executive director, presented an update on Ellis County Historical Society projects.
Phase 3 renovations of the museum's red brick church building at 107 W. Seventh began in January.
They include building an ADA-accessible restroom, refinishing the original wood floor, repairing plaster, painting, upgrading fire and burglar alarms, and providing better accessibility to the main level.
"We'll be open to the public by this time next year," Rupp said.
Sandy Jacobs, vice-mayor, was absent from the work session.