By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The Downtown Hays Development Corporation would like to see a permanent performance stage or band shell built in Municipal Park and will present the idea to Hays city commissioners during their Thursday evening work session.
According to information supplied to commissioners by DHDC Executive Director Sara Bloom, Hays has not had an easily accessible outdoor community stage since 1983.
"It's in the early stages," said Assistant City Manager Collin Bielser. "DHDC will be coming before the commission to pitch the idea and see what they're thinking."
The proposed structure would be constructed on city-owned property.
"It has some benefits, of course, (for the city-sponsored) Wild West Festival. It would suffice that event and maybe other events throughout the year that occur down in that park, rather than have a stage come in and [be] taken down," Bielser added.
A task force has been formed for the project proposal with representatives from DHDC, Commercial Builders, Fort Hays State University, City of Hays, Wild West Festival, Oktoberfest and Rockalooa music festival.
Bloom said the stage would use the model created by the Downtown Pavilion project.
"Once it's constructed, the city would take it over and it would be a city feature," Bielser explained.
In other business, commissioners will hear a bid award recommendation for improvement of the 230th Avenue and 55th Street intersection north of Interstate 70 Exit 157.
At the request of Ellis County, the city in December 2019 assumed responsibility for a $1.5 million Kansas Department of Transportation economic development project grant.
The project will be paid by the KDOT funds with any overage paid by the developer of the Hays Truck Plaza, D&J Land and Development LLC.
The low bid of $1,878,301 is from Hess Services, Hays. Construction engineering agreement with Driggs Design, Hays, at a cost of of $140,800 puts the total project cost at $2 million.
All project costs will be reimbursed to the city by the KDOT grant and the developer.
Jeff Crispin, director of water resources, will present four recommended bid awards for a water production lime slaker, portable generators for water wells and lift stations, cleaning of approximately 22 miles of sanitary sewer line, and inspection and rehabilitation of six of the city's 37 water wells.
At 6:15 p.m., prior to the start of the work session, Mayor Sandy Jacobs will present a city proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
The complete April 15 agenda is available here.
The work session begins at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.