By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Almost $1 million of street maintenance will be done this year in Hays.
City commissioners unanimously approved six recommended low bids Thursday.
Seal coating and striping and sealing will be done in various areas of town.
Curb and brick repairs will be made along 19th Street between Elm and Ash. Concrete alleys will be installed at Eighth and Oak and at the new Depot housing development to be built at 10th and Walnut in downtown Hays.
A concrete paving project will be done on East 19th Street between Oak and Pine.
The largest project this year will be mill and overlay on East 17th between Canterbury and Wheatland.
"This is the 21st year of the street maintenance program," said Jesse Rohr, public works director, "and I think it's made a real difference."
Commissioners also approved the contribution of $377,000 toward two joint road improvement projects with Ellis County at 48th Street and Vineyard Road and on 270th Avenue.
Water Conservation Specialist Holly Dickman presented an overview of the 2024 water conservation programs.
"The rebates were all over the place," she told the commission, "with a lot of participation in some and not so much in others."
About 50 units of the city's new automated water metering system have been installed in the south end of town by VEPO Metering, Columbus, Ohio, said Jeff Crispin, water resources director.
The upgrade will replace every residential and commercial water meter in Hays with technology capable of wirelessly sending usage data to the Department of Water Resources.
The complete rollout will take four to six months.
Requests to eliminate a loading zone at 12th and Main and a cereal malt beverage license application for the Wild West Festival Saloon were also approved.
A 40-minute executive session was held at the end of the meeting to discuss land easement acquisition for the R9 water project pipeline.
No action was taken.