By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Each year, the city of Hays inspects and cleans about 20 miles of its sewer line system to prevent sewer backups and manhole overflows.
This year, a 22-mile area in southwest Hays is in line for the five-year rotation process.
Jeff Crispin, water resources director, is recommending a low bid of $145,022 from CC Steel, LLC of Fargo, North Dakota, with a budget authority not to exceed $150,000.
He'll present the bid recommendation at Thursday's Hays City Commission meeting.
Other agenda items include a bid recommendation for replacement of the playground equipment at Massey Park, 17th and Allen.
Jeff Boyle, parks director, said the existing equipment, installed in 2002, is in poor condition.
City staff recommends approval of the Aspire 2 Play playground equipment for $119,363 from Burke in North Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It has several features not found in other Hays playgrounds, including two large slides, an enclosed rope climb tunnel, agility components and a separate play piece for younger kids.
Jesse Rohr, public works director, will present a request to issue public notice for the deannexation of the plat of DK Ranch Addition in west Hays.
The current plat is a large lot platted in 2013, but never developed. The property was sold and is now being replatted into a more efficient residential subdivision. The owner, Hays resident Don Tillman of BJKT LLC and Sing Along Ranch LLC, also purchased the adjacent undeveloped lots along the west side of Columbine Drive, which is not annexed property. The proposed Smoky Hill Plains Addition Plat will encumber these lots.
The existing right-of-way for 27th Street and 33rd Street within the DK Ranch Addition will remain dedicated to the city and in city limits.
In another development project, Jarrod Kuckelman, assistant city manager, will update the progress of the construction for the Community Development Block Grant project at Chestnut Suites, 1108 N. Main, in downtown Hays.
Local developer Adam Pray plans to rehabilitate the former Hays State Bank building, built in 1965, into a luxury short-term rental Airbnb.
Executive director Lee Ann June will provide an update The Bricks in downtown Hays projects.
An item on the consent agenda from John Braun, R9 project manager, would, in exchange for TDI Farms, LLC entering into an easement agreement with the city for the proposed R9 pipeline project, agree to the landowner's request to release a right-of-way contract from 1949 for land along 240th Avenue in Schoenchen.
The complete Oct. 22 agenda is available here. The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.