By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Commissioners from the city of Hays and Ellis County are working together on a couple of long-anticipated road improvement projects.
Toby Dougherty, city manager, presented the plans to city commissioners during their Thursday work session.
The projects were discussed earlier by the governing bodies during a joint meeting in August.
The county will oversee the projects, Dougherty said, which include mill and overlay of 48th Street between Hall Street and Roth Avenue.
"Ellis County will maintain ownership of the road for two to three years after the improvements to determine their effectiveness," he said.
According to the bid from Bettis Asphalt & Construction, Stratton, Colorado, the total project cost is $415,151. The city's share would be $200,000.
Hays will also pay for the city's portion of Vineyard Road and 270th Avenue improvements. It's an unpaved road that is among the most highly traveled in the county.
Again, the county will oversee the overlay project, and the city will take over the maintenance of its right-of-way upon completion.
The city's share of the $856,633 project by Bettis would be $177,000.
The total $377,000 for both projects would come from the commission's capital reserve. Commissioners agreed to move the recommendations forward to a future meeting.
The Ellis County Commission is expected to take action on the proposals at its next meeting with a signed letter of consent from the city. Construction would begin in August.
"I appreciate the county finding solutions for 48th and Vineyard Road paving," said Alaina Cunningham, city commissioner, "and that the city can contribute to it."
"Really exciting. Great solutions," said Sandy Jacobs, mayor.
In other business, Public Works Director Jesse Rohr presented the recommended bid awards for the 2025 street maintenance program.
The projects include seal coat, polypatch, curb and brick repair, major rehab (street and concrete alley), asphalt mill and overlay, and pavement markings from six contractors.
The biggest project for this year is mill and overlay of East 17th Street.
No bid for the pavement marking project was received. Rohr will advertise it again and bring it back for city commission approval at a later date.
Commissioners are expected to approve the recommendations at their Feb. 27 meeting.