By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The first step in rebuilding the 21-year-old crosswind runway at Hays Regional Airport was approved by the city commission Thursday.
The FAA considers the project a high priority due to considerable deterioration.
FAA construction standards have changed considerably since the concrete runway was built in 2003, said Jamie Salter, airport director.
"Reconstruction of the 4-22 runway is necessary to address these issues and will also better serve our current and future anticipated aircraft fleet mix with the pavement weight bearing capacity increasing from 12,500 pounds to 30,000 pounds," she said.
Commissioners approved an engineering contract with Lochner, Lenexa, for $485,300 to be funded from the airport improvement fund. The FAA will reimburse the city 90 percent of the project cost.
Construction, under a separate bidding process, is anticipated to be done in spring/summer 2025.
The commission also set Feb. 22 as the public hearing date for a proposed expansion of the Neighborhood Revitalization District. It would include structures built before 1980.
The plan provides a 10-year tax rebates to property owners who make improvements that raise the appraised value of residential or commercial properties, said Jarrod Kuckelman, management analyst.
Chad Ruder, director of information technology, made a presentation of the city's updated GIS mapping system. New technology allows views as precise as a three-inch resolution as well as oblique angles of pictures.
Vice-mayor Sandy Jacobs called for a 20-minute special session to discuss personnel. No action was taken.