Jan 25, 2024

🎥 Public hearing set Thursday for R9 water project loan application to KDHE

Posted Jan 25, 2024 4:14 PM

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A public hearing will be held during Thursday's Hays City Commission meeting to authorize an application to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for a loan on the R9 water project.

John Braun, R9 project manager, told the commission last week the projects to construct the R9 wellfield and pipeline have been added to the KDHE 2024 Intended Use Plan, which allows the city to apply for low interest loans up to $135 million.

The estimated cost of the waterline project is $135 million. The city's loan application to the Kansas Public Water Supply Loan Fund would be for less than $95 million.

"The city finance director estimates we will have about $58 million of cash available in the water sales tax reserve fund to pay cash before needing to borrow approximately $76 million," Braun said. 

Any grants the city is awarded would reduce the amount necessary to finance.

"It's unlikely we will need to borrow that much money, but we wanted a high number in place in the case of unforeseen contingencies," Braun said. "The application doesn't obligate us to accept any funds from KDHE, leaving us flexibility if another financing vehicle is more desirable. It's kind of a safety net."

City of Hays
City of Hays

Commissioners are expected to approve the recommended bids totaling $1.09 million for the 2024 street maintenance program. 

Major projects this year include reconstruction of East 28th Street from Fort to Oak and rehabilitation of the Main Street bridge in south Hays.

An agreement between the city, the Kansas Department of Transportation and the engineering firm Cook, Flatt & Strobel will be considered for construction of a multi-use path in northeast Hays from 41st and Hall to Vine Street and over to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History.

The project is being funded from the KDOT Carbon Reduction Program for an amount not to exceed $1.5 million or 80 percent of the actual costs for engineering and construction. The city budgeted $500,000 in the 2024 Special Parks and Recreation Budget to cover the remaining 20 percent. 

To allow for a more flexible application of the city's stormwater regulations, Jess Rohr, public works director, is recommending removing the requirement to treat stormwater quality when 10,000 square feet of impervious surface is added within a development, and also to provide clarification for the term “land disturbance.”

"There is still a need to treat water in many cases, but we're trying to find the balance between how much does someone do before treatment becomes necessary," Rohr said.

The complete Jan. 25 agenda is available here. The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.