By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The city of Hays is looking at a downtown location for its new police facility rather than the land it owns at 27th and Main.
The design of the facility is included in this year's capital improvement plan, and construction is scheduled for 2025.
According to information submitted to the city commission, staff has evaluated several options and is now recommending the purchase of the Astra Bank building at 1100 Fort.
A recently completed space needs analysis shows the Hays Police Department will require 21,000 square feet of space in 2043. The Astra facility would provide 23,000 square feet with room for expansion.
The building would also include municipal court, moving it from the Ellis County Law Enforcement Center.
The purchase and remodel of Astra Bank is significantly cheaper than construction of a new facility.
The Astra option is $8 million, while new construction is $13 million.
If approved by city commissioners, the agreement would transfer a two-acre tract of land to Astra from the city's five-acre parcel at 27th and Main. Astra would construct a new facility and retail space at that location.
Once Astra vacates its current facility, the city would pay the bank $1.8 million and take possession of the building.
City commissioners are expected to vote on the staff recommendation at their meeting Thursday.
Other agenda items include:
• Authorize a $67,000 design engineering contract with Driggs Design Group PA for reconstruction of 32nd/33rd Streets from Willow to Vine.
• Approve an ordinance adopting the modifications to the future land use map and amending the current comprehensive plan. In November 2021, the Hays and Ellis County reduced the extraterritorial jurisdiction by about 60%.
• Designating the Planning Commission as the Board of Zoning Appeals to improve coordination between planning and zoning functions.
The April 25 agenda is available here.
The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Vine.