By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Hays USD 489 has received two revised and one additional bid on vacant land north of Felten Elementary School (the former Hays Middle School).
SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 board sees plans on potential housing development
The board members asked Superintendent Ron Wilson to reach out to the original bidders with requests to have larger square footage homes and submit plans with only single-family homes.
The board also expresses some concern that the bids on the property were well below the appraised price of more than $600,000.
However, the appraiser told the board that the appraisal was based on commercial use, and the board members said they thought single-family housing was more in line with the board’s mission.
The new bids included the previous bidders: Land Inspired at $238,000 for 38 single-family homes, and PWC at $300,000 for 30 single-family homes.
ANS Unworth LLC submitted a bid of $410,000 with plans to construct a care retirement home on the property.
“I like what we got back from this one,” board member Jayme Goetz said. “Besides the price they are offering, I’m seeing some new content.”
Board Vice President Ruth Ruder also said she was pleased with the new bids and the addition of the ANS Unworth as an option.
She questioned whether Unworth would pay taxes or operate as a nonprofit.
The board members estimated the school district’s tax revenue from the PWC project would be $120,000 and from the Land Inspired project $130,000.
PWC has also indicated that they intend to give preference to new homes for educators first. Goetz said she appreciates this effort.
Brooks said he supported the middle bid from PWC.
Board member Derek Yarmer said the board needed to know the potential tax revenue for the school district for the Unworth project before voting on the sale.
The board voted to table the decision again until it could have the tax information.
However, Ruder said she urged the board not to table the issue again after it had been tabled multiple times previously.
“You can’t keep pushing off these builders because their expenses are going up, too,” she said. “We are going to have to make a decision.”
The issue will be considered again at the board’s Aug. 17 meeting.