By ALICIA FEYERHERM
Director of Public Works Jesse Rohr addressed the Hays City Commission on Thursday regarding rezoning and planning to accommodate the new Hays High School.
First, Rohr went over the 13th Street Reconstruction Engineering Design Contract. The specific section of 13th Street undergoing the reconstruction starts around Anthony Drive and extends east to Commerce Parkway. This project would widen the two-lane street to a three-lane street and extend the existing 8-foot side path.
The estimated project cost is approximately $2.45 million. Final designs and bid letting are set to finish at the end of 2023, with construction beginning spring 2024. The project should be completed by the end of 2024.
Through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Cost Share Award, $1.2 million was awarded for the project. Additionally, the city budgeted up to $750,000 in participating funds and the county budgeted up to $500,000.
The first step in the process is the authorization for the city manager to enter a $120,000 agreement with MKEC Engineering to design an engineering plan for the improvements. Rohr said MKEC Engineering was selected since it was already engaged in a project with Hays USD 489 for the new high school.
“This was done mostly to avoid duplication of services from multiple engineering firms,” Rohr said.
The motion passed 4-0.
Next, Rohr presented the annexation of USD 489 property located at 2500 East 13th (the proposed location of the new high school).
The property has been in agriculture production for many years and is undeveloped. This is a consent annexation, meaning the property owner fully consents to the annexation and therefore does not require public hearings and other items that would be required of a non-consensual annexation.
“This is a big step for the start of the new high school,” Commissioner Shaun Musil said.
The annexation ordinance passed 4-0.
Finally, Rohr discussed the rezoning of that property from an Agriculture District to a Public and Institutional District, which would allow construction to begin on the new school.
The Planning Commission considered the request Feb. 20 and unanimously approved it in a 5-0 vote. The city commission approved the rezoning in a 4-0 vote.
Other items addressed at the meeting include:
- Acceptance of bid to construct an airport snow removal equipment building.
- Authorization of a sanitary sewer lining project.
- Approval of levying special assessment for the King’s Gate 2nd Addition Improvement District.
The next commission meeting will be April 6.