By ALICIA FEYERHERM
Tiger Media Network
Hays City Commission approved a bid from Commercial Builders for over a million dollars to construct a hangar at Hays Regional Airport.
The Kansas Highway Patrol has had an aviation unit based in Hays since the 1980s and recently acquired a new aircraft that requires more hangar space.
These aircraft serve a variety of purposes. Just earlier that day, the aircraft helped coordinate water drops at a fire northeast of Hays.
The aircraft are equipped with thermal cameras and mapping systems which can help with search and rescue missions. During road closures, aircraft can reach areas regular highway patrol would not be able to reach. The aircraft also carries blood to small hospitals during emergency situations.
Currently, there are only three law enforcement air bases in the state: one in Hays, one in Topeka and one in Wichita.
KHP will reimburse the city for all construction costs and also pay $350,155 for project services. After completion, the city will transfer ownership of the hangar to KHP. At that point, the city would enter into a land lease with KHP, similar to leases other entities have with the airport to store aircraft on-site.
Commissioner Sandy Jacobs asked about the upkeep costs for the hangar after construction. Airport Director Jamie Slater said KHP would assume all maintenance costs of the interior and the airport would only be responsible for the taxi lanes and other exterior maintenance.
The project is scheduled to be completed by December 2024.
“It’s a great asset not only for our community, but for our region,” Mayor Shaun Musil said.
The commission unanimously approved a bid from Commercial Builders for $1,196,500 and authorized total project expenditures up to $1,337,700 to be funded from the Airport Improvement Fund.
The commission also approved $148,386.50 from the 2024 Special Park and Recreation budget to be used to replace the turf at Larks Park. That amount covers half of the project costs. The other half will be funded by Fort Hays State University since the university’s baseball team also uses that facility.
The next commission meeting will be at 4:00 p.m. on April 25 at City Hall.