City Commission approves purchase of Astra Bank building

By ALICIA FEYERHERM

Tiger Media Network

City Manager Toby Dougherty presented the purchase agreement of the Astra Bank building at the city commission meeting on Thursday. 

A new police station has been part of the capital improvement plan for the last few years. The city initially considered building a new facility, but Astra Bank reached out about the possibility of buying their facility. 

Located at 1100 Fort St., Astra Bank is across the street from the current Ellis County District Court and Police Station. 

“This is a very good option for the city of Hays,” Doughtery said. “It’s going to provide a really good home for the Hays Police Department. It’s going to provide room for the Police Department and municipal courts with room for growth.”

The city agrees to transfer approximately two acres of property at 27th and Main to Astra Bank. Asta Bank will then develop the site to include a new bank and a new headquarters.  The city will pay for the engineering of the new Astra Bank site. This does not include Astra Bank’s design engineering but rather right-of-ways easements and similar siting considerations.

The city will also construct a stormwater retention facility that would serve the entire property. The commission has considered placing apartments at the back part of the lot and so from an efficiency standpoint, commissioners say it makes sense to have only one stormwater retention facility on the site. 

When Astra Bank vacates its current facility, the city will pay Astra Bank $1.8 million for the property. 

“I’m pretty excited about the opportunity because I do see it absolutely for an opportunity for all parties considered,” Commissioner Sandy Jacobs said.

Jacob is also in favor of using the rest of the property for apartments. 

“The possibility of additional housing is great utilization of the property that the city owns,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs said this agreement is a “no-brainer.” Commissioner Mason Ruder agreed. 

“We work very closely with the Sheriff’s Department and the courts, so having everything right there, localized, makes sense,” Ruder said. 

Commissioner Alaina Cunnigham also pointed out the cost savings to the city through this agreement. Jacobs estimates the city saved around five million dollars by purchasing the building instead of building a new station.

The motion to approve the agreement passed 5-0.

Other items covered at the meeting:

• Approval of 32/33rd Street Reconstruction Design Contract
• Adoption of modifications to the Future Land Use Map
• Approval of an ordinance designating the Hays Area Planning Commission as the Hays Area Board of Zoning Appeals

The next meeting will be at 4:00 p.m. on May 9 at City Hall.