By ALICIA FEYERHERM
Tiger Media Network
The City Commission approved bids for 2026 street maintenance projects during Thursday’s meeting.
Deputy City Manager Colin Bielser walked the commission through each project and the low bids associated with it.
These projects are completely funded from the Special Highway fund. The fund has several funding streams including $563,310 from the State Gas Tax Refund and $265,000 in Federal Aid.
The first bid was for a seal coat project. The low bid was from Vance Brothers, LLC from Kansas City, Mo., in the amount of $226,800.
“The seal coat will fill the fine cracks developing in the asphalt and preserve the life of the street,” Bielser said.
Stripe and Seal of Hays was awarded a $41,860 bid for 2,800 gallons of polypatch to fill large cracks and depressions.
Morgan Brothers of LaCrosse was awarded $63,080 for curb and brick repairs.
“This year’s project will focus primarily in the area along Fort Street between 13th and 15th and areas along West 6th,” Bielser said.
Proseal, Inc. from Augusta, was awarded $52,500 for a rejuvenator project. Asphalt rejuvenator is a preservative sealant that is used on newer asphalt streets.
“The cost is less than seal coat or chip seal and helps a new street stay in good condition for a longer period of time, delaying more costly maintenance,” Bielser said.
APAC-Kansas was awarded $95,809 for the reconstruction of the 500 block of Oak Street.
“This is currently an asphalt street in very poor condition and has deteriorated to the point we need reconstruction,” Bielser said.
Another rehabilitation project will replace parts of Fort Street from 22nd to 27th Street and Morgan Brothers was the low bid at $310,930.62
Finally, Heartland Traffic Services, Inc. of Kansas City, Kan., was awarded $52,499.50 for pavement markings on Hall Street from 27th to 41st Street.
“Not only are they beginning to fade, but there is little to no reflectivity, making nighttime visibility difficult,” Bielser said.
The markings were last applied in 2016.
The commission earmarked $10,000 from the 2026 budget for sidewalk repair and $100,000 is budgeted for crack seal.
There was $135,765.88 left in the budget for additional work or unforeseen change orders. City Manager Toby Dougherty explained that this is a larger contingency than in most years. Usually, a $50,000 contingency is budgeted.
“Some years we dip into it, some years we don’t,” Dougherty said.
City Commissioner David Vilaysing thanked the City for its dedication to street maintenance.
“The roads are extremely important,” Vilaysing said. “I travel the country and I’d say Hays has probably got some of the best roads in the country.
The projects were approved 5-0.
The next City Commission meeting will be at 4:00 p.m. on February 26 at City Hall.
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