Ellis County is using the same consultant as the city of Hays,  RDG Planning and Design of Omaha,  for its first-ever comprehensive plan.

County Administrator Greg Sund says the county’s compilation is running ahead of the city’s because rural areas are usually less complicated.  Ellis County has fewer zoning regulations, and most of those are agriculture-related.

What the county does have more so than the city is, according to Sund,  issues related to energy development and regulations for notifying the public where and when that might happen.

Although the Kansas population is declining, a positive point found by RDG for both Ellis County and Hays, is good quality of life. The consultants say most Americans now relocate to areas for their attractive amenities, and then look for a job after moving.

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