BY KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
A local business owner says he does not want to go to “war” with the city of Hays, but he is upset with an city ordinance — and he and more than 20 of his peers let city commissioners know their concerns at Thursday’s city commission work session.
The issue comes down to a letter the city sent to Chris Miller, owner of Auto Tech, 600-602 Vine. The letter stated Miller needed to remove two vehicles off the property or the city would do it for him. According to Director of Public Works I.D. Creech, city ordinances state inoperable and visible vehicles are not allowed on property for more than 30 days unless they are “enclosed by a building or “totally screened by view.”
Miller asked commissioners, “How can somebody sit down and put an ordinance in place that forbids somebody that is in the business of repairing vehicles from having damaged vehicles on their property?” Miller added, “That just doesn’t even compute to me.”
Miller said auto mechanics like himself should be allowed some “leeway” from the ordinance in order to run their businesses.
Creech said he is “bound to follow procedures,” but has no control over changing the ordinance as that is the city commissioner’s job.
City commissioners will review Miller’s abatement order at next Thursday’s City Commission meeting.
According to Mayor Kent Steward, city staff is preparing a report about the ordinance. City Commissioners will review the report Tuesday February 4th at a city planning meeting.