By NICK BUDD
Hays Post
At Thursday’s Hays City Commission meeting, commissioners voted to enter into a contract with Professional Engineering Consultants of Wichita for the design of upgrades of 13th Street from Main to Milner. The design will cost $95,000 and will be funded out of the capital projects fund. PEC was the low bidder among three other agencies. According to ID Creech, director of Public Works, PEC will provide the city with biddable documents along with an engineer’s estimated cost of the project.
“This particular process would actually prepare the design specifications to bid the project as identified in the concepts,” he said.
The base plan would replace the driving lanes and intersections along the project, place a 5-foot bike lane along the project, and upgrades to the storm water and water systems. Most of the parking, curb and sidewalk would be left alone. Alternates that will be designed include replacing sidewalk, curb and parking spots; installation of brick accents along the parking spots from Main to Oak and at intersections; and new decorative street lights from Main to Oak.
“The reason for the street scape is that it was is an entryway into downtown, and it is included in the comprehensive plan,” said City Manager Toby Dougherty. “It is time to replace that street because of its condition.”
Dougherty said commissioners will have an opportunity to approve or reject parts of the project if the engineering estimates come in higher than expected.
Mayor Henry Schwaller was the only commissioner that voted against the measure. He said there we’re some portions of the project that he wouldn’t want to fund “even if the city had the money.”
“I don’t think we should have them spend their time designing a monument sign for approximately $10,200,” Schwaller said. “My point is that that’s translated into the fee that we are paying and, if those things were not in there, we wouldn’t have to pay that much.”
Once the design comes back, commissioners will vote on which parts of the project to keep and, if approved, a request for bids will be sent out. If the base option and all alternates are approved, the project will cost approximately $2.3 million.