At the Hays City Commission work session Thursday, commissioners will continue to discuss pay increases for union members.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall.

Negotiators with the city and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 48 have come to an agreement for a one-time 2 percent bonus, rather than a cost-of-living adjustment.

The agreement is similar to the one between the city and members of SEIU that was approved last week by the commission.

The city has reported sales tax projections are trending below expectations, and staff has recommended against a wage increase, opting instead for the one-time bonus.

If approved, the bonus would be paid bi-weekly for one year, beginning with the first payroll of 2015.

Click HERE for a complete agenda for Thursday’s meeting.

June 27
Motor vehicle accident, 1500 block West 27th, 1:06 a.m.
Motor vehicle accident/deer, Interstate 70, 5:29 a.m.
Miscellaneous investigation, 100 block Village Road, 10:56 a.m.
Criminal damage to property, 1200 block Golf Course Road, 1:51 p.m.
Cattle out, 1800 block 240th Avenue, 2 p.m.

June 28
Civil transport, Ellis/Russell county line, 11 a.m.
Civil transport/suspicious person, 700 block Old U.S. 40, 12:16 p.m.

June 29
Civil dispute, Catharine, 2:15 p.m.
Warrant service/failure to appear, Ellis/Russell county line, 7:10 p.m.

June 30
Motor vehicle accident/deer, 2900 block 250th Avenue, 6:01 a.m.
Cattle out, 600 block Buckeye Road, 8:38 a.m.
Criminal transport, Great Bend/Larned, 9:31 a.m.
Criminal transport, Hill City, 12:31 p.m.
Canine deployment, 1100 block East 13th, 2:50 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident, 2800 block West 27th, 2:55 p.m.
Criminal transport, WaKeeney, 3:10 p.m.
Trash dumping, 1000 block 220th Avenue, 4 p.m.
Canine deployment, 500 block Vine, 11:20 p.m.

With the fireworks ban rescinded Monday by the Hays City Commission, the Hays Police Department is reminding residents to be mindful of pets and their safety this Fourth of July.

The HPD offered the following tips:

• Do not take your pets to fireworks displays. If he or she becomes frightened, there’s nowhere for them to go that is familiar for them to feel safe.

• Keep your pets in a comfortable, familiar place. If your dog is crate-trained, make sure he or she has access to that crate; it will make them feel more at peace during the booms, cracks and bangs of fireworks. Sometimes pets find shelter in the bathroom, near, under or in the bathtub. Do not try to lure them out. If the dog finds comfort there, let him or her be.

• Leave a TV or radio on at home for your pets at a normal level. This could soothe them enough to “tune out” the fireworks going off in the area.

• Always have identification/city of Hays pet registration on your pet. That way if the animal becomes scared and bolts from your residence, animal control officers can quickly return the animal to you and your home.

• If your dog is an outdoor dog, please at least put them in a garage or an area of your home that will put walls between the dog and the sounds of fireworks going off in the area.

• If you know that the Fourth of July creates anxiety for your pets, consult your veterinarian. Perhaps there are ways a doctor can help reduce the anxiety.

• If you do lose your dog or cat during the Fourth of July festivities, do not hesitate to call the city of Hays Communication Center to report your animal missing.

• Please be sure to dispose of all fireworks packaging accordingly when the firework has cooled down. Digesting any of the used debris from firework packaging can be harmful to pets.

The Hays Police Department Animal Control officers wish you and your pet a safe and happy Fourth of July.

A Monday night shower looks to be the last of the rain for a few days as the Hays community prepares for the Wild West Festival this holiday week.

Official reports showed a small amount of rain in gauges Tuesday morning, with trace amounts in Hays and up to 0.05 inches south of town. The final rain of June pushed the total rainfall for the month to nearly 9.5 inches. Before June, Hays had received less than 3 inches of rain for the first five months of 2014.

The lightning show to the south that moved through the area in the evening wasn’t accompanied by much precipitation, but Trego, Ness, Rush, Osborne and Russell counties reported at least some moisture.

Farther to the south, Kiowa County reported nearly 3 inches of rain from the Monday night front.

The forecast calls for cooler temperatures and clear skies for the next couple of days, with the next chance of storms coming Thursday night.

Click HERE for the extended forecast.

The Hays Police Department conducted 23 traffic stops and received six animal calls on Monday, June 30, according to the HPD activity log.

Warrant service/failure to appear, 1000 block Cody, 1:30:00 p.m.
Burglary/vehicle, 2200 block General Custer, 11 p.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 1700 block Donald,9:08 a.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 2900 block Willow, 10:09 a.m.
Child in need of care, 700 block East Sixth, 10:15 a.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 200 block East 29th, 10:56 a.m.
Animal at large, 1106 block Vine, 11:13 a.m.
Assist, 1000 block Fort, 11:28 a.m.
Water use violation, 2700 block Colonial, 12:40 p.m.
Contempt of court/failure to pay, 100 block West 12th, 5 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident/private property, 4300 block Vine, 1:22 p.m.
Civil dispute, 1300 block East 15th, 2:12 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident, 1700 block Main, 3:38 p.m.
Counterfeit currency/documents, 4700 block Roth, 3:43 p.m.
Contempt of court/failure to pay, 100 block West 12th, 5:22 p.m.
Traffic/driving complaint, 400 block East 12th, 7:27 p.m.
Animal at large, 100 block West 20th, 9:47 p.m.
Drug offenses, 600 block East Sixth, 10:24 p.m.