By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission voted Monday on a road project to submit to the Kansas Department of Transportation in hopes of receiving funding.

The commission identified the intersection at 55th and 230th Avenue and 55th Street from the intersection east to Roth Avenue as the project they would submit to KDOT at next week’s transportation meeting in Hays.

Public Works Director Mike Graf presented the commission with cost estimates of $1.9 million for upgrades to the intersection and another $5.2 million for 55th street from 230th Avenue to Roth Avenue.

The commission stressed this is just a concept that will be presented to KDOT at a meeting next week.

Earlier this year, KDOT Secretary Mike King told the commission KDOT would be willing to help with some of the cost of proposed road improvements, mostly north of Interstate 70, but that the county needed to narrow down its requests.

County Administrator Greg Sund said if these projects are to go forward, the county will have to use a bond issue to pay for them.

A consultant from PiperJaffray presented the county with bond estimates for various lengths. A $10 million issue would range from 2.0 to 5.23 mills.

Sund said the 15-year bond would be best.

The commission has also discussed making improvements to 230th Avenue from 55th to Feedlot road.

The estimated cost to repave and widen that stretch of road is approximately $5.05 million.

Sund added the county is a long way from approving any construction projects, and the reason for the recommendation is an effort to show King the county has a plan.