By NICK BUDD
Hays Post

At Tuesday’s Hays City Commission meeting, commissioners will consider renewing the city’s health insurance policy with Coventry Health Care. The new plan will result in an increase of 19.5% over the current rates and is expected to cost around $1.8 million — $78,000 over the cap implemented by the commission during 2014 budget talks.  

According to the commission meeting packet, the increase is due to higher use of insurance over the past three years. The plan comes at no cost for employees, which some commissioners were critical of during last week’s work session.

Commissioners will also look to bring Bike Hays a step closer to reality by awarding construction project and committing funds for the plan that would bring 18 miles of street and levee bike lanes to the city. The projects are part of a KDOT Transportation Enhancement Grant that covers 60% of the eligible costs, bringing the city’s share to $393,000. They will look to award the contracts to APAC Kansas Inc.-Shears division for the on-street lanes and Bryant and Bryant Construction for the levee path.

Other items on the agenda include:

• Awarding a bid for a new recycling truck at a cost of approximately $173,000. The bid came in $30,000 less than what was budgeted for the truck.

• Establishing a benefit district to pave the alley west of Allen Street between 7th and 8th Streets. The project is expected  to cost around $60,000. If approved, some of the property owners within the district would split the costs over a ten year period.

The meeting is being held Tuesday because of the Thanksgiving Day holiday. A similar schedule change has been made for Christmas week, as well. Click HERE for the full agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.