By NICK BUDD
Hays Post
A Hays City Commission candidate hopes to give back to the community and provide a fresh set of eyes if he’s elected to the city’s governing body.
Lance Jones grew up in Sharon Springs and moved to Hays five years ago, following a stint in Manhattan to attend college. Jones has worked for the Kansas National Guard since his late teens and said his experience with several government contracts and a “fresh set of eyes” will help the commission.
“I think fiscal responsibility is something we owe to the citizens of Hays and the taxpayers,” Jones said. “We need to take into account and spend their tax dollars the best way we can.”
Jones said the city needs to be more stringent on tax incentives such as TIFs and CIDs, especially after the commission passed a Community Improvement District to help fund improvements the Hays Mall. Jones favors an approach that provides local businesses a fair shot to succeed.
“The mall is owned by people that aren’t from Hays and (DP Management) is a big corporation,” Jones said. “Unless we give that opportunity to every business in Hays, especially the smaller ones, (CIDs) really aren’t fair.”
The first-time candidate for elected office also said there is room for Hays to grow after the April elections. He said he’d like to see additional businesses, as well as growth in the parks department.
“There’s opportunity for businesses to come in. I see it in Great Bend and Garden City,” Jones said. “Both of those towns have zoos to go to and places for visitors to visit. (Hays) has a little bit to do but not an extreme amount.
“I want to keep the hometown feel … I don’t want it to become a big city.”
Over the next couple of years, commissioners will be making several decisions on a reconstructed wastewater treatment plan that is expected to cost close to $30 million, and Jones hopes the commission won’t have to raise utility rates by large margins.
“There’s no way around (reconstruction). We have to do it in order to comply with federal regulations,” Jones said. “We’ve just got to start saving and budgeting for it. … Hopefully, we won’t have to raise rates too much.”
The other candidates include incumbent mayor Henry Schwaller, along with James Meier and Scott Simpson. Commissioners Ron Mellick and Kent Steward have decided not to seek another term. The top two candidates will receive a four-year term on the commission and the third will serve a two-year term.