Departing Steward: ‘I love the city of Hays’ (VIDEO)

Commissioner Shaun Musil thanks outgoing commissioner Kent Steward for his service. — Commissioner Shaun Musil thanks outgoing Commissioner Kent Steward for his help.

By Becky Kiser
Hays Post

Outgoing Hays City Commissioner Kent Steward, who chose not to run for re-election, welcomed incoming commissioner Lance Jones prior to the start of Thursday night’s city commission meeting.

It was Steward’s final regular meeting. Next Thursday, April 16, is the commission work session.

The new commissioners, Jones, James Meier and incumbent Henry Schwaller IV, will be sworn in to office shortly after the start of the April 23 meeting.

“I want to commend everyone who had the courage to put their names forward and run for the Hays City Commission and the USD 489 school board, and of course, extend congratulations to those who won,” Steward said towards the end of meeting.

Incoming Hays City Commissioner Lance Jones shakes hands with City Attorney John Bird as City Manager Toby Dougherty watches. — Incoming Hays City Commissioner Lance Jones shakes hands with City Attorney John Bird and City Manager Toby Dougherty.

“Since this is the last time I will be sitting here at this time in a regular commission meeting, I also want to say that I love the city of Hays and I thank everyone for the great honor I’ve had of being able to serve in this way for almost 10 years,” Steward added.

The other outgoing city commissioner Ron Mellick, who also declined to run again, was absent from Thursday’s meeting. Mellick was with his son, Kansas Highway Patrol Master Trooper Mitchell Mellick, who had open heart surgery.