By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
After withdrawing their proposal for consideration one day prior to the Aug. 6 Hays city commission work session, NWK Investments is back on the agenda tonight with a revised information packet for economic development assistance to build a travel plaza just northwest of town.
The written plan was criticized by Commissioners James Meier and Lance Jones for being riddled with errors. Meier also said the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development was “not doing its job” in bringing forth the proposal to the commission.
Aaron White, ECCED executive director, who was not present at the Aug. 6 session, will be in attendance tonight, alongside James Millensifer representing Chance Management and NWK Investments. They will present the revised proposal and request for feedback and direction.
According to a memo to the commission from Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty, the proposal has been rewritten to clarify what the applicant is requesting.
There are three modifications to the existing proposal. The first modification is that the developer is asking the city to issue Tax Increment Financing (TIF) bonds to finance the TIF eligible costs. This is a deviation from what was originally proposed when the developer claimed to have financing in place and proposed to finance, construct and install all necessary infrastructure. In the second change, the developer is now asking the city to authorize the issuance of Industrial Revenue Bonds. According to Dougherty, the developer is asking for this as a way to avoid paying sales taxes on any construction materials. The third change is a revised CID petition that covers only the property being developed. The previous petition was for several lots that will comprise the proposed TIF district.
Other items on tonight’s agenda for discussion include a proposal from Mayer Specialty Services for sanitary heavy sewer cleaning; a bid for improvements to King’s Gate Addition Phase 2 and placement of an entrance sign to the subdivision; and a rezoning request for a portion of 1601 E. 27th Frontage Road from single-family residential district (R-1) to multi-family dwelling district (R-4).
You can see the complete agenda here.
The work session starts at 6:30 p.m. tonight in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main Street.