Ellis County Commission tables 3-mile zone discussion

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Citing unanswered questions and a lack of input from those affected, the Ellis County Commission tabled a discussion on the 3-mile zone – Extraterritorial Jurisdiction – surrounding Hays at Monday’s meeting.

In May, the county expressed interest in changing the 3-mile zone for the city of Hays. Ellis County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes and City Manager Toby Dougherty worked together on a new proposal that included reductions to all but the east boundary.

proposed etj boundary map — The proposed ETJ boundary, which removes 19 square miles, in in blue. The current boundary is in yellow.

Dougherty told the commission at their Aug. 4 work session the proposed boundary change removes 19 square miles.

The city commission and the city’s zoning board agreed the changes, but the county commission expressed issue with the proposal.

“I’m not ready to move forward with what the city has drawn up,” said Commissioner Dean Haselhorst. “I think there’s a lot of interested parties (who) want to chime in on the discussion.”

Haselhorst said he wants to hear from real estate agents and other interested parties before they finalize a plan.

“The Realtors of the community know which way the city’s growing and know what the needs are,” he said.

Commissioner Barb Wasinger agreed with Haselhorst and said the county needs to have more say on property outside of the city.

“I have no problem working with the city,” Wasinger said. “However, I think the county needs more control over their property.”

Commissioners also want to look further into the rules of the joint planning commission before voting on the issue. The county commission has final say on the 3-mile zone and the city has control of zoning within that zone.

The 3-mile zone became an issue of discussion when the Hays City Commission went against recommendations of the Hays Area Planning Commission and city staff and approved rezoning an area south of Hays from agriculture to residential to allow for the proposed Blue Sky Acres Addition.

The planning commission voted against the zone change because it was not in the city’s comprehensive plan.

Blue Sky Acres would be adjacent to the VonFeldt subdivision but a petition has been filed to vacate Randall Road. It runs through the subdivision and would provide the only access from Highway 183 to the Blue Sky Addition.

As part of the vacation process, the county commission appointed three people who will view the road with two of the three commissioners and a surveyor. Wasinger has recused herself because of a conflict of interest.

At Monday’s meeting, the commission voted to appoint Wes Debey, Dennis Pfannenstiel and Ernest Pfeifer as the three “disinterested householders” who will view the road and then present their opinions in a report.

The viewing has been scheduled for Oct. 7 at 8:30 a.m.

In other business, the commission agreed to begin the process of selling the Tholen Building at 209 W. 12th. The building has served as storage for county records.

The commission also heard a progress report on the progress of the Courthouse Preservation Committee and got monthly reports from the health and the public works departments.