By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Following a public hearing with no comments from the audience, Hays city commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve two Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) for a new 80-room extended stay hotel to be built north of I-70.

Development agreements and ordinances have been approved for a 1% CID sales tax on the Marriott hotel property, directly north of I-Hop and Hampton Inn near Home Depot. An additional 1% CID sales tax will be placed on the hotel property and the JT Travel Plaza which just opened last week.

Attorney Ferdinand Niemann of White Goss, the Kansas City firm representing the Liberty, Missouri-based developer, Hays Extended Stay Hotel Partners, said the $9.64 million project is ready to go.

“They’re going to close on this Monday (Nov. 21) since this passed tonight. I wouldn’t be surprised if you see dirt being moved later this month,” Niemann said.

“Another positive thing is, they’ve actually reached out to local contractors to do a lot of the work, taking bids,” added Mayor Shaun Musil. “That’s great. If it goes back into our community, that’s a plus for everyone.”

Musil was also pleased with how the hotel project came together.

“I think this is needed in our community. With our new development policy, this is what we got out of that. I think it’s pretty straight forward.”

Both CIDs will be in effect for 22 years, according to city Finance Director Kim Rupp. “The total sales tax at the travel plaza would be 10.5%, and the total sales tax at the hotel would be 16.5%,” Rupp told commissioners.

“Even if the CID sales tax revenues from either of the CIDs exceed expectations, the developer would not be reimbursed from the two CIDs combined for more than $1.73 million plus the developer’s actual costs of interest on any financing arranged by them at a rate not to exceed 7% per annum,” Rupp added.

Commissioner Henry Schwaller was absent from the meeting.