By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The appointment of a new Hays city commissioner is scheduled to be announced Thu., June 28, during tonight’s regular commission meeting.

A seat opened earlier this month when Chris Dinkel announced his resignation. He and his family will be moving to New York City where Dinkel will attend Columbia Law School this fall.

Dinkel said he was announcing his resignation early so the new commissioner could be involved in the 2019 budget review. According to Hays City Clerk Brenda Kitchen, Dinkel’s term ends in 2020.

Persons interested in filling the vacancy were urged to contact a Hays city commissioner.

Other agenda items include a proposal to purchase the Elevations aquatic feature for the Hays Aquatic Park (HAP) for $185,000 from the Pool Reserve Funds.

During last week’s work session, commissioners discussed whether a more extensive plan should be in place to revitalize HAP and increase attendance.

Commissioners will also consider authorizing the city manager to execute a $75,000 contract with Covenant Builders, Hays, for construction of King’s Gate Park improvements. All costs will be assessed to the benefit district. The 10-year assessment would begin upon project completion.

King’s Gate Addition is located north of 41st Street and just east of the Highway 40 bypass. It was platted and began development in 2010.

The small neighborhood park at the north end of the development will include a basketball court, shelter house, play structure, swing set, a BBQ grill, and benches. Sidewalk will be placed in various areas throughout the park.

The project was bid with an alternate for wood or rubber mulch. Commissioners last week said they prefer the rubber mulch, which was a higher bid of $94,000.

Parks Director Jeff Boyle told the commission his department is “trying to convert city parks play areas over to rubber if we can afford it.”

Although the initial cost for rubber mulch is more, wood chips “turn into dirt,” he explained. “They decompose and then you have to go in and remove all the dirt and wood chips after about six to eight years and start over. If it gets dry enough, the wood much turns into splinters. We’ve had complaints about that.”

The parks department began changing to the rubber mulch about five years ago. “It doesn’t deteriorate. It doesn’t go anywhere unless the kids throw it and then you just rake it back in,” said Boyle. “It’s a little more costly upfront but it never goes bad.”

According to Boyle, Aubel-Bickle Park, 30th and Sherman, and the Hays Rotary Club Park in east Frontier Park have already been converted from wood chip to rubber mulch playgrounds. Lincoln Elementary School has also changed its playground cover to rubber mulch.

The commission will also:

• Vote on a ordinance amending the Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center CID Start Date and Development Agreement to reflect a new CID start date of July 1, 2020. The developer realized the 22 year clock on the approved CID would begin prior to his
  project completion.
• Authorize the city manager to renew the 2018/2019 commercial insurance coverages with MPR
• Hear an update on the reconstruction of the wastewater treatment plant

The complete agenda is available here.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. tonight in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.