By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Hays Department of Water Resources has a multi-year program to clean sewer mains to ensure proper operation and maintenance.

If the collection system is not cleaned, sewers can backup and manholes can overflow, exposing the public to raw sewage and causing the city to be subject to regulatory fines.

Each year the city contracts to clean approximately 20 miles of sewer lines. City employees do emergency sewer backup removal and clean problem lines on a biannual basis.

During their work session tonight, Hays city commissioners will review a recommended low bid of not more than $150,000 from Professional Pipe Services, Denver, for light sewer cleaning with video inspection.

“Based on the work that gets done, we continue to work on our sewer replacement program and get it planned for the future,” said Jacob Wood, Assistant Hays City Manager.

Commissioners will also look at the recommended bid for the 2018 manhole rehabilitation program.  The low bid was submitted by Utility Maintenance Contractors, LLC of Wichita, in an amount not to exceed $60,000.

“Basically, this is just going in and taking a look at some of our older manholes that are degrading and doing a kind of face lift on them,” Wood explained.

Manhole rehabilitation is generally considered to have a 50 to 60-year lifespan at a cost of about $3,000 each, he added.

Other agenda items include review of the new pay plan and job classification for city employees and a look at bids for the purchase of three new automated refuse trucks.

Chad Ruder, Director of Information Technology, will also present an overview of the city’s IT (Information Technologies) operations. The department recently relocated from the downtown city hall to the Hays Welcome Center, 2700 Vine.

The complete Sept. 6 agenda is available here.

The work session begins at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main Street.