By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

At the suggestion of Hays city commissioners, a policy has been drafted for determining priorities in park improvements as well as how matching funds from outside entities are considered.

The draft includes a new park amenities schedule created with the assistance of Jeff Boyle, director of parks. The total cost is approximately $3.35 million.

“We would anticipate updating that every year with high, medium and low priority projects,” City Manager Toby Dougherty told the commission last week. It would be adopted as part of the annual budget of the Parks Department after review by the commission.

Civic groups or other donors wishing to help fund a project would be steered to the high-priority replacement projects, according to Dougherty. Those items are what city staff believes to be the most pressing issues. Some are replacements, others are new pieces.

“I don’t want someone coming in and saying I want that shelter house and we expect you to do it this year,” said Commissioner Ron Mellick, “but that will be all in the schedule.”

Sandy Jacobs wondered what would happen if a group wanted to provide a 50% match for a project that is not on the high priority list comprised by the city. “Would you consider moving it up if they wanted to spend their money that year?” she asked Dougherty.

“It’s up to the commission,” Dougherty replied.

A separate process would prioritize the projects in the city’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

If an entity wants to accelerate the creation of a high-priority project, there will be a 15% funding match required.

For medium-priority items, there is a 50% match required while low-priority items will required a 75% funding match.

If a proposed improvement is not on the Parks Amenities Schedule, a 100% funding match is required plus additional monies for a 10-year minimum of maintenance, operation, and depreciation costs.

Shaun Musil noted the high priority list included items noted as broken, portions needing replacement, washed out or in poor condition. There were also several new requests.

“I thought the whole object of this was to limit new requests,” Musil said. “Why would you have something like that at the very top?” he questioned Dougherty.

“More recently the commission said ‘we want to focus our efforts and new stuff on multi-use paths,'” Dougherty reminded commissioners. “So that’s a new request. That’s your priority, your request.

“Right now what we’re trying to stay away from is any more restrooms and $70,000 pieces of play equipment and things like that. You are going to see some new requests in here that we (city staff) that we think are valid.”

Dougherty pointed to the Parks Dept. parking lot as one example. Installing a paved lot to replace the dirt lot is listed as one high priority. Drainage mitigation and concrete parking in Frontier Park East is “also a new request but it’s solving a problem we’ve been dealing with for a lot of years.”

A shade structure for the city’s bison herd in Frontier Park West is also a new request on the high priority list.

“We have bison in the pen with relatively no shade and it’s hot and sunny here,” said Dougherty.

“It’s a new construction but it’s relatively cheap.”

Funding sources would vary. Some of the amenities are for parks sponsored by Hays civic groups. The Hays Aquatic Park has its own fund and budget as does the Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course, as well as the Parks Department.

Civic groups or other donors often come to Boyle and ask what is needed in the city’s parks.

“The whole intent is if somebody comes along with money we can try to steer them to the high priority items,” Dougherty added. “If somebody comes along with an idea that is not on the list, the commission can say ‘we appreciate it but it’s not on our priority list – either high, medium, or low – so therefore the burden is on you to come up with the money, and some money to take care of it.'”

Last year, a restroom was installed in Ekey Park, 19th and Holmes Road.  The Sunrise Rotary Club requested the city commission authorize the installation be moved up from 2020 to take advantage of a $10,000 grant the club received from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan.

“This looks great,” said Mayor Henry Schwaller. “It’s a huge step forward.”

The commission will consider adopting the Parks Improvement Policy at its April 25 meeting.