By NICK BUDD
Hays Post
At Thursday’s work session, the Hays City Commission will discuss accepting a Federal Aviation Administration grant to help fund renovations at Hays Regional Airport. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

In May, the commissioners awarded the bid for the improvements to Paul Wertenberger Construction of Hays, the only company to bid for the project. The total cost of construction and engineering for the improvements will be $1,385,185. If commissioners accept the AIP grant provided by the FAA, the city will be responsible for $466,402 and the AIP grant will pay for the remaining $918,783.
As Hays Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno explains, the city’s share would come from three different funds:
Improvements will include the construction of a larger secure holding area, restroom renovations, a new bathroom inside the TSA holding area, improvements to the roof and ventilations systems, and some “spruce-ups” to the walls and floors of the airport terminal. Commissioners also will discuss accepting a work agreement with the engineering firm Burns and McDonnell to help oversee the construction of the improvements.
Also on the agenda is discussion of the prohibition of fireworks within city limits. Despite recent rains, city staff will recommend the commission keep the ban in place. The staff memo to commissioners said if the Ellis County Commission would have lifted the ban in unincorporated areas, city staff would have recommended to do the same within the city due to enforcement difficulties.
Other items on the agenda for Thursday’s work session include:
• Commercial insurance renewal: The city’s new risk management broker, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., recently marketed the city’s commercial insurance and will recommend a proposal that will result in a decrease of costs.
• Updates to the city’s water supply after recent rainfalls hit the Smoky Hill River and Big Creek wells.
• Discussions about proposals to replace the water plant boiler.
• Amendments to the city’s contract with the city worker’s union, SEIU Local 513, that would provide members of the union a one-time 2 percent bonus for the 2015 fiscal year.
Click HERE for a complete agenda for Thursday’s work session.