By NICK BUDD
Hays Post

On Thursday night, Hays City Commissioners are scheduled to vote on the design agreement for the 13th Street from Main to Milner project.

Renovations will include the reconstruction of all sidewalks, curbs and parking areas along the street, installation of brick accents in the intersections and parking spots, a monument sign, and decorative street lights from Oak to Milner. The project also will include some waterline and sewer improvements.

Professional Engineering Consultants of Wichita has submitted the low bid of $95,000 for the design agreement for the project and staff members are recommending that the commission accept it. The current design schedule calls for a construction bid opening in January 2015 with construction beginning during the 2015 construction season.

Commissioners also will consider moving the city’s water status from “Water Warning” to “Water Watch.”

At last week’s work session, Bernie Kitten, director of utilities, said that the water levels at the Smoky Hill wellfield are well above the “watch status” because of the significant June rainfall. Meanwhile, the Big Creek wellfields did not change much — but do remain above a watch level.

POLL: Should the city of Hays return to a Stage 1 Water Watch?

The current drought forecast released by the National Weather Service also lists the Hays area “at a line” of possibly going out of the drought. Because of these factors, city staff is recommending that the commission move from a warning down to a watch.

Commissioners also will consider:

• A 2015 wage agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 48 that will provide members with a one-time 2 percent bonus, paid biweekly beginning with the first payroll in 2015.

• Approving a new city ordinance that will exempt the draining of pools and hot tubs from the prohibition of water escaping the property, however the new ordinance would impose a fine for draining them into alleys. The issue was brought up in a June work session by Commissioner Ron Mellick.

The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall.

Click HERE for a complete agenda.