Commissioners OK repeal of Hays taxi ordinances

By NICK BUDD
Hays Post

During Thursday night’s regular meeting, Hays city commissioners agreed unanimously to repeal some of the taxi cab ordinances in the city code. Staff told the commission there were several issues with the current licensing process, noting they did not believe it was a good use of time or city resources. The past process required the work of up to five different city departments.

Previously, when a company applied for a taxi cab license, the city began the process by conducting background checks on the drivers and owners. The time committed to this step was dependent upon the past criminal history of the applicants.

Once the background checks were complete, the city manager’s office reviewed the application and decided whether or not it was sufficient enough to forward the application to the city commission for approval. If approval was given by the city commission, the city then inspected the vehicles and scheduled semi-annual inspections. Badges were also printed for each approved driver. Once the process was complete, the city clerk then contacted the business to give them the go ahead to begin operation.

“To this day in 2014, there have been 28 driver licenses processed, which caused the city to take a step back and review the current ordinance and process,” said Finance Director Kim Rupp.

According to Rupp, there were no other businesses “regulated to the degree” that taxi cab companies were. Rupp also said the current ordinance presented liability and cost/benefit issues.

There are currently two taxi cab businesses in the city of Hays and, according to Rupp and City Manager Toby Dougherty, business is “going well” for both of them.

In other business

-Commissioners approved adopting the 2014 Uniform Public Offense and Standard Traffic Ordinance released by the Kansas League of Municipalities. The ordinances include the re-codification of the code made by the legislature in 2011. They also include the new gun laws which takes some control away from cities.

– The commission also approved the partial release and modification of an easement at the Southridge Estates Addition for Midwest Energy. The request was made so that Midwest could satisfy requirements of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and North American Electric Reliability Corporation.