By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The city of Hays’ new turf conversion program and rebate is now available to more property owners following a change implemented this week.

“If you have city water — irrigate with city water — a manual system is now also eligible. … As City Commissioner Ron Mellick likes to call it, ‘a hose-dragger’ can apply now,” Assistant Hays City Manager Paul Briseno told city commissioners during their Thursday night meeting.

Previously, only residential or business turfs with automatic irrigation systems qualified for the “Cash for Grass” program.

The turf conversion program allows a rebate of one dollar per square foot of warm season grass, up to 1,000 square feet, to be replanted with cool season grass. Xeriscaping and artificial turf allow qualify for the program.

Cool season grasses, such as buffalo and Bermuda, require 80% less water than warm season grasses, such as fescue or bluegrass.

“Homeowners can save an average 250,000 gallons of water a year in watering their lawns,” Briseno added, “or roughly $1,000 to $1,500 dollars in maintenance as well as water savings (on their water bill.)”

As of Thursday, there were 10 homeowners signed up for the program, according to Briseno.

Up to 50 rebates will be paid by the city this year.

More turf conversion information is available on the city’s website.