By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The city of Hays will spend about $1.1 million on street maintenance next year.
Project Manager John Braun presented the proposal to the city commission at Thursday night’s work session.
Included are seal coat, asphalt rejuvenator, micro-surfacing, diamond grinding, curb and brick repair, major rehab on Ash Street between 23rd and 27th, sidewalk improvements, and in-house crack seal and asphalt repair.
The work is targeted by city staff in an annual evaluation of the condition of streets and brought forward for commission consideration. Staff utilizes traffic counts, the latest pavement condition assessment, past maintenance treatments, public input, and available budget in developing the maintenance program.
A little more than half of the project is funded by the state from the federal gas tax refund plus Connecting Link Maintenance. Another $500,000 will come from the city’s General Fund.
Below is an explanation provided by the city of each street maintenance process that will be used.
1. Seal Coat is a bituminous liquid mixture applied to asphalt pavement. Seal coat has a smooth black finish and does not have a rock surface like chip seal. The seal coat will fill the fine cracks developing in the asphalt and preserve the life of the street. Most of the streets to receive a seal coat are on the east side of Hays.
2. Asphalt Rejuvenator, also called Reclamite, is a preservative seal that is used on newer asphalt streets that do not yet warrant more advanced treatment. The cost is less than seal coat or chip seal and helps a new street to stay in good shape for a longer period of time delaying more costly maintenance treatments. Pavement markings are preserved and do not need to be reapplied. The areas slated for asphalt rejuvenator are Kings Gate Drive, Hall, 27th, 13th, 32nd, and 33rd Streets.
3. Micro-Surfacing is a quick setting, hard asphalt slurry that restores the driving surface. It performs better than seal coat on high traffic areas. Micro-surfacing will be done Broadway north of 27th Street and MacArthur south of Roosevelt School, along with some areas that were uncompleted in 2018.
4. Diamond Grinding will be used to remove bumps on concrete streets where the joints have faulted or the concrete panels have warped. Staff proposes to grind Commerce Parkway from 22nd to the south city limit at Reservation Road.
5. Curb and Brick Repair typically is performed in the old brick street areas of town. The 2019 project concentrates on Walnut between 12th and 13th.
6. Major Rehab – In 2007, the water main along Ash Street was upgraded and the furthest east traffic lane of the concrete pavement between 23rd and 27th was reconstructed. This project would remove and replace the west two lanes.
7. Sidewalk Program – Adding $10,000 for the annual Sidewalk Rebate Program, the total amount to be set aside out of Special Highway for sidewalk improvements in 2019 is $78,000.
8. In-House Street Maintenance – Approximately $45,000 will augment the purchase of crack seal material, asphalt and other materials for city crews to perform in-house street maintenance.
Braun told commissioners the plan will return for approval in 2019 once bids are received.
In other business, City Clerk Brenda Kitchen presented the 2018 Boundary Resolution. Three properties north of Interstate 70 have been annexed into the city since December 14, 2017:
- Ottley Addition (directly west of Walmart); Intended for the new Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center
- Crawford Addition (NW corner of 48th and Roth Ave.); New Tractor Supply store which is under construction
- 5025 General Hays Road (by Hays Livestock Market); Expected to be used by Hays American Legion Post 173 for a new location
The city commission is expected top approve the new city limits at their meeting Dec. 13.
Commissioner Sandy Jacobs and Vice-Mayor Henry Schwaller were absent from the work session.