By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
A second water line to serve Hays customers north of Interstate-70 will soon be installed underneath the roadbed, creating redundancy with a more reliable water loop.
There is currently only one 16-inch water line serving the area, which has seen considerable business growth since the line was installed in 1993.
Jeff Crispin, water resources director, told city commissioners Thursday night adding a line will also provide better fire protection and increase water pressure in the north zone.
“Typical water pressure in the area is probably 10-15 psi less than it is to the south,” Crispin said.
The commission approved the low bid of $769,678 from Midlands Contracting, Kearney, Neb., for a 12-inch water line plus a backup booster station.
Commissioner Ron Mellick asked why the new line will have a 12-inch diameter instead of 16 inches to match the existing line.
“We already have 12-inch lines that are located there and we’re just extending that. Creating that loop will supply us plenty of water in that area,” Crispin explained. “That was part of the study that was done and the recommendation was made to extend that 12-inch line. But once we create that loop, we’ll have a continuous supply of water that will be running through that area, through both lines and booster stations, and that’ll provide adequate pressure.”
A study by Bartlett & West Engineers in 2018 recommended crossing I-70 at Hall Street connecting a new 12-inch water main from 45th and Hall to an existing dead-end line along 48th Street at the west property line of Carrico Implement. The plan also called for installation of an above ground booster pump station on city-owned property along W. 41st Street just east of Post Road near a city water well.
Construction will begin soon and is to be completed by July 1 of next year.
The commission also approved renewal of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas health insurance for city of Hays employees in 2020.
The premium went down two percent, according to Erin Giebler, human resources director, who gave credit to the employees for the savings.
“Due to the city’s low utilization, the renewal showed a two percent decrease,” Giebler told commissioners. The city’s estimated cost would be $1,683,700 with an additional $120,000 to match employees’ Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions.
According to Giebler, 58 percent of employees choose a high deductible option.
This is the second consecutive year the premium has decreased. The city switched to BCBS in 2017 with three deductible options.
In other business, the commission approved annexation of property at 700 W. 48th Street, location of the now-closed-Mid Kansas Auto Auction.
Property owner Mark Ottley has changed business plans for this location which is contiguous to the existing city limits. He’s requested a zoning change from C-2 (Commercial General) to A-L (Agriculture) from the Planning Commission change of zoning from C-2 (Commercial General) to A-L (Agriculture) to allow uses within an A-L zoned district for a portion of the property.
“The property does have private water and septic,” Jesse Rohr, public works director said. “However, sanitary sewer will be extended by the owner from the Ottley Addition from the east.” Water will be available to the property upon completion of the I-70 city waterline project approved by the city commission earlier in the meeting. Rohr previously told commissioners the Trego Rural Water District had been supplying the water.
The commission also heard an update from First Care Clinic.
When it opened in downtown Hays in 2008, its four employees saw 1,211 patients. Today there are 50 employees providing medical, dental and behavioral health services in one location. This year the clinic is on track to see 7,030 patients, reported Bryan Brady, CEO.
Dr. Christine Fisher, medical director, said the integrated care is filling gaps in Hays.
“If you don’t give affordable care, high-quality care, or accessible care, people will let their medical problems go and then you wind up with a very expensive or advanced problem.”
Fisher noted that happens across the United States. “So we think it hopefully not only benefits the patient but then all of us as contributors to the cost equation,” she explained.
First Care Clinic recently remodeled the former Eddy Clinic in downtown Hays and has a $5 million dollar annual budget.
Two executive sessions totaling 35 minutes were called at the end of the meeting regarding right of way authorization for the North Vine Street Corridor Project.
At the September 26 meeting, City Manager Toby Dougherty was authorized to spend $390,020 toward the acquisition of right of way and easements associated with the project.
The city commission was later asked to consider administrative settlements that might be above the original city offers.
No action was taken.