By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Rehabilitation of the crosswind runway at the Hays Regional Airport will be reviewed by Hays City Commissioners during their meeting tonight.

City staff is recommending the low bid from National Sealant & Concrete, Wisconsin, for $651,672. It is contingent upon Federal Aviation Administration grant funding.

According to Hays Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno, approximately 90 percent of the cost would be reimbursed by the FAA, with the city responsible for the remaining 10 percent.

All the National Sealant & Concrete bids are below the engineer’s estimates.

Other agenda items include an extension of allowable watering hours for newly seeded warm season lawns, which requires a permit, and a resolution authorizing the sale of general obligation bonds for completed improvements in the Golden Belt Estates 5th Addition and the 46th Street 2nd Addition.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. tonight in Hays City Hall.

See the complete agenda here.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Hays Police Department is “excited” about the new Bike Hays program, according to bike patrol officer Cpl. Brandon Hauptman.

A new brochure, “Bike Hays Biking Guide,” promotes seven routes across the community ranging in length from 2.15 miles to 3.04 miles.  The bike routes use current street infrastructure, and environmental and open spaces to minimize hazards.

There is also a new 1.25 mile multipurpose path on West 41st Street, which is part of the recently completed reconstruction between Hall Street and the U.S. 183 Bypass.

Concrete paths are under construction as part of the Big Creek dike rehabilitation. Big Creek Trail will wind 1.70 miles between the U.S. 183 Bypass and Old U.S. 40 and include portions of Fort Hays State University campus and several parks in southwest Hays.

In all, there will be a little more than 2.75 miles of concrete path and 18 miles of on-street segments implemented this year to create the Bike Hays system.

Hauptman urged caution to both bicyclists and motorists in safely sharing the road.

“When the bike lanes are provided — such as on 13th Street east of Vine Street — state law requires bicyclists to use those lanes. On roads where there is not a bike lane, bicyclists have the right to use the lanes of the road just as motorists do,” Hauptman said. “So, we’re reminding people to be watching for each other — motorists watching for bicyclists, bicyclists watching for motorists — making sure everybody is safe.”

May is National Bike Month; Friday, May 15, is National Bike to Work Day.

The Bike Hays Biking Guide is available free at Hays City Hall and the Hays Welcome Center.

More information about Bike Hays is available online at www.bikehays.com.

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A special-use permit request to convert an Eighth Street motel to studio apartments is “a good example of infill development,” according to members of the Hays Board of Zoning Appeals.

A public hearing is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, May 13, for Steven R. Mongeau of Rooks County Holdings LLC and Vigneshvarai LLC for a special-use permit to convert the motel at 810 E. Eighth Street — the corner of Eighth and Vine — to studio apartments.

The Board of Zoning Appeals, which is recommending approval of the request, said the project would “utilize an existing commercial facility that no longer can function as a motel to provide, in this case, a housing need for the community.”

In evaluating the request, staff considered not only the existing neighborhood, but also the Hays Comprehensive Plan, the considerations of the new zoning regulations currently being drafted, and the best uses for the property.

The comprehensive plan considers this area as “commercial” uses.

Rooks County Holdings would manage the property. In the past year, the group purchased, renovated and stabilized six apartment/motel properties in Stockton, according to Mongeau.

The Hays plan would remove the motel swimming pool for a future recreation area and update landscaping with drought-tolerant plants. The company also is requesting the existing office space, which has a drive-through window, as well as Rooms 128 to 138, which face Vine Street, be available for office/retail uses.

The public hearing will be held in Hays City Hall.  See the complete BZA agenda here.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Twenty-year breast cancer survivor Mary Juenemann Braden plans to be front and center early Saturday morning at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Hays.

Braden was 43 years old when a routine mammogram by a Hays doctor revealed her breast cancer.  Her 43-year-old niece, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, will travel from Colorado Springs with her family to also participate.

This is the third year for the Komen race in Hays–the smallest community in the country to host the annual fundraiser–according to Jennifer Teget, chairperson of the local race.

Braden said she and the many “Sisters of Survivorship” are “treated like queens” during the event.

“I don’t know how many survivors really celebrate their survivorship. They go through their treatment and do everything. But until there is an event–something that really marks that survivorship–I think a lot don’t really realize what a big deal it is…until they have that special moment to say ‘Oh my God, I DID do it. I’m here,'” she said in a whispered voice.

“Of course, men get breast cancer too, but female breast cancer survivors really do have a ‘sisterhood,’–it’s such a part of our identity,” Braden said.

“Last year the Hays Breast Care Center at the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute received a grant of $45,861 from monies raised in Kansas during the Komen Race for the Cure,” Teget said. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment received $122,884 for its program “Early Detection Works” which provides low-cost breast screenings for women ages 40 to 64.

Donations to the Hays Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure may be made online. Seventy-five percent of the funds raised go to 95 counties in Kansas; the remaining 25 percent is used by Komen to fund breast cancer research.

Registration starts at 7 a.m. Saturday in Hays Municipal Park, the 5K starts at 8 a.m. with the Family Fun Walk at 9:15 a.m., and the event concludes with the awards ceremony and survivor celebration at 10 a.m. A survivor breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

During their Thursday night work session, Hays City Commissioners discussed rehabilitation of the crosswind runway at the Hays Regional Airport. City staff is recommending the low bid from National Sealant & Concrete, Wisconsin, for $651,672. It is contingent upon Federal Aviation Administration grant funding.

According to Hays Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno, approximately 90 percent of the cost would be reimbursed by the FAA, with the city responsible for the remaining 10 percent.

All the National Sealant & Concrete bids are below the engineer’s estimates.

In other business, commissioners discussed an extension of allowable watering hours for newly seeded warm season lawns, which requires a permit. They also looked at a resolution authorizing the sale of general obligation bonds for completed improvements in the Golden Belt Estates 5th Addition and the 46th Street 2nd Addition.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The national letter carriers food drive is Saturday, May 9, and it comes at the perfect time for the Community Assistance Center in Hays.

“We have a lot of kids who will be out of school for the summer soon and our pantry is really low right now,” said Laurie Mortinger, CAC co-director.

“We’re looking for all kinds of things–macaroni and cheese is always a good one, peanut butter, tuna, Hamburger Helper mixes–things like that.

“I tell people to see what (non-perishable) things are on sale–get a good buy and get more food for us,” she suggested.

Josh Robben has taken over the project at the Hays post office from his father Lester Robben, who was in charge of the event for many years.

“It’s a neat feeling when we come in in the afternoon with our trucks loaded with food,” Robben said. “It’s almost like a contest to see who collected the most donations.”

Last year, the Hays letter carriers collected 6,800 pounds of food for the CAC, according to Robben.

“We average between 6,000 and 7,000 pounds each year,” he said.

Food donations may be left at your mailbox Saturday morning to be picked up by the Hays letter carriers during their regular routes.

“Be sure to wrap everything in two or three plastic bags,” Mortinger urged. “It’s supposed to rain and I feel like it’s a sin if I have to throw out a boxed food that got wet.”

If you miss Saturday’s drive, you can bring your food donations directly to the CAC next week. The center, located at the corner of 12th and Oak Streets, is open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“We’ll be including all the donations during the week after Saturday’s event in the mail carriers’ count,” Mortinger said.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The month of May is a busy one in Hays with lots of activities in the community for the entire family to enjoy.

Janet Kuhn of the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau has a look at several of the upcoming events:

More information and an updated calendar is available on the Hays CVB website or by calling (785) 628-8202.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Reconstruction of 13th Street between Main and Milner is scheduled to start Monday, May 11.

13th Street will be closed from Milner to Pine Street.

Traffic will be detoured to 8th Street, according to Assistant Public Works Director John Braun.

“Since there will be displaced parking and more traffic in alleys and side roads, motorists should use caution and be sure not to park in a way that would block traffic,” Braun advised.

“Construction involves replacement of all the pavement, including the sidewalk, curb and gutter and parking area. No on-street parking will be allowed in the construction zone.

“There’s been some misinformation out there, and we want to correct that. On-street parking will be restored after reconstruction is complete,” he emphasized.

The project also includes driveways, reconstructing the intersections, replacing storm sewer inlets, pipe and structures, all new water service, and installing brick-lined crosswalks at all intersections.

It is expected to be completed by Nov. 1.

The contract was awarded to APAC-Kansas, Inc. with the low bid of $2,067,710.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays City Commissioners will review two bids Thursday night for rehabilitation of the crosswind runway at the Hays Regional Airport.

City staff is recommending the low bid from National Sealant & Concrete, LLC of Oconto, Wisconsin in the amount of $651,672.19, contingent upon Federal Aviation Administration grant funding.

According to Hays Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno, approximately 90 percent of the cost would be reimbursed by the FAA, with the city responsible for the remaining 10 percent.

The base bid and two alternates include removal and replacement of failed pavement panels, repairing spalled joints, repainting the pavement marking and resealing of all the pavement joints on the runway.

All the National Sealant & Concrete bids are below the engineer’s estimates.

In other business, commissioners will discuss an extension of allowable watering hours for newly seeded warm season lawn permits and look at a resolution authorizing the sale of general obligation bonds for completed improvements in the Golden Belt Estates 5th Addition and the 46th Street 2nd Addition.

The City Commission Rules of Procedure will also be reviewed which is done every two years upon the governing body’s reorganization.

The city commission work session starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 7, in Hays City Hall.

Click here to see the agenda.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The final Eggs & Issues forum hosted by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce will be held Saturday, May 16, at 7:30 a. m. in the Ellis County Administrative Center, 718 Main in the basement conference center.

State Reps. Sue Boldra, R-Hays, Travis Couture-Lovelady, R-Palco, and Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, R-Grinnell, are expected to attend and review highlights of the 2015 Kansas legislative session.

A light breakfast will be served. RSVP by calling (785) 628-8201 or emailing [email protected].

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The city of Hays recently celebrated its 36th consecutive year as a “Tree City USA.”

Northwest Kansas District Forester Brian Peterson presented the Tree City banner during the city’s Arbor Day celebration at the Hays Dog Park, 1376 Highway 183 Alternate.

The event also included recognition of the local Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl poster contest winners.

Prairie Garden Club member Brenda Slaughter first thanked the Wilson School second grade teachers for their students’ participation.

“It’s a great pleasure every year to get all the posters and judge them”, she said.

“The poster contest is in its 71st year. It’s the longest-running service ad campaign in the nation and is sponsored by the National Garden Club and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service,” Slaughter noted.

Mackenzie Berry’s poster–“Only You Prevent Forest Fires”–earned her a blue ribbon. Mackenzie’s poster also was awarded first place in the state poster contest for which she was presented a Smokey the Bear stuffed animal by Peterson.

Second place went to Brett Dreher, “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires,” and Caleb King took third place with his poster of Woodsy Owl, “Lend a Hand.”

The Tree City USA program is a national program that provides the framework for community forestry management for cities and towns across America.

Communities achieve Tree City USA status by meeting the four core standards of: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A vehicle fire nearly spread to become a house fire in Hays early Saturday afternoon.

The City of Hays Fire Department, assisted by the Hays Police Department, Ellis County Sheriff, and Ellis County EMS, was dispatched at 12:28 p.m. May 2, to a car on fire threatening a house at 314 East 16th Street.

According to Fire Chief Gary Brown, firefighters found the engine compartment of a car well involved in fire when they arrived.

The car was in the driveway only a few feet from the house.

Firefighters used a fire extinguisher to hold the fire in check while a hose line was laid to attack the fire. The fire was quickly extinguished.

The vehicle suffered heavy damage. There were no injuries.

Five fire trucks and eighteen firefighters responded.

The last fire crew left the scene at 1:13 PM.

By Becky Kiser
Hays Post

Vehicles, bicycles and dog walkers could be seen utilizing the just re-opened 41st Street late this afternoon in west Hays.

The reconstruction project between the US-183 By-pass and Hall Street is “substantially complete,” according to news release from the city of Hays Friday.

The road is completely open to through traffic.

41st Street now has three driving lane surfaces and a 10-foot multi-purpose path along the north side of 41st.

There is also a marked pedestrian cross walk at the Thunderbird Drive intersection.

An additional path north of Hall Street from 41st to 45th Street will be added by the city with help from Ellis County in the near future.

“Total cost for the joint Kansas Department of Transportation/City of Hays project is $3.8 million dollars. The city’s share was $1.1 million with the state paying the remaining $2.7 million,” Assistant Hays City Manager Paul Briseno reported to city commissioners last week.

Cleanup and minor work along the edges of the road will continue for the next few weeks, so motorists are asked to be aware of construction workers and use caution when driving in the area.

The project, done by KDOT contractor APAC-Kansas, began March 24, 2014.