Hays City Commission approves $1.1 million street maintenance program

Oak Street set for full reconstruction

Safety improvements planned for Hall Street

Historic brick streets to receive repairs

Sales tax collections show 3.4 percent increase

Commissioner proposes elimination of city pet licenses

Improved fire ratings to lower insurance costs for rural residents

Jail reaches full capacity; EMS call volume high

Extension district highlights Medicare savings

Hays City Commission approves $1.1 million street maintenance program

HAYS, Kan. — The Hays City Commission unanimously approved the 2026 Street Maintenance Program on Thursday, authorizing approximately $1.1 million in special highway funds for street repairs and preservation including seal coating, polypatching, and curb repair. Deputy City Manager Collin Bielser presented the plan to the commission, noting that preventative maintenance strategies such as asphalt rejuvenators help delay more costly reconstruction projects in the future.

Oak Street set for full reconstruction

HAYS, Kan. — As part of the newly approved street maintenance package, the 500 block of Oak Street will undergo a complete reconstruction after staff identified the asphalt street as being in very poor condition and deteriorated beyond simple repair. APAC-Kansas, Inc. was awarded the low bid of $95,809 to complete the rehabilitation of the street segment.

Safety improvements planned for Hall Street

HAYS, Kan. — Heartland Traffic Services, Inc. was awarded a contract to repaint pavement markings along Hall Street from 27th to 41st streets to restore clear lane delineation and improve traffic safety. Staff reported that the current markings, last applied in 2016, have faded and lost reflectivity, making nighttime visibility difficult for drivers along the busy corridor.

Historic brick streets to receive repairs

HAYS, Kan. — The city awarded a contract to Morgan Brothers Construction of La Crosse to perform curb, gutter, and brick repair, focusing primarily on Fort Street between 13th and 15th streets and areas along West 6th Street. The project aims to replace broken concrete and repair settling brick streets, including the concrete base beneath them, to preserve the historic character and functionality of the roadways.

Sales tax collections show 3.4 percent increase

HAYS, Kan. — Finance Director Kim Rupp reported that general fund sales tax collections for the month totaled $847,358, representing a 3.4 percent increase compared to the same period last year. While the six-month average remained flat, Rupp noted the immediate uptick is a positive indicator for the city's revenue stream, adding that the city's transient guest tax revenue also saw a significant jump of 7.4 percent.

Commissioner proposes elimination of city pet licenses

HAYS, Kan. — A city commissioner proposed rewriting city ordinances to eliminate the requirement for city-issued pet licenses during the commission inquiries segment Thursday. The commissioner argued that the program, which generates only $14,000 annually, creates unnecessary administrative work for staff and police when most pet owners already utilize microchips or personal ID tags, prompting the commission to direct city staff to research the proposal and return with a recommendation at a future work session.

Improved fire ratings to lower insurance costs for rural residents

ELLIS COUNTY, Kan. — County Administrator and Fire Chief Darin Myers announced significant improvements to the county's Insurance Services Office fire ratings, a change expected to lower insurance premiums for rural homeowners. Following a recent evaluation, the communities of Catharine, Munjor, Schoenchen and Victoria saw their protection classifications improve from Class 9 to Class 4. Myers credited the improved scores to the diligent training of volunteer firefighters, who logged over 10,000 hours of training last year, as well as high-performing dispatch operations. Myers noted that one resident in Munjor had already received a $900 refund on their insurance premium due to the reclassification.

Jail reaches full capacity; EMS call volume high

ELLIS COUNTY, Kan. — During the monthly departmental report, the county commission learned that the county jail has returned to near-full population capacity. Officials also noted that the Emergency Medical Services department remains under heavy pressure, averaging between 10 and 11 calls per day. Additionally, the report indicated that Fire Chief Darin Myers is responding to an increasing number of calls across county lines, a trend the commission intends to monitor to ensure county resources are managed effectively.

Extension district highlights Medicare savings

ELLIS COUNTY, Kan. — Jay Harris, district director for the Cottonwood Extension District, presented an annual update highlighting the financial impact of the Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas program. Harris reported that the extension office helped residents in Ellis and Barton counties save over $200,000 last year by comparing and optimizing Medicare Part D drug plans. Harris emphasized that the extension service offers a wide range of community resources beyond agriculture, including youth development through 4-H and health initiatives like "Walk Kansas."

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