By GAYLE WEBER

gweber@dailynews.net

On muddy days, the city's compost site can be sloppy.

After a rain, the site usually has standing water and mud holes and isn't conducive to public use, according to city staff. That's why the city commission will consider spending $35,000 to pour concrete at the discharge area of the compost site.

"For $35,000, this is going to be a really good solution, not just for the maintenance side of it, but for the people who regularly use it," City Manager Toby Dougherty said.

The site, which is situated along Chetolah Creek, has drainage problems, and attempts by city crews to regrade the area have not been successful. Instead, the city commission will consider a recommendation to pour 22,000 square feet of concrete in the area where residents drop off and pick up compost.

"We've been looking at this for a few years," Dougherty said. "It's always a problem in the spring."

Funding for the project would come from the solid waste reserve fund. Dougherty said if the city commission would approve the request, city crews could begin work almost immediately.

Also up for consideration by the city commission is a lift station for the sports complex. A study by Wilson and Co. Engineers resulted in a recommendation to install a new lift station to take care of the sports complex, as well as future development in the northwest area of Hays. The cost of the project would be $350,423.

The commission will consider both projects at its work session at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, along with the following items:

* Vehicle abatements at 1500 Marjorie and 3505 Vine.

* Completion of the sale of land from Fort Hays State University to the city by signing a resolution, which would authorize the expenditure of $320,574 for the land.

* Revisiting the community improvement district policy.