By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

City commissioners gathered in Salina last weekend for an annual planning retreat, which was filled with discussion of the economy, capital improvement projects and the future of Hays.

Everything from drinking water to a 10-year budget plan and a new fire station was on the agenda, said City Manager Toby Dougherty, who implemented the annual retreat after he assumed duties in fall 2007.

"By having these every year, even if you have a new commission come and go, it gives the commission a historical basis," Dougherty said. "It gives them an intricate knowledge of how finances grow and evolve and retract, how outside factors affect what revenues and expenditures are, and it gives them a better understanding of the budget they are asked to review."

The meeting was at Salina's Courtyard by Marriott on Saturday and Sunday

The commission retreat follows a city staff retreat, which took place in early 2009. While the commission's meetings focus largely on long-term development issues, the staff's retreat is geared more towards the upcoming year's budget, Dougherty said.

One item that was discussed in-depth was the possibility of constructing a second fire station. This project has been discussed intermittently for several years, with the commission deciding about two years ago it wasn't something the city could afford, he said.

Based on current projections, however, it's estimated the city could continue with the project, which has been tentatively planned for 2012.

No location has been determined, and it's not certain whether the new building would serve as a new headquarter fire station or a satellite to the Main Street office.

The project tentatively has been moved into the capital improvement plan as a headquarter station, budgeting for the most costly scenario, and the financial situation will be monitored to determine whether the plan is economically feasible, Dougherty said.