By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

The land acquisition necessary for the city to proceed with a sports complex facility in southwest Hays is one step closer to completion.

The Kansas Senate Ways and Means Committee recommended approval Wednesday of the land acquisition, which now will go before the entire Senate for action.

"I don't see that there will be any problems at all with that," said Sen. Janis Lee, D-Kensington, who serves on the committee.

Legislative approval is necessary for the city to acquire the state-owned land, which is under the jurisdiction of Fort Hays State University. The sale already has passed the House.

Lee said one amendment has been suggested to the bill. As it was written, the sale would not be final until the statute books are published in July.

To save time, it was suggested the sale would go into effect after it is published in the Kansas register, she said.

"It's just to make it happen very soon," Lee said.

The sports complex master plan has $300,500 budgeted for the land purchase, which will be paid for by the project's 0.5-percent sales tax.

Olsson Associates, the project's engineers, are continuing work on a final design plan, as approved by the Hays City Commission on Thursday. That plan calls for six baseball/softball fields, five soccer/football fields, two concession and restroom buildings and a maintenance building, with a grass parking area. Extra amenities are to be added as funding allows.

The goal is to open project bids in March, which could allow for an April groundbreaking, said John Braun, assistant director of public works for the city of Hays.

"Obviously, if the land acquisition isn't finalized by then, we wouldn't award a contract for construction yet or do groundbreaking," Braun said.

The facility should be complete by the fall of 2011.