City will pursue grant for hike-bike trail

11/20/2009

By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

Hays city commissioners spoke in favor of pursuing a hike-and-bike trail at Thursday's work session.

In a 5-0 vote, the commission approved a resolution of support for the project as part of an application for Kansas Department of Transportation grant funds.

"I think it's long overdue. It's wonderful," Commissioner Henry Schwaller IV said.

The commission will take final action on the grant application at Tuesday's meeting.

If the city is awarded the transportation enhancement funds, the city's 20-percent share of the project's initial phase is estimated at about $373,000. Total costs are pegged at about $970,000.

Parks Director Jeff Boyle said he compared those estimates to other city projects and believes them to be inflated.

"I don't think we're going to be even close to these engineering estimates," he said.

The funds would come from the city's special park and recreation fund. City staff has $348,600 budgeted for the project, but City Manager Toby Dougherty said additional monies likely will be available due to a revised space needs proposal that is in the works.

The special park funds are derived from locally collected alcohol tax funds, a portion of which must be used for park facilities, Dougherty said.

As proposed by Baughman Co., the city's hired engineers, the entire trail system will cover 32 miles and cost an estimated $11 million.

The plan is to construct the trail in phases, with the first segment being a 2.14-mile levy trail beginning near Thomas More Prep-Marian High School and ending near Fort Hays State University.

Plans for the trail began in 2006. The commission originally hoped to apply for the same grant in 2007, but the company failed to provide a sufficient master plan in time for the deadline.

In other business:

* Commissioners had a lengthy discussion about a possible study to analyze the creation of a stormwater utility. This is necessary for the city to comply with federal mandates. The 2009 budget includes $75,000 for such a study, with a low bid of $74,800 submitted by Camp, Dresser and McKee.

Commissioners heard from a company representative Thursday and agreed the money only should be spent on the study if the intent is to follow through with a stormwater utility.

The issue will be discussed again next week.

* A request for five new angled parking stalls on the 1000 block of Fort will be acted on next week.

* Revisions to a community improvement district policy will be on next week's agenda.

* An agreement for the installation of waterline to a replatted piece of property at the north end of General Custer will be acted on next week.

* The commission viewed a new rescue pumper purchased for the Hays Fire Department.

* Commissioner Troy Hickman spoke in memory of former mayor Wayne Billinger, who died Sunday. Hickman suggested the possibility of hanging a plaque in his honor at Larks Park, which was one of Billinger's favorite projects, Hickman said.

* The commission will meet Tuesday because of the Thanksgiving holiday.