By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
It may not look like much now, but work has begun on Hays Fire Department's Fire Station No. Three at 1732 W. 41st.
Construction of the station was approved by Hays City Commissioners in August, after being designated a city priority in 2021 and funded by the city's share of a 1/4-cent sales tax in Ellis County designated for emergency services.
Hays-based Paul Wertenberger Construction was awarded the $5.5 million construction bid in November.
"They started scraping the dirt off and then raising the dirt pad, bringing in new dirt and compacting everything," said Hays Fire Department Chief Ryan Hagans. "This is a big project for us. For me, it's been a long time coming. And we're looking forward to it."
He said with the dirt work well underway, he hopes to see concrete placed in the next few weeks as they shoot for completion in May 2024.
The location and need of the station was due to sustained growth in the city and will allow for quicker response times in northwest Hays and beyond.
"There are several reasons why you put a new station in," Hagans said. And one of the main reasons is we want to have a fire station or fire engine within one and a half road miles of every place in town. "
With the growth that the city has seen in the last 20 years the new station gives firefighters better access to new residential and commercial development in the area and north of I-70, he said.
Once the new station is completed, it will serve as the department's headquarters, freeing up space in Station No. 1 in downtown Hays. The building also serves as Hays City Hall.
"We'll be moving our headquarters out of City Hall, which will also free up some office space for the workers there at City Hall," Hagans said. "And maybe they can actually do some updates and remodeling their offices as well."
"When that station was put in, that was the center of town, and it's still a great location." - Hays Fire Chief Ryan Hagans on Hays Fire Station No. 1
While the leadership may move locations, the Main Street station will remain a vital part of the department's operations.
"That station is in a prime location," Hagans said. "I think we've been in there since the early to mid-'70s and the town has just obviously grown around that station as far as a central location."
