By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board rejected all bids for the property north of the new Felten Elementary School (the former Hays Middle School) at its meeting on Monday night.
All four developers proposed building housing on the property.
Several board members expressed interest in selling the property but raised concerns about the specifics of the proposals presented.
Board member Ruth Ruder said she supported the sale of the property.
“We have talked about that there are funds needed, and the land is sitting there vacant,” she said. “The land would be bringing in revenue because they would be paying taxes as well.”
Ruder said she has talked to neighbors in the area, and they have expressed a desire for the land to be developed into single-family housing similar to the surrounding neighborhood.
Board member Jayme Goetz said the Land Inspired plan included the most units, but some of those untis were as small as 900 to 1,000 square feet.
Both Goetz and board President Curt Vajnar said they were concerned that was too small for single-fmaily homes.
Local developer PWC said it would give first right of refusal to educators.
Goetz, a former USD 489 teacher, said she favored that portion of the plan.
However, several board members noted that PWC's bid was among the lower bids, at only $26,000.
The land had been originally appraised at more than $600,000.
Ruder moved to reject all bids and reopen the bidding process, requesting that bidders submit plans for single-family homes of at least 1,200 square feet.
The motion failed.
Superintendent Ron Wilson cautioned that if the board rejected the bids, the developers might not rebid the projects.
Vajnar said he did not think the prices would get any higher.
Board member Allen Park asked where the money would go if the property was sold.
Chris Hipp, assistant superintendent for business, said the money would go to the capital outlay fund.
Vajnar moved to accept the bid from Land Inspire.
Board member Derek Yarmer said he supported the project that would bring the most revenue to the district
Vajnar’s motion failed on a vote of 2-4.
After further discussion, Goetz made another motion to reject all of the bids.
This time, the motion passed on a 4-2 vote, with Vajnar and Yarmer voting against. Board member Ken Brooks was absent.
The board instructed Wilson to contact the previous bidders and ask them to resubmit proposals that include only single-family homes with an average square footage of at least 1,200 square feet.
The board will accept sealed bids from any bidders.