By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
ELLIS — Ellis became a bit bigger Monday night after the city council unanimously voted to annex land on West Second Street into the city.
The four acres now officially part of the city are located between Dorrance and Tayor streets on the north side of Second.
The vote came after a public forum that sparked conversation about the development of the area near Interstate 70, which has seen other growth in recent years, including the addition of an A&W restaurant brought to Ellis by developer S.J. Singh.
Singh owns the annexed land, along with another empty lot next to the restaurant and spoke about his desire to continue working to bring further economic development to the city.
“We need to create employment in the city,” Singh said. He said when buying the property from the previous owner, they desired to see the land put to use.
WATCH: View the entire Feb. 6 Ellis City Council meeting by clicking here.
He told the council that he wants to continue developing businesses in Ellis but has no specific plans currently underway.
“Nothing is finalized,” Singh said. “I always build what the community needs. I go for that first.”
While usage has not been determined, he had previously noted a desire to open a car or truck wash in Ellis, a point of contention for Swede Holmgren, who owns land adjacent to the annexed land and spoke at the meeting.
“Western Kansas is dying,” Holmgren said. “If you doubt that, go look at the Ogallala Aquifer.”
He said that as towns search for a replacement for water being depleted from the aquifer, he has concerns about water use in Ellis and development that does not factor into consideration additional water use.
“I would ask you to get an estimate from whoever is going to do with whatever they're going to do that ground up there to get — not a conservative estimate — but a real-world estimate of water usage with showers and toiletries and a swimming pool, if that's someplace up there.
“We all understand that the car wash is in the mill, and it will use recycled water for whatever that’s worth, but recycled water in an apartment complex is going to be real iffy.”
Holmgren also shared concerns about unforeseen adverse effects development would bring to the area along with the water concerns.
“I really have a deep-seated concern about who is going to police that area up there when that fence starts looking like Walmart, and all that crap is blowing from that apartment complex,” Holmgren said. “I get trash right now from the hamburger stand, A&W, and I get trash from the travel plaza. I also get animals from the travel plaza. It's not a fun time. An apartment complex is only going to make that worse.”
Council member Jolene Niernberger said water use is something to be considered as development occurs, but with no plan in the works for the land, any discussion of use should come later, as the planning and development commission considers zoning and project applications.
Ellis Development Corporation President Travis Kohlrus also spoke to the council and said development in the city is essential, and as any potential development comes to fruition, specific usage concerns could be addressed.
“We just want to be a proponent of development and the process and the due process of what it takes, and this step is the annexation, and then next steps going to be zoning,” Kohlrus said. “And at each one of those steps along the way, your plans get a little bit firmer.”
During the process, specific concerns could be addressed as each group completes its due diligence.
“And so, from that part of the process, we just want to see Ellis be a great place to live, work, play, grow a family and be a great place.”
Holmgren agreed as he said he understands for western Kansas towns, “if you don’t grow, you die,” but the council should work to ensure that growth makes sense for the community.
Singh said while he was unsure what the land would be used for, his top priority is fostering city development.
“I have no idea what I am going to do over there,” he said. “Whenever I do, I can guarantee you it’s in favor of the city and not against it.”
He said for 25 years his company has pursued development that helps the local area and has been a champion for Ellis, even though many, including members of his family, saw better opportunities in other locations.
After finishing his remarks, Holmgren asked Singh if he was planning to build a car or truck wash. Singh again confirmed nothing was currently in the works, but he was exploring both options.
After closing public comments and working through some procedural details, Holmgren asked to speak again, but the request was denied, and he was told the comment period had closed.
“There’s going to be a fight. You can take that to the bank,” he said anyway.
The measure was moved to vote after the public meeting was concluded by Council member John Walz, with a second from Niernberger, and passed unanimously.
Disclosure: Travis Kohlrus serves on the Eagle Communications Inc. board of directors. Eagle is the parent company of Hays Post.