By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
It's official. Nearly ten years after the regulatory process began to bring R9 Ranch water from Edwards County to Hays, contracts for designs of the wellfield and 65-mile pipeline were unanimously approved by the city commission Thursday.
Coincidentally, a brief thunderstorm passed overhead during the meeting, dropping a little more than a tenth of an inch of rain.
It wasn't enough moisture. Hays is several inches below normal for annual precipitation to date. All of Ellis County is in an exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor for Kansas. Many meteorological experts are predicting the region is headed into a lengthy drought cycle.
After hearing from Brian Meier, principal in charge, and Jeff Heidrick, project manager of Burns/McDonnell Engineers, Wichita, commissioners voted in favor of two contracts, professional services contracts for the wellfield and for the pipeline.
The agreement costs are approximately $4 million each, for a total of a little more than $8 million. They will be paid for from the water sales tax reserve fund, which currently has about $40 million.
Flexibility and durability are two keys to the long-term water supply source for Hays and Russell, Meier told the commission.
"We're talking about water production, collection, storage and transmission," Meier said as he explained the project on which he has worked with the city for 25 years.
Hays purchased the ranch in 1995; Russell bought an 18% share of the land in 1996.
Commissioners were given a detailed overview of the project during their April 4 work session.
"It will be constructed and designed according to standards of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment," Meier reminded them Thursday.
Commissioner Reese Barrick wondered about the pH level and hardness of the ranch water.
"Will it have any effect on the 65 miles of pipeline?" Barrick asked Heidrick.
"With the initial look at the wells, we'll do water quality tests and do an analysis of the water age and how that's all going to blend into your existing system," Heidrick said. "That's part of what we'll look at."
"This is history for our community," newly elected mayor Shaun Musil said after the approval votes. "A lot of people have been working on this."
"We made history here," agreed Commissioner Alaina Cunningham. "We still have a little ways to go, but it's a big step."
The final design phase and review by the state is projected to be in the spring/summer of 2025.
"I almost cried," admitted Sandy Jacobs, vice-mayor.
Seeing the R-9 project to fruition is one of the main platforms Commissioner Barrick ran on during his election campaign.
"I'll be more excited when I see some of that pipeline in the ground. I'll reserve my tears for then," he joked.
"It's happening. It's so exciting," said Commissioner Mason Ruder.
. . .
In other business, the commission:
* Conducted the reorganization of the governing body, electing Shaun Musil as mayor and Sandy Jacobs as vice-mayor.
* Heard an update on financial matters from the Hays Area Children's Center.