By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
During Thursday's city commission meeting, Hays Mayor Mason Ruder received a hug from Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, after she presented him a commemorative copy of House Bill 2433 signed by Gov. Laura Kelly.
HB 2433 solidifies state control of water appropriations and transfers. It was sponsored and championed by Wasinger, and included testimony for support from Ruder and Toby Dougherty, Hays city manager.
"This was so important to me," Wasinger said, "to make sure we can get the R9 Ranch water we purchased. The city of Hays has done everything by the book, following every water rule, every water regulation. And we've been stopped by people who wanted 105 (county) water authorities in the state of Kansas."
She explained "It would mean that if you have a river running through your county, and the county north of you decides it's going to dam the river, you don't have a river any more. That's why we need a statewide water plan."
Ruder thanked Wasinger for her persistence at the statehouse.
"It's something that affects all Kansans and our region specifically to get our water up here," he said.
Another commemorative copy of the bill was given to the city of Russell.
R9 water update
Russell recently entered into a Stage II Water Warning.
Dougherty told commissioners he sent a "snarky" email to Water PACK chairman Pat Janssen saying that "Maybe you and the other Water PACK members should drive up to Russell and remind their residents how much they really don’t need the water that they own on the R9."
Janssen sent an email response to Hays Post for publication saying in part "Water PACK did not file suit against Hays and Russell" and "The citizens, and administrators of Hays and Russell have been misled about the quantity and quality of water on the R9 since before its purchase."
Dougherty wrote a response to Janssen saying that by filing suit against the state of Kansas, Water PACK is suing Hays and Russell.
"It's a matter of semantics," Dougherty said to the commission.
Water PACK also contends it is not against the transfer of water from Edwards County. It believes the amount requested by Hays and Russell is not sustainable by the aquifer.
Dougherty noted the two cities voluntarily took an additional 29% cut in available acre feet for municipal use per year.
The complete Sept. 24, 2026 Hays City Commission meeting is available to watch below, courtesy of Nex-Tech.