By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
"I think you just presided over a meeting that's history for our community."
Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil knows it's just the beginning of the R9 Ranch pipeline design process, and "it's exciting," he said to Hays Mayor Mason Ruder last week after the commission heard from Brian Meier with Burns-McDonnell engineering, Wichita.
"This has been a lot of years and it's very special to be a part of this," Musil said.
City staff has negotiated design engineering agreements with Burns and McDonnell for the wellfield and pipeline projects associated with the R9 development as a long-term water supply for the cities of Hays and Russell.
Hays purchased the Edwards County R9 Ranch in 1995, when Mayor Ruder was four years old, Ruder noted.
The regulatory process of working through the Kansas Water Transfer Act kicked off in 2014.
Meier reviewed the R9 project design for the city commission.
The 20-inch water transmission pipeline will be approximately 65 miles long and connect with Hays' existing water system.
Meier also talked about the wells and well houses that will be required, piping for the well field water distribution, a million-gallon above ground raw water storage tank on the ranch property, and a high-service pump station.
There are two electrical providers to the property, Pratt-based Ninnescah Electric and Victory Electric based in Dodge City.
The final design phase and state review is projected to be the spring/summer of 2025.
The project is divided into two components, the wellfield and the pipeline.
"We hope that possibly allows us take advantage of federal (grant) dollars a little easier," said Toby Dougherty, city manager.
Contracts with Burns-McDonnell, the city's engineer on the R9 project since its inception, have been developed and vetted by city attorney Don Hoffman.
Cost of the pipeline design engineering services is $4 million. Cost of the wellfield design engineering services is $3.97 million. Adequate monies exist in the water sales tax reserve to fund both of the contracts, according to Dougherty.
The commission will vote on the two proposed contracts at the meeting Thursday afternoon.
A public comment hearing in the Hays-Russell water transfer proceeding will be held at 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 20, 2023, in the Black and Gold Room at the Fort Hays State University Student Union.
The hearing will start with brief presentations by Hays, Russell, Water PACK, Edwards County, the Big Bend Groundwater Management District No. 5, and possibly state agencies. The public will then have an opportunity to provide comments.