By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Designs for Hays' and Russell's R9 water pipeline and the wellfield are complete.
Project manager John Braun made the report to the Hays City Commission on Thursday.
Braun also said 115 of 130 easements needed to build the 70-mile pipeline have been acquired.
Assuming Hays and Russell receive final water transfer approval by mid-year, Braun said bid documents would be finalized by year's end, and the project would be advertised. Early in 2027, contracts would be awarded, and construction would start in April 2027, with completion of the project in the summer 2029.
"City staff is pleased with the progress and ready to proceed when we get the green light," Braun said.
The city is awaiting the ruling of the Kansas Supreme Court, which heard arguments Dec. 15, in the latest round of legal wrangling between Hays and Russell and WaterPACK, a group of central Kansas irrigators who oppose the water transfer.
"The arguments went very well," said Toby Dougherty, Hays city manager. "We hope the Supreme Court will give us a positive ruling, and when they do, this will put an end to that challenge."
"I think it was made clear in the testimony," said Sandy Jacobs, commissioner, "how long this has taken and what we have done to get here."
The water transfer panel has indicated it will have its hearing as soon as the Supreme Court issues its ruling.
Mason Ruder, mayor, said he received a phone call from Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, last week. Moran said the city's request for funds for the water project was included in the most recent federal funding bill.
"That means the city of Hays will be getting about $11 million toward this project to help offset some of these costs, which is a huge deal. Russell will be getting $1 million for their share. ... We really appreciate Sen. Moran's support in securing those funds," Ruder said.
Chris Smith, property manager, said the walk-in hunting access on the R9 has been very successful, with hunters coming from as far away as Vermont.
"We will continue to be good stewards of the land," he said.
Financial management policy revisions
In other business, commissioners voted to approve recommended revisions to the comprehensive financial management policy.
Kim Rupp, finance director, presented the updates, including setting a $3 million cap on the balance of the budget stabilization reserve fund.
"History has proven the city’s budgeted unreserved fund balance, commission capital reserve and budget stabilization reserve have been sufficient to fund unforeseen emergency needs," Rupp said.
Other minor changes included some clarifying terminology, deleting obsolete sections, providing language for the earlier switch to a Kansas municipal audit and accounting guide audit, minor formatting and edits.
Hays named Community of the Year by Community Playmaker
Melissa Dixon, Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director, announced Hays won the national 2025 Community of the Year award from Community Playmaker. Hays competed against 100 towns across the country.
Community Playmaker is a media platform dedicated to empowering civic leaders and providing ideas to make their communities even better.
"They were looking for impactful initiatives in areas of economic development, community engagement, public safety, arts and culture, environmental stewardship, and creation of inclusive, high-quality environments," Dixon said. "Hays is doing all those things."