By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The cities of Hays and Russell filed a motion Thursday in the R9 Ranch water transfer proceedings asking the hearing panel to schedule the final hearing to approve the water transfer application.
The cities filed applications to change the R9 water rights from irrigation to municipal use more than 11 years ago.
The applications were approved in February 2024 by Administrative Law Judge Matthew Spurgin of the Kansas Office of Administrative Hearings.
The transfer panel decided to hold off its final hearing until after the Kansas Supreme Court rules on a challenge to the master order by WaterPACK (Water Protection Association of Central Kansas), a group of irrigation water rights holders opposed to the transfer.
Hays and Russell filed subsequent motions asking for the final hearing to be held and both of those were denied.
In the interim, two of the three members of the transfer panel have changed due to retirements.
"This motion filed today states the importance of our project, the state's need for expediency and it reminds the panel it's been 930 days since Judge Spurgin ruled, approving our water application," Toby Dougherty, Hays city manager, said at Thursday's city commission meeting.
By state statute, the state must take action within 90 days, Dougherty added.
The proceedings of the water transfer panel and the Kansas Supreme Court are separate.
"They are completely separate from each other but the hearing transfer panel chose to use that justification," Dougherty said.
"But with two new members on we think it's time to take another run ... and remind them this has been languishing for 930 days and we'd like to move along with it."
General obligation bonds
City commissioners approved three agenda items involving the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance infrastructure at the Tallgrass Phase 4 Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID) in east Hays and at exit 161 on Interstate 70.
Kim Rupp, city finance director, said the first issuance and resolution will pay off the temporary notes of $4,035,000 for exit 161. Final permanent financing is estimated at $1.22 million after considering the economic grant funds received from the state.
The second resolution was approved for the issuance of general obligation temporary notes in the amount of $5.6 million for the Tallgrass Phase 4 Reinvestment Housing Incentive District.
The bonds and notes were sold earlier in day.
Rupp said there was much participation and the city's bond counsel was pleased the interest rates were in line with what was anticipated.
Parks Department HVAC system
The commission also approved a low bid of $43,700 from Werth Heating, Plumbing & AC, Hays, for improvements to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at the Parks Department building.
Consent agenda
Five items were approved in one motion under the consent agenda:
ā¢ Uniform Public Offense Codes for Kansas cities
ā¢ Standard Traffic Offenses for Kansas cities
ā¢ Clerical update to the development landscaping portion of the Unified Development Code
ā¢ Cereal Malt Beverage license for the Volga German Centennial Association
ā¢ Appointments of Elinda Mages, Avis Hotel, and Amanda Rupp, Ellis County Historical Society, to the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory committee
The complete Aug. 27, meeting is available below, courtesy of Nex-Tech.