KWO

TOPEKA – Recently the Kansas Water Authority (KWA) met in Goodland under the new direction of Constance (Connie) Crittenden Owen who was appointed Chair this past summer by Governor Kelly to lead the KWA.

“My experience as a licensed attorney practicing Kansas water law for more than 25 years has exposed me to real-life water issues that affect individuals and families, as well as businesses and municipalities,” said Owen. “As Chair I welcome the opportunity to apply the knowledge and expertise of the board members, professionals in our state agencies and stakeholders throughout Kansas to protect our water resources for current and future generations.”

In addition to Owen, several new members were present including: Jeremiah Hobbs representing the State Association of Kansas Watersheds, Chris Ladwig representing the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and industrial water users, Sen. Carolyn McGinn representing Environment and Conservation, and David Stroberg, Hutchinson, representing Groundwater Management Districts (GMD) 2 & 5.

(GMD 5 includes Edwards County, site of the R-9 Ranch owned by the cities of Hays and Russell which is a planned long-term water source for the two communities.)

Two major actions were taken by the KWA which included approval of Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) membership for positions with 2019 term expirations as well as approval of State Water Plan Fund (SWPF) budget recommendations for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2021.

The KWA re-appointed 54 currently seated members to serve another four-year term on their respective RACs and appointed 25 new members to serve on nine of the RACs.

As in recent years, the KWA decided to develop a SWPF budget recommendation package which focuses on full restoration of the State General Fund (SGF)/Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF) demand transfer totaling $8 million. Enhancements and appropriations which took place for SFY 2020 were recommended as base-level funding program funding for SFY 2021, with additional enhancement recommendations for 12 projects/programs/initiatives totaling $3,170,100 and ultimately creating a budget recommendation package which includes full restoration of the SGF/EDIF demand transfer.

Other actions of note by the KWA include approval and authorization of the Kansas Water Office (KWO) Director to proceed with negotiations with the Lower Smoky Hill Water Supply Access District for the purchase of additional irrigation storage space in Kanopolis Lake; approval for the KWO to enter into a multi-state Planning Assistance to States (PAS) agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a flood risk management study for the Lower Missouri River Basin in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska; and approval for the KWO Director to enter into an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to receive and utilize High Hazard Potential Dams Rehabilitation Grant Funds.

Presentations were also provided by the Kansas Geological Survey on the Arbuckle in Kansas and Groundwater Management District 4 on water conservation efforts in northwest Kansas.

The KWA is responsible for advising the Governor, Legislature and Director of the Kansas Water Office (KWO) on water policy issues. They also ensure that water policies and programs address the needs of all Kansans as well as serve as advisors of the Kansas Water Vision and Kansas Water Plan. The KWA was established in 1981 and consists of 13 voting members who are appointed by the Governor or Legislative leadership. State agency directors serve as ex-officio members.

The KWA meetings are throughout the year and the next meeting is scheduled for December 19 in Salina. For additional information and other upcoming meetings, please visit www.kwo.ks.gov.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Ellis County residents will be asked to vote on a pair of sales tax questions next April after the county commission approved a resolution Monday calling for a mail ballot election.

Voters will get to vote on two quarter-cent sales tax questions. If both measures were approved by the voters, it would increase the sales tax in Ellis County by a half-cent.

After month of discussion, the commission settled on a quarter-cent directed specifically for health care services and a quarter-cent general sales tax.

If both sales taxes pass, the measures would generate about $2.2 million annually.

The health care services sales tax would generate approximately $1.5 million a year. Ellis County would also keep about $645,000 in general sales tax with the cities of Hays, Victoria, Ellis and Schoenchen dividing about $900,000 dollars.

It is projected the city of Hays would get $761,360 per year in tax revenue.

The taxes would sunset after 10 years.

County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes said Tuesday on the KAYS Morning Show that Ellis County is one of just a handful of counties in Kansas that do not have a countywide sales tax.

The mail ballot election will be April 7 and, if approved, the county could start collecting revenue by the end of the year.

County Commissioner Dustin Roths said Monday he likes that the vote will come before officials begin working on the 2021 budget.

“If we had to do another budget next year without knowing whether or not funds are available, there are some departments that would see massive cuts if not completely dissolving,” Roths said.

The added revenue could help the county fix many of its budget issues. At Monday’s meeting, Public Works Director Bill Ring and IT Director Mike Leiker asked the commission to approved significant equipment purchases and said that the fund that goes to pay for equipment upgrades has enough money in it to pay for 2020 purchases — but after that, those funds are drying up.

Smith-Hanes said Tuesday funding such purchases could be a challenge in the future.

“Having an additional source of revenue would go along way helping that,” Smith-Hanes.

He added that in the past the commission made the decision to not transfer as much into the capital equipment fund in an effort to avoid laying people off.

In 2013, voters approved a half-cent sales tax to fund several building projects in Ellis County. The funds paid for the construction of the county Emergency Services building and improvements to the county jail, the Law Enforcement Center and the County Administrator Building at 718 Main in Hays.

The sales tax was allowed to sunset in fall 2018 when the projects were paid off.

Similar to last vote, county employees will hold information sessions throughout the county to allow voters to ask questions and air concerns.

“Us three must continue to understand that this could not pass, both of them could not pass, one could pass and the other not,” Roths said. “I think the discussions we have with the citizens of this county about what might happen if we are forced to make some hard decisions next year are important for them to know and understand before the election.”

Smith-Hanes said Monday the election is expected to cost $20,500. He also recommended sending out an informational mailer to voters for a cost of $3,525.

The commission will use money set aside in a contingency fund in the 2020 budget.

In other business, the commission approved the trade-in of three graders from Public Works to go to the purchase of two new graders from Foley Equipment for $421,000. The funds to pay for the graders were placed in the capital equipment fund.

The commission also approved the purchase of two storage arrays and two servers for $69,697 from Dell. $65,000 of those funds came from the Register of Deeds office.

Commissioners also decided not to go forward with a study on user fees and contracted services. Smith-Hanes estimated it would cost between $28,500 and $52,000, and all three commissioners agreed it was not worth the high price.

The commission will not meet again until Tuesday, Oct. 1, for a work session.

The next commission meeting will be Monday, Oct. 7.

The United Way of Ellis County announced the opening of the 2020 CARE Council application process.

Any 501(c)(3) that provides services in Ellis County is eligible to apply. The services must meet one of the three criteria of education, health and financial stability.

The CARE Council is made up of 12 community volunteers who review the applications to determine funding for the United Way of Ellis County, City of Hays Social Service Funds and Alcohol Tax Funds and Ellis County Alcohol Tax Funds.

There will be an open community meeting for those interested in applying for funding from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 in the first floor conference room in the Hadley Center to learn about the online application process.

Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Nov. 15, 2019.

For more information, contact Erica Berges, interim executive director, at 785-628-8281.

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