By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

ELLIS–The Hays City Commission is asking for letters of support from Ellis, Victoria and nine rural water districts as the lengthy regulatory process gets underway to develop R9 Ranch as a long-term water supply. The city of Russell owns 18 percent of the ranch in Edwards County.

Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty, accompanied by commissioners Shaun Musil and Ron Mellick, attended Monday night’s Ellis City Council meeting.

“It’s going to trigger the state’s Water Transfer Act for the first time,” Dougherty said, “and we’ll be changing the water use from agriculture to municipal.”

Dougherty said engineers have determined the 8,000 acre-feet currently available on an annual basis is “a sustainable yield:”

Council members John Walz and Jolene Niernberger expressed their support.

Walz said “everyone needs to work together to reach a positive answer for the future.”  He shared a suggestion given to him:

The city council decided to wait to sign the letter until after the April 1 election.  Three council seats are up for election and a fourth is vacant.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Rural healthcare is important to Kansas, believes U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, R-KS, especially in the sparsely populated western region.

“If you lose your healthcare delivery system, and don’t have a hospital and doctor nearby, you lose your community,” he said during a town hall meeting Saturday morning at the Hays Med Center for Health Improvement.

Moran used his own 98-year-old father, who lives in Plainville, as a personal example:

Moran explained Medicare reimbursements were reduced two percent during sequestration.

Now, President Obama is proposing a one percent cut in compensation to critical-access hospitals and also wants to increase the distance facilities must have between them in order to qualify for federal assistance.

Moran used the north-central Kansas town of Belleville as an example in which that town’s hospital and four more near it would all be forced to close within this scenario.

“To retroactively tell hospitals that they know longer qualify for critical access reimbursement means you put them out of business,” said Moran.

There are 137 hospitals in Kansas.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The new passenger service provider at Hays Regional Airport will use 50-passenger jet planes on the newly improved main runway.

City officials announced Friday afternoon that SkyWest, based in St. George, Utah, has been awarded the federal Department of Transportation Essential Air Service contract for July 1 to July 31, 2016.

“We did a lot of research two years ago ” in recommending SkyWest to DOT, said city commissioner Ron Mellick.  “Great Lakes has become unreliable with lots of cancellations and delays. SkyWest will improve service for the entire region.”

The main runway upgrade from asphalt and concrete to an all-concrete runway was completed in late October, allowing bigger and heavier planes to land in Hays.

Mellick said the terminal also will be upgraded, with bid information expected to come to the commission this week:

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays officials says the town’s water sources are currently adequate for the near term, but are very susceptible to drought.

Because of the complicated and lengthy legal process to begin development of its R9 Ranch in Edwards County as a long-term water source, the process “has to be started now rather than waiting until it’s too late.”

Longtime city attorney John Bird says he’s “comfortable with what the city has done in the past and comfortable with what’s getting ready to happen:”

Bird, city manger Toby Dougherty and the city commissioners hosted a town hall meeting Wednesday about the water situation in Hays.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The city of Hays is beginning the process of developing its R9 in Edwards County as a long-term water source for Hays and the region.

During a town hall meeting Wednesday night, city commissioners stressed the regulatory process will be “lengthy and difficult.”

The state’s Water Transfer Act would have to used for the first time and it could be 10 to 15 years before the water is made available.

Meanwhile, city manager Toby Dougherty says the recently enacted Water Warning will help reduce the dramatic jump in outdoor water use during the upcoming summer months.  “Right now, we’re using about 1.2 million gallons of water every day and, of course, that’s mostly indoors:”

Dougherty and city commissioners say the Hays water supply is “not in crisis” , but the city is planning ahead for the next 10 to 15 years.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

VICTORIA — It will the first in Kansas. St. Fidelis Catholic Church, Victoria, will be named a minor basilica.

The Salina Diocese made the application to the Vatican, and Bishop Edward Weisenburger was notified last week of the approval.

The church, also known as the “Cathedral of the High Plains,” will be dedicated as a minor basilica June 7 by Bishop Weisenburger.

St. Fidelis will become the 78th minor basilica in the United States.

Read the full story from The Register.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Spring break is next week for Hays school and Fort Hays State University.

With warmer temperatures in the forecast, more people will be spending outdoors.

If you plan to host a gathering, the Hays Police Department has tips on how to “Party Smart.”  Assistant Chief Brian Dawson says to be respectful of your neighbors and you may want to  register your party with the police department:

Finally, Dawson says don’t forget to clean up the surround area when the party is over.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays city officials want residents and potential newcomers to know the city’s water supply is “not in crisis,” but “planning is in process for the next 10 to 15 years.”

The recent decision by the city commission to pursue development of its R9 Ranch in Edwards County 78 miles to the south of Hays is “our most viable option for a long-term water supply,” according to city manager Toby Dougherty, and “it could be a 100-year solution.”

About 60 people, including city staff members, attended Wednesday night’s town hall meeting in the Sternberg Museum of Natural History about the water situation in Hays.

Research by city staff shows Hays has been studying alternative water supplies for the past 60 years–76 separate studies and 21 separate water sources.

The results point to the R9 Ranch, with 8,000 acre feet of water rights, purchased by Hays in 1994. The city of Russell owns 18% of the ranch located south of Kinsley.

Moving the water via pipeline to Hays, at an estimated cost of $65 million, would invoke the state’s Water Transfer Act, which has never happened.

“What we’re doing now is determining if Hays can develop the R9,” explained Dougherty.  “It’s mostly behind-the-scenes work of getting through the regulatory process.”

“We’re likely to have some opponents,” added city attorney John Bird, “although the entire usage for the city of Hays represents only 1.2% of the water utilized in Edwards County.”

Vice-mayor Henry Schwaller IV stressed the city “must first be sure we can trigger the Water Transfer Act:”

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Commissioners voted February 27 to move the city’s current drought status from a water watch to a water warning.

Outdoor watering is prohibited between 9a.m. and 10p.m.

Details about the water warning and the city’s water conservation programs are available on the city’s website.

 

 

 

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Water resources are on the mind of Ellis city officials.

During a town hall meeting Saturday afternoon, 40th Dist. Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, R-Grinnell, was asked by Ellis City Council member Jolene Niernberger why Kansas farmers can continuously irrigate their crops when a community is running out of water.

Ostmeyer, who farms in Sheridan County, responded with a caution.  “We have to be very careful:”

Outdoor watering is banned in Ellis.  The city is currently looking for a new water source, working with geologists and the Kansas Rural Water Association.

The city council will also hear from Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty during its meeting Monday, March 17, about Hays’ development of the R9 Ranch in Edwards County as a long-term water resource.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Ellis County Rural Fire Chief Dick Klaus has “no idea” what started yesterday afternoon’s fire just north of Yocemento in the Limestone Acres area west of Hays.

“It started in a trash pit, which was not burning at the time and hasn’t been used for some time,” he says.

Klaus speculates the fire might have been caused by Monday’s weather.

“There could have been some glass in that pit, and the sunshine may of hit it just right to start the debris smoldering, and then it flared up during Tuesday’s high winds,” he says, “but we just don’t know.”

About 25 acres of grass was burned along with a few small evergreen trees, according to Klaus.

Firefighters and two water tankers responded about 1:40p.m. to a call  about a large, smoky fire 1/2 mile east of Yocemento on Catherine Road and then 1/4 mile north.

A strong north wind with a peak gust of 53 miles an hour pushed the fire south, threatening some nearby houses.   Residents were alerted but the fire was contained before it could reach the homes.

Tim Pfannenstiel lives in the area and says he “began loading up pictures in the van, taking out the seats to put in important items.  I had about 15 minutes notice to be ready for evacuation–nerve-wracking–“but we didn’t have to leave.”

“The (Ellis County) rural fire department rocks!” says Pfannenstiel.

Chief Klaus says the fire was under control in less than an hour, although crews remained on site checking for hot spots until nearly 4:30p.m.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The city of Hays is in a Water Warning, stage two of its water supply status.  City commissioners approved the change February 27.

Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno explains the details and what the changes are from the earlier Water Watch status:

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City commissioners will host a town hall meeting Wednesday evening at 7p.m. in the Sternberg Museum of Natural History to discuss the water warning, development of the Edwards County R9 Ranch as a long-term water source and other water conservation measures.

The public is encouraged to attend.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post News

“It was a little slow for breakfast, but the lunch crowd picked up,” says Hays Lions Club member Dee Bodine, “and with the weather cooler than expected, we hope a lot of people will be here tonight to enjoy the pancakes.”

Bodine is the longtime chairman of the annual Hays Lions Club Standlee Dalton Sausage & Pancake Feed and Broom Sale.

“The Pancake Man,” Jim Kupar of Council Bluffs, Iowa, is the chef, flipping pancakes off the hot griddle and through the air to the awaiting plates held out by hungry supporters.  To keep the line moving, Kupar gets some help from another longtime Lions Club volunteer Dennis Ernst.

Proceeds from the fundraiser go to numerous community projects supported by the Hays Lions Club, including 4-H, Boy Scouts, Dan Rupp Park, sight conservation, and to provide eyeglasses for needy children.

The pancake feed resumes at 4:30p.m. and is open until 7:30p.m. at the Hays National Guard Armory, 2nd and Main.

Tickets are $6.50 for adults and $4.75 for children younger than 10.

4:25p.m.  Chief Klaus declares all units have completed their assignment with no remaining hot spots.

2:31 p.m.  According to radio traffic from the scene, Fire Chief Dick Klaus says the fire is under control now, although crews remain on site.

1:55p.m.  Several trucks are on site.  Firefighters are checking nearby houses for possible evacuation.  Two water tankers are responding.

Ellis County Rural Firefighters are en-route at 1:49p.m. to a large fire north of Yocemento that is being driven by gusty north winds towards houses to the south.

A wind advisory is in effect for Hays until 11p.m. with wind gusts of up to 55 miles an hour possible.

Reports from the scene indicate lots of smoke can be seen.

Rural companies 4, 5 and 6 are responding to 1/2 mile east of Yocemento Road on Catherine Road and then 1/4 mile north.

Check with Hays Post and Eagle Radio Wednesday for a complete report.