R9 Project

For 11 years Edwards County has fought Hays and Russell’s effort to develop water rights they own as a long-term sustainable water supply. Edwards County intervened in the State regulatory process to block the project. After a ruling did not go its way, Edwards County incorporated Kansas water law into its zoning regulations, hoping to force Hays and Russell to follow a second regulatory process that it controlled. This is illegal, and Hays and Russell have asked the Legislature to adopt HB 2433 clarifying State control of the water appropriation/transfer process in order to about a lawsuit that could cost Hays and Russell water customers millions.

Representative Wasinger sponsored HB 2433 and helped shepherd it though the House. The bill is now in the Senate Committee on Local Government Transparency and Ethics, and a hearing is scheduled next Thursday the 26th. It is important that committee members hear from the key players in Hays about the importance of passing this bill.

Below are the members of the Committee and their emails. On the next page is sample language for an email. It would be very helpful if your members could reach out via email and express support for the bill.

Cut and paste to email all:

Elaine.Bowers@senate.ks.gov; Oletha.Faust-Goudeau@senate.ks.gov; ToryMarie.Blew@senate.ks.gov; Craig.Bowser@senate.ks.gov; Joseph.Claeys@senate.ks.gov; William.Clifford@senate.ks.gov; Pat.Pettey@senate.ks.gov; Kenny.Titus@senate.ks.gov

Advocacy