Laserfiche WebLink
Hutchinson News local news Page 1 of 2 <br />firidqy, Jutv 9, 2004 <br />4HEHuTCHINSONNtm <br />online edifion <br />Community Page Lottery Numbers Newspaper in Search Subscribe <br />Education <br />FRONT PAGE GMD No. 5, state may buy Circle K together <br />LOCAL <br />REGIONAL By Amy Bickel <br />Regional <br />Briefs Irrigationsprinklers are still pivoting on an Edwards- f___ Coumty ranch this summer as state and <br />OPINION local water management officials continue their efforts to shut them off. <br />OBITUARIES <br />SPORTS Both the state an Bi Bend Gr water na ment District No. 5 want to purchase the <br />ranch, known s the C cle K and etire its water rights. Now the two entities are discussing <br />PREVIEW joining together to finance a acquisition. <br />CLASSIFIED <br />PAST ISSUES "The Legislature might be more receptive if the district was involved - local people helping <br />make the decisions," said Sharon Falk, manager of the groundwater district. <br />CONTACT US <br />Both have the same goals of tabilizing the are ' de I t n gr un ater table and helping <br />Available carrier the Arkansas River flow again rom insl�i t2_ rat Bend. Falk aaid. <br />routes <br />"We do have common ground," Falk said. "And we all agree that we wants s -w ter <br />retir - or most of it." ""`— �`-` <br />Printer friendly <br />page If purchased, the.-acre 7 00 te ranch would be only one part of the solution to water problems <br />in the M'ii Le Arkaaaas River, which state officials say isover- appropriated and needs a <br />Send this 41,000 a e _ f annual water usage. <br />page to a friend <br />The state already has asked Middle Ark water - rights owners to voluntaril r �. rq&n-g <br />by at least 10 percent. If stream flow and water problems don't imp ove, voluntary <br />reduc ion ou become mandatory. <br />In the past year of work to get the deal finalized, roadblocks have delayed the purchase, <br />said Susan Stover, an environmental scientist with the Kansas Water Office. <br />Proposed during the 2004 legislative season, the possible purchase of the Circle K was <br />stalled when land appraisals were not completed on time. <br />And even with the appraisals in hand, there are still funding issues, including how much the <br />state is willing to spend, Stover said. <br />For starters, ays has said ' t5,to be�paio more for the ranch than the appraisal price of <br />$3.2 million -near y $1 million below w`Fat the cit for it in 199 <br />Hays purchased the ranch with the city of Russell to pump the groundwater for city use. <br />"We haven't discussed a price," said Hays City Manager Randy Gustafson, adding that, "It <br />is extremely unlikelwe will settle for the appraised value." <br />That could be a hindrance for the state, which is hoping Kansas Wildlife and Parks would be <br />_reimbursed for uo to.Z,5.pprcent of the purchase through e e eral government's excise tax <br />on firearms and ammunition if the land provided public hunting. <br />http: / /www.hutchnews.com/ past /07- 09- 2004 /region/region2.html 8/23/2004 <br />-4r, <br />