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Page 1 of 2 <br />< return_to_ori naI page <br />A I$BM 1 14 Z <br />Coalition will offer regional voice on public <br />water issues <br />By Amy Bickel <br />Saying there is a need for a regional voice on public water issues, including concerns in the Equus Bed Groundwater <br />Management District, city and county governments in south - central Kansas have spurred a new water coalition. <br />Regional Economic Area Partnership members, the coalition organizers, add that they're not trying to step on any other <br />water agency's toes, nor did the organization stem from controversial issues still brewing, including those in GMD No. 2. <br />"It's not just Equus Beds issues," said Keith Lawing, executive officer of the partnership, known as REAP. "It goes <br />beyond that." <br />Much more, he added. Besides groundwater issues that include a Wichita recharge project, concerns vary from surface <br />water to basins and public drinking water - a regional approach in dealing with the muddle of federal, state and regional <br />agencies that deal with water laws and regulations. <br />"There are so many different groups doing a little piece here or there, and it is so hard to get lost in the process," Lawing <br />said. "This will be a clearinghouse for information - an effort to try to make communities aware when issues are <br />affecting their public water supplies." <br />The new coalition, not yet officially named, was approved unanimously on Monday by REAP board members, said <br />REAP chairman Willis Heck, who is mayor of Newton. <br />Besides providing a regional voice, the coalition's charge includes developing a regional water plan, serving as an <br />informational and education resource, organizing collaborative efforts on regional issues of water quality and quantity, <br />and developing services to member water utility operations. <br />The idea came about after a water summit in Newton several months ago, Heck said. Many of the city and county <br />government officials were interested in taking the discussion of public water supply issues one step further. <br />By January, a smaller working group was formed, said Bob Myers, the working group's chairman and the Newton city <br />attorney. The group, consisting of several representatives from local communities, met regularly from January to May <br />before presenting the full REAP board with the recommendation of creating a regional water coalition. <br />"We need to work together, rather than each try to work individually," Myers said. "Part of it is, we're a group that helps <br />focus on the state and federal agencies - making sure they are addressing the issues in our region of the state." <br />Initially, the coalition will be limited to city and county governments in Butler, Cowley, Harvey, Reno, Sedgwick and <br />Sumner counties, he said. In coming months, a separate board will be formed, as well as setting up membership fees and <br />hiring staff. <br />REAP also is preparing an interlocal government agreement to initiate the coalition, which is expected to begin <br />operations in 2005. <br />http: / /www.dailynews. net/ hutchinson /egi- bin/printeipage.pl 8/23/2004 <br />