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Minutes for HR6018 - Committee on Agriculture
Short Title
Requesting the federal government address water issues in the Arkansas River basis.
Minutes Content for Thu, Mar 21, 2019
Chair Highland opened the hearing on HR6018 at 4:07pm.
Kyle Hamilton, Assistant Revisor, Office of The Revisor of Statutes, provided an overview of HR6018.
PROPONENTS
Representative J Russell Jennings, 122nd District, Kansas House of Representatives, appeared before the Committee in support of HR6018. (Attachment 4) The intent of the Resolution before you today is to send a strong message to policy makers in Washington that western Kansas is in need of assistance in order to assure a safe water supply for the future. The cost of treating water contaminated with uranium is high. Communities do not have the resources necessary to scale water treatment across the affected region.
The City of Lakin, located in Kearny County, population 2,200 people with approximately 970 water meters, recently completed a water treatment project at a cost of over $6.5 million. Water rates increased significantly. The base charge for residential water service went from $4.17 per month to $40.16 per month and the usage charge above the base doubled. It is not uncommon for my monthly water bill to be as high as $150 during the summer months.
Western Kansas will need help in addressing the issue of water quality in the Arkansas River basin. We need to send a strong message to our federal partners now in order to have any consideration going forward.
Earl Lewis, Acting Director, Kansas Water Office, submitted written testimony in support of HB6018. (Attachment 5)
There were no opponents/neutrals of HR6018.
The hearing on HR6018 was closed at 4:21pm.
The Chair asked if there was any objections to suspending the rules and take action on HR6018. No objections were heard.
Representative Schreiber moved to favorably pass HR6018. Representative Blex seconded the motion. The motion passed on a voice vote.
The Chair noted that the Subcommittee on the Rails to Trails Act Committee Report was in Dropbox.
Chair Highland adjourned the meeting at 4:24pm.
