Ellis Cons. RWD 1 near Antonino

Ellis County Consolidated RWD 1 Making Water System Improvements

Ellis County Consolidated Rural Water District No. 1 has been awarded a $299,685 KAN STEP grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce to make improvements to the district's water system. The improvements will also allow the connection of 11 new customers along the eastern edge. Volunteers will donate $262,350 in labor or services. Several local contracting firms have offered to donate trenching services for up to five miles of the project.

Ellis Cons. RWD 1 is located south and west of Hays and serves 160 rural patrons. Ellis Cons. RWD 1 purchases water from neighboring Trego County RWD 2 sourced by wells. The interconnection between the two water districts is six miles west of Hays.

The improvements being funded by the KAN STEP grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce involved 12 miles of new pipeline ranging from 6-inch to 2-inch and additional valving. Ernie Leiker of Hays is the principal Project Sparkplug. Laren Leiker, a farmer who lives south of Hays, has also been key in helping organize and develop the project. Contractors and suppliers on the project include Municipal Supply Inc. of Nebraska and M & D of Hays, Inc. The project consultant is Stuart Porter from Schwab - Eaton, P.A., Beloit, KS. Grant Administration is being performed by Corina Cox of the Northwest Kansas Planning and Development Commission, Hill City, KS. Inspection services and assistance will be provided by the Kansas Rural Water Association. Members of the county commission are Dean Haselhorst, Chairman, and members Swede Holmgren and Barbara Wasinger. County staff involved in the review and administration of the project are Greg Sund, County Administrator and Donna Maskus, County Clerk. Members of the RWD board: Harvey Ruder, Chairman and directors: Rikki Betts, Tom Denning, Elaine Pfannenstiel and Norma Chittenden. John Moeder is operator. The start time for the project is slated for mid-June 2013.