By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
A big water project is in the works for northern Barton and southern Russell counties. Mary Anne Stoskopf, secretary and treasurer for Barton County Rural Water District No. 1, and Jamie Tomlinson, manager for Russell County Rural Water District No. 3, asked the Barton County Commission for assistance funding the project at Wednesday's meeting. The commission agreed to meet the districts halfway by allocating $65,000 toward the project.
"Fifty years ago a small group of neighbors north of Hoisington recognized a need and invested in a rural water district for the future," Stoskopf told the commission. "Fifty percent of the homes that water district serves today are descendants of those - they are owned and occupied by descendants of those original investors. Another 25 percent are second owners - they bought their home from an original investor."
A lengthy discussion ensued about grant availability, how many residents would be affected, and whether or not the project should be considered maintenance of an existing system or construction of a new one.
"No, we're not asking for maintenance because without the improved infrastructure, the volume of water we're taking and connecting with Hoisington will not sustain with the system that's currently there," Tomlinson argued.
Stoskopf and Tomlinson were asking for $135,000 from the commission for the installation of an 8-mile stretch of large water main that would connect city of Hoisington water to the districts. Once the project is complete, Russell County Rural Water District 3 will absorb Barton County Rural Water District 1.
While Barton's current district serves just eight residences, Stoskopf said the new project will impact nearly 800 Barton County residents residing in Odin, Beaver, Susank, Galatia, and several rural townships.