Pratt County officials say Sawyer gas-line project faces regulatory, engineering questions; rate study to proceed
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Summary
County officials reported that Sawyer, Hartner and Sharon have agreed to recommend a consultant for a required rate study, but a Dec. 24 KCC communication and procurement details mean legal and engineering clarification is still needed before construction can proceed.
Pratt County officials on Monday updated the board on efforts to connect parts of the county to a new gas line while warning that regulatory and technical questions remain.
Speaker 3 told the commission the three cities — Sawyer, Hartner and Sharon — agreed to recommend a consultant to perform a rate study, a necessary step for the grant application that would fund connections to the gas line. "The city of Sawyer will make a formal recommendation for the consultant at their next meeting," Speaker 3 said, adding that once all three cities act a notice to proceed for the rate study will follow.
The county learned on Dec. 24 that the Kansas Corporation Commission had sent information that differed from prior expectations, Speaker 3 said, and that discrepancy could affect how ARPA funds are used and whether single-audit rules apply. "We need some more clarity," Speaker 3 said. "The crystal ball is foggy, very foggy at the moment."
Speaker 3 also said the written request for proposals (RFP) for construction has been prepared and the utility association reviewed it, but the cities lack an on‑staff engineer to evaluate construction bids. "There needs to be an engineer who will review the RFPs when they're responded to," Speaker 3 said.
On procurement timing, Speaker 3 said five firms responded to the rate‑study RFP this time — an improvement from the first release, which drew no responses — and the plan is to have construction RFPs returned by mid‑February. The stated goal is for construction to be complete by the next winter heating season so customers can switch to the new gas source.
On state funding, Speaker 3 said the legislature is expected to reduce transfers to the Build Kansas Fund while some ARPA funds at the state level remain to be obligated; despite those shifts, Speaker 3 said total project costs appear manageable but that the administrative and regulatory questions must be resolved before moving forward.
Next steps identified by county staff included coordinating with Representative Hoffman and county counsel to clarify the KCC guidance, finalizing the RFP process, and awaiting the formal consultant recommendations from the three cities.