The Kansas Senate is expected to make a motion this week to concur with a House of Representatives bill that affects two Lyon County towns, Neosho Rapids and Americus.
Senate Bill 80 was introduced earlier this session to help Neosho Rapids sell its city-owned natural gas company to Black Hills Energy, a private-sector company that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Black Hills has serviced many of the system’s needs in Neosho Rapids for about 20 years, and has offered to buy the company for $64,664. Neosho Rapids voters will be asked to approve the sale in a special election on April 21 at the Community Center in Neosho Rapids.
City officials have said that it is becoming economically unfeasible for the city to operate the company. Black Hills already installs meters, repairs malfunctions and performs other services that require equipment and training that the city cannot afford.
The need for a change in state law became evident when city leaders learned that a majority of qualified voters must approve the ordinance allowing the sale. Jesse Howard, Neosho Rapids gas company employee, said that about 30 of the 155 voters considered “qualified” either have died or moved from the town and are no longer able to vote. A minimum of 78 voters must vote “yes” for the measure to pass.
SB 80 would change that requirement to a simple majority of the voter turnout for the election. The bill would have to be passed and published before the election.
Rep. Peggy Mast said late Monday afternoon that she expects the Senate to agree on the bill, which had an amendment added when it was voted on in the House.
The amendment would give the city of Americus authority to ask the Kansas Corporation Commission to regulate the small company that provides natural gas to Americus at a cost substantially higher than Kansas Gas Service and other providers in the area.
“The Senate is going to just make a motion to concur on what the House did,” Mast said in a telephone interview. “It’s possible it could be tomorrow (Tuesday), probably Wednesday at the latest, and then it’s going to be a done deal.”
Mast said that the business owner that supplies Americus’ natural gas has at least two other companies, each with a different name, that supply natural gas in the Flint Hills near Cassoday, and one in Severy.
“He’s been stalling and putting up a lot of roadblocks,” Mast said. “At least now, there is a measure of accountability for him.”
Mast said that she had been pleased with the way Republicans and Democrats worked together on a number of bills before both houses this session.
“It just seems like there is a spirit of cooperation in the Capitol this year. … It seems like we’ve come together,” she said.
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Posted by Blue_Dog (anonymous) on March 31, 2009 at 10:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Funny Rep. Mast didn't mention her vote on the minimum wage bill. Oh yea, she was one of a handful of ultrawingnuts that think Kansans should be made to work for $2.65 an hour the lowest in the nation.
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