Welcome to the 2017 Annual KRWA Conference and Exhibition “Knowledge, Experience and You – the KEY to Good Service” is a theme that fits local utilities, the Kansas Rural Water Association (KRWA), other organizations – and agencies. It’s the theme of the 2017 Annual Conference & Exhibition for public water and wastewater systems. The 3-day event includes a robust technical program on operations, policy issues and regulations. It also features the largest display of materials for & the water and wastewater industries with 361 exhibit spaces. The program includes outstanding speakers, great food and top notch March 28 - 30, 2017 entertainment. Register early and save $25. This WHO SHOULD ATTEND? conference is an experience you should not miss. It’s Everyone is welcome – city council members, mayors, March 28 - 30 at the Century operators, clerks, managers, bookkeepers, RWD board II Convention Center in members, administrators, industry and government officials, Wichita, Kansas. sanitarians and plumbers! In 2016, registrants totaled 2,300 people from 339 cities and 199 rural water systems. REGISTRATION DATES & LOCATION Early registration is encouraged. Register for the preconference sessions on the reverse side of the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, March 28 - 30 registration form. Registration forms are on page 56. Century II Convention Center, Wichita, Kansas Save $25 with early registration postmarked or called in by March 15. Meal tickets should be specified with early registration. Registration name badges are required to attend sessions, exhibits or meal functions. Operator Credits (Water and Wastewater certification) and credits for City Clerks are posted for each session. Verification forms will be in each operator’s packet. Check the box at the top of the registration form for operator credit. The operator certification exam is set for Thursday, 3/30 at 1:30 p.m. in Hyatt Ballroom E. See page 37 for details. Registration forms are printed on page 56. Make additional copies if necessary. Return registration forms with payment to: KRWA, PO Box 226, Seneca, KS 66538. Or, you may register online at www.krwa.net and pay by credit card. Questions? Call 785-336-3760. Accommodations – see page 35 for hotel blocks. 32 March 2017 THE KANSAS LIFELINE ConferenCe aT a glanCe Tuesday, march 28 7:00 a.m. 5K-KRWA run/walk (see p. 36) Noon: Luncheon – Century II, Special Guest: 7:30 a.m. Registration Opens – Connecting Lobby, Century II, Tracy Streeter, Director, Kansas Water Office. Hospitality – beverages, rolls and more (p. 34) 8:30 a.m. Spring Golf Tourney – Rolling Hills Golf Club 1:30 p.m. Spouse Program – Riverview Room at the Hyatt (pay $75, see registration form) Hyatt Chef Paul Freimuth and Krista Sanderson 9:00 a.m. Attorneys’ Forum (for attorneys only, p. 38) of Real Food America (p. 43) 9:30 a.m. City Clerks’Forum (p. 40) and RWD Office Forum 1:30 p.m. Concurrent Sessions (p. 45) (p. 42) preconference sessions begin 2:45 p.m. Concurrent Sessions (p. 46) 10:00 a.m. Other preconference sessions begin (pp. 38-42) 4:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions (p. 48) Noon: Lunch, purchase meals on registration form 5:00 p.m. Social in EXPO Hall 1:00 p.m. Preconference sessions reconvene 6:30 p.m. Awards Banquet, Awards Presentations, 4:00 p.m. EXPO Hall opens – 361 booths (p. 47) Entertainment: Life Could Be a Dream (p. 49) 6:30 p.m. Opening Nite – “Meet & Greet!” – barbecue, social, hursday arch games, $10,000 in prizes (p. 33); purchase ticket for T , m 30 $15 on registration form (p. 56) 7:30 a.m.- EXPO Hall opens – pancakes & more by Chris Cakes in EXPO Hall – breakfast closes at 9:00 Wednesday, march 29 a.m. Purchase ticket on registration form 8:00 a.m. Annual Meeting of KRWA Membership, Room 7:30 a.m. Registration Opens – Connecting Lobby, Century II, Hospitality – beverages, rolls and fruit 209A (p. 37) 8:30 a.m. Opening Session – Concert Hall; Keynote: 9:30 a.m. Concurrent Sessions (p. 50) David Browning – The Mayberry Deputy, The 10:45 a.m. Concurrent Sessions (p. 51) Future: Which “Key” Unlocks Your Potential” Noon: Luncheon – Century II, Special Guest: (p. 43) Ron Wilson, Huck Boyd Institute (p. 34) 10:00 a.m. EXPO Hall Opens 1:30 p.m. Certification Exam, Water & Wastewater Small 10:45 a.m. Concurrent Sessions (pp. 44) Systems, Classes I - IV, Hyatt Ballroom E (p. 37) TuesDay evenIng “MEET & GREET” OPENING NITE – BBQ, Games, social the games. The ticket price is only $15 for and $10,000 in Prizes! an evening of food and fun. Everyone Doors open at 6:30 p.m. who attends has a Century II Convention Center chance to win one of The KRWA conference is one big, down-home event and the ten $250 VISA gift the Opening Nite “Meet & Greet” is a grand way to end the cards drawn from admission tickets. Win at the games first day of preconference sessions. It’s unique. The 2017 and then place your tickets for prizes that you select. The “Meet & Greet” offers great food, a terrific social, a carnival, drawings begin at 9:45 p.m. Winners must be present. This and the band, King Midas & The Mufflers, playing in the year’s menu again has great barbecue, potato salad, baked background. There are more than 30 games, including beans, cole slaw, dessert and beverages. It’s one big party large midway trailers, a casino, a photo booth, laser skeet – complete with a carnival midway inside Century II. There is nothing like it for a conference opener. shoot, and an O2 Bar! For those who have the stomach for a bit of This is the fifth year for the appearance of King Midas & a thrill, there will be another The Mufflers band. These guys play real music! King Midas amusement ride. Do you want specializes in oldies – songs of the 50s, 60s and 70s. These your fortune told? See the palm guys do rock! reader. Want your face drawn? Play the games, rack up the tickets, renew acquaintances See one of the caricaturists. and make new friends at the Opening Nite “Meet & Greet”. Want to win prizes? Take part in Purchase your ticket for only $15 on the registration form. March 2017 33 THE KANSAS LIFELINE SPECIAL GUESTS Tracy Streeter HaT HIs onferenCe ffers Director, Kansas Water Office W T C o Speaker: Wednesday Luncheon 9 preconference sessions on Tuesday, March 28; early UPDATE ON THE KANSAS WATER PLAN registration is required. See pages 38-42. 48 concurrent sessions, Wednesday and Thursday. See It’s been over three years since Governor page 44 and beyond for these sessions. Brownback issued a call to action for the development of a 50-Year Water Plan. Since then, more than 361 exhibit spaces in eXPo Hall with the latest in products and services. See pages 47 for the floor plan. 100 action items have been initiated addressing issues relative to the conservation of the Ogallala/High Plains Aquifer – for lawyers only, seeking to learn attorneys’ forum and sustaining our system of Kansas reservoirs. More than 60 more and exchange information. Open at no charge to action plans have been developed by the 14 Regional attorneys of KRWA-member utilities. See page 38. Advisory Committees to implement the regionally identified opening nite – Meet & Greet! This is the “one-of-a-kind” goals. A task force created to identify future funding conference opener with great food and social, games to play opportunities has completed its work and a steering to earn tickets for the prizes of more than $10,000. And by committee has developed a series of strategies to implement popular demand, King Midas and the Mufflers band is a comprehensive statewide education and outreach program. returning. Opening Nite Meet & Greet tickets are available for Tracy will provide an update on the latest Water Vision a nominal fee of $15. See page 33. activities. opening session & Keynote – David Browning – “The Tracy has served as the Director of the Kansas Water Mayberry Deputy” received a standing ovation at the close Office, the state’s water planning, policy and coordination of the 2016 Conference Keynote. David returns in 2017 by agency since 2004. Tracy was re-appointed by Governor Sam popular demand. His keynote is: “The Future: Which Key Brownback on December 31, 2010. Before joining KWO, he Unlocks Your Potential?” See page 43. served as Executive Director of the State Conservation special guests – Tracy streeter, Director, Kansas Commission. Tracy has 31 years of experience in Kansas water Water office; ron Wilson, Huck Boyd Institute. See resources management. page 34. Best Tasting Water Contest, WaterPaC raffle, page 37. awards Banquet and entertainment – recognition of Ron Wilson Kansas’ Best Operators, Managers and Administrators. Director, Huck Boyd Institute Speaker: Thursday Luncheon Then it’s the rollicking musical, Life Could Be A Dream. See TUMBLEWEED TALES: CHANGE, page 49. CHALLENGE AND CHAMPIONS spouse Program – Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Hyatt Chef Paul Freimuth will be joined by Krista Sanderson of Real on Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd Food America to present an afternoon program to help you R National Institute for Rural plan for real meal ideas that you will know are easy to Development at Kansas State University prepare, great-tasting, affordable and good for you! See in Manhattan. He has a B.S. in Agricultural Education and page 43. This program is at no charge for those who sign up a Masters in Mass Communications from K-State. He has to attend the Spouse Program. been a legislative assistant to Senator Nancy Kassebaum operator Certification exam – the certification exam in Washington D.C., a staff member for the U.S.