By Trish Svoboda

A new bill was introduced by lawmakers in the Kansas Senate to launch the Pike Reservoir Project District Act. If approved, Senate Bill 497 would allow a new lake and dam to be constructed in Bourbon County, serving as a water resource, wildlife conservation, and bolstering economic growth.

In addition to the lake and dam, residential and commercial areas would be developed along the lakefront and nearby regions, as well as recreational facilities. Pike Reservoir would also be a refuge for fish and wildlife, balancing economic development with environmental protection.

The proposed site would begin at the junction of Highway 3 and Highway 65, with the boundary extending eastward along Highway 65 to 95th Street. It then proceeds northward to the Linn County line, continuing westward to Highway 3, finally heading southward until it reaches the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 65.

The bill proposes funding the project through the introduction of two additional taxes. One of these is a sales tax, the revenue from which would be directed into a sales tax refund fund. This fund, in turn, would be utilized to finance the expenses related to the construction of the dam and lake.