HALSTEAD, Kan. — A lot of discussion and a potential showdown with the city of Wichita could come during Tuesday’s annual meeting of the Equus Beds Groundwater Management District in Halstead.

A proposal from Wichita to take water directly from river sources rather than use that water to recharge the water table is up for action. It’s part of an agreement made by the city and the district several years ago. Equus Beds manager Tim Boese says the board is recommending rejecting the proposal.

“In their proposal, it would just be getting a credit when the aquifer is in a fuller state . . . instead of injecting it (surface water into the aquifer), they would take it to town, then get more appropriations to use later on,” Boese said. “We think that’s in direct conflict with the current statutes and regulations that we have in place in Kansas.”

Boese says it really comes down to keeping better control of how the city takes water from the system.

Also Tuesday, board members will be elected for new terms. That includes Reno County Resident David Stroberg.

The annual meeting will also include remarks from newly appointed Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam.