KINSLEY ? Objections from Edwards County residents could derail the state’s planned purchase of the Circle K ranch, a sale that would be the state’s biggest land deal since development of the Cheyenne Bottoms a half-century ago.

After more than three hours of discussion Tuesday, Upper and Lower Arkansas Basin Advisory Committee members voted against making a formal recommendation to the Kansas Water Authority about the state’s possible purchase of the 7,000-acre ranch, near Kinsley.

Instead, they will create a committee of residents and state officials to inform people about the state’s plans for the ranch, which is on the banks of the Arkansas River.

Owned by the cities of Hays and Russell, which have offered it for sale to the state, the ranch has 57 irrigation wells — most of them about a mile from the Arkansas River. The state wants to buy the ranch and shut down its wells, a move aimed at stabilizing groundwater levels in the area and helping the Arkansas River flow again from Kinsley to Great Bend.

The state would then use the land for recreational uses such as hunting, birding and hiking. Some would be leased for seasonal grazing and some for production agriculture.

At Tuesday’s meeting, several Edwards County residents expressed concerns about the proposed sale.

“Does the state really believe they know the best use of this property, (more) than a local citizen?” said Kinsley City Manager Marsha Bagby. “This is an election year. This issue is political. Edwards County is not responsible for over-appropriation of water rights — the state is.”

Others agreed, saying the economic effects would be costly.

“The $2.3 million (in gross sales) produced by the Circle K has a ripple effect,” said Mark Frame, an attorney who represents Kinsley and Edwards County. “We might not recover.”

Most wanted the state to back away from the purchase, saying many local farmers would be willing to buy the land.

Residents also questioned why a land appraisal was not completed before Tuesday’s meeting. Susan Stover, an environmental scientist with the Kansas Water Office, said an appraisal should be completed by February or March.

Only one supporter of the purchase spoke up during the hearing. Tom Kneil, president of the Arkansas River Coalition and a member of the Kansas Sierra Club, said the purchase was needed to protect the river.