Office of Secretary
Minutes of Regular Meeting
January 5, 1999
The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District met in Regular Session on January 5, 1999. Directors in attendance were Vice Chairman Urban Eberhart, Larry Bland, John Scott and Jim Schnebly. Also in attendance were Janeice Jump, Ben George, Harvey Dodge, Loretta Ogilvie, Joe Mentor, Jack Carpenter, Barbara Pettit and Legal Counsel John Gilreath.
A motion from John Scott and seconded by Larry Bland approved the agenda with the addition of reorganization of the Board and an Executive Session. The motion passed unanimously.
The minutes of the December 1, 1998 and December 16, 1998 meets were approved by a motion from Larry Bland and seconded by Jim Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.
Moving to water update Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board the December precipitation is 185% of month average with the overall SNOTEL at 156% for the high snow with the low snow at a lesser percentage. Mr. Carpenter expressed concern with the latest status report on the inflows and outflows of Lake Keechelus and will discuss the concern with Bureau personnel.
Moving to Meeting Review Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board he attended the Tri County Water Resources Agency meeting at Yakima Tieton Irrigation District on December 3, 1998. December 10, 1998 Mr. Carpenter attended the Interim Operating Plan in Yakima. December 14, 1998 Mr. Carpenter attended a Tri-County Water Resource Agency meeting in Yakima. December 15, 1998 Mr. Carpenter attended the Roza Sunnyside Board of Joint Control in Sunnyside and a Tri- County Water Resource Agency meeting in Yakima. December 18, 1998 Mr. Carpenter attended a Joint Board meeting in Yakima. Mr. Carpenter requested the Board approve use of the KRD copy machine by Pat Monk for Joint Board business. Discussion followed with the consensus the KRD copy machine is made available to Pat Monk for Joint Board business. January 4, 1999 Mr. Carpenter attended the Ellensburg City Council meeting.
Moving to the Draft Comprehensive Plan Mr. Carpenter requested any changes, additions or comments to the draft plan. Discussion followed with Mr. Carpenter requesting he receive all comments as soon as possible so they can be submitted to CH2MHill.
Continuing under Old Business Mr. Carpenter distributed an updated letter of intent from Cascade Pacific Power Corporation. Discussion followed with the recommendation the Cascade Pacific Power Corporation offer be tabled with no action taken at this time.
Moving to New Business Mr. Carpenter apprised the Board there are exceptions to the present KRD General Guidelines for subdivisions with Irrigable Acres that do not require Board approval. Legal Counsel apprised the Board the statute allows for review only if County approval is required. Legal Counsel further explained the Board could adopt as a policy a resolution that would require the same requirements as for subdivision relative to any division of property when the division affects the delivery of water. Discussion followed with the recommendation Legal Counsel will work with Mr. Carpenter in preparing an amendment to the present General Guidelines for Subdivision with Irrigable Acres.
Directors Urban Eberhart and John Scott executed their Oath of Office and Bond.
This being the time for reorganization of the Board Urban Eberhart was elected Chairman with Jim Schnebly as Vice Chairman by a motion from Larry Bland and seconded by John Scott. The motion passed unanimously.
A motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Larry Bland appointed Jack Carpenter Secretary-Manager and John Gilreath Legal Counsel for 1999. The motion passed unanimously.
The first half USBR O&M payment in the sum of $242,000.00 was presented for approval. A motion from John Scott and seconded by Larry Bland approved the USBR O&M payment in the sum of $242,000.00. The motion passed unanimously.
The 1999 Yakima River Basin Coalition assessment in the sum of $35,605.20 was presented for approval. A motion from Larry Bland and seconded by Jim Schnebly approved the Yakima River Basin Coalition assessment in the sum of $35,605.20. The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Carpenter presented a request for trading Lincoln’s Birthday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day for the non union personnel. A motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Larry Bland approved non union personnel trading Lincoln’s Birthday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The motion passed unanimously.
The 1999 WSWRA Dues in the sum of $11,505.45 was presented for approval. A motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by John Scott approved the 1999 WSWRA Dues in the sum of $11,505.45. The motion passed unanimously.
Moving to Upcoming Meetings:
January 7, 1999 DOE Water Quality Funding Workshop - Yakima
January 8, 1999 Jim Seals - Compu Tech - KRD
January 14, 1999 Roza/Sunnyside BOJC - Sunnyside
Tri-County Water Resource Agency - Yakima
River Operations - Yakima
January 27-29, 1999 Water Quality Beyond 2000 - Boise
January 29, 1999 Tabletop Exercise - Yakima
Joe Mentor entered the meeting at this time. Deviating to Old Business Joe Mentor, Trendwest representative, presented an update and overview of the Trendwest water strategy, water exchange concept and a proposed water supply contract with the Bureau of Reclamation for the Trendwest Resort located in Upper Kittitas County. Mr. Mentor further explained Trendwest currently has approximately half of the water needed for the full 30-year build out of the project with easily enough water for the first phase of the project. Mr. Mentor further presented an overview of the EIS process and explained the EIS for the project will be available for public review and comment.
Returning to New Business and moving to Other Business Mr. Eberhart presented information from the Tri-County Water Resource Agency meeting explaining support is requested for changes in the initial wording of the Intergovernmental Agreement of the Tri-County Water Resource Agency and the Operational Agreement of the initiating governments. Mr. Eberhart explained the request for the changes was necessary to satisfy the Director of the Department of Ecology in order to release funding and recommended KRD support the proposed changes as presented. Discussion followed with the consensus KRD support the proposed changes in the initial wording of the Intergovernmental Agreement of the Tri-County Water Resource Agency and the Operational Agreement of the initiating governments.
Continuing under Other Business Ben George presented a Taneum Canal enhancement proposal explaining the proposal is the result of the Taneum Canal Company final order issued by Judge Stauffacher. The proposal entailed enlarging the Taneum Canal from the headworks to the Bruton Spill for the purpose of eliminating the Bruton diversion in Taneum Creek.
Mr. Carpenter presented information on the State Salmon Recovery Plan explaining the Tri County Water Resource Agency submitted proposals for funding. Monies have been made available for 1999. Mr. Carpenter distributed a 1999 Salmon Recovery Program Grant Application Draft for review and comment explaining the deadline for submission is January 11, 1999. Discussion followed with the recommendation to continue the grant process.
Janeice Jump questioned the Labor & Industries rates explaining her on farm rates are much lower than those of KRD. Mr. Eberhart explained L & I rates are continually monitored. Mr. Carpenter explained KRD personnel met with L&I personnel to explore the Retro programs or other options available.
The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 3:42 p.m. for 20 minutes to discuss Legal with a motion from Larry Bland and seconded by John Scott. The motion passed unanimously. The Board returned to Regular Session at 4:02 p.m. with a motion from John Scott and seconded by Larry Bland. The motion passed unanimously.
The Summary Vouchers for the month of November, 1998 expenses, Vouchers # 15611 & 15640 & 15685 - 15780 & 15782 - 15813 in the sum of $235,274.81 were presented for approval. A motion from Jim Schnebly and seconded by Larry Bland approved the Summary Vouchers as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
The Directors monthly Payroll Vouchers were presented for signatures and checks distributed accordingly.
All Business having been concluded the meeting adjourned.
_________________________________________
Jack W. Carpenter - Secretary-Manager
____________________________________
Urban Eberhart - Chairman