Office of the Secretary Manager

Kittitas Reclamation District Board of Directors Meeting

January 9, 2018 Minutes

The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) met in Regular Session on January 9, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. Attending the meeting were Division Four Director and Chairman Larry Bland, Division Two Director and Vice Chairman Ed Wakkuri, Division Three Director Fred Schnebly, Division Five Director Paul Weaver,  Secretary Manager Urban Eberhart, Assistant Manager Kevin Eslinger, Treasurer Stacy Berg, GIS IT / Water Quality Specialist Roger Satnik, Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Keli Bender and Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower. Also in attendance was land owner Janeice Jump.

Mr. Eberhart presented the Certificate of Election and Oath and Bond documents for Division Number Three Director Fred Schnebly. The documents were signed and notarized.

A motion was made by Director Schnebly to appoint Director Bland as Board Chairman for 2018 and Director Wakkuri as Vice Chairman. The second was made by Director Weaver, the motion passed with all members present voting in favor of the motion.

Director Wakkuri made a motion to approve the Appointment and Bond for Secretary-Manager Urban Eberhart. A second was made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.

Director Wakkuri made a motion to approve the Appointment of Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower. A second was made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.   

The agenda was approved with the addition of an executive session for reasons consistent with RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) and RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i). The motion was made by Director Wakkuri and the second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.

The minutes for the December 8, 2017 Board Meeting and December 19, 2017 Board Meeting were approved as corrected with a motion made by Director Weaver and the second made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.

Public Comment: No comments were noted.

Water Master Report: Mr. Main reported that as of January 8, 2018 the lakes were at 57% capacity which is 130.5% of average. Inflows to the five reservoirs were at 56% and releases were at 131% of average. Precipitation at the reservoirs from January 1 to date was 3.75 inches, or 42% of average. Precipitation for the water year to date is 123.92 inches, or 118% of average. The forecast for the mountains is mostly cloudy with patchy fog. The mountains will be mostly cloudy, with rain and snow likely. Freezing level near 4500 feet.  The Snotell sites are reporting 75% of average and the Lower sites are reporting 84% of average.

Maintenance Report: Mr. Main reported that KRD completed the pipeline on NB 33.5. Currently the crews are set up and pouring concrete downstream of the Tillman Siphon. Work will continue in that area throughout the winter. The excavator work is finishing up on the turbine lateral and then will be moved to upper county to continue with right of way clearing. Work is being conducted on a check structure at the intake of the Little Creek turnout. When the water is turned off after the regular irrigation season, the check structure will allow the canal to be backed up and provide water to supplement tributaries without having to run as much late season water as this year. The portable bridge negotiations are still in process with Kittitas County.

Secretary Manager’s Activity Report: Mr. Eberhart requested approval to travel from the Idaho Water Users Association in Boise, ID to the Tri-State Meeting in Portland, OR on January 26, 2018, the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Columbia Basin Partnership on February 20-21, 2018 in Boise, ID and the Family Farm Alliance Conference in Reno, NV on February 22-23, 2018. A motion was made by Director Wakkuri to approve the travel. A second was made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.

Director Wakkuri made a motion to approve the payment for the Family Farm Alliance dues $4,163.46. The second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Eberhart requested the approval to purchase a Woods SS84-2 3 Point Snow Blower for $7,156.08. Director Schnebly made a motion to approve the purchase, a second was made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Eberhart requested the approval of the purchase of a 1999 Ford F350 4X4 truck for $3,000.00 and a 2000 Ford F550 truck for $3,000.00. Director Schnebly made a motion to approve the purchase for both vehicles. A second was made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed by majority.

Mr. Eberhart reported that in preparation to get the Access Team ready, it is necessary to keep the team in peak physical condition. As part of the emergency declaration, Mr. Eberhart requested permission and authorization to pay for gym memberships to get the team through the certifications and inspections that are upcoming over the next few months. In the meantime, KRD will work on creating a policy to provide an additional pay category for the team. Director Weaver made a motion to approve the gym memberships for the ACCESS Team. A second was made by Director Wakkuri. The motion passed unanimously.

The committee for the outreach position with American Rivers is continuing to search for a suitable candidate to fill the position.

Procuring funding sources for the Upper Yakima Storage Assessment Phase II continues.

There is a meeting scheduled next week to continue conversation on the Water Smart Water Market Study Application.

Discussions continue with the Kittitas County Conservation District (KCCD), the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and KRD regarding the tributary supplementation program and future ownership, operations and maintenance of the Manastash System. The KRD and KCCD are seeking support from the Manastash Steering Committee at their next meeting.

Manastash Ridge Trail is still an ongoing issue.

The North Branch Canal Lining Project Phase II continues. Once it was determined that the tunnel could be reached with the geomembrane, the remaining costs would be approximately $200,000.00. Mr. Eberhart has been working with the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE), Trout Unlimited, the USBR, and Yakima Nation to see if the KRD can utilize some of the 2015 drought mitigation funds to complete this phase of the North Branch to the Johnson Tunnel.

There is a meeting with the Department of Archeological and Historic Preservation for the South Branch Canal Lining Project on January 16, 2018.

The Naneum Headworks Flood Protection Project is complete and appears to be very successful.

Easton Drum Gate Carthodic Protection is completed and a report is expected to arrive in the next 4-6 weeks.

At the Swauk Creek/Yakima Creek Pressure Tunnel the pump and casing has been pulled and will be replaced with new pump and threaded casing. The work is being performed by Boyce Drilling. The Canadian Contractor is currently obtaining the permits to work in the United States. The plan specifications are still in process. The repairs are expected to begin in February. Mr. Main had a meeting this morning with Belsaas and Smith to work on the straight wall. 

Treasurer’s Report: The Directors’ monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures. Summary Vouchers for the November 2017 expenses and the December 2017 payroll which included check numbers 41619 through 41628 and 41768-41851, direct deposit numbers 9901295 through 9901318 in the sum of $416,044.80 were approved with a motion made by Director Wakkuri and the second made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously.

There was a discussion regarding the formatting of the monthly budget and the best way for the material in the board packets to be placed on the website.

Old Business: Legal Counsel Slothower advised that there are two delinquent accounts remaining. A financial institution has inquired about the payout amount for the property. The remaining land owner has not made any contact with KRD or Legal Counsel. The foreclosure process is continuing.

The KRD utilizes the John Wayne Trail to access land and equipment. The Washington State Parks requested that the KRD acquire a permit. There are conditions on the permit that the KRD is not satisfied with. Legal Counsel Slothower is sending a letter based on a statute which allows KRD to access the trail.

Work on the agreement with Kittitas County continues. Legal Counsel Slothower is continuing to work with the Prosecuting Attorney.

New Business:  The Compu-Tech 2018 Annual Maintenance and Software Support Agreement is due, in the amount of $1,655.00. Director Wakkuri made a motion to approve the payment. A second was made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously. 

The first half for the USBR 2018 estimated O&M payment in the amount of $290,500.00 is due. Director Weaver made a motion to make the payment. The second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.

Other Business: The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 1:55 p.m. for 20 minutes per RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) and RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i) there was a motion made by Director Wakkuri and a second made by Director Schnebly. The motion passed unanimously. The Board returned to Regular Session at 2:15 p.m. with a motion made by Director Wakkuri and the second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.

All business having been concluded the meeting was adjourned.

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Mr. Bland KRD Board of Directors Chairman

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Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary Manager